What WeBull is and how to start trading

WeBull is a brokerage platform where you can buy and sell stocks, options, cryptocurrencies, and other securities through your phone or computer. You create an account, fund it with money, and then place trades directly. WeBull does not charge commissions on most stock and options trades, though you pay spreads (the difference between buy and sell prices) and may face other fees depending on what you trade.

To start, you download the WeBull app or visit the website, create an account with your email and personal information, and complete identity verification. WeBull will ask for your Social Security number and address to confirm who you are — this is a legal requirement for all brokerages. Once verified, you link a bank account and transfer money in. Your cash sits in a money market fund until you use it to buy securities.

WeBull holds your securities in a brokerage account registered in your name. If WeBull fails, your holdings are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) up to $500,000 per account type. This means your stocks and cash are yours even if the company goes under — they do not disappear.

Key Takeaways

  • WeBull lets you trade stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies without paying commissions, but you pay the spread (the gap between buy and sell prices) on every trade.
  • You must complete identity verification with your Social Security number and address before you can fund your account and trade.
  • Your securities and cash are protected by SIPC insurance up to $500,000 if WeBull fails, so your holdings remain yours.
  • WeBull offers extended trading hours (4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time) on stocks, which is wider than the standard market hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Margin accounts let you borrow money to buy more securities than your cash allows, but you pay interest and risk losing more than you invested.

How buying and selling works on WeBull

When you place a trade, you choose a security (a stock ticker like AAPL, or a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin), decide how many shares or units you want, and pick an order type. The most common order type is a market order, which buys or sells immediately at the current price. A limit order lets you set a price ceiling (for buying) or floor (for selling) — the trade only goes through if the price reaches that level.

WeBull executes most orders in seconds during market hours. The price you see on screen is not may provide — by the time your order reaches the exchange, the price may have moved. This is called slippage. During extended hours (before 9:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Eastern time), trading is thinner, so slippage is often larger and execution can be slower.

When you sell a security, WeBull credits your account with the proceeds minus any fees. The cash becomes available to withdraw or reinvest immediately, though the actual transfer to your bank account takes one to three business days. If you sell a stock you bought less than 30 days ago, you may trigger a wash sale, which means you cannot deduct the loss on your taxes — this is an IRS rule, not a WeBull rule, but WeBull's tax documents will flag it.

Understanding WeBull's fee structure

WeBull charges no commission on stock trades, options trades, or cryptocurrency trades. However, you pay the spread — the difference between the bid price (what buyers offer) and the ask price (what sellers want). On a liquid stock like Apple, the spread might be one cent per share. On a thinly traded stock or during extended hours, the spread can be much wider.

Other fees include a $50 wire transfer fee if you withdraw money by wire instead of ACH (bank transfer), a $10 monthly fee for margin accounts if your balance is below $2,000, and a $0.65 per contract fee for options trades. WeBull also charges a $38 fee if you close your account and request a full transfer of securities to another brokerage — this is an industry standard called an ACAT transfer fee.

Cryptocurrency trading on WeBull includes a spread but no per-trade commission. The spread on Bitcoin and Ethereum is typically wider than on stocks because the crypto market is less regulated and more volatile. If you hold a cryptocurrency overnight, WeBull does not charge a holding fee, but you earn no interest on cash sitting in your account.

Margin accounts and borrowing to trade

A margin account lets you borrow money from WeBull to buy more securities than your cash balance allows. If you have $5,000 in your account, a margin account might let you buy up to $10,000 worth of stock by borrowing $5,000. You pay interest on the borrowed amount — WeBull's margin interest rate varies but typically ranges from 6% to 12% per year depending on how much you borrow.

Margin is risky. If the stock price falls, you still owe the borrowed money plus interest. If your account value drops below a certain threshold (called the maintenance requirement, usually 25% of the value of your holdings), WeBull will force you to deposit more money or sell securities to cover the shortfall. This is called a margin call. If you do not respond, WeBull will sell your securities without asking you, often at the worst time.

