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J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs TradeUP 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

November 13, 2026
  Fact Checked

In this head to head comparison of J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs TradeUP, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
TradeUP
3/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Range of investments

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing and TradeUP both give investors access to the basics most people look for in a self-directed account, including stock trading, margin, fractional shares, OTC stocks, and options. They also both offer traditional IRA and Roth IRA accounts, and neither platform supports forex, futures, or crypto trading. For investors who want a simple place to buy and sell common securities, both brokers cover the core needs well.

The main difference is that J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers mutual funds and advisor services, while TradeUP does not offer mutual funds or advisor help. That may matter for investors who want more ways to build a portfolio or prefer some guidance along the way. In terms of range of investments, both brokers are rated 3.5 out of 5 stars, though J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing ranks higher by StockBrokers.com at #13 out of 16, compared with TradeUP at #15 out of 16.

Overall, the two brokers are closely matched on the main trading features, but J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing has the edge for investors who want mutual funds or access to advisor services. TradeUP still covers the same core trading tools, but its account investment lineup is a bit narrower.

Feature J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing logoJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes Yes
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Mutual Funds Yes No
Options Trading Yes Yes
Futures Trading No No
Crypto Trading No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 0
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

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

Trading platforms and tools

Overall, TradeUP comes out ahead for trading platforms and tools. It offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser-based platform, while J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing only offers web access. TradeUP also includes paper trading, more watch list fields, and stronger charting features, making it the better choice for traders who want more built-in tools and flexibility.

On the platform side, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing keeps things simpler. It does not offer downloadable desktop software, paper trading, or a trading journal, and its charting setup is more limited. It does provide a browser-based platform and lets users view corporate events on charts, but it lacks several features that active traders may want, such as editing open orders directly on charts, adding chart notes, viewing historical trades, or saving multiple chart profiles.

TradeUP has the edge in most of the key comparison points for trading tools. It supports 44 technical indicators versus 36 at J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, offers chart notes, historical trades, automated chart pattern analysis, and multiple chart profiles, and gives users more room to customize studies like SMA settings. That lines up with StockBrokers.com’s ratings as well, where TradeUP earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 16 brokers, compared with J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing at 1 star and #15 out of 16.

Feature J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing logoJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) No Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields 20 60
Charting - Indicators / Studies 36 44
Charting - Drawing Tools 10 8
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 3.5/5 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

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is the stronger choice for beginners who want help learning the basics of investing. It offers education on stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds, along with educational videos and webinars. TradeUP, by comparison, does not provide education in these core areas, which may make it harder for new investors to build confidence and learn as they go. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for education and ranks #4 out of 16 brokers by StockBrokers.com.

TradeUP does have one useful learning feature that J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing does not: paper trading. This lets users practice trading without risking real money. Still, TradeUP lacks stock, ETF, options, mutual fund, and bond education, and it does not offer videos or webinars. It is rated 1.5 out of 5 stars for education and ranks #16 out of 16 brokers, so J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is the better overall fit for investor education.

Feature J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing logoJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Education (Stocks) Yes No
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) Yes No
Videos Yes No
Webinars Yes No
Education 4/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Trading Platforms for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

Overall, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing comes out ahead of TradeUP for stock trading app features, thanks to a higher app rating, a better app ranking, and stronger charting tools. TradeUP does edge ahead in a few mobile features, such as streaming quotes, after-hours charting, and stock comparison on charts, but J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers more technical studies and a slightly more polished app experience for most everyday investors.

Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, as well as mobile options trading, stock alerts, custom watch lists, and the ability to customize watch list columns. Neither broker offers an Apple Watch app, streaming live TV, or videos on demand. If you want a straightforward mobile trading app with the basics covered, either platform can work, but TradeUP may appeal more to active chart users, while J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing may be the better fit for investors who value a higher overall app score.

On the charting side, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing includes 36 technical studies and supports landscape viewing plus multiple time frames, while TradeUP offers 27 technical studies and also supports multiple time frames. TradeUP has the added benefit of mobile after-hours trading and stock comparisons on charts, while J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing does not. Still, with a 4-star app rating and an #11 ranking versus TradeUP’s 3-star rating and #16 ranking, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing has the stronger overall stock trading app profile.

Feature J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing logoJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
TradeUP logoTradeUP
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App No No
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours No Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 36 27
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3.0/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2026

Fees

For most everyday investors, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing and TradeUP both keep several core costs low, with $0 minimum deposits, $0 stock trades, $0 IRA annual fees, and no charge for options exercise or assignment. The biggest difference comes down to margin rates and a few account service fees: TradeUP offers lower margin interest than J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing across the balance ranges provided, and it also charges $0 for IRA closure fees, while J.P. Morgan charges $75. On the other hand, J.P. Morgan charges $0 for partial ACAT transfers, while TradeUP charges $50.

Looking at trading costs, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing charges $0.65 per options contract, while TradeUP charges $0.00. That makes TradeUP the cheaper choice for options traders. For margin balances below $25,000, J.P. Morgan charges 12.25% compared with 5.99% at TradeUP. The same pattern continues for balances between $25,000 and $49,999, where J.P. Morgan charges 12% and TradeUP stays at 5.99%, and for balances between $50,000 and $99,999, where J.P. Morgan charges 11.5% versus TradeUP’s 5.99%.

In short, TradeUP is the lower-cost option for options trading and margin borrowing, while J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing has an edge on partial ACAT transfers and matches TradeUP on several basic account fees. Both brokers offer commission-free stock trades and no minimum deposit, so the better choice may depend on whether you expect to trade options, use margin, or move an account between brokers.

