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E*TRADE vs tastytrade 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

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
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4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
tastytrade
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.50 info

Range of investments

If you want a broker with a wider mix of account choices and investments, E*TRADE comes out ahead overall. Both E*TRADE and tastytrade offer stock trading, margin trading, fractional shares, options, futures, crypto, traditional IRA accounts, and Roth IRA accounts, but E*TRADE adds mutual funds, OTC stocks, and advisor services, while tastytrade does not. E*TRADE is also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, compared with tastytrade’s 4 stars and #9 ranking.

For stock trading, both brokers let you buy and sell shares in well-known companies, and both support margin trading for eligible accounts. They also each offer fractional shares trading, which can help investors start with smaller dollar amounts, as well as options and futures trading for those looking for more advanced strategies. In these core areas, the two platforms are fairly similar, giving investors access to a broad mix of trading tools.

The biggest differences show up in what else you can invest in. E*TRADE offers mutual funds, OTC stocks, and advisor services, while tastytrade does not offer mutual funds or OTC stocks. On the other hand, tastytrade supports forex trading and offers more crypto coins, with 25 available compared with E*TRADE’s 3. If you want more traditional investing choices and guidance, E*TRADE may be the better fit; if you want forex and a larger crypto selection, tastytrade may appeal more.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 Yes Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 3 25
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms & Brokers for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026

Trading platforms and tools

E*TRADE and tastytrade both give active traders plenty of ways to work, with Windows and Mac desktop apps, browser-based platforms, charting tools, watch lists, and the ability to adjust open orders right from a chart. Both brokers also let users add notes to charts, review historical trades, display corporate events, and save multiple chart layouts. In StockBrokers.com’s 2024 review, both earned 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, with tastytrade ranking #5 out of 14 brokers and E*TRADE close behind at #6, making them both strong choices for online trading platforms.

Where E*TRADE stands out is paper trading, which tastytrade does not offer. E*TRADE also gives traders a larger watch list setup with 43 fields compared with tastytrade’s 34, plus automated technical analysis chart patterns that tastytrade lacks. E*TRADE’s charting includes 121 technical indicators and 37 drawing tools, while tastytrade offers a much bigger charting toolbox with 432 indicators and 51 drawing tools.

tastytrade has a few features E*TRADE does not, including a trading journal, which can help traders review past decisions and spot patterns in their process. For chart study customization, E*TRADE offers 8 fields when editing an SMA study versus 7 at tastytrade, and neither broker lets users create custom chart studies. Overall, E*TRADE may appeal more to traders who want paper trading and automated chart signals, while tastytrade may be better for those who want a trading journal and a larger set of charting indicators and tools.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
tastytrade logotastytrade
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields 43 34
Charting - Indicators / Studies 121 432
Charting - Drawing Tools 37 51
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Accounts and Online Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps and Simulators for 2026

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Beginners and education

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 logoE*TRADE
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Trading Platforms and Brokerage Accounts for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

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 logoE*TRADE
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2026

Fees

Overall, E*TRADE and tastytrade both keep the basics simple in a few key areas, with $0 minimum deposits, $0 stock trades, and no annual IRA fee. That said, tastytrade is the cheaper choice for options trading and margin borrowing, while E*TRADE has lower or no fees on some account services such as IRA closures, partial account transfers, and options exercises and assignments. If you plan to trade options often, tastytrade may cost less overall; if you want fewer transfer-related charges, E*TRADE may be the better fit.

For regular stock trades, both brokers charge $0, so there is no difference there. The main pricing gap shows up with options contracts, where E*TRADE charges $0.65 per contract and tastytrade charges $0.50 per contract. That makes tastytrade the lower-cost option for options traders looking to keep per-trade costs down.

Margin rates also favor tastytrade across the balance ranges shown. E*TRADE charges 12.45% on margin balances below $25,000, 12.2% between $25,000 and $49,999, and 11.7% between $50,000 and $99,999, while tastytrade charges 11%, 10.5%, and 10%, respectively. On other charges, E*TRADE has the edge for IRA closure fees, partial ACAT transfers, and options exercise and assignment fees, all of which are lower than tastytrade’s fees in those categories.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 Stock Trading Platforms and Commission-Free Apps for 2026

Day Trading

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 logoE*TRADE
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 and Apps for 2026

Market Research

E*TRADE clearly leads tastytrade for market research. StockBrokers.com rates E*TRADE 4.5 stars and ranks it #3 of 14 brokers, while tastytrade earns 2 stars and ranks #13. If you want wide coverage, downloadable reports, and added data like ESG and social sentiment, E*TRADE is the better pick; if you only need basic screeners, tastytrade can cover the essentials.

E*TRADE supplies research across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, pink sheets/OTCBB, and bonds. You can view portfolio allocation by asset class, tap social media sentiment for stocks, and access ESG research. For reports, E*TRADE offers eight downloadable PDF stock reports and also provides downloadable PDFs for ETFs and mutual funds. For idea generation, E*TRADE includes stock, ETF, mutual fund, and bond screeners.

tastytrade offers stock and ETF research plus portfolio allocation by asset class, but it does not provide research for mutual funds, pink sheets/OTCBB, or bonds. It does not include social media sentiment or ESG research, and it has zero downloadable PDF reports for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds. For screening, tastytrade supplies stock, ETF, and bond screeners, but no mutual fund screener.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 4.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

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 logoE*TRADE
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 Accounts with Checking: Top Bank Brokers

Winner

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.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with E*TRADE or tastytrade?

E*TRADE and tastytrade both offer crypto trading, but tastytrade provides a much broader selection with 25 coins compared with E*TRADE’s 3. For investors who want more cryptocurrency choice, tastytrade has the edge, while E*TRADE may appeal to those seeking a more limited offering.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does E*TRADE or tastytrade offer IRAs?

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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating E*TRADE tastytrade
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review tastytrade Review
Broker Screenshots E*TRADE tastytrade
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees E*TRADE tastytrade
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $6.950 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 12.45% 11%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12.2% 10.5%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 11.7% 10%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 11.2% 9.5%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 10.7% 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) Yes 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 Yes Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 3 25
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 34
Stock Chart Features E*TRADE tastytrade
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies 121 432
Charting - Drawing Tools 37 51
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 No
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 Yes 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 4
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 No Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support Yes No
Overall E*TRADE tastytrade
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review tastytrade Review
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