Institutional users choose "best investing platforms" with dark‑pool access for block trades, especially as energy sector M&A activity lifts mid‑cap oil producers' valuations. IonQ believes its trapped-ion architecture offers several advantages over superconducting, the main rival technology. In particular, its cost per system is much lower. The infrastructure requirements for IonQ's systems are also less complicated. While the platform fee of 0.25% is at the lower end of the traditional trading platforms, it’s charged on shares as well as funds (although capped at £42 per year for shares). AJ Bell offers monthly investing, as well as tools including stop loss orders, and pays interest on cash balances. In 2024, investors evaluating "best investing platforms" are focusing on metrics like execution speed, real‑time market data integration, and commission structures, especially as the S&P 500 rebounds above 5100 amid tech sector momentum and rising AI infrastructure demand.