E*TRADE Review 2023: Pros, Cons and How It Compares - NerdWallet (2024)

Where E*TRADE shines

Where E*TRADE falls short

What E*TRADE is best for

E*TRADE at a glance

Full details about E*TRADE

Is E*TRADE right for you?

How we review brokers: our methodology

Where E*TRADE shines

Something for everyone: Whether you are a beginner or an advanced trader, E*TRADE has a platform and a mobile app for you. The E*TRADE Web platform and the mobile app offer real-time quotes and market commentary, stock and exchange-traded fund screeners and a good deal of account management. More active traders can turn to the Power E*TRADE platform and app to get technical studies, drawing tools, customizable options chain views, trading ladders and other features for complex strategies.

Tradable securities: E*TRADE offers a wide range of investment choices, from stock, bonds, ETFs and more than 6,500 no-transaction-fee mutual funds, to futures and advanced options strategies.

Educational resources and support: The educational resources and support options on offer from E*TRADE are some of the best. You can watch webinars on diversification and technical analyses as well as on more-complex topics like options trading. There are online investing courses from Morningstar that cover a host of topics, and a thematic investing section covering how to invest in companies that align with your values.

Where E*TRADE falls short

Website transparency: Our testers examined E*TRADE's website and were unable to easily find the company's guidance on how to close an account, which should be readily available.

E*TRADE is best for:

  • Frequent traders.

  • Beginner investors.

  • Research and data.

  • Retirement planning assistance.

E*TRADE at a glance

Account minimum

$0

Stock trading costs

$0

Options trades

No base commission; $0.65 per contract (volume discount available)

Account fees (annual, transfer, closing, inactivity)

No annual or inactivity fee. $75 full transfer out fee; $25 partial

Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds

Over 6,500

Tradable securities

• Stocks• Bonds• Mutual funds• ETFs• Options• Futures

Trading platform

Two platforms available for free to all customers:• E-Trade Web• Power E-Trade

Mobile app

Two apps:• E*TRADE mobile• Power E*TRADEAvailable on iOS and Android.

Research and data

Free and extensive, with 10 external providers available at no cost.

Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website)

Phone, email and chat support 24/7; 29 local and 2 national branches

More details about E*TRADE's ratings

Account minimum: 5 out of 5 stars

E*TRADE's account minimum is $0. This is typical of brokers these days — the vast majority of the brokers we review don't require a minimum to open or maintain an account. Keep in mind that some investments, such as mutual funds, may require a minimum initial investment.

Stock trading costs: 5 out of 5 stars

In 2019, E*TRADE dropped its once-high $6.95 trade commission to $0 for online stock, options and ETF trades. Many other brokers did the same, and now free commissions are standard in the industry. You'll still pay a fee to trade certain securities, including futures, as well as a per-contract fee for options trades (see below).

Options trades: 4 out of 5 stars

Options trades are commission-free, but they still carry a contract charge, which is $0.65. E*TRADE offers a discounted fee of $0.50 for active traders (defined as those who trade 30 or more times per quarter).

Account fees: 4 out of 5 stars

E*TRADE charges no annual or inactivity fee. There is a $75 full transfer out fee; it's $25 for a partial transfer. Most brokers impose a fee to transfer securities out of your account; that fee is often higher if you transfer out your full balance and close the account completely. E*TRADE waives the partial transfer fee if you have a remaining account balance of more than $5,000.

Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds: 5 out of 5 stars

In 2022, E*TRADE eliminated trade commissions and early redemption fees for all online mutual fund trades. E*TRADE’s analysts regularly update a list of highlighted mutual funds called the All-Star Funds Report with the top no-load funds and ETFs offered.

Tradable securities: 4 out of 5 stars

E*TRADE allows investors to trade stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options and futures. The company does not offer forex trading, cryptocurrency or allow investors to trade fractional shares of stocks. Fractional shares are becoming more common in the industry; they let investors purchase stock based on a dollar amount they select rather than the price of a whole share. This may be particularly advantageous for investors who are working with limited money, but want to build a highly diversified portfolio.

