You can pocket up to $3,000 in free stock, or up to $1,500 in cash, this month just for opening or moving a brokerage account. Most of these bonuses scale with your deposit, so the biggest numbers take an already large portfolio to unlock. The smallest ones ask for as little as $50.
I’ve spent 15+ years investing in index funds, and no bonus ever moved my net worth the way steady monthly contributions did. But if you’re already opening an account this August, there’s no reason to leave free money on the table.
My team at Motley Fool Money watches these promos year-round, and three brokers stood out this month. Here’s who each one is best for.
1. SoFi Active Investing
Best for: Beginner investors looking for an all-in-one app experience.
SoFi® is the best home base if you want investing, banking, and loans under one login. SoFi Active Investing won our award for the Best Stock Broker for Beginners in 2026, largely because the app makes buying your first shares painless.
This is my pick for someone opening a first account who wants to keep things hassle-free. You can buy fractional shares by dollar amount, so even a small budget can get you invested the same day.
Right now SoFi® is offering up to $3,000 in stock when you fund a new account with at least $50 in the first 45 days. Terms apply. Fair warning, the probability of getting the highest bonus is small, so most people should expect a bonus in the $15 to $30 range.
2. E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
Best for: Funding or moving a large balance
E*TRADE pays one of the biggest headline bonuses here, up to $1,500 in cash. Open a new brokerage account with promo code OFFER26, then fund it within 60 days.
The payout scales with your deposit, from a small credit around $1,000 up to the full $1,500 at $500,000 or more. That makes E*TRADE the play if you’re rolling in a large lump sum, not testing the waters.
3. Charles Schwab
Best for: An easy $50 for just getting started
Schwab has one of the only bonuses you can unlock with pocket change. Deposit at least $50 into a new Schwab brokerage account and its Starter Kit adds $50 of free stock. That $50 arrives as stock, split across five large U.S. companies.
Schwab is also the name I trust most for long-term retirement money, and it won our 2026 award for the Best Stock Broker for IRA Investors. If you plan to open an IRA anyway, the Starter Kit is a free head start. Our Schwab promotions review covers a separate referral bonus up to $1,000 for larger transfers, too.
Pick the broker you’d keep, not just the bonus
I used to be a bonus chaser. It’s fun to get “free money” by opening accounts, moving money around, and taking advantage of limited-time offers.
But I eventually learned that I’d rather sit tight with a broker I love using long term, vs. earning a quick $200 and not enjoying the platform much.
A one-time bonus is a nice bump, but it never compounds. Over the long run, the S&P 500 has returned about 10% a year, according to Motley Fool research on the average stock market return. No sign-up offer keeps pace with that kind of compounding.
If you’re brand new, SoFi® or Schwab get you invested today with almost no cash. See the best stock brokers of 2026 to compare every option, bonus or not.
