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tastytrade vs TradeStation 2023

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

February 23, 2023

Is tastytrade better than TradeStation? After testing 17 of the best online brokers over three months, tastytrade (81.30%) is better than TradeStation (78.24%). 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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Overall RatingtastytradeTradeStation
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 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review tastytrade Review TradeStation Review
Trading FeestastytradeTradeStation
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) N/A $0.00
Mutual Fund Trade Fee N/A $14.95
Options (Base Fee) $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.50 info $0.60
Futures (Per Contract) $1.25 $1.50
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $0 $0
Margin RatestastytradeTradeStation
Margin Rate Under $25,000 11.00% 11.00%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 10.50% 11.00%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 10.00% 10.00%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 9.50% 10.00%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 9.00% 10.00%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 8.50% 5.50%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 8.00% 5.50%
Account FeestastytradeTradeStation
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $35.00
IRA Closure Fee $60.00 $50.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $75.00 $125.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $75.00 $125.00
Options Exercise Fee $5.00 $14.95
Options Assignment Fee $5.00 $5.95
Investment OptionstastytradeTradeStation
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares Yes No
OTC Stocks No Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 4
Futures Trading Yes Yes
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading Yes Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 25 11
Mutual Funds (No Load) 0 800
Mutual Funds (Total) 0 4000
Bonds (US Treasury) No Yes
Bonds (Corporate) No Yes
Bonds (Municipal) No Yes
Advisor Services No No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order TypestastytradeTradeStation
Order Type - Market Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop No Yes
Order Type - OCO Yes Yes
Order Type - OTO Yes Yes
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes Yes
BeginnerstastytradeTradeStation
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) No No
Education (Bonds) No No
Education (Retirement) No No
Retirement Calculator No No
Investor Dictionary Yes No
Paper Trading No Yes
Videos No Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) Yes No
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading AppstastytradeTradeStation
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App No Yes
Trading - Stocks Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options Yes Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes Yes Yes
Stock App FeaturestastytradeTradeStation
Market Movers (Top Gainers) Yes Yes
Stream Live TV No No
Videos on Demand No No
Stock Alerts No Yes
Option Chains Viewable Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields 33 335
Stock App ChartingtastytradeTradeStation
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes Yes
Charting - Multiple Time Frames No Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 0 45
Charting - Study Customizations No Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons No No
Trading PlatformstastytradeTradeStation
Active Trading Platform tastytrade TradeStation 10
Desktop Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Trade Journal No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields 33 335
Stock Chart FeaturestastytradeTradeStation
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies 308 290
Charting - Drawing Tools 19 23
Charting - Notes Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays No Yes
Charting - Historical Trades Yes Yes
Charting - Corporate Events No Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range No Yes
Charting - Custom Time Bars No Yes
Charting - Automated Analysis No Yes
Charting - Save Profiles Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis No Yes
Charting - Study Customizations 7 12
Charting - Custom Studies No Yes
Day TradingtastytradeTradeStation
Streaming Time & Sales No Yes
Streaming TV Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks No Yes
Ladder Trading No Yes
Trade Hot Keys No Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No Yes
Short Locator Yes Yes
Order Liquidity Rebates No Yes
Research OverviewtastytradeTradeStation
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB No Yes
Research - Bonds No No
Screener - Stocks No Yes
Screener - ETFs No No
Screener - Mutual Funds No No
Screener - Bonds No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation No Yes
Stock ResearchtastytradeTradeStation
Stock Research - PDF Reports 0 0
Stock Research - Earnings No No
Stock Research - Insiders No No
Stock Research - Social No No
Stock Research - News No Yes
Stock Research - ESG No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings No No
ETF ResearchtastytradeTradeStation
ETFs - Strategy Overview No No
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date No No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio No No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets No No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings No No
ETFs - Sector Exposure No No
ETFs - Risk Analysis Yes No
ETFs - Ratings No No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap No No
ETFs - PDF Reports No No
Mutual Fund ResearchtastytradeTradeStation
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart No info 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 TradingtastytradeTradeStation
Option Chains - Basic View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View No Yes
Option Chains - Streaming Yes Yes
Option Chains - Total Columns 7 32
Option Chains - Greeks 5 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis Adv Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming Yes Yes
Option Positions - Adv Analysis Yes Yes
Option Positions - Rolling Yes Yes
Option Positions - Grouping Yes Yes
BankingtastytradeTradeStation
Bank (Member FDIC) No No
Checking Accounts No No
Savings Accounts No No
Credit Cards No No
Debit Cards No No
Mortgage Loans No No
Customer ServicetastytradeTradeStation
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes No
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support No No
OveralltastytradeTradeStation
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 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 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. For our 2023 annual broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 17 brokerages to find the best online broker. Let's compare tastytrade vs TradeStation.

Is tastytrade or TradeStation better for beginners?

tastytrade offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner 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 a complete commissions summary, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.

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

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.

Which trading platform is better: tastytrade or TradeStation?

To compare the trading platforms of tastytrade and TradeStation, 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 tastytrade nor TradeStation offers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans. Neither have Mortgage Loans.

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.

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.

tastytrade vs TradeStation Winner

Overall winner: tastytrade

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