Charles Schwab vs tastytrade 2026
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs tastytrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs tastytrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Big picture: Choose Charles Schwab if you want the widest traditional menu and planning help; pick tastytrade if you’re an active trader who wants crypto alongside options and futures. Schwab covers stocks (including OTC), options, mutual funds, forex, and futures, plus margin and fractional shares, and it offers advisor services and both Traditional and Roth IRAs. It doesn’t offer crypto. Tastytrade supports stocks, options, futures, forex, margin, and fractional shares, adds crypto trading with 17 coins, but skips mutual funds, OTC stocks, and advisor services. Reflecting this breadth, StockBrokers.com rates Schwab 4.5 stars for Range of Investments (#3 of 14) versus tastytrade’s 4 stars (#9).
Head-to-head on products: both brokers support stock trading, options trading, futures, forex, margin, and fractional shares. Only tastytrade offers crypto (17 coins). Only Charles Schwab offers mutual funds and OTC stocks. Crypto is not available at Schwab.
Accounts and guidance: both Charles Schwab and tastytrade offer Traditional and Roth IRAs. If you want advisor services and access to mutual funds and OTC stocks, Schwab is the better fit. If your priority is a trading-focused experience with crypto alongside options and futures, tastytrade stands out.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 17 |
| Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
If you’re choosing between Charles Schwab and tastytrade for trading platforms and tools, Schwab has the edge overall. It’s rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #1 of 14 by StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade is rated 4 stars and ranked #5. Schwab adds paper trading, automated chart‑pattern recognition, more technical indicators (374 vs 308), and far more watch‑list fields (580 vs 33). Tastytrade still delivers everyday charting and management features, plus more drawing tools (31 vs 24), so it suits traders who want a simpler setup without giving up key capabilities.
Platform access is a tie: both brokers offer downloadable desktop platforms for Windows and Mac, as well as a browser‑based platform. Both include a trading journal and let you adjust open orders directly on the chart. You can save multiple chart profiles, add notes, view historical trades and corporate events, and set custom date ranges. Only Schwab offers paper trading; tastytrade does not.
Charting and customization lean toward Schwab. Beyond the larger indicator library, Schwab supports automated technical analysis (chart patterns) and offers deeper study controls—for example, 35 fields when editing an SMA study versus seven at tastytrade. Both allow creating custom studies. Tastytrade counters with more drawing tools (31 vs 24). In short, Charles Schwab favors detail and customization, while tastytrade keeps a simpler toolkit that covers the basics.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 33 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 308 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 24 | 31 |
| Advanced Trading |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
For beginner and long-term investors who want a deep learning path, Charles Schwab stands out. Its education covers stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds, and it adds helpful tools like paper trading to practice without risking real money. You’ll find videos, webinars, quizzes, and the ability to track your progress, making it easier to build skills step by step. Schwab earns 5 out of 5 stars for education and ranks #2 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com.
tastytrade is geared more toward market enthusiasts who want practical lessons on trading. It offers education for stocks, ETFs, and options, plus videos, webinars, and learning progress tracking. However, it does not provide education on mutual funds or bonds, and it lacks paper trading and quizzes. tastytrade receives 3 out of 5 stars for education and ranks #11 out of 14 on StockBrokers.com. If you want a wider curriculum and practice tools, choose Schwab; if you prefer options-focused content without the extra features, tastytrade can be a fit.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Looking for the better stock trading app between Charles Schwab and tastytrade? Schwab is the clear winner overall, earning 5 stars and the #1 spot out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade holds 4 stars and ranks #12. Schwab’s mobile experience covers more features and media, whereas tastytrade hits the basics well, especially for options traders.
Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, plus streaming quotes, mobile options trading, after-hours charting, stock alerts, custom watch lists with adjustable columns, landscape charts, and multiple time frames. Charles Schwab also supports mobile after-hours stock trading; tastytrade’s in-app after-hours trading support is not confirmed. For wearable access, Schwab has an Apple Watch app; tastytrade does not. Schwab further adds streaming live TV and videos on demand, which tastytrade lacks.
For charts, Schwab provides far deeper analysis: 373 technical studies and the ability to compare stocks on a chart. Tastytrade offers neither built-in studies nor chart comparisons. If you rely on technical indicators or side-by-side symbol comparison, Schwab’s app gives you far more to work with, while tastytrade stays focused on straightforward trading.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 373 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
When comparing Charles Schwab and tastytrade, potential investors encounter several key differences in fees. Both platforms offer a minimum deposit requirement of zero dollars and charge no fees for standard stock trades, which can make them highly appealing to beginners or those seeking to minimize costs initially. However, for those interested in options trading, tastytrade edges out slightly with a lower fee of $0.50 per contract compared to Charles Schwab's $0.65. On the other hand, Charles Schwab presents a significant advantage with zero fees for IRA accounts management, including no charges for IRA closure, whereas tastytrade imposes a $60 fee for closing an IRA account.
