Interactive Brokers vs E*TRADE 2026
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs E*TRADE, 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 Interactive Brokers vs E*TRADE, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE both offer comprehensive investment options, but Interactive Brokers takes the lead, especially in terms of variety. Ranked first for range of investments by StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers allows users to trade a wider array of asset classes, including fractional shares, forex, and a selection of 11 cryptocurrencies. E*TRADE, ranked fourth in the same category, excels with its advisor services but lacks offerings such as fractional shares, forex, and cryptocurrency trading.
Both Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE provide users with access to core investment services like stock trading, margin trading, mutual funds, options, futures, and OTC stocks, making them strong contenders for individuals seeking diverse trading opportunities. Recognized for their comprehensive investment portfolios, both platforms also offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts, catering to long-term investors looking to grow retirement savings.
However, when it comes to specialized investments, Interactive Brokers offers a broader spectrum of choices. The ability to trade in fractional shares allows investors greater flexibility and access to expensive stocks with smaller investments. While E*TRADE offers beneficial advisor services for personalized investment guidance, it doesn't include some of the more modern investment offerings available through Interactive Brokers, potentially limiting options for investors interested in cryptocurrencies and forex.
| Feature |
|
E*TRADE
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | No |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 11 | 0 |
| Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Interactive Brokers vs. E*TRADE: For trading platforms and tools, Interactive Brokers comes out ahead. It earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #2 of 14 at StockBrokers.com, while E*TRADE earns 4/5 stars and ranks #6. If you want the most options for analysis and data, Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick. E*TRADE is still a solid, easy-to-use choice that covers the key features most traders expect.
Both brokers offer desktop platforms for Windows and Mac, plus a browser-based platform. Each supports paper trading, lets you adjust open orders right on a chart, shows historical trades and corporate events, allows custom date ranges, highlights automated chart patterns, and saves multiple chart layouts. Only Interactive Brokers includes a built-in trading journal. Neither broker lets you create your own custom studies.
Interactive Brokers provides far more data and chart tools: up to 659 watchlist columns versus E*TRADE’s 43, along with 155 technical indicators and 85 drawing tools (E*TRADE offers 121 indicators and 37 drawing tools). Both let you add notes to charts. E*TRADE’s SMA study editor has 8 customization fields compared with Interactive Brokers’ 6, but overall Interactive Brokers delivers the wider toolkit for traders who want more ways to analyze markets.
| Feature |
|
E*TRADE
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 43 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 155 | 121 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 85 | 37 |
| Advanced Trading |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE both offer beginner-friendly and investor education. Each broker covers stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds, and both provide hands-on practice with paper trading. You’ll also find educational videos and live webinars from each, so you can learn on your schedule.
The key differences are in learning tools. Interactive Brokers includes quizzes and lets you track your learning progress, while E*TRADE does not. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for education, yet StockBrokers.com ranks Interactive Brokers #3 out of 14 for education and E*TRADE #5. If you want structured feedback as you learn, Interactive Brokers has the edge; if you just want practical lessons with paper trading, videos, and webinars, either platform works.
| Feature |
|
E*TRADE
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Interactive Brokers vs E*TRADE: both deliver capable stock trading apps, but Interactive Brokers gets the nod. It’s rated 5 stars and ranked #2 out of 14 by StockBrokers.com, topping E*TRADE’s 4.5 stars and #5 rank. Key edges for Interactive Brokers include confirmed mobile after-hours trading and videos on demand, while E*TRADE answers with a larger set of technical studies. For most traders, Interactive Brokers is the slightly stronger all-around pick; chart enthusiasts may lean toward E*TRADE.
Both brokers offer iPhone, Android, and Apple Watch apps. Each provides streaming quotes, streaming live TV, stock alerts, mobile options trading, and the ability to build custom watch lists and customize watch list columns. Charting is well covered on both: after-hours charting, landscape mode, multiple time frames, and side-by-side stock comparisons are available in each app.
Where they differ: Interactive Brokers includes videos on demand, while E*TRADE does not. Interactive Brokers also supports mobile after-hours stock trading; the information provided did not confirm whether E*TRADE supports mobile after-hours trading. For chart tools, E*TRADE lists 107 technical studies versus 97 for Interactive Brokers. If you want the highest overall rating, Interactive Brokers leads; if you value the largest built-in set of indicators, E*TRADE has the edge there.
| Feature |
|
E*TRADE
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 97 | 107 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Interactive Brokers vs E*TRADE: both deliver $0 minimum deposits, $0 stock commissions, and a $0.65 per-options-contract fee, plus no IRA annual or closure fees. The key differences show up with margin and transfers. Interactive Brokers’ margin rates are far lower across common balance tiers, and it charges $0 for a full ACAT transfer, while E*TRADE’s margin rates are notably higher and it assesses a $75 fee for a full ACAT. If you plan to use margin or think you might move your account later, Interactive Brokers is likely the cheaper pick; for basic stock or options trading, either platform keeps core trading costs low.
