For self-directed investors wanting to hold individual bonds to maturity, these platforms provide the deepest inventory and best tools:
: Best for global and active traders . It boasts the widest selection, with over 1 million global bonds available, though it requires a steeper learning curve than domestic-focused brokers. where to buy municipal bonds online
Buying municipal bonds (munis) online is a "choose your own adventure" between buying (like a specific local bridge project) or bond funds (a diversified basket). 1. Top Online Brokers for Individual Bonds For self-directed investors wanting to hold individual bonds
: For higher returns, the VanEck High Yield Muni ETF (HYD) targets riskier, non-investment-grade bonds. 3. Essential Research Tool: EMMA Essential Research Tool: EMMA : Ranked best overall
: Ranked best overall for bond trading in 2026. It offers access to over 100,000 offerings and a unique "Bond Ladder" tool to help you stagger maturities and manage interest rate risk.
: The gold standard for low-cost passive funds . Popular options like the Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEB) provide broad exposure with extremely low expense ratios (around 0.03%). Specialized ETFs :