Trading platform: 5 out of 5 stars

E*TRADE has two trading platforms — E*TRADE Web and Power E*TRADE. Both are free and available to all customers, with no trade activity or balance minimums.

E*TRADE Web offers free streaming market data, free real-time quotes, live market commentary, analyst research stock screeners and more. From the dashboard, you can track your accounts, create watch lists, view market data and make trades, including complex options strategies.

And for truly active traders, there's Power E*TRADE, the result of the company's acquisition of OptionsHouse several years ago. The web platform offers real-time data, more than 100 technical studies, streamlined trade tickets, customizable options chain views and trading ladders.

Mobile app: 5 out of 5 stars

Our star rating here is based on how iOS and Android users score the broker's mobile apps. E*TRADE has two free mobile apps, available for iOS and Android. The E*TRADE mobile app allows you to easily manage your account, place trades and get real-time quotes and news, including Bloomberg TV. It offers advanced mobile features like stock and ETF screeners, as well as multi-leg options trades. The E*TRADE app is available for Apple Watch as well.

The Power E*TRADE app offers many capabilities on the go: Traders can access the customizable options chain, a selection of popular technical studies, charts, streaming quotes and news. The app can be used for trading complex strategies, including four-legged option spreads, and futures traders can enter futures orders directly from the futures ladder.

Research and data: 4 out of 5 stars

To earn five stars in this category, brokers must offer at least 15 third-party research providers at no fee, as well as a strong selection of research tools. E*TRADE offers research from 10 providers at no fee, but the broker's analytical tools are user-friendly for both retirement investors and active traders, and they're available free of charge. E*Trade's lineup of research offerings include Moody’s, Morgan Stanley, MarketEdge and Morningstar.

Customer support options: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Customer support is available 24/7 via phone, email and chat.

E*TRADE also has strong in-person customer service, with 29 local and two national branches staffed by financial consultants.

If you'd rather skip learning and cede investment decisions to the experts, E*TRADE’s robo-advisor service, E*TRADE Core Portfolios, will manage your portfolio for you for an annual advisory fee of 0.30%. The minimum investment for that service is $500. Robo-advisors are computer-based investment advisors who build and manage client investment portfolios.

Is E*TRADE right for you?

E*TRADE’s investing tools, educational resources, large selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds and innovative trading technology will suit all types of investors. Active traders will love the $0 commissions, and beginners will easily get up to speed with the company's deep educational resources.

For U.S. residents only.

How do we review brokers?

NerdWallet’s comprehensive review process evaluates and ranks the largest U.S. brokers by assets under management, along with emerging industry players. Our aim is to provide an independent assessment of providers to help arm you with information to make sound, informed judgements on which ones will best meet your needs. We adhere to strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

We collect data directly from providers through detailed questionnaires, and conduct first-hand testing and observation through provider demonstrations. The questionnaire answers, combined with demonstrations, interviews of personnel at the providers and our specialists’ hands-on research, fuel our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance across more than 20 factors. The final output produces star ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).

For more details about the categories considered when rating brokers and our process, read our full methodology.

E*TRADE Review 2023: Pros, Cons and How It Compares - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

E*TRADE Review 2023: Pros, Cons and How It Compares - NerdWallet? ›

Firstrade is a US discount broker regulated by the top-tier SEC and FINRA. Firstrade offers free stock, ETF, mutual fund, and options trading.

Is Firstrade a Chinese company? ›

Firstrade is a US discount broker regulated by the top-tier SEC and FINRA. Firstrade offers free stock, ETF, mutual fund, and options trading.

Is Fidelity better than Etrade? ›

Overall, we found E*TRADE is a good choice for active traders and investors—especially those who want access to a suite of excellent options tools. At the same time, Fidelity is better for casual investors and traders looking for low costs and access to international trading.

What is better than Etrade? ›

TD Ameritrade: Range of Offerings. TD Ameritrade also provides traders access to international stocks, while E*TRADE does not. While many investors and traders may not care about the international stocks or FX trading, TD Ameritrade gets the edge for offerings because of these additional trading vehicles.

