Webull is a popular online trading platform that allows users to trade stocks, ETFs, and other securities with zero commissions. Whether you’re using a real trading account or a paper trading account (Webull’s simulator for practice), the platform offers a user-friendly interface that caters to both beginners and experienced traders.
This guide provides a detailed walkthrough on how to buy and sell stocks and ETFs on Webull, using both real and paper trading accounts as examples. We’ll also explain key features, such as order types, durations, widgets, and different methods of executing trades.
Getting Started: The Trading Interface
To begin trading on Webull, you need to navigate to the “Trade” tab from the main dashboard. This is where all your buying and selling activities take place.
Once on the trading interface, you can select the stock or ETF you wish to buy. For this guide, we’ll use Apple Inc. (AAPL) as the example stock.
Understanding the Trade Widget
The trade widget is where you configure and execute your trades. It is typically located on the right side of the screen, but you can reposition it anywhere on your interface.
When you want to buy a stock:
- Click the “Buy” button until the trade widget turns green.
- Enter the quantity of shares (e.g., 10 shares).
- Choose your order type (Limit or Market).
- Select your order duration (Good for Day or Good ‘Til Canceled).
- Click “Place Order.”
Let’s dive deeper into each component.
Market vs. Limit Orders: What’s the Difference?
Webull offers several types of orders, but the two most common for beginners are Market Orders and Limit Orders.
🔹 Limit Order
A limit order allows you to set the price at which you want to buy or sell a stock. For example:
- If Apple’s stock is trading at $139.50 and you place a limit order at $139.26, the shares will only be bought if the price drops to or below $139.26.
🕓 With a limit order, you must also choose a time frame:
- GFD (Good for Day): The order expires at the end of the trading day if not filled.
- GTC (Good ‘Til Canceled): The order remains active until it’s filled or manually canceled — this could be days or even weeks later.
🔹 Market Order
A market order buys or sells a stock at the current best available price. This type of order is executed almost instantly.
For example, placing a market order to buy 10 shares of Apple might result in a fill price of $139.34 — slightly above or below the current market price due to real-time fluctuations.
Viewing Your Positions and Orders
Once your order is filled, your stock appears under the Positions tab, where you can see:
- Quantity: Number of shares owned.
- Market Value: Current price × number of shares.
- Last Price: The most recent trade price.
- Average Price: Your average purchase price.
- Total Cost: The total amount you paid.
- Unrealized P&L: Your current profit or loss, not yet realized.
Additionally, the Orders tab shows:
- Pending orders waiting to be filled.
- Executed orders.
- Canceled orders.
These widgets are crucial for tracking your trades and managing your portfolio efficiently.
Selling Stocks on Webull
Selling a stock is similar to buying, but the interface turns red when you switch to “Sell” mode.
Steps to Sell:
- Click the Sell button on the trade widget.
- Choose your order type: Market or Limit.
- Set the price (for limit orders) or proceed directly (for market orders).
- Choose the duration of the order.
- Click Trade to place the order.
Example:
If you believe Apple stock will rise to $145, you can set a limit sell at $145. The order will execute only if the price reaches that level. If you’re content with the current price and want a fast exit, a market sell will close the position immediately.
Once sold, your profits (or losses) will be reflected in the Day’s P&L on your dashboard.
Advanced Order Placement Using Charts
Webull also allows you to place orders directly from the chart interface:
- Right-click inside the chart area.
- Choose “New Order” or “New Advanced Order.”
- A pop-up trade window will appear, prefilled with the stock symbol.
- Configure your trade the same way as before (choose quantity, order type, etc.).
This is a quick and visual way to execute trades, especially for those who use charting tools in their analysis.
Real Account vs. Paper Trading
While the overall process of buying and selling is nearly identical between real and paper accounts, there are a few differences to note:
✅ Real Account:
- You can set Stop Loss and Take Profit orders.
- Your trades affect real money.
- You receive additional features, such as fractional share trading and extended hours trading.
📝 Paper Account:
- Designed for practice only — no real money involved.
- Great for testing strategies.
- Lacks some advanced order options (e.g., stop loss/take profit settings).
Managing Existing Positions
To manage or exit an existing position from the Positions tab:
- Locate the stock you want to modify.
- Click the three dots next to it.
- Choose from options like:
- Close Order
- Set Stop Loss/Take Profit
- View Quote
- Create New Order
- View Order Details
Selecting Close Order opens a prefilled sell window, making it quick and easy to exit your trade with one click.
Tips for Successful Trading on Webull
Here are some helpful tips to enhance your trading experience:
- Use Limit Orders for better control over your entry and exit prices.
- Market Orders are ideal for fast execution, especially for long-term positions.
- Monitor Widgets like Orders and Positions to stay updated in real-time.
- Practice with Paper Trading to refine your skills risk-free.
- Enable Extended Hours Trading if you want to trade pre-market or after-hours.
- Use Stop Losses and Take Profits (real accounts only) to manage risk.
How to Buy and Sell Stocks and ETFs on Webull – Final Thoughts
Trading on Webull is straightforward once you familiarize yourself with the platform’s tools and order types. Whether you’re placing your first stock trade or managing a portfolio of ETFs, understanding how to navigate the interface, choose the right order type, and track your positions is essential for long-term success.
With features like customizable widgets, advanced order types, and seamless switching between paper and real accounts, Webull is a powerful platform that supports both novice and experienced traders.
Now that you know how to buy and sell stocks and ETFs on Webull, you’re ready to start trading with confidence.
