• Stocks on the Move - Check out which companies are Zecco’s current ‘Gainers,’ ‘Losers,’ and ‘Most Actives.’
  
• No minimum dollar-requirement to open an account.
• 10 Free Stock Trades Per Month
  

Social networking tools - Unlike many of the other online stock trading services, Zecco is really a community-driven website, ensuring that those new to the game have the support they need and aren't left to sink or swim on their own.

While Zecco was launched in 2006, it is no stranger to the stock trading industry. Founded by former Merrill Lynch Vice President Jeroen Veth, based on their tag line, “where traditional online stock brokerages zig, Zecco zags”. Its founders know a thing or two about finance and it shows! Think of it as the "alternative" online stock trading website.

Not only does Zecco Trading offer a community atmosphere that benefits both novice and experienced online stock traders, they also offer something completely unheard of in online stock trading... Zecco does not require a minimum account balance (except on margin accounts) and they allow up to 10 trades per month. After that, trades are amazingly-low at $4.50 each.

We liked the color scheme on Zecco and thought it looked really technologically savvy. Although very busy and possibly overwhelming to novice Internet users, finding information on opening an account took barely any time at all and comprehending the ins and the outs of trading with Zecco was effortless. From Zecco's pricing to their privacy policy, everything was easy to find, laid out well and presented in a simple and straightforward manner. We liked how blog and forum threads were displayed, for those eager to jump in on stock trading chat time. A clearly displayed ‘Market Data’ tab makes it painless to monitor vitals like the DJI and customized watch lists. Very resourceful.

If you’re ready to get in on the action and begin trading, the Zecco stock trading signup process is pretty self-explanatory. When we clicked on ‘Open a Brokerage Account,’ we got a little impatient as the application took some time to load.  After it downloaded, we were given the option to sign in with our Zecco username or to create a new user id and password.

The application was very straightforward, with easy-to-follow steps and the option to save what we had entered to come back and finish it later. Get stumped? The telephone support number is listed throughout the application process. You might be asked to send in some paperwork, so anyone who doesn’t wish to do this may want to forgo this site. After your application is complete, you can begin trading and sign in through myZecco.

More than any other stock trading service, Zecco recognizes the importance of combining community-driven features with simple usability. We applaud this feat, as it’s often difficult to maintain a quality service with such a great following. When you log into your Trading Center, you’ll be greeted with your Account Overview and trading platforms.

When you click on ‘Balances,’ you can check out your withdrawals, net cash balances and available trade funds. Executions are updated in real-time and Quotes clue you in on vitals like Market Price, Opening Price, High/Low of the day, Volume, Price Change, etc. Everything you need to manage your portfolio and trade is available in a user-friendly format.

• 10 free trades/month ($2,500 minimum to qualify), $4.50/trade thereafter
• Account protection-up to $35 million.  
• Options: $4.50 per Trade / $.50 per contract, including complex options.
• No minimum IRAs with options trading privileges.

Customer Support:

Star Reviews was a little disappointed that customer support links weren’t very visible on the main page, as they were listed under ‘About Us’ in tiny print at the bottom of the site. They offer customer service via FAQs database, email support and phone support. When we called customer service, we spoke with a very friendly and knowledgeable rep who helped us understand exactly what we could and could not do with a Zecco trading account.

Email support was also very responsive, providing us with a detailed and helpful answer to our question in just one business day. The FAQs were very comprehensive, with helpful answers to many questions Zecco traders may run into.  There is even a glossary of brokerage terms, which our team truly appreciated. Still need help? Put Zecco’s community functions to good use and ask another trader!

Upside:

Free trades, great customer service, online community support.

Downside:

If you open more than one account with Zecco, only one of the accounts is entitled to the free trades.

Summary:

Zecco Trading is going above and beyond the offerings of a traditional online stock trading service. They are recognizing the need of a friendly, even fun-filled atmosphere when dealing with portfolios and finance in general. We loved the Zecco blogs, where a number of members were writing, commenting and offering advice for fellow brokers. In terms of features, Zecco doesn’t disappoint, offering very user-friendly functions. We loved the 10 free trades deal per day and hope they keep this around! Customer support was excellent, leaving us with a very positive impression of Zecco Online Stock Trading.