Feature J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing logoJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $75.00 $0.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Stock Trading Platforms and Commission-Free Apps for 2026

Day Trading

For day trading, TradeUP offers a much stronger tool set than J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing. TradeUP includes streaming time and sales for stocks, direct market routing, ladder trading, hotkeys for fast order entry, and level 2 quotes, which can help active traders react more quickly and see deeper market detail. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing does not offer these features, making it a less practical choice for traders who want more hands-on control and speed.

That said, neither platform offers every advanced trading feature. Neither J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing nor TradeUP provides live TV, basic or advanced strategy backtesting, a short locator, or maker/taker rebates. Even so, TradeUP is the better fit for day trading overall because it gives traders more of the tools they typically need to enter and manage trades efficiently.

Feature J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing logoJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Streaming Time & Sales No Yes
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities No Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms and Apps for 2026

Market Research

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is the stronger pick for market research overall, especially if you want more ways to find ideas and dig into funds and bonds. It has a 4-star market research rating and ranks #7 out of 16 brokers by StockBrokers.com, while TradeUP scores 2.0 stars and ranks last at #16. Both brokers offer research on stocks, ETFs, pink sheets/OTCBB, and bonds, and both let you view portfolio allocation by asset class. Neither broker offers stock research based on social media sentiment or ESG research.

Where J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing stands out is in its broader research tools. It offers stock, ETF, mutual fund, and bond screeners for trade ideas, plus 2 downloadable PDF stock research reports. TradeUP does not offer screeners for those asset types and does not provide downloadable PDF stock reports. For mutual funds in particular, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers research, while TradeUP does not.

If your main goal is to compare market data and use more built-in research tools to guide investing choices, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing gives you more depth and flexibility. TradeUP still covers the basics for several asset classes, but it has fewer research features and less support for idea generation, making it better suited to investors who need only simple research coverage.

Feature J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing logoJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
TradeUP logoTradeUP
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes No
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Fixed Income Yes No
Research 4/5 Stars 2.0/5 Stars

Banking

When it comes to banking features, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers a much wider range of options than TradeUP. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing includes checking accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, credit cards, mortgage loans, and certificates of deposit (CDs), giving customers access to several everyday banking and lending services in one place. TradeUP, by comparison, does not offer these banking products. If having access to both investing and common banking services matters to you, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is the stronger choice.

Feature J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing logoJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
TradeUP logoTradeUP
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 16 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is better than TradeUP. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing finished with an overall score of 67.5%, while TradeUP finished with a score of 50.8%.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing makes it easy for Chase Bank customers to invest and allows access to J.P. Morgan research. On the downside, the broker features are sparse compared to industry leaders.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing or TradeUP?

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing and TradeUP are both online brokers that do not offer crypto trading, making them equally limited for investors seeking digital assets. Since neither platform supports cryptocurrency, each offers 0 coins for crypto trading.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing or TradeUP offer IRAs?

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing and TradeUP both offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts, with no annual IRA fee at either broker. However, TradeUP has the edge for account closures, charging $0.00 to close an IRA versus J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing’s $75.00 closure fee.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026

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Compare

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Overall Rating J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3.0/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 2.0/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Review TradeUP Review
Broker Screenshots J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $0.000 $0.000
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $0 N/A
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) (Not offered) (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee Varies N/A
Margin Rates J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Margin Rate Under $25,000 12.25% 5.99%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12% 5.99%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 11.5% 5.99%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 11.25% 5.99%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 11.25% 5.99%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 10.5% 5.99%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 10% 5.99%
Account Fees J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $75.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $0.00 $50.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $75.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes Yes
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 1 4
Futures Trading No No
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 0
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 1
Order Types J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Order Type - Market Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours No Yes
Order Type - Stop Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop No No
Order Type - OCO No No
Order Type - OTO No No
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes No
Beginners J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Education (Stocks) Yes No
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) Yes No
Education (Retirement) Yes No
Retirement Calculator Yes No
Investor Dictionary No No
Paper Trading No Yes
Videos Yes No
Webinars Yes No
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading Apps J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App No No
Trading - Stocks Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours No Yes
Trading - Simple Options Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options No Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes No Yes
Stock App Features J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Mobile Research - Market Movers Yes Yes
Stream Live TV No No
Videos on Demand No No
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Option Chains Viewable Yes Yes
Watchlist (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watchlist (Streaming) No Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization Yes Yes
Stock App Charting J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Charting - After-Hours No Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 36 27
Charting - Study Customizations Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons No Yes
Trading Platforms J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Active Trading Platform No N/A
Desktop Trading Platform No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) No Yes
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Trade Journal No No
Watchlists - Total Fields 20 60
Stock Chart Features J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies 36 44
Charting - Drawing Tools 10 8
Charting - Notes No Yes
Charting - Historical Trades No Yes
Charting - Corporate Events Yes Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars No No
Charting - Automated Analysis No Yes
Charting - Save Profiles No Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis No No
Charting - Study Customizations 3 8
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day Trading J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Streaming Time & Sales No Yes
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities No Yes
Ladder Trading No Yes
Trade Hot Keys No Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research Overview J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes No
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income Yes No
Portfolio Asset Allocation Yes Yes
Stock Research J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Stock Research - PDF Reports 2 0
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders No Yes
Stock Research - Social No No
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings No Yes
ETF Research J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
ETFs - Investment Objective Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings Yes Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings Yes Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure Yes Yes
ETFs - Risk Analysis No Yes
ETFs - Ratings Yes Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports No No
Mutual Fund Research J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus No 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 J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Option Chains - Total Greeks 0 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts No Yes
Banking J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
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 J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) No No
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes No
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) No Yes
24/7 Support Yes No
Overall J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing TradeUP
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 3.0/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 2.0/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Review TradeUP Review
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