Winners Summary
Interactive Brokers - Best broker for 24-hour trading
| Company |
Overall |
Minimum Deposit |
Stock Trades |
Futures (Per Contract) |
 Interactive Brokers
|
 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.85 |
It’s no surprise that Interactive Brokers (IBKR) tops the list for 24-hour trading. Known as a favorite among experienced investors and active traders, IBKR brings the same level of depth and reliability to its round-the-clock access to 24-hour markets as it does to the rest of its platform.
Overnight trading: What sets IBKR apart is its Overnight + SMART order type, which lets you place a trade during the overnight session and have it automatically carry over into the next regular trading day, starting as early as 4:00 a.m. and running through the 8:00 p.m. close. This creates a seamless, 24-hour order lifecycle without the need to re-enter or adjust your trade.
Products and platform: It’s not just the order type that puts IBKR on top, it’s the breadth of their product offering. With access to over 10,000 stocks and ETFs for overnight trading, including small- and mid-cap names rarely available elsewhere, IBKR offers the broadest selection of any brokerage. Its global connection to more markets, venues, and exchanges than any other retail platform gives self-directed investors institutional-level access.
IBKR’s 24-hour trading isn’t just an add-on; it’s an extension of what the platform already does best. If you're looking for the most powerful and comprehensive 24-hour trading experience available to retail investors, this is it.
Charles Schwab - Best 24-hour trading platform experience
| Company |
Overall |
Minimum Deposit |
Stock Trades |
Futures (Per Contract) |
 Charles Schwab
|
|
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$2.25 |
While it ranks second for 24-hour trading, Charles Schwab’s best-in-class platforms, education, research, and client experience earned Schwab my pick for #1 Overall broker in the StockBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards.
Overnight trading: Here’s what stood out to me: Schwab’s Extended + Overnight (EXTO) orders let a trade stay live across both extended hours and the overnight session via thinkorswim. That means you don’t have to keep re-entering your order as the market moves between sessions. You place a trade once, and it continues working throughout the 24-hour cycle, minus a quick five-minute pause each weekday. This is a big deal if you're reacting to news that breaks outside the standard 9:30 to 4:00 window.
You’ll have access to over 800 U.S. stocks and ETFs, including names from the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow 30. Schwab also makes it easy to know what’s eligible — thinkorswim displays a small overnight icon right in your watchlist, removing any guesswork.
Products and platform: One educational note I want to highlight: during overnight sessions, trades are routed through an Alternative Trading System (ATS) instead of a public exchange. These markets often have wider spreads and lower liquidity, meaning prices may move more dramatically or you may not get filled as efficiently. It’s just something to keep in mind if you’re venturing into overnight territory for the first time.
Firstrade - Best 24-hour trading discount broker
| Company |
Overall |
Minimum Deposit |
Stock Trades |
Futures (Per Contract) |
 Firstrade
|
 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
(Not offered) |
Coming in at number three is Firstrade, a brokerage that recently joined the 24-hour trading space with a solid offering.
Overnight trading: Launched on April 7, 2025, Firstrade now offers overnight trading on more than 1,200 stocks and ETFs. Unlike some platforms, orders placed during overnight sessions don’t carry over into extended or regular trading hours, but are limited to the overnight window only.
This structure mirrors how other brokerages like Robinhood, Webull, and E*TRADE currently operate 24-hour trading. For many investors, session-specific trading is still a valuable way to respond to late-breaking news, earnings after hours, or even international investors wanting to trade U.S. markets during normal business hours.
Products and platform: Beyond 24-hour trading, what I really appreciate about Firstrade is the added value baked into their platform. They offer one of my favorite economic calendars, making it easy to stay on top of upcoming market-moving events. And if you're an options trader or just getting started, Firstrade provides a ton of high-quality educational content and tools to help you build confidence and develop your strategy.
If you're interested in exploring Firstrade further, especially for options trading and research tools, be sure to check out my full Firstrade review for a deeper dive.
Other 24-hour brokers we tested
Webull
Webull offers 24-hour trading through Blue Ocean ATS (BOATS), with overnight access to a large but limited list of U.S. stocks and ETFs. Like other brokers using BOATS, orders are only active during the overnight session and must fall within specific price bands based on the prior evening’s pricing. Thanks to its active social features and user-driven experience, Webull remains a strong choice for mobile-first traders who value community.
Robinhood
Like Webull, Robinhood uses the same BOATS system for overnight trading, which means orders are only active during the overnight session and must fall within preset price bands based on the 7:30 p.m. ET reference price. Robinhood remains best for beginner investors seeking a simple, streamlined platform with low barriers to entry and a user-friendly mobile experience.
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
E*TRADE offers limited 24-hour trading, currently supporting just 22 ETFs during the overnight session, though they include some of the most widely traded names. During this session, orders are routed to a single alternative trading system (ATS). While the overnight offering is narrow, E*TRADE remains a top-tier choice for active traders, thanks to its feature-rich Power E*TRADE platform, robust mobile app, and professional-grade tools.
When are overnight hours?
| Broker |
Overnight sessions |
Securities available |
| Interactive Brokers |
8:00 p.m. to 3:50 a.m. ET, Sun. through Fri. |
10,000+ stocks and ETFs |
| Charles Schwab |
8:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Sun. through Fri. |
800 U.S. stocks and ETFs |
| Firstrade |
8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. ET, Sun. through Fri. |
1,200+ stocks and ETFs |
| Webull |
8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. ET, Sun. through Thurs. |
500+ stocks and ETFs |
| Robinhood |
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Sun. through Fri. |
900+ stocks and ETFs |
| E*TRADE |
8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. ET, Sun. through Thurs. |
22 ETFs |
FAQs
How does 24-hour trading work?
