Active traders weigh the same 54 criteria differently than a long-term investor — here's what to prioritize when trade frequency and per-trade cost matter more than anything else.
1Per-trade commission at your volume
2Order execution speed & reliability
3Advanced order types (stop-loss, trailing, etc.)
4Real-time data & charting tools
5API / algorithmic access if you need it
How is this different from a general broker comparison?
Same underlying 54 criteria, different weighting of priorities — a long-term investor cares most about tax handling and account types, while an active trader cares most about per-trade costs and execution.
Does a flat commission always beat a percentage-based one?
Not necessarily — it depends on your typical trade size. Flat fees tend to favor larger trades, percentage fees tend to favor smaller ones. That's exactly the kind of math this site's fee data lets you check for your own pattern.