Can I trust Etrade? ›

E*TRADE is an excellent online broker for most investors. Beginners and intermediate investors can greatly benefit from access to free financial consultants, trading specialists and a robust educational and research platform.

Who is China's number one trade partner? ›

United States

Is my money safe in Firstrade? ›

Is Firstrade safe? Yes, Firstrade is considered a safe broker. Firstrade is an established firm and a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC, which provides up to $500,000 of coverage of a client's assets in the event of broker bankruptcy.

Is Schwab better than Etrade? ›

Both firms offer portfolio margining, but Schwab offers fractional shares while E*TRADE only offers fractional shares in its dividend reinvestment and robo-advisor offerings. Both fill their orders quickly, but Schwab gets the small edge over E*TRADE for trading technology.

Which is the best trading platform? ›

In this article, we will explore the top 10 trading platforms in India for 2023.
  • Zerodha. Zerodha is the largest discount broker in India and has consistently been ranked as the best trading platform in the country. ...
  • Upstox. ...
  • Angel Broking. ...
  • 5Paisa. ...
  • Sharekhan. ...
  • HDFC Securities. ...
  • ICICI Direct. ...
  • Fyers One.
Apr 21, 2023

Is Robinhood or Etrade better? ›

E*TRADE is a better option for more active traders, while Robinhood is a satisfying option for new and passive investors.

Do people still use Etrade? ›

The bottom line: E*TRADE has long been one of the most popular online brokers. The company's $0 commissions and strong trading platforms appeal to active traders, while beginner investors benefit from a large library of educational resources.

How do I avoid fees on Etrade? ›

You can avoid the monthly fee by meeting any of the following minimums:
  1. Maintaining an average balance of $5,000 in your Max-Rate Checking Account.
  2. Setting up and maintaining a direct deposit of $200 or more per month to the account (a combination of direct deposits totaling $200 does not satisfy this requirement)

Does Etrade have high fees? ›

Standard commissions for stock and options trades are $0 (plus an additional $0.65 per options contract). For options orders, an options regulatory fee will apply.

What is the average return on Etrade? ›

ModelAverage 1 Year Return (Annualized) 1/1/2002 – 12/31/2021Best 12 Months
Conservative5.5017.86
Conservative Growth6.5327.08
Moderate Growth7.4437.01
Growth8.1947.50
1 more row

Is Vanguard better than Etrade? ›

Is E*TRADE better than Vanguard? After testing 17 of the best online brokers over three months, E*TRADE (96.39%) is better than Vanguard (71.94%). E*TRADE is a top-performing broker whose highlights include $0 trades, two excellent mobile apps and the Power E*TRADE platform. Crypto, however, is not available.

Who is the US biggest trade partner? ›

Year-to-Date Total Trade
RankCountryTotal Trade
---Total, All Countries303.6
---Total, Top 15 Countries226.5
1China51.4
2Canada44.9
13 more rows
May 4, 2023

Who is the most valued trade partner? ›

For most economies in the world, their leading export and import trading partner in terms of value is either the European Union or China, and to a certain degree, the United States and Russia.

Who is the world's largest trading partner? ›

Which countries are the central nodes of the global trade network? While China is currently the world's largest trading partner, this hasn't always been the case.

What is the safest trading method? ›

Of the different types of trading, long-term trading is the safest.

What is the safest to trade? ›

Many a times the safest form of trading is that where you make use of the limit order and the stop loss. This is often common in Forex trading. This can be done by observing the patterns of trading and predicting the market action.

Which trading is safe for beginners? ›

The Indian Stock Market is a great place to start investing money, especially for beginners. Moreover, it offers an excellent opportunity for people who want to enter the market without worrying about the technicalities of buying and selling stocks. The stock market in India offers many advantages to investors.

What is the most successful brokerage firm? ›

TD Ameritrade is considered one of the top brokerage firms in the U.S. because of its value and quality of service. The firm provides clients with a 24/7 customer support system,34 a user-friendly website with mobile access, research and advanced trading tools.

