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E*TRADE vs TradeStation 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

July 03, 2025

In this head to head comparison of E*TRADE vs TradeStation, 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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5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
TradeStation
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.60

Range of investments

E*TRADE and TradeStation both offer a wide range of investment options, making them strong contenders for investors exploring online brokerage services. Each platform provides comprehensive access to stock, margin, and options trading, along with mutual funds, OTC stocks, and futures trading. Although neither broker supports fractional shares or forex and crypto trading, E*TRADE stands out with its advisor services, which TradeStation does not provide. Ranked highly by StockBrokers.com for their range of investments, both E*TRADE and TradeStation receive a commendable 4.5-star rating, securing their places among top investment platforms.

For investors considering stock trading, both E*TRADE and TradeStation deliver robust offerings, including the ability to trade on margin, explore options, and delve into OTC stocks. They cater to a broad audience with access to traditional and Roth IRA accounts, making them suitable for building a diversified investment portfolio. While they don't currently enable trading in fractional shares, forex, or cryptocurrency, their strength lies in their established markets, such as futures trading and mutual funds.

E*TRADE offers added value with advisor services, which may appeal to those seeking professional guidance. On the other hand, TradeStation's focus is on providing essential tools and resources for self-directed traders. Both platforms remain close competitors, with their investment ranges equally lauded by investor reviews and rankings. Therefore, your choice may hinge on specific needs, such as advisor support or a preference for independently managing your trading activities.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
TradeStation logoTradeStation
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info No No
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info Yes Yes
Crypto Trading info No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 0
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing the trading platforms and tools of E*TRADE and TradeStation, TradeStation slightly edges out E*TRADE due to its advanced features and flexibility, earning it a higher rating. While E*TRADE provides a user-friendly experience with its online platform and a solid array of charting tools and indicators, TradeStation shines with customizable features and an extensive range of technical indicators. Overall, TradeStation is better suited for those who require a more flexible and feature-rich environment, reflected in its higher ranking by StockBrokers.com.

E*TRADE offers accessibility through its browser-based trading platform compatible with both PC and Mac users, and it supports paper trading, making it ideal for beginners. E*TRADE's charting capabilities are strong, featuring 121 technical indicators and 37 drawing tools, along with the ability to display corporate events, historical trades, and include automated technical analysis on charts. However, without a Windows or Mac downloadable platform and the inability to create custom studies, E*TRADE falls short of TradeStation's flexibility for advanced users.

TradeStation stands out with its downloadable Windows desktop platform, accommodating serious traders who seek a customizable and detailed trading experience. It boasts an impressive 294 technical indicators and 341 fields for watch lists, offering greater depth in market analysis. Users can adjust open orders on stock charts and integrate automated technical analysis, making it a powerful tool for technical traders. Although it lacks a Mac downloadable platform and does not offer a trading journal like E*TRADE, TradeStation's array of customizable features ensures it caters effectively to proficient traders seeking comprehensive tools.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
TradeStation logoTradeStation
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Paper Trading info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 43 341
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 121 294
Charting - Drawing Tools info 37 23
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025

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Beginners and education

When it comes to comprehensive educational resources, E*TRADE provides a more extensive offering for beginners and investors compared to TradeStation. E*TRADE excels with a wide range of education on investments like stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. It also provides users with paper trading options, educational videos, and webinars. Although it lacks educational quizzes and progress tracking features, E*TRADE has earned a stellar reputation, reflected in a 5-star rating for education and its #4 ranking out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com.

In contrast, TradeStation offers education on stocks and options, along with paper trading, educational videos, and webinars. However, it falls short in providing knowledge about ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. With a lack of educational quizzes and progress tracking, TradeStation offers fewer resources to guide beginners through the learning process. This difference in offerings is mirrored in TradeStation's educational rating, where it earned 3 stars and ranked #13 out of 14 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. Whether you're new to investing or looking to broaden your investment acumen, E*TRADE offers a more comprehensive educational environment compared to TradeStation.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
TradeStation logoTradeStation
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) info Yes No
Paper Trading info Yes Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

When comparing E*TRADE and TradeStation for stock trading app capabilities, E*TRADE stands out with several unique features that might cater to more diverse trading needs. E*TRADE edges ahead with a 5-star rating and a #4 ranking out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, showcasing its strong market presence and user satisfaction. On the other hand, TradeStation has a solid 4.5-star rating but ranks #8, indicating a reliable but slightly less favored option among users. Both platforms support trading on iPhone and Android apps, but E*TRADE also offers an Apple Watch app, unlike TradeStation.