24-hour trading adds a third session to the U.S. trading day: the overnight session. Traditionally, investors could trade during pre-market hours (starting as early as 4:00 or 7:00 a.m. ET, depending on the broker) and after-hours (typically until 8:00 p.m. ET). These extended hours are offered by most brokerage firms.
Now, some brokers have introduced a third session that runs overnight — from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. ET — which fills the gap between after-hours and the next day’s pre-market. Together, these three sessions create what’s essentially 24-hour trading, often called 24/5 access, since it's available Monday through Friday.
How does overnight trading work?
Instead of routing through public stock exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq, most overnight orders are executed via private venues like the Alternative Trading Systems (ATS) or Electronic Communication Networks (ECNs). These match buyers and sellers outside of traditional exchanges, like NYSE or Nasdaq.
For example, Robinhood and Webull use Blue Ocean ATS (BOATS) to process 24-hour market orders. BOATS has its own set of rules and risk controls. To prevent extreme price movements, BOATS uses price bands based on the closing price near 7:30 p.m. ET. Stocks generally can’t trade more than 20% above or below that reference price, and any orders with limits outside these bands may be rejected.
This approach is similar to the Limit Up-Limit Down (LULD) safeguards used by public exchanges during regular trading hours, which pause trading when prices move too quickly. In overnight markets, where lower liquidity can lead to sharper price swings, such controls are especially important.
infoImportant note
Not all brokers use the same routing system. This is why overnight trading can feel very different depending on where you trade.
Other brokers, like Schwab or Interactive Brokers, use different ATS or ECN partners and offer varied levels of routing, price discovery, and order persistence (e.g., whether the order carries over into the next session). Just like with regular trading, order routing matters, and knowing what system your broker uses can help you better manage execution risk.
What stocks are available for 24-hour trading?
Most stocks available for 24-hour trading are limited to widely traded securities, such as blue-chip stocks, ETFs, and major index funds that attract significant investor interest. The availability depends on the broker offering 24-hour trading services and the liquidity of the asset.
Is 24-hour trading risky?
It can be. Because overnight sessions have fewer participants, you may face wider bid-ask spreads, less liquidity, and more volatile price swings. Orders may also be routed through a single venue, meaning you're less likely to get price improvement or best execution compared to regular market hours.
What’s the difference between extended hours and overnight trading?
Extended hours include the pre-market session (starting at 4:00 a.m. or 7:00 a.m.) and after-hours trading (until 8:00 p.m. ET). Overnight trading can occur from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., creating a third session that bridges the gap and allows for near 24/5 trading.
What types of orders can be placed during overnight sessions?
During overnight trading sessions, you can typically only place limit orders, and they must be day orders, meaning they expire at the end of the overnight session if not filled. These orders must not include special conditions like:
- AON (All or None) – requires the entire order to be filled at once
- DNR (Do Not Reduce) – prevents price adjustments after dividends
- FOK (Fill or Kill) – requires immediate execution or cancellation
These types of advanced provisions aren't supported in overnight sessions because liquidity is limited, and the chance of meeting complex execution conditions is very low. By requiring straightforward limit orders, brokers ensure that overnight trades are as clean and executable as possible in a thinner market environment.
Does Robinhood offer 24-hour trading?
Yes, you can execute trades from 8 P.M. ET Sunday until 8 P.M. ET Friday for 900+ stocks on Robinhood. To see all 24-hour stocks, go to the 24-hour market list in the Robinhood App.
In addition to Robinhood, the following brokers offer 24-hour trading:
Our testing
Why you should trust us
Jessica Inskip is Director of Investor Research at StockBrokers.com, bringing 15 years of experience in brokerage and trading strategy. A former FINRA-licensed rep, she held Series 7, 63, 66, and 4 licenses. Jessica focuses on investor education and brokerage industry research, appears regularly on CNBC, Bloomberg, The Schwab Network, Fox Business, and Yahoo! Finance, and hosts the Market MakeHer podcast.
Blain Reinkensmeyer, co-founder of StockBrokers.com, has been investing and trading for over 25 years. After having placed over 2,000 trades in his late teens and early 20s, he became one of the first in digital media to review online brokerages. Today, Blain is widely respected as a leading expert on finance and investing, specifically the U.S. online brokerage industry. Blain has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fast Company, among others. Blain created the original scoring rubrics for StockBrokers.com and oversees all testing and rating methodologies.
How we tested
- We used our own brokerage accounts for testing.
- We collected thousands of data points across the brokers we review.
- We tested each online broker's website, desktop platforms, and mobile app, where applicable.
- We maintained strict editorial independence; brokers cannot pay for inclusion or a higher rating.
Our research team meticulously collected data on every feature of importance to a wide range of customer profiles, including beginners, casual investors, passive investors, and active traders. We carefully track variables like margin rates, trading costs, fees, and platform features and use them to help rate brokers across a range of categories measuring ease of use, range of investments, research, education, and more.
At StockBrokers.com, our reviewers use a variety of computing devices to evaluate platforms and tools. Our reviews and data collection were conducted using the following devices: iPhone SE running iOS 17.5.1, MacBook Pro M1 with 8 GB RAM running the current MacOS, and a Dell Vostro 5402 laptop i5 with 8 GB RAM running Windows 11 Pro.
Each broker was evaluated and scored on over 200 different variables across seven key categories: Range of Investments, Platforms & Tools, Research, Mobile Trading, Education, Ease of Use, and Overall. Learn more about how we test.
Trading platforms tested
We tested 16 online trading platforms for this guide:
Charles Schwab
Interactive Brokers
Fidelity
E*TRADE
Merrill Edge
TradeStation
tastytrade
eToro
