Two Rivals: M1 Finance and Webull
Which broker gives you the tools you need, M1 Finance or Webull? Webull has an advanced trading platform, while M1 offers banking services and pre-built stock and ETF portfolios.
For a full breakdown, keep reading.
Comparison Table
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| Rating |
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| Stocks |
$0 |
$0 |
| Options (per contract) |
na |
$0 |
| Initial Funding Requirement |
$0 |
$0 |
| Inactivity Fee |
$0 |
$0 |
| IRA Annual Fee |
$0 |
$0 |
| Full Account Transfer |
$75 |
$75 |
| Partial Account Transfer |
$75 |
$75 |
| Account Closing Fee |
$0 |
$0 |
| Trading Experience & Technology |
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| Mobile |
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| Research Amenities |
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| Portfolio & Analysis Reports |
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| Customer Service and Education |
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M1 Finance Pros and Cons
With an account at M1 Finance, you get several benefits at low cost. Some key perks are:
- Borrowing cash with investments as collateral
- Checking account with interest and cash back
- Retirement accounts
But there are also drawbacks:
- Monthly fee required for best services
- Investment method can be confusing
- Research tools are weak
Webull Pros and Cons
With a Webull account, strengths include:
- Browser and desktop trading platforms
- Practice (paper) trading
- Detailed stock profiles
Downsides include:
- Weak stock search engine
- Very limited education resources
Category #1: Style of Investing
M1 Finance uses a special system called Pies, which are baskets of ETFs or stocks based on themes like Retirement 2025 or Hedge Funds. You can invest in pre-made Pies or build your own.
There’s no minimum to invest, and there are no commissions. A Pie can even hold just one stock or ETF.
The drawbacks: M1 only offers ETFs and stocks. No mutual funds, bonds, or options. Also, customers don’t send orders directly to the exchanges. M1 sends them at set times each day, so clients don’t control timing or price.
Webull doesn’t manage money for you. Customers trade completely on their own, but this gives them full control over orders and pricing.
Webull also has more types of securities:
- Stocks
- Options
- Futures
- Bonds
- ETFs
- Closed-end funds
Winner: Webull
Category #2: Website Trading
Our M1 test account showed a very basic website. Charts have no tools, only line format, no full-screen option, and just 5 years of history.
Since customers don’t place orders directly, M1 has no order ticket. You just add Pies, and the broker handles the rest.
There is a watchlist and a simple transfer tool for recurring deposits.
Webull’s website itself is basic, but it has a browser platform launched inside the site. With this, clients get:
- Full-screen charts with many tools
- Order ticket with bracket orders
- Ticket for sending multiple orders at once
- Paper trading mode
- Watchlists and alerts
Winner: Webull
Category #3: Desktop Platforms
Webull also has a desktop platform, similar to its browser system, but with custom layouts.
It can’t trade crypto and has fewer indicators, but overall still offers powerful tools.
M1 Finance has no desktop platform at all, which makes sense given its focus on long-term investing, not active trading.
Winner: Webull
Category #4: Mobile Apps
Both brokers have mobile apps. M1’s app is simple, like its website. Charts are basic, and the order ticket is limited. You can browse or build Pies and invest in them.
Webull’s app does much more. It has horizontal charts with technical studies like Bollinger Bands and EMAs. It also has time & sales data and a community forum with trading contests.
Winner: Webull
Category #5: Investment Education
M1 Finance offers a few financial education articles, mostly on personal finance. Topics include:
- The meaning of wealth
- Dividend taxes
- What is a mutual fund?
Webull has short trading-related articles, sometimes just a sentence long. Examples include:
- What is a hard-to-borrow stock?
- How much leverage does Webull offer?
- What are crypto trading hours?
Winner: Draw
Category #6: Screeners and Security Analysis
Webull’s screener scans U.S., Canadian, and Chinese exchanges (though only U.S. trading is allowed). It has about 20 filters.
Stock pages include lots of data, like:
- SEC filings
- News
- Order flow details
- Press releases
M1’s screener has only 4 filters, and stock pages show little info.
Winner: Webull
Category #7: Day Trading
Shorting. Not at M1, but Webull supports it with good tools.
Level II Quotes. Not at M1, but Webull has them for $2/month.
Direct Routing. Not available at either broker.
Routing Fees/Rebates. Not offered at either broker.
Winner: Webull
Category #8 Cash Management
M1 Finance offers a checking account with debit card and FDIC insurance. It includes 1 free ATM withdrawal a month. For $3 monthly, you get 4 withdrawals plus:
- 1% cash back
- APY on idle cash
- Choice of card designs
Webull has no banking tools but pays a high 3.85% APY on uninvested cash.
Winner: M1 Finance
Category #9: Margin Borrowing
M1 Finance has M1 Borrow, a low-cost margin line of credit. You can borrow up to 35% of account value at 5.9%, with no credit check or application.
Webull also has margin accounts, charging 6.74% to 9.74%. It shows clear margin info on each stock profile.
Winner: Draw
Category #10: Miscellaneous Services
IRAs: Both offer retirement accounts. Only M1 has SEP IRAs.
IPO Access: Webull offers IPOs, M1 does not.
Fractional Shares: M1 specializes here with whole-dollar investing. Webull now offers fractional shares too.
Dividend Reinvestment: M1 and Webull both offer DRIPs. M1 requires a $25 cash minimum.
Extended Hours: Webull supports pre-market and after-hours. M1 does not.
Winner: Webull
At Last, Our Recommendations
Beginners: M1 Finance, thanks to its ready-made Pies.
Stock/ETF Trading: Webull, for its strong platforms. M1 has no real trading tools.
Small Accounts: Webull, since M1 requires $100 minimum for taxable accounts and $500 for IRAs.
Long-Term Investors/Retirement Savers: Webull.
Webull vs M1 Finance: Judgment
Both brokers have their own style. Active traders should pick Webull.
Updated on 8/18/2025.
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