E*TRADE and TradeStation both support mobile options trading, streaming quotes, and offer the ability to create and customize watch lists. However, E*TRADE provides additional features like streaming live TV, mobile after-hours stock trading, and the ability to view charts in landscape mode. With 107 technical studies for charting capabilities compared to TradeStation's 45, E*TRADE offers more comprehensive analytical tools, enhancing users' ability to make informed decisions.

While both platforms enable after-hours charting and support multiple time frames for mobile app charting, E*TRADE’s expanded chart features, including the ability to display stock comparisons, may appeal to those seeking a more dynamic investment platform. Although TradeStation doesn’t offer video on demand or support for stock comparison on charts, it remains a competitive choice with essential features that might suit traders looking for straightforward stock alerts and basic customizations.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
TradeStation logoTradeStation
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info Yes No
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 107 45
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When deciding between E*TRADE and TradeStation, it's important to weigh their account fees and other charges to determine which platform best fits your trading needs. Both E*TRADE and TradeStation offer $0 minimum deposits and commission-free stock trading, making them accessible to a variety of investors. However, the differentiation comes in various other charges such as options contract fees, where TradeStation’s rate is slightly lower at $0.60 compared to E*TRADE’s $0.65. When it comes to margin interest rates, TradeStation generally provides a lower rate across different balance tiers, giving it a competitive edge for margin traders.

Exploring the realm of retirement accounts, E*TRADE shines by offering no fees for IRA annual maintenance or closure, whereas TradeStation imposes a $35 annual fee and a $50 closure fee. This could be a significant factor for those prioritizing long-term investment strategies. Account transfer fees also highlight differences between these platforms. E*TRADE charges $75 for a full ACAT transfer, whereas TradeStation charges a steep $125, making E*TRADE a potentially more cost-effective option for account portability.

Additionally, for options trading aficionados, TradeStation incurs lower costs with a $5.95 fee for options assignments, while E*TRADE charges nothing for both options exercise and assignment fees. These various fee structures underscore the importance of aligning trading habits with the respective fee policies of E*TRADE and TradeStation to ensure you are selecting the broker that meets your financial goals without unnecessary expenditures.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
TradeStation logoTradeStation
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.65 $0.60
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $14.95
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $5.95
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $35.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $50.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

When comparing E*TRADE and TradeStation for day trading, both platforms offer essential features like streaming time and sales for stocks, direct market routing, and level 2 quotes. They also both support trading hotkeys for swift keyboard trade entries. However, E*TRADE has the advantage of streaming live TV, which TradeStation lacks, providing traders with real-time news and updates. On the other hand, TradeStation excels in strategy backtesting—offering both basic and advanced options—which E*TRADE does not. Additionally, TradeStation provides ladder trading functionality, enhancing its appeal to active traders seeking detailed market insights.

Another notable difference lies in the availability of a short locator tool, which TradeStation offers to help traders assess the real-time availability of shares to short—an option not available with E*TRADE. Moreover, TradeStation introduces order liquidity rebates, allowing traders to benefit from specific trading strategies focused on adding or removing liquidity in the market. This distinct set of features makes TradeStation a compelling choice for sophisticated day traders, while E*TRADE might appeal to those who value streamlined news integration and a simpler interface.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
TradeStation logoTradeStation
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes Yes
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info Yes Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes info Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No Yes
Short Locator info No Yes

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

When it comes to market research capabilities, E*TRADE stands out as a top choice among online brokers. With comprehensive research offerings spanning stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, Pink Sheets/OTCBB, and bonds, E*TRADE provides a wealth of information for investors. Ranked #2 out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, E*TRADE is highly rated with five stars, reflecting its stellar market research features. In contrast, TradeStation offers more limited research options, focusing on stocks and ETFs, resulting in a lower two-star rating and a #11 ranking.

E*TRADE excels in providing extensive downloadable PDF research reports, offering eight for stocks and additional reports for ETFs and mutual funds, ensuring investors have access to in-depth analysis. The broker also boasts advanced tools like portfolio allocation views by asset class and insightful stock research using social media sentiment data. On the other hand, TradeStation lacks downloadable research reports entirely and does not utilize social media sentiment for stock analysis, which limits its appeal to research-focused investors.

