When you start investing, you’ll likely hear the debate: Should you put your money into a traditional, established broker (like Fidelity) or a dedicated crypto exchange (like Coinbase)?
For the average beginner, the answer is simple: You should use an all-in-one brokerage.
Managing separate accounts for your Roth IRA (stocks) and your Bitcoin (crypto) is a hassle. It makes tracking your net worth difficult and creates unnecessary complexity. The best option is finding a commission-free brokerage that allows you to buy stocks, ETFs, and crypto all under one roof.
However, not all "all-in-one" platforms are created equal. Some offer direct crypto ownership, and some only offer derivative products. Here are the best, most beginner-friendly platforms that allow you to invest in both worlds.
🏆 The Winner: Best for the Beginner All-in-One Investor
Webull
Webull is the perfect choice for the modern beginner investor who wants a single, commission-free app to handle all their assets. It seamlessly integrates a surprisingly good selection of cryptocurrencies with a robust stock and ETF trading platform.
- Best For: Users who want to actively trade both stocks/ETFs and popular cryptocurrencies in one clean, mobile-first app.
- Crypto Offering: Offers dozens of popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Dogecoin.
- Crypto Fees: $0.00 commission, but like many apps, they apply a built-in spread markup (often 1% of the price) on crypto trades.
- Stock Offering: Offers $0 commission on U.S. stocks, options, and ETFs.
- Key Advantage: Webull is ideal because it provides excellent charting tools and technical indicators for both traditional and crypto assets, allowing the beginner to transition from simple buy-and-hold to more active trading using a single set of tools. Their recent partnership with Coinbase infrastructure also bolsters their security and custody strength.
The Runner-Up: Best for Simplicity and Social Investing
Robinhood
Robinhood was the first platform to fully integrate commission-free stock and crypto trading in a hyper-simple, mobile-first design. It remains a top-tier choice purely for its ease of use and $0 fee structure.
- Best For: Beginners prioritizing a minimalist interface and a commission-free experience across all asset classes.
- Crypto Offering: A limited but well-known selection of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, etc.).
- Crypto Fees: $0.00 commission and no account minimum.
- Stock Offering: $0 commission on stocks, ETFs, and options.
- Key Advantage: Robinhood offers the cleanest, fastest experience for simultaneous stock and crypto trading. For a beginner, the simplicity of using one platform for everything—from fractional shares of stocks to fractional coins of Bitcoin—is a major benefit. Its social features also make investing feel less intimidating.
The Best for Institutional Security (The Traditional Broker)
Fidelity Investments
While Fidelity is the king of low-cost traditional investing, its approach to crypto is different but highly attractive to the security-minded, passive investor. They focus on security and transparency over active trading features.
- Best For: Passive, long-term investors prioritizing the security and reputation of a trillion-dollar institution for holding Bitcoin and Ethereum.
- Crypto Offering: A limited selection, primarily Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), and other major coins through its Fidelity Crypto® account.
- Crypto Fees: Transparent pricing, typically a 1% bid-ask spread added to the execution price, which is clear and consistent.
- Stock Offering: The best overall platform for traditional investments, offering $0 commission, fractional shares, and industry-leading research.
- Key Advantage: Fidelity allows you to manage your traditional brokerage, your Roth IRA, and your crypto assets all within the same ecosystem. Crucially, they also allow you to invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs (Exchange-Traded Products) within tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs, which is often a tax-efficient way to gain exposure without direct crypto ownership.
Head-to-Head: All-in-One vs. Dedicated Exchange
A key decision for any beginner is deciding between a traditional All-in-One Broker (like Webull or Robinhood) and a dedicated Crypto Exchange (like Coinbase).
| Feature | All-in-One Broker (Webull, Robinhood) | Dedicated Crypto Exchange (Coinbase, Kraken) |
| Asset Focus | Stocks, ETFs, Options (Crypto is secondary) | Crypto (Hundreds of coins) |
| User Experience | Single, unified dashboard for all assets. | Separate platforms for crypto and traditional assets (if offered at all). |
| Fees on Crypto | Often $0 Commission, but uses a built-in spread (markup). | Varies widely, from low commissions (Kraken Pro) to high transaction fees (Coinbase Basic). |
| Ownership Type | Often uses crypto custody (you own the asset, the broker holds the key). | Allows for self-custody (you hold your own keys) for true decentralized control. |
| Best For | Beginners prioritizing convenience and passive investing across asset classes. | Advanced users, high-volume trading, and those who need a large selection of "Altcoins." |
Final Verdict: Convenience and Security Win
For a beginner, keeping everything organized is paramount. The low-cost and ease of use offered by Webull make it the best starting point for the hybrid investor. However, if you are planning to invest the bulk of your money into traditional retirement accounts and just want small, secure exposure to Bitcoin, using the established name of Fidelity is the safest, most stable route.
