Day Trading Platforms, Apps, and Brokers in 2025

Day trading in 2025 is more accessible and competitive than ever, but picking the wrong broker can silently destroy your edge through slow execution, hidden fees, or weak tools. The best broker for day trading combines fast platforms, competitive margins and commissions, and increasingly, AI‑powered analytics. Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab/thinkorswim, Fidelity, TradeStation, Webull, and E*TRADE consistently rank among the best day trading platforms, while white‑label infrastructures like ETNA Trading now power brokers behind the scenes with institutional‑grade technology capable of supporting millions of daily transactions.​

In this guide, we cover:

• Top day trading platforms for different trader profiles
• Core criteria: fees, margin, execution speed, tools
• How AI and algorithmic trading are reshaping 2025 day trading
• Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule and regulatory changes
• Where ETNA Trading fits as a high‑performance white‑label platform

What Is Day Trading? 

Day trading opens and closes positions in the same security within a single trading session, seeking to profit from intraday price movements.​

Key characteristics:

• Multiple trades per day, sometimes dozens
• Heavy reliance on leverage and margin
• Dependence on fast execution and real‑time data
• Advanced software with Level 2 quotes and hotkeys​
• Success rate reality: Only 1–4% of retail day traders achieve long‑term profitability; most lose money.​

Top Day Trading Brokers Comparison

Broker	Best For	Stock/ETF Commission	Options Fee	Margin Strength	Platform Highlights
Interactive Brokers	Advanced & algo traders	$0 Lite; $0.005/share Pro	$0.65	Lowest industry rates	Trader Workstation, global access
Charles Schwab (thinkorswim)	Technical analysis & desktop	$0	$0.65	Competitive standard	thinkorswim, strong research
Fidelity	Beginners seeking support	$0	$0.65	Standard transparent	Active Trader Pro, quality execution
TradeStation	Strategy automation & speed	$0 (up to 10k shares)	$0.60	Tiered for volume	Highly customizable desktop
Webull	Cost‑conscious mobile traders	$0	$0	Aggressive offerings	Advanced mobile charts, paper trading
E*TRADE	Education‑focused web traders	$0	$0.65	Competitive	Power E*TRADE, integrated education

In‑Depth Reviews of Top Brokers

Interactive Brokers – Best Broker for Day Trading Overall

Repeatedly named best broker for day trading due to institutional‑grade infrastructure and lowest explicit costs.​

Strengths:

• Tier 1 pricing with volume discounts and per‑share models for active traders
• Among the lowest margin rates industry‑wide​
• Access to 150+ markets (stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds) globally​
• Robust APIs for algorithmic and AI strategies​

Best for: Serious, technically inclined traders wanting raw capability and low costs.

Charles Schwab / thinkorswim – Best Desktop Platform

The thinkorswim platform is widely regarded as the single best day trading software for technical analysis.​

Why day traders like it:

• Hundreds of built‑in indicators and drawing tools
• Rich order tickets and strategy backtesting​
• Integrated macro data and options analysis
• Zero commissions on stocks and ETFs​

Best for: Power users comfortable with learning curves; heavy technical traders.

Fidelity – Best Day Trading App for Beginners

Balances power with usability, education, and high execution quality.​

Key features:

• Zero commissions and transparent fee structure
• Active Trader Pro with alerting and bracket orders
• Extensive learning content and trader support
• Risk visualization geared toward newer active traders​

Best for: Beginners wanting strong support and guardrails.

TradeStation – Best for Strategy Automation

Powerful for systematic and high‑frequency traders with advanced backtesting.​

Highlights:

• Zero stock/ETF commissions up to thresholds
• EasyLanguage scripting and deep customization
• Explicit PDT handling and tiered margin rates​

Best for: Serious technical traders using automation and backtesting.

Webull – Best Low‑Cost Mobile Platform

Strong answer to “what apps can I day trade on” for tech‑savvy retail traders.​

Key points:

• Zero commission on stocks, ETFs, and options
• Advanced mobile charts and paper trading
• Integrated margin and options trading​

Best for: Intermediate to advanced mobile‑first traders seeking low costs.

E*TRADE – Best for Web‑First Traders

Intuitive Power E*TRADE combines web simplicity with professional tools.​

Strengths:

• Zero stock/ETF commissions
• Advanced web‑based charting and options tools
• Strong educational webinars and demos​

Best for: Traders prioritizing web‑based platforms and education.

