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E*TRADE vs Interactive Brokers 2023

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 11, 2023

Is E*TRADE better than Interactive Brokers? After testing 17 of the best online brokers over three months, E*TRADE (96.39%) is better than Interactive Brokers (91.92%). 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.

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  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAlly Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxE*TRADE
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFidelity
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFirstrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMerrill Edge
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRobinhood
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSofi Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxtastytrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTD Ameritrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradeStation
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradier
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVanguard
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxWebull

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Overall RatingE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Overall 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review Interactive Brokers Review
Trading FeesE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $6.95 info $0.00
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $0.00 $14.95
Options (Base Fee) $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.65
Futures (Per Contract) $1.50 $0.85
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $25 $30
Margin RatesE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Margin Rate Under $25,000 13.70% info 7.33% info
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 13.20% 7.33% info
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 12.70% 7.33% info
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 12.20% 7.33% info
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 11.70% 7.33% info
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 Varies info 7.33% info
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 Varies info 7.33% info
Account FeesE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $25.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $75.00 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment OptionsE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares No Yes
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 6
Futures Trading Yes Yes
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 4
Mutual Funds (No Load) 6486 10882
Mutual Funds (Total) 7242 11160
Bonds (US Treasury) Yes Yes
Bonds (Corporate) Yes Yes
Bonds (Municipal) Yes Yes
Advisor Services Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 33
Order TypesE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
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
BeginnersE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Bonds) Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator Yes No
Investor Dictionary Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes Yes
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) Yes Yes
Progress Tracking No Yes
Interactive Learning - Quizzes Yes Yes
Stock Trading AppsE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
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
SB Gallery - Mobile Apps
Stock App FeaturesE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Market Movers (Top Gainers) Yes Yes
Stream Live TV Yes Yes
Videos on Demand No Yes
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Option Chains Viewable Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields 95 640
Stock App ChartingE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes Yes
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 10 97
Charting - Study Customizations Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes No
Trading PlatformsE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Active Trading Platform Power E*TRADE Trader Workstation (TWS)
Desktop Trading Platform No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) No Yes
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes Yes
Trade Journal No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields 95 640
Stock Chart FeaturesE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies 119 121
Charting - Drawing Tools 31 85
Charting - Notes Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades Yes Yes
Charting - Corporate Events Yes Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range Yes Yes
Charting - Custom Time Bars No Yes
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Save Profiles Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations 6 5
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day TradingE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Streaming Time & Sales Yes Yes
Streaming TV Yes Yes
Direct Market Routing - Stocks Yes Yes
Ladder Trading No Yes
Trade Hot Keys Yes Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes info Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No Yes
Short Locator No Yes
Order Liquidity Rebates No Yes
Research OverviewE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Bonds Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Screener - Bonds Yes Yes
Misc - Portfolio Allocation Yes Yes
Stock ResearchE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Stock Research - PDF Reports 6 7
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders Yes Yes
Stock Research - Social Yes Yes
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG No Yes
Stock Research - SEC Filings Yes Yes
ETF ResearchE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
ETFs - Strategy Overview Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net 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 ResearchE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart No 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 TradingE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Option Chains - Basic View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Streaming Yes Yes
Option Chains - Total Columns 31 44
Option Chains - Greeks 5 12
Option Chains - Quick Analysis Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis Adv Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming Yes Yes
Option Positions - Adv Analysis Yes Yes
Option Positions - Rolling Yes Yes
Option Positions - Grouping Yes Yes
BankingE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Bank (Member FDIC) Yes No
Checking Accounts Yes No
Savings Accounts Yes No
Credit Cards Yes No
Debit Cards Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans Yes No
Customer ServiceE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes Yes
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) No No
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support Yes No
OverallE*TRADEInteractive Brokers
Overall 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review Interactive Brokers Review
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E*TRADE vs Interactive Brokers Comparison

Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2023 annual broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 17 brokerages to find the best online broker. Let's compare E*TRADE vs Interactive Brokers.

Is E*TRADE or Interactive Brokers better for beginners?

E*TRADE offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner investors than Interactive Brokers. E*TRADE offers investors access to Paper Trading, Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement), while Interactive Brokers offers investors access to Paper Trading, Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement). See our guide to Best Paper Trading Platforms for more.

What about E*TRADE vs Interactive Brokers pricing?

E*TRADE and Interactive Brokers charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. E*TRADE and Interactive Brokers both charge $0.65 per option contract. For a complete commissions summary, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.

Does E*TRADE or Interactive Brokers offer a wider range of investment options?

E*TRADE offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds, Futures Trading and Advisor Services, while Interactive Brokers offers investors access to Stock Trading, Fractional Shares, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds and Futures Trading. Neither have Forex Trading. Looking at Mutual Funds, Interactive Brokers trails E*TRADE in its offering of no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds, with E*TRADE offering 4377 and Interactive Brokers offering 4329.

Which trading platform is better: E*TRADE or Interactive Brokers?

To compare the trading platforms of E*TRADE and Interactive Brokers, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, Interactive Brokers offers a better experience. With research, E*TRADE offers superior market research. Finally, we found Interactive Brokers to provide better mobile trading apps.

Does either broker offer banking?

Online banking can be a benefit for investors, and some brokerages do provide banking services to customers. Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans are offered by E*TRADE while Interactive Brokers offers Debit Cards.

Is E*TRADE good?

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.

Is Interactive Brokers good?

Interactive Brokers is a go-to choice for professionals because of its institutional-grade desktop trading platform, high-quality trade executions and rock-bottom margin rates.

E*TRADE vs Interactive Brokers Winner

Overall winner: E*TRADE

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