Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of E*TRADE vs tastytrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In the E*TRADE vs. tastytrade matchup, E*TRADE earns the edge for overall range of investments, scoring 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranking #4 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade scores 4 stars and ranks #10. Choose E*TRADE if you want broad market access with mutual funds, OTC stocks, and advisor services. Choose tastytrade if you value fractional shares, crypto trading (17 coins), and forex alongside active options and futures trading.
Both brokers let you trade stocks, options, futures, and use margin. Key differences show up in what else you can buy: E*TRADE supports mutual funds and OTC stocks, but does not offer fractional shares, crypto, or forex. tastytrade offers fractional shares, crypto (17 coins), and forex, but does not support mutual funds or OTC stocks.
For accounts, both E*TRADE and tastytrade provide Traditional and Roth IRAs. If you want hands-on guidance, E*TRADE offers advisor services, while tastytrade does not. In short, E*TRADE suits investors who want funds, OTC access, and advice; tastytrade suits traders who want fractional shares and a wider set of tradable assets like crypto and forex.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | 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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
E*TRADE and tastytrade both earn 4 stars for trading platforms and tools from StockBrokers.com, with E*TRADE ranking #5 out of 14 and tastytrade #8. Choose E*TRADE if you want built-in paper trading and automated chart pattern recognition; choose tastytrade if you value a built-in trading journal, a very large indicator selection, and the ability to code custom studies. Both brokers cover desktop (Windows and Mac) and web, and let you manage orders and charts with ease.
Both E*TRADE and tastytrade offer downloadable platforms for Windows and Mac, plus a browser-based platform. For watchlists, E*TRADE supplies 43 columns versus 33 on tastytrade. On charts, both let you adjust open orders, add notes, review historical trades, display earnings, splits and dividends, set custom date ranges, and save multiple chart profiles. When editing a simple moving average, E*TRADE presents 8 customization fields compared with 7 on tastytrade.
Charting tools and analytics differ: E*TRADE includes 121 technical indicators and 37 drawing tools, while tastytrade packs 308 indicators and 31 drawing tools. E*TRADE adds automated technical analysis for chart patterns; tastytrade does not. E*TRADE offers paper trading but lacks a trading journal and custom studies, whereas tastytrade forgoes paper trading but adds a built-in journal and supports creating custom studies.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 43 | 33 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 121 | 308 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 37 | 31 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
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Comparing E*TRADE vs tastytrade for beginner and investor education: E*TRADE covers more ground, offering lessons on stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. It also includes paper trading to practice risk‑free, plus a steady mix of videos and live webinars. tastytrade focuses its education on stocks, ETFs, and options, also with videos and webinars. It does not cover mutual funds or bonds and lacks paper trading, but it does let you track your learning progress. Neither broker offers educational quizzes.
For overall education quality, E*TRADE earns 5 stars and ranks #4 of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade earns 4 stars and ranks #9. In short, E*TRADE is better for beginners who want a wide range of topics and hands‑on practice, while tastytrade suits learners centered on trading who value seeing their progress over time.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
Bottom line: for most investors comparing E*TRADE vs tastytrade for a stock trading app, E*TRADE comes out ahead. It earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade scores 4.5 stars and ranks #10. E*TRADE has more features for everyday stock traders and chart enthusiasts, plus extras like an Apple Watch app and streaming live TV. Tastytrade is still a solid pick—especially if you focus on options—but it trails on advanced chart tools.
Both the E*TRADE app and the tastytrade app are available on iPhone and Android. E*TRADE also offers an Apple Watch app; tastytrade does not. E*TRADE supports after-hours stock trading on mobile, while tastytrade’s mobile after-hours availability isn’t specified. Each app covers the essentials: mobile options trading, streaming quotes, stock alerts, and customizable watchlists with editable columns.
If you care about charting and research on the go, the gap widens. Both apps offer after-hours charting, landscape mode, and multiple time frames. However, E*TRADE supplies 107 technical studies and lets you compare multiple stocks on a chart, whereas tastytrade offers no technical studies and no chart-based stock comparisons. E*TRADE also includes streaming live TV; neither app provides videos on demand.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 107 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When choosing between E*TRADE and tastytrade, costs can be a determining factor depending on your trading habits. Both brokers offer commission-free trading on regular stock trades and require no minimum deposit, making it easy and affordable to begin investing. However, E*TRADE typically has higher fees for options trading at $0.65 per contract compared to tastytrade's $0.50. Additionally, tastytrade offers lower margin rates than E*TRADE across various balance tiers, which may appeal to traders using margin accounts. On the flip side, E*TRADE provides a more cost-effective option for IRA closures and offers free partial Account Transfers, where tastytrade imposes $60 and $75 fees respectively.
