can you buy stocks on webull? Complete guide

This guide answers “can you buy stocks on webull” with a step‑by‑step overview: what securities Webull supports (U.S. stocks, ETFs, fractional shares, OTC, ADRs), how to open and fund accounts, how...

2025-11-01 16:00:00

By Ravi Clark

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Can you buy stocks on Webull?

Yes — can you buy stocks on Webull? Absolutely. Webull is a U.S.-facing online brokerage platform that lets retail investors buy and sell U.S. stocks and ETFs, trade fractional shares, access certain OTC securities and ADRs, and use advanced charting and order types across mobile, desktop, and web. This guide explains exactly how to buy stocks on Webull, what securities are supported, how fractional shares and extended hours work, the fee picture, regulatory protections, precautions, and practical how‑to steps.

As of 2024-06-01, according to Webull’s Help Center and product documentation, Webull offers commission‑free trading on U.S. stocks and ETFs and supports fractional‑share, dollar‑based purchases with low minimums for eligible securities.

What you’ll get from this guide: a clear answer to “can you buy stocks on webull,” step‑by‑step instructions to place trades, an explanation of supported assets and order types, a plain‑language rundown of fees and protections, and answers to common user questions.

Overview of Webull as a brokerage

Webull launched as a retail brokerage platform focused on lower‑cost, app‑first trading with advanced charting and data tools. The platform is positioned for active retail traders and self‑directed investors who want robust technical analysis, watchlists, screeners, and a modern mobile/desktop experience while keeping trading costs low.

Core points at a glance:

Primary offering: commission‑free trading on U.S. stocks and ETFs.
Platforms: mobile apps (iOS/Android), web browser, and desktop application with advanced charting.
Target users: retail traders, DIY investors, and people who want more chart features than basic broker apps.

This article treats the question “can you buy stocks on webull” within a U.S. equities retail brokerage context — it does not cover cryptocurrencies or blockchains in depth. If you need wallet recommendations for Web3, consider Bitget Wallet for secure management of on‑chain assets.

Supported securities

When you ask “can you buy stocks on webull,” it helps to know exactly which stock‑like securities the platform supports. Webull’s inventory includes several asset types relevant to equity investors.

U.S. stocks and ETFs

Webull supports trading of U.S.-listed equities and exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) that trade on U.S. exchanges. You can view real‑time quotes, extended‑hours data, fundamentals, basic company info, and news on each symbol page. Trades can be placed via the mobile app, desktop platform, or web interface.

Fractional shares

One reason many users ask “can you buy stocks on webull” is fractional‑share investing. Webull supports fractional shares for many U.S. stocks and ETFs, allowing dollar‑based purchases rather than whole‑share buys. Key points:

You can place dollar‑amount orders (for example, $25 of a given stock) when the symbol is designated as fractional‑eligible.
Fractional orders are commonly executed as market orders during regular market hours; check the platform for exact execution rules.
Minimums are low: Webull supports small dollar amounts (often $1 minimum) for fractional purchases for eligible securities.

As of 2024-06-01, Webull’s product pages indicate fractional trading is available for most eligible U.S. stocks and ETFs and is intended to lower the cost of building diversified allocations.

Over‑the‑counter (OTC) securities and ADRs

Webull also permits trading of qualifying OTC securities and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). OTC securities carry additional risks: lower liquidity, wider spreads, and less regulatory reporting. If you trade OTC symbols, expect potential volatility and limited price discovery.

International / foreign stocks

Direct access to non‑U.S. exchanges is limited. Webull provides access to international exposure primarily through ADRs and U.S.‑listed ETFs that hold foreign equities. If you need full direct access to foreign exchanges, a broker with international execution or a local brokerage account may be required.

Opening and funding an account

A practical answer to “can you buy stocks on webull” includes the onboarding steps. Opening an account is straightforward, but it requires identity verification consistent with U.S. regulatory requirements.

Steps to open and fund a Webull brokerage account:

Create a Webull account via the mobile app or web platform.
Provide personal information required for verification: name, address, Social Security Number or tax ID (for U.S. applicants), date of birth, employment info, and investment experience questions.
Complete identity verification with required documentation.
Choose account type: individual taxable (cash), margin account, or IRA where offered.
Fund the account using supported methods: ACH bank transfer, wire transfer, or an account transfer from another broker.

Notes:

Margin accounts allow leverage subject to approval; margin approval may require additional steps and minimums.
IRA availability varies; consult the platform’s account options for types of retirement accounts supported.

How to place a stock order on Webull

Answering “can you buy stocks on webull” practically means showing how a trade is placed. Below is a high‑level walkthrough of the process.

