If you trade actively (generate $30 a month in commissions) then there are no maintenance or data feed fees at interactivebrokers.com. If you aren't that active, it might still be worth paying the $10 a month fee. One round trip trade for $2 plus a $10 inactivity fee might be less than a $14 round trip somewhere else. Last I knew, there was a $1 minimum ($2 round trip) on equity and options trades.
The futures I trade in my IRAs cost me between $2 and $2.50 per contract on each side. I think single stock futures are about the same price as 100 share stock trades ($1).
For the above fees, you get live quotes, efficient software, (I usually see my trade confirmations within 1-2 seconds of hitting the transmit button) and near zero customer service. You're supposed to know what you are doing, and manage everything online. They will let you call in and have a broker submit an order to close a trade if your internet access fails, but I think there's a $45 surcharge for that. The only way to open a position is through one of their web interfaces.
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