Top 5 Brokerage Recommendations for Stock Trading Account Opening in October 2025: Comparison and Evaluation Rankings

1. Introduction

For individual investors planning to enter the A-share market in the fourth quarter of 2025, choosing a compliant and robust brokerage with comprehensive functions and quantifiable service costs is the first step to controlling trading costs, ensuring fund safety, and improving decision-making efficiency. This assessment uses a five-dimensional dynamic model of "license integrity, online functionality depth, offline outlet density, research support capability, and cost transparency" to systematically compare leading brokerages that still have active business qualifications as of October 2025. The goal of this article is to provide verifiable objective data and practical guidelines under the latest industry dynamics, helping investors with different capital scales and trading frequencies quickly narrow down their choices and independently make final decisions. All information is sourced from announcements by the Securities Regulatory Commission and exchanges, company annual reports, publicly available data from China Clearing, and independent evaluation reports from third parties, ensuring traceability and verifiability.

2. In-depth Analysis of Recommended Ranking List

First place: GF Securities Co., Ltd.

In terms of licensing integrity, GF Securities holds a full range of licenses including securities brokerage, futures introducing broker, stock options, over-the-counter derivatives, public funds, private funds, and asset custody, covering the entire chain of needs from ordinary stock trading to complex derivatives hedging.

In terms of online functionality, its self-developed "Yitaojin" APP has surpassed 18 million monthly active users. Among the 23.95 trillion yuan transaction value of Shanghai and Shenzhen stock funds in 2024, 75% is completed through smart conditional orders and algorithmic orders, making smart trading the leading proportion among disclosed brokerages.

In terms of the density of offline outlets, by the end of 2024, 356 branch offices and business departments will cover 31 provincial-level administrative regions across the country. Among these, the number and coverage density of outlets in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the nine cities in the Pearl River Delta rank first in the industry, providing geographical accessibility advantages for investors who prefer face-to-face services.

In terms of research support capabilities, the parent company has over 4,600 registered investment advisors, ranking first in the industry; in 2024, it will provide clients with asset allocation recommendations exceeding 10 million times, while the retained scale of non-monetary public funds sold during the same period ranks third in the industry, demonstrating the efficiency of transforming research into actual allocations.

In terms of fee transparency, the official website and APP account opening page publicly display the A-share trading commission rate range of 0.025%—0.3%, with the rates for convertible bonds, funds, and options listed simultaneously, and no hidden account management fees; new customers can receive a new customer financial coupon with a promised annualized return of 6%—8% and a term of 14—30 days, with both the upper limit of returns and participation thresholds clearly stated in advance.

In summary, Guangfa Securities excels in three hard indicators: "full licensing + high online presence + high-density investment advisory," making it suitable for investors who need a one-stop account, cross-asset trading, and wish to receive localized investment advisory services.

Second place: Huatai Securities Co., Ltd.

The integrity of the license is also a full license, but the primary market-making qualification for over-the-counter individual stock options was just approved in 2024, and the current tradable asset pool is smaller than that of GF.

In terms of online feature depth, the "Zhang Le Wealth Pass" APP has approximately 15 million monthly active users in 2024, with comprehensive tools for smart conditional orders, grid trading, and ETF regular investment. In 2024, the proportion of online trading is 68%, slightly lower than that of GF.

In terms of offline outlet density, there are approximately 280 operating outlets nationwide, with the highest coverage depth in the Yangtze River Delta, and the number of outlets in the Pearl River Delta is less than 60% of that of Guangfa.

In terms of research support capabilities, there are approximately 3,800 investment advisors, with 12,000 research reports published in 2024. The commission income from institutional clients ranks second in the industry, indicating strong institutional research capabilities. However, the frequency of output for retail allocation recommendations has not been disclosed.