Who has the best brokerage fees? ›

TD Ameritrade and Interactive Brokers combine robust trading software with low commissions and competitive margin rates. Robinhood, SoFi, and Webull are the lowest commission brokerage accounts across stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies -- they don't charge commissions.

Should I go with Fidelity or Charles Schwab? ›

Most investors would do fine with either broker when it comes to the trading experience, costs, research tools, customer service, and security standards. The choice may come down to the asset classes each broker supports: Only Schwab offers futures trading, and only Fidelity supports forex (16 currencies).

Which brokerage has the lowest fees? ›

Introduction
Stock Brokers In IndiaBrokerage charges for delivery trades.Maximum Brokerage charges for commodity (per trade)
ZerodhaZero20/-
UpstoxZero20/-
5paisa15/-15/-
Samco20/-20/-
Mar 15, 2023

What platform do most day traders trade on? ›

TD Ameritrade - Excellent platform, strong trader content

TD Ameritrade is our top choice for most casual traders. Its thinkorswim-branded platforms (mobile, desktop and browser) are powerful and intermediate traders will find the learning curve manageable.

What is the best and easiest trading platform? ›

Our Top Picks for Best Online Stock Trading Platforms
  • Fidelity - Best Overall.
  • Betterment - Best for Hands-Off Investors.
  • TD Ameritrade - Best Trading Platform for Educational Resources.
  • E*Trade - Best Brokerage Account for Beginners.
  • Charles Schwab - Best for ETFs Trades.
  • Webull - Best Investment App.
Mar 20, 2023

Is Ameritrade better than Etrade? ›

The major differences in what each offer are: Forex trading: TD Ameritrade offers forex trading but E*TRADE currently does not. Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds: Both brokerages offer plenty of options with these funds. TD Ameritrade offers more than 3,700; E*TRADE offers more than 6,500.

Why is Fidelity better than Robinhood? ›

Fidelity suits most types of traders since it offers several self-directed and automated account options. However, Robinhood is a better choice for low fees, and it makes more sense for active traders, day traders, options traders, and crypto traders. Is Fidelity or Robinhood better for beginners?

Why is Ameritrade better than Robinhood? ›

TD Ameritrade has a wider variety of account types and offers a full-service brokerage. Whereas Robinhood enables investors to purchase fractional shares of stocks, commission-free ETFs, and other investments without a large financial commitment.

How much money do you need for Etrade? ›

It all starts with $0 commissions for online US-listed stock, ETF, mutual fund, and options trades. And there are no account minimums or maintenance fees.

Who just bought Etrade? ›

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of E*TRADE Financial Corporation (E*TRADE) in an all-stock transaction. E*TRADE common stockholders are entitled to receive 1.0432 Morgan Stanley common shares for each E*TRADE common share.

What is the maximum withdrawal on Etrade? ›

You can make purchases up to $5,000 per day using your debit card. You can also withdraw cash up to $1,000 per day using your debit card.

What bank does E-Trade use? ›

Banking products and services are provided by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC.

Does Morgan Stanley own E-Trade? ›

Did you know that E*TRADE is now part of Morgan Stanley? This means you can access Morgan Stanley's decades of wealth management and investment planning experience, along with E*TRADE's personal trading capabilities across a full range of investment products – bringing together the best of both worlds.

How does E*TRADE make money? ›

ETrade makes money through offering discounted brokerage services to stock traders, investors, financial professionals, and other individuals. ETrade earns payments from orders and collects interest that it earns on the free float.

What is the difference between E-Trade and E-Trade Pro? ›

With E*TRADE, you do have tiered offerings as part of its Pro platform for individuals with at least $250,000 in a balance. E*TRADE Pro is the company's desktop software, in comparison to its browser platform Power E*TRADE. The Pro system offers real-time data streaming and charting tools.

What is a good average return? ›

A good return on investment is generally considered to be about 7% per year, based on the average historic return of the S&P 500 index, and adjusting for inflation. But of course what one investor considers a good return might not be ideal for someone else.

What is a good estimated return? ›

According to conventional wisdom, an annual ROI of approximately 7% or greater is considered a good ROI for an investment in stocks. This is also about the average annual return of the S&P 500, accounting for inflation.

