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TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard 2023

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Written by StockBrokers.com

April 11, 2023

Is TD Ameritrade better than Vanguard? After testing 17 of the best online brokers over three months, TD Ameritrade (97.39%) is better than Vanguard (71.94%). TD Ameritrade delivers $0 trades, fantastic trading platforms, excellent market research, industry-leading education for beginners and reliable customer service. This outstanding all-around experience makes TD Ameritrade one of our top overall brokers in 2023, in which it placed among Best in Class in several categories including options trading and best for beginners.

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Overall RatingTD AmeritradeVanguard
Overall 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TD Ameritrade Review Vanguard Review
Trading FeesTD AmeritradeVanguard
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $6.95 $0.00
Mutual Fund Trade Fee Varies Varies
Options (Base Fee) $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $1.00
Futures (Per Contract) $2.25 N/A
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $25 $25
Margin RatesTD AmeritradeVanguard
Margin Rate Under $25,000 14.25% info 13.25% info
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 13.75% 12.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 12.75% 12.25%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 12.50% 11.75%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 12.25% 11.25%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 Varies info 10.00%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 Varies info Varies info
Account FeesTD AmeritradeVanguard
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $20.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $0.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $75.00 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment OptionsTD AmeritradeVanguard
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares No No
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 4
Futures Trading Yes No
Forex Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 0
Mutual Funds (No Load) 3698 N/A
Mutual Funds (Total) 5876 N/A
Bonds (US Treasury) Yes Yes
Bonds (Corporate) Yes Yes
Bonds (Municipal) Yes Yes
Advisor Services Yes Yes
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order TypesTD AmeritradeVanguard
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 Yes No
Order Type - OCO Yes No
Order Type - OTO Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes Yes
BeginnersTD AmeritradeVanguard
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Bonds) Yes No
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary Yes No
Paper Trading Yes No
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes No
Webinars (Archived) Yes No
Progress Tracking Yes No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes Yes No
Stock Trading AppsTD AmeritradeVanguard
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App Yes No
Trading - Stocks Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours Yes No
Trading - Simple Options Yes No
Trading - Complex Options Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes Yes No
SB Gallery - Mobile Apps
Stock App FeaturesTD AmeritradeVanguard
Market Movers (Top Gainers) Yes No
Stream Live TV Yes No
Videos on Demand Yes No
Stock Alerts Yes No
Option Chains Viewable Yes No
Watch List (Real-time) Yes No
Watch List (Streaming) Yes No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage Yes No
Watch Lists - Column Customization Yes No
Watch Lists - Total Fields 514 9
Stock App ChartingTD AmeritradeVanguard
Charting - After-Hours Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 400 0
Charting - Study Customizations Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes No
Trading PlatformsTD AmeritradeVanguard
Active Trading Platform thinkorswim N/A
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Trade Journal Yes No
Watch Lists - Total Fields 514 9
Stock Chart FeaturesTD AmeritradeVanguard
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 429 9
Charting - Drawing Tools 24 0
Charting - Notes Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events Yes Yes
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 9 1
Charting - Custom Studies Yes No
Day TradingTD AmeritradeVanguard
Streaming Time & Sales Yes No
Streaming TV Yes 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 No No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research OverviewTD AmeritradeVanguard
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Bonds Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Screener - Bonds Yes Yes
Misc - Portfolio Allocation Yes Yes
Stock ResearchTD AmeritradeVanguard
Stock Research - PDF Reports 6 2
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders Yes No
Stock Research - Social Yes No
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings Yes No
ETF ResearchTD AmeritradeVanguard
ETFs - Strategy Overview Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis Yes No
ETFs - Ratings Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports Yes No
Mutual Fund ResearchTD AmeritradeVanguard
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Prospectus Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap Yes Yes
Options TradingTD AmeritradeVanguard
Option Chains - Basic View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns 35 9
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
BankingTD AmeritradeVanguard
Bank (Member FDIC) No No
Checking Accounts Yes No
Savings Accounts No No
Credit Cards Yes No
Debit Cards Yes No
Mortgage Loans No No
Customer ServiceTD AmeritradeVanguard
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes Yes
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) Yes No
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes No
24/7 Support Yes No
OverallTD AmeritradeVanguard
Overall 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review TD Ameritrade Review Vanguard Review
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TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard 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 TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard.

Is TD Ameritrade or Vanguard better for beginners?

TD Ameritrade offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner investors than Vanguard. TD Ameritrade offers investors access to Paper Trading, Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement), while Vanguard offers investors access to Videos, Education (Stocks) and Education (Retirement). See our guide to Best Paper Trading Platforms for more.

What about TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard pricing?

TD Ameritrade and Vanguard charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Option contracts are pricier at Vanguard, costing $1.00 per contract versus $0.65 per contract at TD Ameritrade. For a complete commissions summary, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.

Does TD Ameritrade or Vanguard offer a wider range of investment options?

TD Ameritrade offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds, Futures Trading, Forex Trading and Advisor Services, while Vanguard offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds and Advisor Services. Neither have Fractional Shares. Looking at Mutual Funds, Vanguard trails TD Ameritrade in its offering of no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds, with TD Ameritrade offering 3610 and Vanguard offering .

Which trading platform is better: TD Ameritrade or Vanguard?

To compare the trading platforms of TD Ameritrade and Vanguard, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, TD Ameritrade offers a better experience. With research, TD Ameritrade offers superior market research. Finally, we found TD Ameritrade 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. Checking Accounts, Debit Cards and Credit Cards are offered by TD Ameritrade while Vanguard offers neither of these. Neither have Savings Accounts and Mortgage Loans.

Is TD Ameritrade good?

TD Ameritrade delivers $0 trades, fantastic trading platforms, excellent market research, industry-leading education for beginners and reliable customer service. This outstanding all-around experience makes TD Ameritrade one of our top overall brokers in 2023, in which it placed among Best in Class in several categories including options trading and best for beginners.

Is Vanguard good?

Vanguard is aimed squarely at buy-and-hold investors, and its platform reflects that focus. Vanguard is known for its low-cost funds, and the investment platform is really built for those looking to invest solely in mutual funds and ETFs.

TD Ameritrade vs Vanguard Winner

Overall winner: TD Ameritrade

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