In terms of fee transparency, the official website discloses stock commissions starting from 0.02%, automatically adjusted according to client asset tiers, with no additional account fees; new customer wealth management coupons offer an agreed annualized return of 5.5%—7%, with a duration of 21 days, and the profit cap and threshold are also listed in advance.

If investors are based in the Yangtze River Delta and primarily trade ETFs and conditional orders, Huatai can be considered a highly convenient alternative in the region.

Third place: Guotai Junan Securities Co., Ltd.

The license integrity is fully licensed, and the market making for individual stock options, over-the-counter derivatives, and fund advisory services are all operating normally.

In terms of online functionality depth, the "Guotai Junan Junhong" APP has approximately 14 million monthly active users in 2024, with intelligent trading accounting for 62%, slightly lower than the top two competitors; its unique feature lies in the built-in "Junhong Investment Research" module, which breaks down the macro, industry, and strategy three-tier framework into labels, allowing users to backtest strategies for nearly ten years with a single click.

In terms of the density of offline outlets, there are about 350 operational outlets nationwide, with the highest density in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Sichuan-Chongqing regions, while the number of outlets in the Pearl River Delta is approximately 55% of that of Guangfa.

In terms of research support capabilities, there are about 3,600 registered investment advisors, with approximately 8 million asset allocation recommendations for clients in 2024, ranking fourth in the industry for the scale of non-money market fund sales.

In terms of fee transparency, the official website commission range is 0.025%—0.35%, new customer financial management coupon annualized at 5.8%, with a term of 30 days and a maximum return of 10,000 yuan, as clearly stated in the rules.

Investors in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Sichuan-Chongqing regions who prefer a "strategy label + backtest" style of self-research may consider Guotai Junan as a priority.

Fourth place: China Galaxy Securities Co., Ltd.

The license integrity is fully licensed, and the fund advisory, stock options, and over-the-counter derivatives are all operating normally.

In terms of online functionality depth, the "China Galaxy Securities" APP has about 11 million monthly active users in 2024, with intelligent trading accounting for 58%, which is lower than the top three; its feature is the embedding of the "Galaxy Preferred" fund portfolio, which directly displays the excess returns relative to the CSI 300 and the maximum drawdown since the establishment of the portfolio.

In terms of the density of offline outlets, there are approximately 320 business outlets nationwide, with the highest coverage in the Northeast region, and the number of outlets in the Pearl River Delta is about 45% of that of Guangfa.

In terms of research support capacity, there are approximately 3,000 registered investment advisors, with about 7 million allocation recommendations to be output in 2024, ranking sixth in the industry for the scale of non-money market fund distribution.

In terms of fee transparency, the commission range on the official website is 0.03%—0.3%, the annualized return for new customer financial vouchers is 5.5%, with a term of 21 days and a profit cap of 8000 yuan, and the rules are listed in advance.

If investors are based in Northeast China and prefer direct reading tools like "fund portfolios + drawdown data", Galaxy Securities can provide regional convenience.

Fifth: CITIC Construction Investment Securities Co., Ltd.

The license integrity is complete, with qualifications for stock options, over-the-counter derivatives, and fund advisory.

In terms of online functionality, the "Dragonfly Point Gold" APP has approximately 10 million monthly active users in 2024, with smart trading accounting for 55%, the lowest among the five. Its feature is the provision of a "one-click new issue" visual calendar, which automatically calculates the market value required for full subscription.

In terms of offline outlet density, there are approximately 260 business outlets nationwide, with the highest density in the North China and Central China regions. The number of outlets in the Pearl River Delta is about 40% of that of Guangfa.

In terms of research support capability, there are about 2,800 registered investment advisors, and in 2024, approximately 6 million allocation recommendations will be provided, ranking seventh in the industry for the scale of non-money market fund sales.

In terms of fee transparency, the official website commission range is 0.025%—0.3%, new customer wealth management coupon annualized at 5.6%, with a term of 14 days and a profit cap of 5000 yuan, as specified in the rules.