Both E*TRADE and tastytrade offer $0 IRA annual fees, making either an attractive option for retirement savers. However, tastytrade charges a $60 fee if you choose to close your IRA, unlike E*TRADE which has no such fee. Another key consideration is tastytrade's $5 fee for options exercise and assignment, expenses that E*TRADE users don't incur. Nevertheless, tastytrade's lower per-contract fee for options trades can help offset this if you're a frequent options trader.
In summary, your choice between E*TRADE and tastytrade should align with your trading strategies and financial needs. If options trading and lower margin rates are your priorities, tastytrade may be the better fit. Conversely, if you're concerned about IRA-related costs or partial account transfers, E*TRADE's fee structure could be more appealing. By comparing these critical elements, you'll be better positioned to select the broker that matches your financial goals.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 2025
E*TRADE vs. tastytrade for day trading comes down to the tools you lean on. E*TRADE offers streaming time and sales, Level 2 quotes, direct market routing for stocks, and keyboard trading hotkeys—key features for fast order entry and reading order flow. tastytrade does not provide time and sales, Level 2, direct routing, or hotkeys, but both platforms offer streaming live TV.
tastytrade stands out with ladder trading, advanced strategy backtesting, and a real-time short locator tool—handy for traders who test ideas and hunt for borrowable shares. E*TRADE lacks ladder trading and any backtesting or short locator. Neither platform provides maker/taker rebates. In short: choose E*TRADE if you prioritize live market depth, time and sales, and quick-fire hotkeys; pick tastytrade if you want ladder trading, deeper strategy testing, and a built-in short locate tool.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes |
| Short Locator | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: For market research, E*TRADE clearly outpaces tastytrade. E*TRADE earns 5 stars and ranks #2 of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade scores 1.5 stars and ranks #13. If you want wide coverage across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, and OTC, plus downloadable reports and sentiment data, E*TRADE is the better fit. If your needs are lighter—basic stock and ETF research, helpful screeners, and a quick view of your portfolio mix—tastytrade can suffice.
Both brokers provide stock and ETF research and let you see portfolio allocation by asset class. E*TRADE goes further with research for mutual funds, bonds, and Pink Sheets/OTCBB, and it includes stock research that taps social media sentiment. Neither broker offers ESG research. E*TRADE also supplies eight downloadable PDF stock reports plus PDF reports for ETFs and mutual funds; tastytrade does not offer downloadable research reports.
On idea-generation tools, both E*TRADE and tastytrade feature stock, ETF, and bond screeners. Only E*TRADE adds a mutual fund screener. Note that tastytrade offers a bond screener but no bond research, which may matter if you want deeper analysis after you screen. E*TRADE pairs its screeners with broader research coverage across asset classes.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
|
When it comes to banking features, E*TRADE stands out as a more comprehensive option compared to tastytrade. E*TRADE provides an array of services including checking and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, as well as mortgage loans and CDs. This extensive suite of financial products positions E*TRADE as a versatile choice for those seeking online brokerage services with integrated banking support. In contrast, tastytrade does not offer banking capabilities like checking or savings accounts, debit or credit cards, or mortgage loans and CDs, which might limit options for users looking for combined brokerage and banking solutions.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that E*TRADE is better than tastytrade. E*TRADE finished with an overall score of 95.4%, while tastytrade finished with a score of 80.1%.
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.
When comparing online brokers E*TRADE and tastytrade in terms of crypto trading, E*TRADE does not offer any cryptocurrencies, while tastytrade supports trading with 17 different coins, making tastytrade a more versatile choice for investors interested in digital currencies.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Both E*TRADE and tastytrade offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, but while E*TRADE has a $0 closure fee for IRA accounts, tastytrade charges a $60 closure fee.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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| Review | E*TRADE Review | tastytrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
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| Trading Fees | E*TRADE | 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 | $0.00 | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.50 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $1.50 | $1.00 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | $0 |
| Margin Rates | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.95% | 11% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.7% | 10.5% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.2% | 10% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.7% | 9.5% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 11.2% | 9% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 8.5% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 8% |
| Account Fees | E*TRADE | 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) | $75.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Investment Options | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | No | 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) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | E*TRADE | 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 | E*TRADE | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | E*TRADE | 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 | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| 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 |
| Stock App Charting | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 107 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Power E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 43 | 33 |
| Stock Chart Features | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 121 | 308 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 37 | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 8 | 7 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | Yes |
| Day Trading | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes | |
| Short Locator | No | Yes | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | E*TRADE | 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 | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 8 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | E*TRADE | 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 | E*TRADE | 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 | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | E*TRADE | 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 | E*TRADE | 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 | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | E*TRADE Review | tastytrade Review |
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