Essential Criteria for Choosing a Day Trading Broker

Costs and Fees

Most brokers now offer zero commissions on stocks/ETFs (~$0.60–$0.65 per options contract), but the full fee stack matters:

• Margin rates: Range from 4–5% (low) to 12–13% (high); differences compound for leveraged traders​
• Platform/data fees: Many major brokers bundle platforms free; professional tiers may charge​
• Effective trading costs: For very active traders, commissions and fees can consume 5–10% of P&L if not controlled​

Trading Platforms and Tools

The best day trading software prioritizes speed, stability, and configurability:

• Real‑time Level 2 data and multi‑timeframe charting
• Hotkeys and ladder trading for rapid execution
• Complex orders (OCO, bracket, conditional) for risk management
• Backtesting and paper trading for improvement​

Top platforms: Interactive Brokers TWS, thinkorswim, Fidelity Active Trader Pro, TradeStation, Webull.

Institutional‑Grade Technology: ETNA Trading

White‑label platforms like ETNA Trading power many broker‑dealers and fintechs.​

ETNA capabilities:

• Multi‑asset trading (stocks, options, fractional shares, UITs)
• Multi‑venue connectivity and advanced order routing
• Real‑time risk management and pre‑trade checks​
• AI‑driven insights (social sentiment, investment signals)​
• Scalability: Handles millions of daily transactions for high‑volume clients​

Key takeaway: ETNA lets brokers deliver low‑latency, best day trading platforms under their own brands while outsourcing compliance, risk, and performance.​

Regulation and Security

• Regulatory oversight: SEC registration and FINRA membership are standard for reputable brokers​
• Protections: SIPC coverage and FDIC insurance on sweep accounts​
• Security: Two‑factor authentication, encryption, fraud guarantees​

Available Assets and Markets

• Stocks/Options: Fidelity, Schwab/thinkorswim, Interactive Brokers, TradeStation, E*TRADE, Webull
• Futures/Forex: Interactive Brokers, TradeStation, thinkorswim​
• Crypto: Webull, Robinhood, and integration brokers​

AI and Algorithmic Trends in Day Trading

Growth of AI Trading

Over 70% of U.S. trading volume is now algorithmic, spanning high‑frequency execution and increasingly AI‑enhanced predictive strategies.​

AI use cases:

• Predictive modeling: ML models forecast short‑term moves from order flow and news​
• Sentiment analysis: NLP scans social media and news for crowd shifts​
• Anomaly detection: AI flags unusual patterns for trading and compliance​
• Strategy generation: Tools like Trade Ideas and TrendSpider auto‑generate and refine strategies​

Retail AI trading platforms StockHero, Trade Ideas, TrendSpider, Tickeron surface trade ideas and automate execution, though profitability still depends on risk management and market conditions.​

Platform Integration

Best day trading platforms now embed AI in:

• Smart order routing for improved fills
• AI screeners highlighting volatility and momentum setups
• Risk warnings and personalized education​
• White‑label AI insights (e.g., ETNA Social Sentiment Index) that brokers expose to day traders​

Pattern Day Trader (PDT) Rule: What’s Changing

The PDT Rule Basics

Four or more day trades in five business days (>6% of total trades) triggers PDT flagging.​

Current requirement: $25,000 minimum equity in a margin account to continue unrestricted day trading.​

Navigation Strategies

• Use a cash account (PDT doesn’t apply, but settlement limits trades)
• Spread across multiple accounts (carefully, within rules)
• Focus on swing trading until account grows​

Regulatory Changes Coming

2025 proposes replacing the fixed $25,000 threshold with risk‑sensitive intraday margin requirements, potentially making day trading more accessible for well‑managed smaller accounts.​

This makes brokers with modern risk engines like ETNA Trading increasingly valuable for compliant, high‑volume day trading.​

Conclusion: Matching the Right Platform to Your Strategy

No universal “best day trading app” exists only the best fit for your capital, style, and complexity tolerance:

• Interactive Brokers: Best for advanced, globally oriented traders
• Schwab/thinkorswim: Best desktop day trading software for technical power
• Fidelity: Best day trading app for beginners
• Webull & E*TRADE: Best low‑cost, mobile‑first day trading platforms [23–25]​

Market trends reshaping day trading in 2025:

• Rise of AI‑enhanced trading at institutional and retail levels​
• Regulatory modernization of PDT and intraday margin rules​
• White‑label platforms like ETNA Trading enable brokers to deliver low‑latency, high‑performance day trading capable of millions of daily transactions​

Next steps: Clarify your goals (scalping vs. swing, stocks vs. multi‑asset), then test paper trading at one or two leading brokers matching your profile. Winners combine disciplined risk management, low‑cost access, high‑performance technology, and intelligent use of data and AI.