StockBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn how we make money.

TradeStation vs Sofi Invest 2023

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

February 23, 2023

Is TradeStation better than Sofi Invest? After testing 17 of the best online brokers over three months, TradeStation (78.24%) is better than Sofi Invest (67.99%). TradeStation supports casual traders through its web-based platform and active traders through its desktop platform. We like the web-based platform and mobile app, but the flagship desktop platform could use a refresh. TradeStation ranked among Best in Class in the Commissions and Fees and Investment Options categories in our 2023 Annual Review of online stockbrokers.

Select Brokers

×
Overall RatingTradeStationSofi Invest
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 3/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 3/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TradeStation Review Sofi Invest Review
Trading FeesTradeStationSofi Invest
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $5.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $0.00 N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $14.95 $0
Options (Base Fee) $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.60 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) $1.50 $0.00
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $0 $0
Margin RatesTradeStationSofi Invest
Margin Rate Under $25,000 11.00% 7.75%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 11.00% 7.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 10.00% 7.75%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 10.00% 7.75%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 10.00% 7.75%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 5.50% 7.75%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 5.50% 7.75%
Account FeesTradeStationSofi Invest
IRA Annual Fee $35.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $50.00 $20.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $125.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $125.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee $14.95 $5.00
Options Assignment Fee $5.95 $5.00
Investment OptionsTradeStationSofi Invest
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares No Yes
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 0
Futures Trading Yes No
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading Yes Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 11 30
Mutual Funds (No Load) 800 0
Mutual Funds (Total) 4000 0
Bonds (US Treasury) Yes No
Bonds (Corporate) Yes No
Bonds (Municipal) Yes No
Advisor Services No No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order TypesTradeStationSofi Invest
Order Type - Market Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop Yes No
Order Type - Trailing Stop Yes No
Order Type - OCO Yes No
Order Type - OTO Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes No
BeginnersTradeStationSofi Invest
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) No Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) No Yes
Education (Bonds) No Yes
Education (Retirement) No Yes
Retirement Calculator No No
Investor Dictionary No Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Videos Yes No
Webinars Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) No Yes
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading AppsTradeStationSofi Invest
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 No
Trading - Complex Options Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes Yes No
Stock App FeaturesTradeStationSofi Invest
Market Movers (Top Gainers) Yes Yes
Stream Live TV No No
Videos on Demand No No
Stock Alerts Yes No
Option Chains Viewable Yes No
Watch List (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) Yes No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage Yes No
Watch Lists - Column Customization Yes No
Watch Lists - Total Fields 335 3
Stock App ChartingTradeStationSofi Invest
Charting - After-Hours Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 45 0
Charting - Study Customizations Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons No No
Trading PlatformsTradeStationSofi Invest
Active Trading Platform TradeStation 10 N/A
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) No No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Trade Journal No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields 335 3
Stock Chart FeaturesTradeStationSofi Invest
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 290 0
Charting - Drawing Tools 23 0
Charting - Notes Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays Yes No
Charting - Historical Trades Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars Yes No
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations 12 0
Charting - Custom Studies Yes No
Day TradingTradeStationSofi Invest
Streaming Time & Sales Yes No
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks Yes No
Ladder Trading Yes No
Trade Hot Keys Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv Yes No
Short Locator Yes No
Order Liquidity Rebates Yes No
Research OverviewTradeStationSofi Invest
Research - Stocks Yes No
Research - ETFs Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes No
Research - Bonds No No
Screener - Stocks Yes No
Screener - ETFs No No
Screener - Mutual Funds No No
Screener - Bonds No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation Yes Yes
Stock ResearchTradeStationSofi Invest
Stock Research - PDF Reports 0 0
Stock Research - Earnings No No
Stock Research - Insiders No No
Stock Research - Social No No
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings No No
ETF ResearchTradeStationSofi Invest
ETFs - Strategy Overview No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date No No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets No No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings No Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure No No
ETFs - Risk Analysis No No
ETFs - Ratings No No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap No No
ETFs - PDF Reports No No
Mutual Fund ResearchTradeStationSofi Invest
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis No No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings No No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown No No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings No No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation No No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap No No
Options TradingTradeStationSofi Invest
Option Chains - Basic View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns 32 0
Option Chains - Greeks 5 0
Option Chains - Quick Analysis Yes No
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming Yes No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis Yes No
Option Positions - Rolling Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping Yes No
BankingTradeStationSofi Invest
Bank (Member FDIC) No Yes
Checking Accounts No Yes
Savings Accounts No Yes
Credit Cards No Yes
Debit Cards No Yes
Mortgage Loans No Yes
Customer ServiceTradeStationSofi Invest
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) No Yes
Email Support Yes No
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support No No
OverallTradeStationSofi Invest
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 3/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 3/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TradeStation Review Sofi Invest Review
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAlly Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxE*TRADE
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFidelity
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFirstrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMerrill Edge
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRobinhood
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSofi Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxtastytrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTD Ameritrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradeStation
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradier
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVanguard
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxWebull

Compare

0 of 5
arrow_upward

TradeStation vs Sofi Invest Comparison

Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2023 annual broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 17 brokerages to find the best online broker. Let's compare TradeStation vs Sofi Invest.

Is TradeStation or Sofi Invest better for beginners?

Sofi Invest offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner investors than TradeStation. TradeStation offers investors access to Paper Trading, Videos, Education (Stocks) and Education (Options), while Sofi Invest offers investors access to Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement).

What about TradeStation vs Sofi Invest pricing?

TradeStation and Sofi Invest charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Option contracts are pricier at TradeStation, costing $0.60 per contract versus $0.00 per contract at Sofi Invest. For a complete commissions summary, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.

Does TradeStation or Sofi Invest offer a wider range of investment options?

TradeStation offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds and Futures Trading, while Sofi Invest offers investors access to Stock Trading, Fractional Shares, Options Trading and OTC Stocks. Neither have Forex Trading and Advisor Services. Looking at Mutual Funds, TradeStation and Sofi Invest both provide customers access to 0 no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds.

Which trading platform is better: TradeStation or Sofi Invest?

To compare the trading platforms of TradeStation and Sofi Invest, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, TradeStation offers a better experience. With research, TradeStation offers superior market research. Finally, we found TradeStation to provide better mobile trading apps.

Does either broker offer banking?

Online banking can be a benefit for investors, and some brokerages do provide banking services to customers. neither of these are offered by TradeStation while Sofi Invest offers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans.

Is TradeStation good?

TradeStation supports casual traders through its web-based platform and active traders through its desktop platform. We like the web-based platform and mobile app, but the flagship desktop platform could use a refresh. TradeStation ranked among Best in Class in the Commissions and Fees and Investment Options categories in our 2023 Annual Review of online stockbrokers.

Is Sofi Invest good?

SoFi Invest offers a wide range of services, including access to cryptocurrencies, IPOs and automated investing. It is relatively easy to use, and gets high marks for its mobile app. However, its lack of research, as well as its lagging education and trading tools, leave it a step behind industry leaders.

TradeStation vs Sofi Invest Winner

Overall winner: TradeStation

Read Next

Explore our other online trading guides:


Was this helpful?
Yes or No

close