[2026 Guide] Which Brokerage Should You Open? For Beginners, It’s SBI or Rakuten — 6 Online Brokers Compared

Hey everyone, Hirokichi here.

“I want to start investing, but where should I open a brokerage account?” is one of the questions I get asked the most. So today, for beginners who are about to make their investing debut, I’ll line up six major online brokers side by side and try to explain, as clearly as I can, which one is actually the best pick.

The bottom line: when in doubt, SBI or Rakuten won’t let you down

Let me start with the conclusion. If this is your very first account, pick either SBI Securities or Rakuten Securities and you almost can’t go wrong. Both are top-tier in account numbers, charge zero commission on domestic stock trades, offer a wide lineup for the new NISA (Japan’s tax-free investment program), and let you earn points through card-based fund investing — everything a beginner needs, all in one place.

In fact, SBI is No.1 in the industry by account count, and Rakuten has passed 14 million accounts on a single-company basis (Rakuten Group, April 2026). Between just these two, they cover a huge share of Japan’s individual investors. “Everyone uses it” quietly matters a lot for beginners, because it means plenty of information is out there when you get stuck.

Personally, I use SBI as my main account for everyday investing, but if you already collect Rakuten Points in daily life, Rakuten is a great choice too.

Six major online brokers, compared side by side

Let’s start with the big picture. Here are the six online brokers whose names come up most often, lined up by the points beginners care about.

* Fees, reward rates, and stock counts are approximate figures based on each company’s official information as of 2026. The “0 yen” domestic stock fee applies when you meet each broker’s free-trade conditions (such as opting for electronic documents). Always check the latest terms on each official site.

Lined up like this, one thing is clear: domestic stock fees are basically zero everywhere now. That’s exactly why, going forward, the smart move is to choose based on everything else — U.S. stock coverage, the points you earn, and ease of use.

For serious U.S. stock investing, SBI and Monex are strong

If you want to invest in U.S. names like Apple or Nvidia down the road, the number of stocks available is worth checking — and this is where brokers differ quite a bit.

As the chart shows, SBI and Monex lead the pack at around 5,000 stocks, with Rakuten close behind. GMO Click, on the other hand, doesn’t offer U.S. stocks at all (only via CFDs), so if U.S. stocks are your main focus, it’s best to steer clear.

Monex in particular is a great pick for anyone who wants to dig deep into U.S. stocks: since January 2026, U.S. stock and fractional-share trades in a NISA account are completely commission-free, and its analysis tool “Meigara Scouter” has a strong reputation.

What if you’re choosing by how easily you earn points?

Another feature that really pays off for beginners is “card-based fund investing.” This is a system where you pay for your monthly fund contributions with a credit card and earn points based on the amount invested. It pairs perfectly with the new NISA’s fund-investment quota (up to 100,000 yen per month).

Comparing no-annual-fee cards, Monex (Monex Card / d Card) and Matsui (JCB Card) stand out with higher reward rates. SBI and Rakuten are 0.5% by default, but you can push that to 1.0% or more by using a gold card that carries an annual fee.

For example, investing 100,000 yen a month at a 1.0% reward rate earns you 12,000 yen worth of points a year, automatically (Diamond ZAi). Growing your money through investing while also earning points is honestly a pretty sweet deal.

Which one fits you? Recommendations by type

Let me organize all of this by type.

(1) You just don’t want to overthink it and prefer the standard choice → SBI Securities. High all-round strength; you can add U.S. stocks and NISA later, so it’s the safest first account.

(2) You use Rakuten Points and have a Rakuten Card → Rakuten Securities. Turn the points from everyday shopping into investments, and the “iSPEED” app is easy to read.

(3) You want to research U.S. stocks seriously → Monex Securities. Strong in stock count and tools, plus free U.S. stock fees in a NISA account.

(4) You want to start small with solid support → Matsui Securities. Fee-free up to 500,000 yen a day, and this veteran broker is well rated for phone support.

(5) You often use the au / Ponta ecosystem or MUFG Bank → MUFG e-Smart Securities. You earn Ponta Points, with the reassurance of a megabank group.

By the way, there’s no problem holding multiple brokerage accounts (only the NISA account is limited to one company per person). “SBI as the main account, Rakuten for points” is a common split. I keep a full record of my own portfolio in the complete archive of my total-asset updates, so I’d be glad if it helps you picture what real investing looks like.

Opening an account takes just three steps

“Opening an account” sounds hard, but it’s actually very simple.

(1) Apply from the official site by entering your email and basic details. (2) Verify your identity by photographing your My Number card or driver’s license with your phone and uploading it — the account can be ready as soon as the next business day. (3) Deposit funds and set up your contributions. The classic approach is steadily buying an index fund each month through the new NISA’s fund-investment quota.

The key is this: rather than freezing up while hunting for the “perfect” broker, just open one first. Fees are basically zero everywhere, and if it doesn’t suit you, you can simply switch later. Taking that first step is what makes the biggest difference to your assets ten years from now.

* This article is for informational purposes only and does not recommend any specific investment. Please make investment decisions at your own responsibility.

日本語版はこちら → 【2026年版】証券口座はどこがいい？初心者はSBI証券か楽天証券！ネット証券6社を徹底比較

Let’s keep at it, slow and steady. See you next time!

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