What is a good percentage return on day trading? ›

That means that you would make a profit of no more than two to three times your starting banking before the day trading period is over. It depends on the amount of capital that you put into the trade. A good percentage is usually 20-30%. This Best Day Trading Stock List is for the week of May 15, 2023.

Why is Charles Schwab better than Vanguard? ›

Charles Schwab: Online and Mobile Experience. Charles Schwab offers a generally more robust and well-designed user experience than Vanguard. As full-service brokerages, both platforms offer many ways to contact the firm if you have questions or need support. You can call, email, or chat with either Vanguard or Schwab.

Why Fidelity is better than Vanguard? ›

While Vanguard stands out with its suite of funds, the brokerage is more limited when it comes to other offerings. However, it does allow investors to trade individual stocks and bonds. Conversely, Fidelity allows clients to invest in individual stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, mutual funds and more.

What is the number one traded ETF? ›

Most Popular ETFs: Top 100 ETFs By Trading Volume
SymbolNameAvg Daily Share Volume (3mo)
SPYSPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust88,958,266
SOXLDirexion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares73,791,477
BOILProShares Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas67,376,516
UVXYProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF62,721,863
96 more rows

What happens to my money if Etrade goes out of business? ›

If a brokerage fails, another financial firm may agree to buy the firm's assets and accounts will be transferred to the new custodian with little interruption. The government also provides insurance, known as SIPC coverage, on up to $500,000 of securities or $250,000 of cash held at a brokerage firm.

How long after I sell my stocks on Etrade can I withdraw money? ›

Funds deposited to your brokerage account will be available for investing or withdrawal on the fourth business day after the date of deposit (items received prior to 4 p.m. ET).

What to do when an Etrade account holder dies? ›

This checklist is intended to help.
  1. Communicate. ...
  2. Locate the will and other important documents. ...
  3. Obtain copies of the death certificate. ...
  4. Determine whether the estate must go to probate. ...
  5. File the will with the probate court, Social Security, and alert creditors. ...
  6. Open an estate bank account to pay bills or receive funds.
May 27, 2022

Who is the founder of Firstrade? ›

The company was founded in 1985 by John Liu, as First Flushing Securities. In 1997, the company was renamed to Firstrade Securities Inc., and the company launched Firstrade.com.

What is China's largest brokerage? ›

China's Biggest Securities Brokerage Citic Stumbles in Global Push - Bloomberg.

Where is Firstrade Securities located? ›

Firstrade Securities is located in Flushing, New York, United States .

Where is first trade located? ›

Firstrade is an online brokerage firm offers investment products and tools. It is based in Flushing, New York.

Who is the oldest trading broker? ›

Parasram is the one of oldest stock broker in India, with more than 300 stock brokers licenced with SEBI. The company implemented the first bank payment gateway, making it the nation's first stockbroker to offer Internet trading.

What is the minimum deposit for Firstrade? ›

The minimum deposit at Firstrade is $0. Firstrade charges $0 for deposits. You can only deposit funds from accounts that are in your name. Visit Firstrade's page to start the process.

Does Firstrade charge fees? ›

Firstrade Securities is considered a low-cost leader when it comes to stock brokers. Recently, the company has switched to $0 commissions for stock and options trades, but that comes with some sacrifices in limited tools, research, and product scope.

Who are the biggest debtors to China? ›

At the end of 2021, of the 98 countries for whom data was available, Pakistan ($27.4bn of external debt to China), Angola (22.0bn), Ethiopia (7.4bn), Kenya (7.4bn) and Sri Lanka (7.2bn) held the biggest debts to China.

Who is the biggest broker in the world? ›

With over $11.1 trillion in assets under management, Fidelity is the largest online broker worldwide. In second place, Vanguard AUM stands at $7.2 trillion.

Who is the biggest stock broker in the world? ›

Vanguard is the largest brokerage firm by AUM, managing $8.1 trillion in assets as of March 31, 2022, up one trillion from 2021. Vanguard not only manages the most assets of any major brokerage, the company is the only major stock brokerage firm to grow its AUM from 2021 to 2022.

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