Finding and selecting a stock

Use the search bar to enter a company name or ticker symbol.
Open the symbol overview page to review price, extended hours activity, charts, news, earnings, key stats, and fundamentals.
Add symbols to a watchlist or price alerts if you want to monitor before trading.

Order types and settings

Webull supports common order types meaningful for stock buyers:

Market order: buy/sell at the best available price. Market orders are typically used for fractional dollar purchases.
Limit order: specify a maximum buy price or minimum sell price. Useful to control execution price.
Stop order: converts to a market order once a trigger price is hit.
Stop‑limit order: converts to a limit order when the trigger is hit.
Time‑in‑force options: day orders (expire at close if unfilled) and GTC (good‑til‑canceled) where supported.

Important fractional note: fractional or dollar‑based purchases may be restricted to market orders during regular trading hours and may have specific execution handling. Confirm the platform prompt before submitting a fractional order.

Placing the trade and checking order status

Select Buy on the symbol page.
Enter quantity (shares) or dollar amount (for fractional orders).
Choose order type and time‑in‑force.
Review estimated proceeds or cost, any applicable fees, and the order preview.
Submit the order and monitor order status in the Orders or Trade tab until filled.

Webull provides order execution status views (open, partially filled, filled, canceled) so you can follow the lifecycle of your trade.

Trading hours and extended/pre‑/after‑market trading

When users ask “can you buy stocks on webull,” many want to know if they can trade outside regular hours. Webull supports extended trading sessions.

Regular market hours (U.S. equities): 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).
Extended/pre‑market and after‑hours windows: as of 2024-06-01, Webull supports extended sessions that may begin in the premarket early morning and extend into evening after‑hours. Check the platform for current pre‑market and after‑hours start/end times and any restrictions on order types during these sessions.

Limitations during extended hours:

Liquidity can be lower and spreads wider.
Not all order types or fractional orders are accepted in extended sessions; fractional purchases are commonly restricted to regular market hours.

Fees, pricing, and costs

Directly answering “can you buy stocks on webull” also requires understanding what it costs. Webull’s headline is commission‑free stock and ETF trading, but there are other small costs and the broker has revenue sources worth noting.

Commission and transaction costs

Webull advertises zero commissions for trading U.S. stocks and ETFs.
Small regulatory and exchange fees may still apply (for example, SEC and FINRA assessment fees and exchange fees on certain transactions). These fees are typically modest and are disclosed on the trade confirmation or in the brokerage’s fee disclosures.

Payment for order flow, interest, and revenue model

Like many retail brokers, Webull discloses that it earns revenue through several streams: payment for order flow (PFOF), interest on uninvested cash and margin lending, margin interest charged to customers who borrow on margin, securities lending, and subscription or premium services.
Webull’s regulatory filings and customer agreements disclose these revenue sources; consult the broker’s disclosures for details.

Margin and borrowing costs

Margin accounts let qualified customers borrow to increase purchasing power. Margin borrowing incurs interest; rates vary by loan balance and change over time.
Margin increases both potential gains and potential losses and carries the risk of margin calls.

Platform features and tools relevant to stock buying

Part of answering “can you buy stocks on webull” is assessing whether the platform has the research and execution tools you need. Webull bundles a set of tools attractive to active retail investors.

Charting, technical indicators, and screeners

Webull provides multi‑timeframe charts, dozens of technical indicators, drawing tools, and customizable charts on desktop and mobile.
Stock screeners allow filtering by fundamentals, technical criteria, price, volume, and other metrics to find potential ideas.

Fractional investing interface and examples

When a symbol is fractional‑eligible, the buy interface typically allows you to toggle between entering a share quantity or a dollar amount.
Example: to buy $50 of a stock priced at $250 per share, enter $50 and submit a dollar‑based market order (subject to eligibility and execution rules).

Paper trading and learning resources

Webull provides a paper trading environment where users can practice order entry, test strategies, and learn the platform without risking real capital.
Educational materials, help center articles, and in‑app tours help new users get started.

Account types and special accounts

When answering “can you buy stocks on webull,” remember account structure matters:

Individual taxable cash account: standard broker account where you trade only with settled funds.
Margin account: lets qualified traders borrow for leverage and enables features such as short selling (subject to approval and margin maintenance requirements).
Retirement accounts (IRAs): where offered, IRAs follow tax rules and may have trading restrictions compared to taxable accounts.

Account type affects settlement timing, dividend handling, tax forms, and whether you can borrow on margin.

