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tastytrade vs TradeStation 2024

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

January 31, 2024

Is tastytrade better than TradeStation? After testing 18 of the best online brokers, our analysis finds that tastytrade (84.9%) is better than TradeStation (82.0%). Tastytrade isn’t for every investor, but its platform is ideal for frequent options and futures traders, offering efficient workflow, useful risk management tools, killer design, and online content that make you feel like you’re on a trading desk.

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating tastytrade TradeStation
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 2.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review tastytrade Review TradeStation Review
Broker Screenshots tastytrade TradeStation
Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand)
Research Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees tastytrade TradeStation
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info N/A $0.01 info
Mutual Fund Trade Fee N/A info $14.95
Options (Per Contract) $0.50 info $0.60
Futures (Per Contract) $1.25 $1.50
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $0 $25
Margin Rates tastytrade TradeStation
Margin Rate Under $25,000 11% 13.5%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 10.5% 13.5%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 10% 12.5%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 9.5% 12.5%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 9% 12.5%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 8.5% 8% info
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 8% 8% info
Account Fees tastytrade TradeStation
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $35.00
IRA Closure Fee $60.00 $50.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $75.00 $125.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $125.00
Options Exercise Fee $5.00 $14.95
Options Assignment Fee $5.00 $5.95
Investment Options tastytrade TradeStation
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes info No
OTC Stocks info No 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 Yes Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 8 11
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 0 800
Mutual Funds (Total) info 0 4000
Bonds (US Treasury) info No info Yes
Bonds (Corporate) info No Yes
Bonds (Municipal) info No Yes
Traditional IRAs info Yes Yes
Roth IRAs info Yes Yes
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types tastytrade 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 No Yes
Order Type - OCO info Yes Yes
Order Type - OTO info Yes Yes
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes Yes
Beginners tastytrade TradeStation
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info No No
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info No Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps tastytrade TradeStation
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No 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 tastytrade TradeStation
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info No 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
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 33 341
Stock App Charting tastytrade 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 0 45
Charting - Study Customizations info No Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No No
Trading Platforms tastytrade TradeStation
Active Trading Platform info tastytrade TradeStation 10
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 33 341
Stock Chart Features tastytrade TradeStation
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 308 294
Charting - Drawing Tools info 31 23
Charting - Notes info Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info Yes Yes
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range info No Yes
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No Yes
Charting - Automated Analysis info No Yes
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info No Yes
Charting - Study Customizations info 7 12
Charting - Custom Studies info Yes Yes
Day Trading tastytrade TradeStation
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No Yes
Ladder Trading info Yes Yes
Trade Hot Keys info No Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No Yes
Short Locator info Yes Yes
Order Liquidity Rebates info No Yes
Research Overview tastytrade TradeStation
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info No Yes
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Stocks info No Yes
Screener - ETFs info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes Yes
Stock Research tastytrade TradeStation
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 0
Stock Research - Earnings info No No
Stock Research - Insiders info No No
Stock Research - Social info No No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info No No
ETF Research tastytrade TradeStation
ETFs - Strategy Overview info No No
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info No No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info No No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info No No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info No No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info No No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info No No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No
Mutual Fund Research tastytrade TradeStation
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info No No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info No Yes
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info No No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info No No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info No No
Options Trading tastytrade TradeStation
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Streaming info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Total Columns info 20 29
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Grouping info Yes Yes
Banking tastytrade TradeStation
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Debit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service tastytrade 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 Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info No No
Overall tastytrade TradeStation
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 2.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review tastytrade Review TradeStation Review
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tastytrade vs TradeStation Comparison

Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. We spend hundreds of hours each year testing the platforms, mobile apps, trading tools and general ease of use among online brokerages, as well as comparing commissions and fees, to find the best online broker.

Though many U.S. brokers offer basic trading features, such as an app, charting tools, stock research and educational content, the depth of those features can vary widely. Let's compare tastytrade vs TradeStation.

Is tastytrade or TradeStation better for beginners?

In stock trading, the more you know, the better you’ll do. Taking advantage of resources like articles, webinars, videos and interactive elements is a great way to shorten the learning curve. In our analysis, we examine the availability of several different types of educational materials.

For 2024, our review finds that tastytrade offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginning investors than TradeStation. tastytrade offers investors access to Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs) and Education (Options), while TradeStation offers investors access to Paper Trading, Videos, Education (Stocks) and Education (Options). Neither have Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement).

