Interactive Brokers vs TradeStation Securities Review

Using data from the StockBrokers.com 2017 Broker Rankings, we can compare Interactive Brokers vs TradeStation Securities to determine which broker is better for you. Our database includes thousands of data points on everything from research to trading tools. Let's take a closer look at Interactive Brokers and TradeStation Securities.

First we will break down the commission charges of both brokers for placing stock and options trades. TradeStation Securities charges more than Interactive Brokers for placing regular stock trades ($5 and $0 (the broker charges a per share rate instead), respectively). With options, the base fees charged are $5 (TradeStation Securities) and $0 (Interactive Brokers). At a difference of $0.20 per contract, TradeStation Securities's per contract rate of $0.50 is less than Interactive Brokers which charges $0.70. Note that flat rate trading is not available everywhere though, so it is important to read the complete commission notes for each broker to know the full breakdown (go to any stock broker review page, then scroll down to the "Commission Notes" section).

Trading fees aside, having access to trade what you want is also an important consideration. Both Interactive Brokers and TradeStation Securities support Stock Trading, Options Trading, Mutual Funds and Futures Trading. As far as mutual funds go, Interactive Brokers boasts an offering of 8026 compared to TradeStation Securities's 4854 available funds. And, commission free ETFs deserve a mention, with TradeStation Securities falling behind Interactive Brokers, offering 0 commission free etfs compared to Interactive Brokers's 33.

Finally, by looking at the most popular features and offerings of each broker, we can really see the differences between the two. Both Interactive Brokers and TradeStation Securities have virtual trading. For mobile trading, Interactive Brokers along with TradeStation Securities both support the iPhone App, iPad App and Android App. Online banking is also used by many clients, and multiple brokerages provide these services. Unfortunately Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans are not available at Interactive Brokers or TradeStation Securities . All things considered, when it comes to platform tools, research, and trading via smartphone, Interactive Brokers finished with awards for Best in Class - Platforms & Tools and Best in Class - Mobile Trading in 2014, while TradeStation Securities came up with Best in Class - Platforms & Tools.

Overall, Interactive Brokers boasts 4.00 stars versus TradeStation Securities's 3.50 stars.