Security, regulation, and investor protection

Regulatory protections and data security are important to users asking “can you buy stocks on webull.” Key protections:

Webull is a member of FINRA; brokerage activities are regulated under U.S. securities rules.
Client securities and cash held at a SIPC‑member broker are protected by SIPC up to applicable limits (SIPC provides protection up to $500,000 per customer, including up to $250,000 in cash, subject to SIPC rules).
Brokers often provide supplemental insurance beyond SIPC for additional protection; check Webull’s account disclosures for details.
Webull uses industry standard security practices (two‑factor authentication available, encryption for communications). Maintain strong credentials and enable multi‑factor authentication.

Risks, limitations and considerations when buying stocks on Webull

When answering “can you buy stocks on webull,” balance functionality with risks and platform nuances.

Execution quality: commission‑free does not mean identical execution prices across brokers; execution routing and payment for order flow can impact fills.
Fractional‑share limitations: fractional shares may not be tradeable in extended hours and may have specific settlement or transfer constraints.
OTC liquidity and corporate reporting: OTC symbols may exhibit low liquidity, greater spreads, and higher risk of information asymmetry.
Margin risks: margin amplifies losses and can trigger margin calls; ensure you understand maintenance requirements before using margin.

Comparisons with other brokers

If you still ask “can you buy stocks on webull” because you’re comparing platforms, consider these differentiators:

Cost: Webull’s core stock and ETF commission model is comparable to many zero‑commission brokers.
Tools: Webull’s charting and technical tools are more advanced than many app‑only brokers and closer to desktop trading platforms.
Fractional shares: Webull supports fractional investing for eligible U.S. stocks and ETFs; policies and minimums differ across brokers.
International access: Webull’s international trade access is limited compared with brokers offering direct foreign exchange execution.

Choose a broker based on the combination of costs, available securities, trading tools, education, and customer support.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q: Can you buy stocks on Webull if you live outside the U.S.?
A: Non‑U.S. residents can open accounts in certain jurisdictions where Webull operates, subject to local eligibility rules and documentation. Residency and tax requirements vary; check Webull’s account eligibility disclosures for your country.

Q: Is there a minimum deposit to start buying stocks on Webull?
A: Many Webull accounts can be opened with no minimum deposit for standard cash accounts; margin or certain account types may have minimum requirements. Confirm the current minimums on the platform.

Q: Can you buy fractional shares in premarket or after‑hours sessions?
A: Fractional orders are commonly restricted to regular market hours and executed as market orders; extended hours fractional trading is typically not supported. Confirm the platform rules at the time you trade.

Q: How are dividends handled on fractional shares?
A: When you hold a fractional share, dividend entitlement is pro‑rata. Webull’s dividend processing allocates the cash dividend proportionally to your fractional holding. Dividend timing and settlement follow the issuer’s dividend schedule.

Q: Can I transfer my whole account (including fractional holdings) away from Webull to another broker?
A: Account transfers are possible via ACAT transfers, but fractional shares and non‑transferable instruments may be sold and transferred as cash. Transfer rules differ by receiving broker; consult both brokers before initiating a transfer.

Practical step‑by‑step: buy your first stock on Webull (quick walkthrough)

Sign up and complete account verification.
Fund your account via ACH or wire.
Search for the ticker symbol you want.
On the symbol page, tap Buy.
Enter your order type: share quantity or dollar amount for fractional purchases.
Select market or limit order and time‑in‑force.
Review and submit; monitor order status until filled.

Reporting and current context

As of 2024-06-01, according to Webull’s Help Center, the platform continues to emphasize commission‑free equities trading and fractional shares for eligible U.S. securities. Industry coverage (including Nasdaq and Investopedia guides published in 2023–2024) highlights Webull’s advanced charting and active trader feature set as distinguishing characteristics.

For context on investor protections: SIPC protects brokerage customers up to $500,000 for securities and cash (including a $250,000 cash limit) in the event of broker failure — a protection mentioned in broker disclosures and public guidance from investor protection organizations.

More considerations and next steps

If your immediate question is “can you buy stocks on webull,” the short answer is yes. If you plan to actively trade or use margin, consider these next steps:

Review Webull’s account agreements, margin disclosures, and fee schedules before trading.
Use paper trading to practice order entry and test fractional purchases.
Enable multi‑factor authentication and strong security on your account.
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References and further reading

Sources used to compile this guide include Webull’s official help center and trading pages, industry writeups and how‑to guides from financial media and education sites, and regulatory disclosures. For the most current, binding details on order execution, fees, and account features, consult Webull’s product pages and user agreements.

Webull help center and product documentation (company disclosures).
Investopedia guide to fractional shares and broker comparisons.
Nasdaq investor guides and broker reviews.

As of 2024-06-01, these sources describe Webull’s commission‑free U.S. stock and ETF trading, fractional‑share availability, extended trading windows, and the platform’s toolset for retail investors.