What about tastytrade vs TradeStation pricing?

tastytrade and TradeStation charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Option contracts are pricier at TradeStation, costing $0.60 per contract versus $0.50 per contract at tastytrade. For futures, TradeStation charges $1.50 per contract and tastytrade charges $1.25 per contract. For a deeper dive, see our best brokers for free stock trading or options trading guides

Does tastytrade or TradeStation offer a wider range of investment options?

Looking at a full range of investment options, including order types and international trading, our research has found that TradeStation offers a more comprehensive offering than tastytrade. tastytrade ranks #11 out of 18 brokers for our Investment Options category, while TradeStation ranks #5.

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

Do tastytrade and TradeStation offer cryptocurrency?

In our analysis of top U.S. brokerages, we research whether each broker offers the ability to trade cash cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin and ethereum. Though crypto has risen steadily in popularity, availability still varies from broker to broker. Our review finds that both tastytrade and TradeStation offer crypto trading.

Which trading platform is better: tastytrade or TradeStation?

To compare the day trading platforms of tastytrade and TradeStation, we focused on trading tools and functionality across both web and desktop-based platforms. Popular day trading platform tools include streaming real-time quotes, stock alerts, trading hotkeys, direct market routing, streaming time and sales, customizable watch lists, backtesting, and fully functional charting packages, among many others. For day trading, tastytrade offers a better experience.

Does tastytrade or TradeStation offer a better stock trading app?

After testing 25 features across the stock trading apps of tastytrade and TradeStation, we found TradeStation to be better overall. The best stock market apps are easy to use, have excellent design, and deliver a fully featured online trading experience. tastytrade ranks #10 out of 18 brokers, while TradeStation ranks #8.

tastytrade Trading App Gallery

TradeStation Trading App Gallery

Which broker is better for researching stocks?

For research, TradeStation offers superior market research than tastytrade. tastytrade ranks #13 and TradeStation ranks #10.

Over the years, we've found that the best brokers provide rich market commentary, a variety of third-party research reports, and thorough quote screens that are not just easy to navigate, but that also include a comprehensive selection of fundamental data. Robust stock, ETFs, and mutual fund screeners are also must-haves for trade idea generation.

How do tastytrade and TradeStation compare in terms of minimum deposit required?

tastytrade requires a minimum deposit of $0.00, while TradeStation requires a minimum deposit of $0.00. From our testing, we found that SoFi is the only broker that requires a minimum deposit.

Which broker offers better margin rates for accounts under $25,000?

tastytrade charges 11% for accounts under $25,000 while TradeStation charges a margin rate of 13.5%. The industry average of the 18 brokers we track is 9%.

Does tastytrade offer fractional shares? Does TradeStation?

Fractional shares are not offered by either broker. Our research has found that 39% of brokers offer fractional shares investing. Fractional shares allow traders to buy a part of a whole share of stock. For example, if Amazon is trading at $1,000, you could buy half a share for $500.

Can you trade penny stocks with tastytrade or TradeStation?

Neither tastytrade nor TradeStation allow you to trade penny stocks. Penny stocks are companies whose shares trade for under $5 and are listed over the counter (OTC). For brokers that do offer penny stock trades, the average commission is $3.

Does either broker offer banking?

Online banking can be a benefit for investors, and some brokerages do provide banking services to customers. Neither tastytrade nor TradeStation offers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans. Neither have Mortgage Loans.

Which broker offers stronger customer service?

StockBrokers.com partners with customer experience research group Confero to conduct phone tests from locations across the United States to thoroughly evaluate the quality and speed of brokerage customer service. (Read more about How We Test.) Here are the results of our current testing.

Tastytrade was rated 10th out of 13 brokers, with an overall score of 7.37 out of 10.

TradeStation was rated 7th out of 13 brokers, with an overall score of 7.98 out of 10.

Is tastytrade good?

Tastytrade isn’t for every investor, but its platform is ideal for frequent options and futures traders, offering efficient workflow, useful risk management tools, killer design, and online content that make you feel like you’re on a trading desk.

In the 2024 StockBrokers.com Annual Awards, tastytrade placed No. 1 for Options Trading, Futures Trading, Desktop Options Trading Platform, and Desktop Futures Trading Platform. It placed among Best in Class for Commissions & Fees, Investor Community, and Day Trading.

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.

In the 2024 StockBrokers.com Annual Awards, TradeStation placed among Best in Class for Day Trading, Futures Trading, Investment Options, and Penny Stock Trading.

tastytrade vs TradeStation Winner

Overall winner: tastytrade

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