A standard margin account requires a $2,000 minimum balance. WeBull also offers day trading margin accounts, which require $25,000 and let you make unlimited day trades (buying and selling the same security on the same day). Without this account type, you are limited to three day trades per rolling five-day period if your account is under $25,000.

WeBull's research tools and data

WeBull provides real-time stock quotes, charts, and news feeds within the app. You can set price alerts (notifications when a stock hits a certain price), view options chains (all available options contracts for a stock), and read analyst ratings and earnings calendars. These tools are built into the platform at no extra cost.

WeBull also offers paper trading, a practice account where you trade with fake money to learn without risking real funds. Paper trading uses real market prices and executes orders the same way the live platform does, so it is a realistic way to test strategies before committing cash.

For options trading, WeBull shows Greeks (mathematical measures of how an option's price changes with stock price, time, and volatility). This information helps you understand the risk of an options position, but WeBull does not explain what the Greeks mean — you need to learn that separately. WeBull requires you to pass a brief options knowledge test before you can trade options, and different account levels unlock different option strategies (covered calls, spreads, straddles, and so on).

How WeBull handles corporate actions and dividends

When a company you own stock in pays a dividend, WeBull deposits the cash into your account on the payment date. You do not have to do anything — dividends are automatic if you own the stock on the record date (the date the company sets to determine who gets paid). WeBull shows upcoming dividends in the app so you can see what to expect.

If a company splits its stock (for example, one share becomes two), WeBull adjusts your holdings automatically. If you owned 100 shares at $100 each before a 2-for-1 split, you now own 200 shares at $50 each. The total value stays the same, and WeBull handles all the math.

If a company you own issues a special dividend or declares a merger, WeBull notifies you through the app and email. You may have to take action (for example, voting on a merger), but WeBull walks you through the steps. Fractional shares (less than one full share) are held in your account and can be sold, but you cannot transfer fractional shares to another brokerage.

Security and account protection on WeBull

WeBull requires two-factor authentication (a code sent to your phone or email in addition to your password) to log in. You can also set up biometric login (fingerprint or face recognition) on the mobile app. WeBull encrypts data in transit and at rest, meaning your account information is scrambled both when it travels over the internet and when it sits on WeBull's servers.

Your securities are held in street name, meaning WeBull's name appears on the official records, but you own them. If WeBull fails, SIPC insurance protects up to $500,000 per account type (individual, joint, IRA, and so on). Cash in your account is also protected. However, SIPC does not protect you against fraud or theft by WeBull employees — for that, you rely on WeBull's internal controls and cybersecurity.

WeBull is regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You can file a complaint with FINRA if you believe WeBull has treated you unfairly, and FINRA will investigate. WeBull is also a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, which backs the $500,000 insurance limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade 24/7 on WeBull?

No. Stocks trade during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time) and extended hours (4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time). Cryptocurrencies trade around the clock, seven days a week. Options trade only during market hours. Extended-hours trading is thinner and has wider spreads, so execution is slower and less predictable.

What happens if I do not have enough cash to cover a trade?

If you have a cash account (not margin), the trade is rejected. If you have a margin account, WeBull lends you the money and charges interest. You must repay the loan, and if the stock price falls, you still owe the full amount plus interest. Margin amplifies both gains and losses.

Can I transfer my stocks out of WeBull to another brokerage?

Yes, through an ACAT transfer. WeBull charges $38 to process the transfer, and it takes three to five business days. The receiving brokerage may also charge a fee. Your securities move as-is — you do not have to sell them first.

Does WeBull report my trades to the IRS?

Yes. At the end of each year, WeBull sends you a Form 1099-B (for stocks and options) or Form 1099-MISC (for cryptocurrency), which reports your sales to the IRS. You must report all gains and losses on your tax return, even if WeBull does not send a form. Keeping your own records is your responsibility.

What is the difference between a market order and a limit order?

A market order buys or sells immediately at the current price, but you do not know the exact price until the order fills. A limit order sets a price you are willing to pay (for buying) or accept (for selling), but the order may never fill if the price never reaches that level. Limit orders are safer for volatile stocks but slower to execute.