Best Brokerage Bonuses (Sorted by Effective ROI) (2026)

If brokerage bonuses sorted effective is on your radar, this short guide cuts through the noise. Here is what is worth knowing, and how to put it to work today.

Key Takeaways

• Share This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, advisory, or brokerage services.
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• BrokerDetailsEffective ROIStashDeposit $5 to earn $30 in cash or stock.

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This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, advisory, or brokerage services. We may earn compensation from some links on this page. Learn more. BrokerDetailsEffective ROIStashDeposit $5 to earn $30 in cash or stock. Stash charges $3/month, so you net about $21 after the 90-day hold.17.04%TradestationDeposit $500 to earn a $50 cash bonus. Funds must remain in the account for 270 days before the bonus becomes withdrawable.13.75%FrecDeposit $20,000+ to earn a $250 cash bonus into a direct indexing portfolio. Funds must remain in the account for 90 days.5.07%E*TRADETransfer at least $5,000 to earn a $150 cash bonus. Funds must be deposited within 60 days and remain in the account for 12 months to keep the bonus.5%J.P. Morgan Self-Directed InvestingDeposit $5,000 to earn a $50 bonus. Funds must remain for about 90 days, with the bonus paid roughly 105 days after enrollment.3.52%Citi Self InvestDeposit $10,000+ in new funds to earn a $100-$500 cash bonus. Funds must stay through Citi’s maintain-balance period, with payouts typically 4-6 months after funding.3.07%M1Deposit $10,000+ to earn a $75 bonus credited within about 60 days. Bonus funds must remain in the account for an additional 90 days after posting. 2.30%PublicDeposit $1,000 to earn $20 in free stock or ETFs. Must claim within 30 days; cash value locked for 12 months.2.00%Charles SchwabDeposit $25,000+ to earn a $100-$1,000 bonus. Funds must remain in the account for 12 months, with the bonus credited shortly after the funding window closes. 0.40%AcornsSet up a $5 recurring investment to earn $20. Acorns charges $3/month; cancel after bonus posts for ~$14 net profit.Small bonus, no hold after payoutWebullUp to 3% IRA transfer match (max $7,500) plus ongoing contribution match and transfer fee reimbursement. Requires Premium subscription and 5-year hold.Paid upfront, earned over time (5-year hold)RobinhoodEarn a 2% match on IRA transfers and 401(k) rollovers during the Jan 8-Apr 30, 2026 promo with Robinhood Gold ($5/month). Bonus is paid shortly after settlement but requires 1 year of Gold and a 5-year IRA hold to avoid clawback.Paid upfront, earned over time (5-year hold)

Brokerage bonuses can look impressive on the surface, but the headline number rarely tells the whole story. Numerous of the largest offers require high deposits or long holding periods, which can dramatically lower their true value.

That’s why I update this list at the start of every month and rank the latest brokerage promotions by effective ROI. This is the actual return you earn on your deposit once the bonus is credited and available as cash.

All calculations are done using my bonus ROI calculator, so you can double-check the numbers or run the math on any new promotion that comes up.

This list doesn’t judge the overall quality of each brokerage or whether an account fits your long-term investing goals. It’s designed for readers who want to maximize the short-term ROI of cash.

How I calculate effective ROI:

• Multiple tiers. If there are tiers, I highlight the one with the highest ROI. For example, a $50 bonus on $500 is a 10% return, while $100 on $10,000 is only 1%. I prioritize tiers with the highest ROI, not the biggest dollar amount.
• Formula. Annualized return based on the bonus amount, deposit requirement, and holding period.
• Holding period. I use the full time funds must remain in the account to keep the bonus, not just when the bonus is paid. If you withdraw early, brokers can claw back the bonus.
• Interest rates. I don’t factor in any interest the broker might pay, since rates change frequently. If you’re depositing a larger sum, you may want to weight this more heavily.

#1. Stash

Stash offers a Stash $30 referral bonus when you open an account and deposit $5.

The bonus is part of Stash’s It Forward referral program. Once your deposit clears, you get $30 in cash or stock. You need to keep both the $5 deposit and the $30 reward in the account for 90 days.

Stash charges $3/month, so you’ll pay $9 in fees over the hold period. Your net profit is about $21.

One tip: check Rakuten and Swagbucks before signing up. They sometimes run cashback offers for Stash that may be worth more than the referral bonus. I’ve seen them in the past, though there wasn’t one live as of my last check.

Stash is built for people who haven’t started investing yet. The round-ups, automated portfolios, and Stock-Back card exist to build the habit. If you’re already investing on your own, use something free. If you need the nudges to get started, Stash is a reasonable option and the $21 net bonus is a decent sweetener.

Visit Stash.

#2. TradeStation

TradeStation is the go-to brokerage for numerous active investors due to its powerful trading platform, commission-free stock trades, and diversified list of tradable assets.

Their current promotion allows new shoppers to earn a one-time cash reward based on the amount of their initial deposit. To claim the bonus, you must enter the promo code FNMZAGAO during the sign-up process.

Cash RewardQualifying Assets$50$500$250$25,000$400$100,000$800$200,000$3,000$1,000,000$5,000$2,000,000

The cash reward will be deposited into your account the month following a 270-day holding period.

The offer is only available for Entity (non-institutional), Individual, or Joint equities and futures accounts.

IRAs and other tax-qualified accounts are not eligible. Additionally, the assets must be new to TradeStation, and any withdrawals or redeposits during the holding period will disqualify the account.

Visit TradeStation.

#3. Frec

Frec is a direct indexing platform. Instead of buying an S&P 500 index fund, you own the individual stocks in the index.

The main benefit is tax-loss harvesting, which can add roughly 0.20% to 1% per year in after-tax returns depending on your tax bracket, according to Vanguard’s research.

New shoppers can earn a Frec $250 bonus by opening an account, creating a direct index portfolio, and funding it with at least $20,000 (some indexes require $50,000).

The requirements are straightforward:

• Keep your portfolio fully funded for 90 days without withdrawing or moving assets.
• After 90 days, Frec deposits $250 in cash directly into your account.
• No promo code required.

This bonus makes the most sense for investors who were already considering direct indexing. If you have a large taxable account, are in a high tax bracket, and plan to contribute regularly, the tax-loss harvesting benefits can meaningfully improve after-tax returns.

If you’re investing primarily in tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s, direct indexing doesn’t help, and a simple index fund is the better choice.

For a full breakdown of fees, comparisons to Wealthfront and Schwab, and questions to ask before committing to direct indexing, read my Frec direct indexing review.

#4. E*TRADE

E*TRADE is offering a tiered cash bonus for new clients who open and fund a self-directed brokerage account. The bonus amount depends entirely on how much new money you deposit during the initial funding window.

To qualify, you must open one new eligible E*TRADE brokerage account, enter the promo code RETIRE26 during account opening, and fund the account with at least $1,000 in new funds or securities from an external institution.

Once funded, your bonus is determined based on the total amount deposited during the 60-day funding period.

Deposit AmountCash Bonus$1,000 - $4,999$50$5,000 - $19,999$150$20,000 - $99,999$300$100,000 - $199,999$600$200,000 - $499,999$800$500,000 - $999,999$1,000$1,000,000 - $1,499,999$3,000$1,500,000 -

Final Thoughts

Before you check out, double-check brokerage bonuses sorted effective against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.

Originally published at thewaystowealth.com.