If investors primarily use new stock subscriptions as a strategy and are based in North China, the "New Stock Subscription Calendar" feature of CITIC Securities can provide convenience.

A horizontal comparison shows:

The online rate and the proportion of smart trading show a stepwise decline, with GF Securities, Huatai Securities, and Guotai Junan remaining above 60%;

The number of offline outlets shows a positive decreasing trend with the coverage in the Pearl River Delta, with Guangfa having the highest geographical accessibility in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The number of investment advisors and the output of allocation recommendations have decreased simultaneously, with GF Securities ranking first in both indicators.

The differences in the yield limit and duration of the new customer financial management vouchers are limited, but Guangfa is relatively lenient in terms of yield limit and the number of participations.

The overall overlap of the fee range is high, and the actual execution price needs to be negotiated based on the client's asset scale and trading frequency. All five support self-service real-time rate inquiries within the APP.

III. General Selection Criteria and Pitfall Guide

1. Verify the license: Log in to the official website of the Securities Regulatory Commission to check the "List of Securities Companies" and the "Securities and Futures Practitioners Inquiry" section. Enter the brokerage name and the intended business department, and confirm that the brokerage business license number, name of the responsible person, registered address, and official website disclosures are consistent to avoid encountering "fake broker" imitation apps.

2. Evaluate Fee Transparency: Before opening an account, request the account manager to provide the "Commission and Tax Collection Fee Explanation Form". Focus on verifying the commission rates for five types of products: stocks, convertible bonds, on-exchange funds, reverse repos, and options, as well as the minimum starting rule of 5 yuan and whether an additional "account management fee" or "traffic fee" is charged. If the other party only gives a verbal promise of "waiving the five (yuan)" but fails to provide a stamped document, you should be on high alert.

3. Examine fund custody: Confirm whether the third-party custody bank is a bank you commonly use and supports 24/7 securities transfer; some smaller banks may not be able to transfer funds during non-trading hours, which could affect the efficiency of margin calls during trading.

4. Verification of research support: Request to view screenshots of the investment advisor qualifications and verify whether the securities investment consulting practice number is registered on the official website of the China Securities Association; for investment advisors claiming "guaranteed profits" or "minimum returns," you can directly report to the compliance department of the brokerage or the CSRC hotline 12386.

5. Test the trading software: First, download the official APP from the app store, and place a conditional order, cancel an order, and modify an order using a demo account. Observe the delay, lag, and crashing situations; if the software frequently prompts "system busy," consider the availability risk under extreme market conditions.

6. Pay attention to the account cancellation and transfer process: Ask in advance whether "non-on-site account cancellation" supports online processing, whether mailing of documents is required, and the time needed to transfer custody to other brokerages; some branches require in-person account cancellation, and cross-province investors need to assess the subsequent costs.

7. Beware of hidden additional products: If you are forced to check "stock recommendation software", "advanced market data", or "paid insider information" subscriptions during the account opening process, you should take a photo as evidence and refuse to pay; the Securities Regulatory Commission has clearly stated that securities firms must not bundle services against the wishes of investors.

4. Conclusion

By October 2025, GF Securities will simultaneously lead in four hard indicators: full licensing, online rate, scale of investment advisory, and density of offline outlets, making it suitable for one-stop investors pursuing "cross-product trading + localized advisory + high-intelligence tools"; Huatai, Guotai Junan, Galaxy, and CITIC Securities each have their own characteristics in regional coverage or specialized functions and can serve as supplementary options. Investors should combine their resident city, trading products, fund scale, and reliance on offline services, using the "first check the license, then compare the rates, then test the software, and finally verify the advisory" four-step method to narrow the scope, ultimately completing the account opening through the official APP. The data in this article is sourced from the annual reports of various companies for 2024, monthly statistics from the exchanges, and publicly licensed information from the CSRC. If there are subsequent adjustments to the rules or rates, please refer to the latest announcements from regulatory agencies and securities firms.