Trading costs are straightforward on both platforms: $0 commissions for regular stock trades and $0.65 per options contract at both Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE. Options exercise and assignment fees are $0 at both brokers. Account setup is easy with a $0 minimum deposit either way, and retirement savers will appreciate that both brokers charge $0 for IRA annual fees and $0 for IRA closures.
The biggest cost gap is margin pricing and transfers. Interactive Brokers lists a 6.83% margin rate for balances under $25,000, $25,000–$49,999, and $50,000–$99,999. E*TRADE’s corresponding rates are 12.95%, 12.7%, and 12.2%. For account transfers, both charge $0 for partial ACATs; however, Interactive Brokers charges $0 for a full ACAT, while E*TRADE charges $75. These differences can add up if you borrow on margin or later decide to move your account.
| Feature |
|
E*TRADE
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.65 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
When considering online brokers for day trading, Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE both stand out for providing essential services like streaming time and sales data and level 2 quotes. Both platforms offer streaming live TV, direct market routing for stocks, and trading hotkeys, which are crucial for timely decision-making and quick execution. However, Interactive Brokers takes a significant lead with additional features that enhance the trading experience. It offers ladder trading, basic and advanced strategy backtesting, and a short locator tool for real-time short-selling opportunities. These features can greatly benefit traders looking to employ more advanced trading strategies.
In stark contrast, E*TRADE lacks some of these advanced tools, notably ladder trading and both types of strategy backtesting. It also does not provide a short locator tool or order liquidity rebates, which Interactive Brokers offers to its users. These differences could be pivotal for traders who are keen on maximizing their day trading efficiency and strategy integration. While both platforms are reliable for fundamental day trading needs, Interactive Brokers provides a more comprehensive suite of tools and features that could cater to more complex trading strategies, making it a potentially more attractive option for active day traders seeking to take advantage of advanced functionalities.
| Feature |
|
E*TRADE
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | Yes |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No |
| Short Locator | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE are both strong picks for market research, each earning 4.5 stars. E*TRADE holds the higher spot in StockBrokers.com’s rankings (#3 of 14) versus Interactive Brokers (#5 of 14). That said, Interactive Brokers includes ESG research (which E*TRADE lacks) and offers more downloadable stock research PDFs (17 vs 8). If you want the higher-ranked platform, pick E*TRADE; if ESG insights and a larger set of stock reports matter most, go with Interactive Brokers.
Both brokers cover the core categories: research for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, and OTC/pink-sheet securities. Each lets you view your portfolio allocation by asset class and includes social media sentiment data in stock research. Both also provide downloadable PDF research for ETFs and mutual funds alongside their stock reports.
For idea generation, Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE each supply screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. No matter which you choose, you’ll have wide research coverage and practical tools to find and evaluate investments.
| Feature |
|
E*TRADE
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Research |
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When you compare the banking capabilities of online brokers Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE, E*TRADE looks more like a full-service option: it offers checking and savings accounts, a debit card, credit cards, mortgage loans, and certificates of deposit (CDs). Interactive Brokers is more limited on banking: it does not provide checking or savings accounts, a debit card, or mortgage loans, but it does offer a credit card and CDs. For everyday money management—spending, bill pay, and earning interest on cash—E*TRADE is the easier fit, while Interactive Brokers may suit investors who only need a brokerage with access to a credit card and CDs.
| Feature |
|
E*TRADE
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | Yes |
| Savings Accounts | No | Yes |
| Debit Cards | No | Yes |
| Credit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Mortgage Loans | No | Yes |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | Yes |
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 Interactive Brokers is better than E*TRADE. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall score of 90.6%, while E*TRADE finished with a score of 86.0%.
Interactive Brokers is a go-to choice for professionals because of its institutional-grade desktop trading platform, high-quality trade executions and low margin rates.
Interactive Brokers offers crypto trading with access to 11 different coins, while E*TRADE does not provide any crypto trading options.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts without any annual or closure fees, providing cost-effective retirement saving solutions.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
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| Customer Service |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | E*TRADE Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.01 | $6.95 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $14.95 | $0.00 | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.65 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $0.85 | $1.50 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | Varies | $25 |
| Margin Rates | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 6.83% | 12.95% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 6.83% | 12.7% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 6.83% | 12.2% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 6.83% | 11.7% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 6.83% | 11.2% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 6.83% | Varies | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 6.83% | Varies |
| Account Fees | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $0.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | No | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 6 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 11 | 0 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 36 | 0 |
| Order Types | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Order Type - OCO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | Yes |
| Beginners | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | Yes | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 97 | 107 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | IBKR Desktop and Trader Workstation (TWS) | Power E*TRADE | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Journal | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 43 |
| Stock Chart Features | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 155 | 121 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 85 | 37 | |
| 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 | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 6 | 8 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | Yes | |
| Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | Yes | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No | |
| Short Locator | Yes | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | Yes | No |
| Research Overview | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 17 | 8 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | Yes |
| ETF Research | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Fund Research | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | Yes |
| Options Trading | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | Yes | |
| Checking Accounts | No | Yes | |
| Savings Accounts | No | Yes | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
| Debit Cards | No | Yes | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | Yes |
| Customer Service | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | No | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | Yes |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | E*TRADE | |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | E*TRADE Review |