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.
E*TRADE and tastytrade both let you trade stocks, options, and futures, but they differ in several key ways. If you want mutual funds, OTC stocks, and access to advisor services, E*TRADE is the better fit. If you want crypto (17 coins), forex, and fractional shares, tastytrade stands out. For overall range of investments, StockBrokers.com rates E*TRADE 4.5 out of 5 (ranked #4 of 14) and tastytrade 4 out of 5 (ranked #9 of 14).
As an online broker, E*TRADE offers stock, options, and futures trading, plus OTC stocks and mutual funds. Margin trading is available. E*TRADE does not support crypto, forex, or fractional shares. You can open Traditional and Roth IRAs, and advisor services are available if you want professional help.
tastytrade offers stocks, options, and futures with margin, along with crypto trading (17 coins) and forex. It supports fractional shares for stock trading. However, tastytrade does not offer mutual funds or OTC stocks, and it does not provide advisor services. Traditional and Roth IRAs are available.
| 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 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: E*TRADE and tastytrade both deliver strong trading platforms and tools, earning 4 out of 5 stars. StockBrokers.com ranks tastytrade #5 and E*TRADE #6 out of 14 brokers. Choose tastytrade if you want the most technical indicators, a built-in trading journal, and the ability to create custom studies. Choose E*TRADE if you need paper trading, automated chart pattern detection, and more watchlist fields. Both offer desktop apps for Windows and Mac plus a browser platform.
Platform access is a tie: E*TRADE and tastytrade each provide downloadable software for Windows and Mac, along with web trading. Key workflow differences: E*TRADE includes paper trading (tastytrade does not), while tastytrade offers a trading journal (E*TRADE does not). For watchlists, E*TRADE supports 43 columns versus 33 on tastytrade. Both let you adjust open orders directly on charts and save multiple chart profiles. When editing a simple moving average (SMA), E*TRADE has 8 customization fields versus 7 on tastytrade.
For charting depth, tastytrade leads in technical indicators (308 vs. E*TRADE’s 121) and supports building custom studies, while E*TRADE does not. E*TRADE counters with more drawing tools (37 vs. 31) and adds automated technical analysis for chart patterns, which tastytrade lacks. Both platforms let you add notes, show historical trades, display corporate events like earnings and splits, and set custom date ranges. Pick based on your workflow: automation and paper trading tilt to E*TRADE; indicator variety, custom studies, and journaling tilt to tastytrade.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 43 | 33 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 121 | 308 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 37 | 31 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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E*TRADE and tastytrade both provide beginner-friendly education on stocks, ETFs, and options, along with on-demand videos and live webinars. E*TRADE goes further with lessons on mutual funds and bonds, plus a paper trading tool to practice without risking cash. Neither platform offers quizzes, but tastytrade stands out with the ability to track your learning progress, which E*TRADE does not provide.
For overall education, E*TRADE earns 4 stars and ranks #5 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade earns 3 stars and ranks #11. If you want a wider range of topics and a way to practice trades, E*TRADE is likely the better fit. If tracking your learning progress is a priority and you mainly focus on stocks, ETFs, and options, tastytrade can be a solid choice.
| 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 |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Bottom line: E*TRADE vs tastytrade for stock trading apps—E*TRADE generally comes out ahead. Both deliver iPhone and Android apps with streaming quotes, options trading, alerts, and customizable watchlists, but E*TRADE adds an Apple Watch app, live TV streaming, and much deeper charting tools. That edge shows up in independent scores: StockBrokers.com rates E*TRADE 4.5/5 and ranks it 5th of 14, while tastytrade earns 4/5 and ranks 12th.
App availability and trading basics: E*TRADE and tastytrade both support iPhone and Android. Only E*TRADE offers an Apple Watch app. Mobile after-hours stock trading is available on E*TRADE; tastytrade’s after-hours access via mobile isn’t specified here. Both apps support mobile options trading, real-time streaming quotes, stock alerts, and the ability to build and customize watchlists and columns. E*TRADE includes streaming live TV, while neither app offers videos on demand.
Charting and analysis: Each app lets you view charts in landscape, switch among multiple time frames, and see after-hours price action. E*TRADE stands out for analysis depth with 107 technical studies and the ability to compare multiple stocks on a single chart. Tastytrade currently has 0 built-in technical studies and does not support stock-to-stock comparisons on mobile charts.
| 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 2026
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 2026
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 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
E*TRADE is the stronger pick for market research. It spans more asset types, offers more downloadable reports, and adds extras like social media sentiment. That helps explain why StockBrokers.com rates E*TRADE 4.5/5 (ranked #3 of 14) versus tastytrade’s 2/5 (ranked #13). Choose E*TRADE if you want wide, built-in research across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, OTC/Pink Sheets, and bonds; tastytrade can work if you mostly trade stocks and ETFs and don’t need reports.
On coverage, E*TRADE provides research for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, OTC/Pink Sheets, and bonds, while tastytrade limits research to stocks and ETFs and does not cover mutual funds, OTC, or bonds. Both platforms show portfolio allocation by asset class. Neither offers ESG research. E*TRADE also includes stock research using social media sentiment; tastytrade does not.
When it comes to reports and idea tools, E*TRADE supplies eight downloadable stock PDF reports plus PDFs for ETFs and mutual funds; tastytrade offers none. Both have stock and ETF screeners, and both list a bond screener for trade ideas, but only E*TRADE backs that up with bond research. E*TRADE also adds a mutual fund screener, which tastytrade lacks.
| 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 2026
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 86.0%, while tastytrade finished with a score of 64.0%.
With two distinct platforms (E*TRADE Web and Power E*TRADE) the broker effectively serves both the "set-it-and-forget-it" investor and the high-volume derivatives trader. Whether you aim to construct a long-term retirement portfolio or deploy complex options strategies, E*TRADE provides a sophisticated, dependable environment that grows with your ambition.
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 2026
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 2026
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| Review | E*TRADE Review | tastytrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | E*TRADE | tastytrade | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | 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 | 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 | |
| Watchlists - 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall |
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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 | E*TRADE Review | tastytrade Review |
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