Regarding margin accounts, the difference becomes even more pronounced as tastytrade offers lower interest rates across varying balance tiers. For balances below $25,000, tastytrade charges 11%, while Charles Schwab applies a 12.58% rate. As the margin balances increase, tastytrade remains cheaper, charging 10.5% for balances between $25,000 and $49,999 and 10% for balances between $50,000 and $99,999; meanwhile, Charles Schwab charges 12.08% and 11.13%, respectively. Investors interested in margin trading might find tastytrade's lower rates more attractive.
Additional cost considerations include fees for account transfers and options specifically. Charles Schwab charges nothing for partial account transfers and $50 for full transfers, whereas tastytrade imposes a $75 fee for both. Plus, while Charles Schwab doesn't charge for options exercises or assignments, tastytrade applies a $5 fee for each. Overall, the choice between these two platforms can significantly depend on the specific services a trader values most, be it more economical margin trading with tastytrade or cost-effective account management with Charles Schwab.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.50 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $60.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
For stock day trading, Charles Schwab offers more real-time tools than tastytrade. Schwab includes streaming time and sales, streaming live TV, direct market routing, ladder trading, keyboard hotkeys for quick order entry, Level 2 quotes, and both basic and advanced strategy backtesting. It also provides a short locator to check borrowable shares. Neither broker pays order liquidity (maker/taker) rebates.
tastytrade covers some needs—ladder trading, streaming live TV, advanced backtesting, and a short locator—but it does not offer streaming time and sales, direct routing, Level 2 data, trading hotkeys, or basic backtesting. If you want deeper market visibility and faster order control for active day trading, Charles Schwab is the stronger fit, while tastytrade can work if you don’t need those extra stock-trading tools.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | Yes |
| Short Locator | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Comparing Charles Schwab vs tastytrade for market research, Schwab clearly outpaces tastytrade. Schwab earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #2 of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade is rated 2/5 stars and ranks #13. If you want broad coverage, downloadable reports, and added data sets, choose Schwab; if you only need basic stock and ETF research with screeners, tastytrade can suffice.
Both brokers offer stock and ETF research and let you view portfolio allocation by asset class. Schwab goes further with research for mutual funds, Pink Sheets/OTC, and bonds; tastytrade does not cover those categories. Only Schwab includes stock research using social media sentiment and ESG research. For downloadable research, Schwab provides seven PDF stock reports and PDFs for ETFs, while tastytrade offers none; neither broker has PDFs for mutual funds.
For idea generation, both platforms include stock, ETF, and bond screeners. Schwab alone adds a mutual fund screener. In short, Schwab delivers a more complete research toolkit across asset classes, while tastytrade focuses on a narrower set of research features.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Research |
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When looking at the banking services offered by Charles Schwab and tastytrade, Schwab clearly provides a more comprehensive suite of options. Charles Schwab offers customers checking and savings accounts, a versatile combination for managing day-to-day expenses and long-term financial goals. In contrast, tastytrade does not provide these basic banking services. Schwab also issues debit and credit cards, things that offer convenience and flexibility in transactions, whereas tastytrade offers neither. For those interested in longer-term savings, Charles Schwab provides Certificates of Deposit (CDs), adding another layer to your savings strategy. Mortgage loans are available with Schwab, giving you an opportunity to manage larger financial investments through them. tastytrade, however, does not extend these banking options, focusing instead on trading services. This comparison highlights Charles Schwab's comprehensive banking capabilities compared to tastytrade's trading-specific offerings.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than tastytrade. Charles Schwab finished with an overall score of 93.3%, while tastytrade finished with a score of 64.0%.
For most investors, the search for a great broker ends with Charles Schwab. Retaining the #1 Overall ranking in 2026, Schwab continues to set the industry standard. The broker uniquely balances scale with sophistication, offering both simplified mobile tools and the professional-grade thinkorswim platform. From buying a first fractional share to managing a multimillion-dollar estate, Schwab provides a platform tailored to every need, serving as the definitive operating system for modern wealth.
When comparing online brokers, Charles Schwab does not offer crypto trading, whereas tastytrade provides access to 17 different cryptocurrencies, making it a more versatile option for crypto enthusiasts.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both Charles Schwab and tastytrade offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, but while Charles Schwab charges $0.00 as a closure fee for IRA accounts, tastytrade imposes a $60.00 fee.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | tastytrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Trading Fees | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $6.95 | N/A | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.50 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $2.25 | $1.00 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | $0 |
| Margin Rates | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.58% | 11% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.08% | 10.5% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.13% | 10% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.08% | 9.5% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 10.83% | 9% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 8.5% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 8% |
| Account Fees | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $60.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $75.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $50.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Investment Options | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 17 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 12 | 0 |
| Order Types | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - OCO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | Yes |
| Beginners | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | Yes | Yes | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Features | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
| Videos on Demand | Yes | No | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 373 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | thinkorswim | tastytrade | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Journal | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 33 |
| Stock Chart Features | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 308 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 24 | 31 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 35 | 7 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | Yes | Yes |
| Day Trading | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
| Ladder Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | Yes | |
| Short Locator | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | No | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 7 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | No |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | tastytrade | |
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| Overall |
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| Range of Investments |
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| Advanced Trading |
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| Mobile Trading Apps |
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| Research |
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| Education |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | tastytrade Review |