Both E*TRADE and TradeStation offer stock screeners for generating trade ideas, but E*TRADE goes further by providing screeners for ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, catering to a broader spectrum of investment opportunities. While TradeStation supports stock research and offers Pink Sheets/OTCBB insights, its limited scope in other areas, like the absence of mutual funds and bond research, underlines the gaps in its market research capabilities compared to those offered by E*TRADE.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
TradeStation logoTradeStation
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Fixed Income info Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income info Yes No
Research 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

When it comes to banking services, E*TRADE and TradeStation offer different experiences for users. E*TRADE provides a comprehensive suite of banking options, allowing customers to open checking and savings accounts, access debit and credit cards, and even apply for mortgage loans. Additionally, E*TRADE offers Certificates of Deposit (CDs) for those interested in fixed-term savings. On the other hand, TradeStation focuses primarily on trading platforms and does not provide traditional banking services like checking or savings accounts, debit or credit cards, mortgage loans, or CDs. For individuals seeking an online brokerage with integrated banking capabilities, E*TRADE offers a broader array of services compared to TradeStation.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
TradeStation logoTradeStation
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
Brokerage CDs info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025

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 TradeStation. E*TRADE finished with an overall score of 95.4%, while TradeStation finished with a score of 80.2%.

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.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with E*TRADE or TradeStation?

Both E*TRADE and TradeStation do not offer crypto trading, with each platform providing access to zero coins for cryptocurrency trading.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does E*TRADE or TradeStation offer IRAs?

Both E*TRADE and TradeStation provide traditional and Roth IRA accounts, but E*TRADE stands out with no annual or closure fees, while TradeStation charges a $35 annual fee and a $50 closure fee for their IRA accounts.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

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Overall Rating E*TRADE TradeStation
Overall 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review TradeStation Review
Broker Screenshots E*TRADE TradeStation
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees E*TRADE TradeStation
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $6.95 info $0.01 info
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $0.00 $14.95
Options (Per Contract) info $0.65 $0.60
Futures (Per Contract) info $1.50 $1.50
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $25 $25
Margin Rates E*TRADE TradeStation
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 14.2% info 13.0%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 13.7% 13.0%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 13.2% 12.5%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 12.7% 12.0%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 12.2% 12.0%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info Varies info 7.5% info
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info Varies info 7.5% info
Account Fees E*TRADE TradeStation
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $35.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $50.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $0.00 $125.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $125.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $14.95
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $5.95
Investment Options E*TRADE TradeStation
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info No No
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 4
Futures Trading info Yes Yes
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 0
Fixed Income (Treasurys) info Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) info Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) info Yes Yes
Traditional IRAs info Yes Yes
Roth IRAs info Yes Yes
Advisor Services info Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types E*TRADE TradeStation
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - OCO info Yes Yes
Order Type - OTO info Yes Yes
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes Yes
Beginners E*TRADE TradeStation
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) info Yes No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Retirement Calculator info Yes No
Investor Dictionary info Yes No
Paper Trading info Yes Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps E*TRADE TradeStation
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info Yes No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes Yes
Stock App Features E*TRADE TradeStation
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info Yes No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes Yes
Stock App Charting E*TRADE TradeStation
Charting - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 107 45
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info Yes No
Trading Platforms E*TRADE TradeStation
Active Trading Platform info Power E*TRADE TradeStation 10
Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info Yes Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 43 341
Stock Chart Features E*TRADE TradeStation
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 121 294
Charting - Drawing Tools info 37 23
Charting - Notes info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info Yes Yes
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range info Yes Yes
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No Yes
Charting - Automated Analysis info Yes Yes
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations info 8 12
Charting - Custom Studies info No Yes
Day Trading E*TRADE TradeStation
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes Yes
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info Yes Yes
Ladder Trading info No Yes
Trade Hot Keys info Yes Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes info Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No Yes
Short Locator info No Yes
Order Liquidity Rebates info No Yes
Research Overview E*TRADE TradeStation
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income info Yes No
Portfolio Asset Allocation info Yes Yes
Stock Research E*TRADE TradeStation
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 8 0
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes No
Stock Research - Insiders info Yes No
Stock Research - Social info Yes No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes No
ETF Research E*TRADE TradeStation
ETFs - Investment Objective info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes No
Mutual Fund Research E*TRADE TradeStation
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info Yes No
Options Trading E*TRADE TradeStation
Option Chains - Total Greeks info 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Banking E*TRADE TradeStation
Bank (Member FDIC) info Yes No
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
Customer Service E*TRADE TradeStation
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info Yes No
Overall E*TRADE TradeStation
Overall 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review TradeStation Review
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