E*TRADE vs Freetrade : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

E*TRADE

Freetrade

Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

Both ECN and STP broker

STP broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

1982

2016

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

5.2 million client accounts

1.5 M

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FRS, FINRA, SIPC, SEC, NFA, FDIC

FCA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Investor App and #1 Web Trading Platform for 2024, Benzinga's 2023 Global Fintech Awards

Best Online trading platform 2024

Security Measures

SIPC

Yes

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

Over 50,000 offerings, including US Treasury trades

6200+ U.S Treasury Bills, Investment trust

Currency Pairs

Commodities

Indices

Cryptocurrencies

CFDs

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Fractional Shares

Yes

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Precious Metals

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Yes

Equities

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

MT5

cTrader

Social Trading

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Power Etrade web, Power Etrade app

Freetrade web and mobile trading platform

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Brokerage, Retirement, Core portfolio, Managed portfolio, Small business retirement , bank

General investment account, Stocks and shares ISA, Personal pension account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Minimum Deposit

Leverage Available

100:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on assets class

depends on asset class

Commission (per account type)

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners to experienced traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Transfer money, Wire transfer, Transfer an account, Deposit a check ,Direct Deposit

Bank transfer, debit card, Apple pay, google pay

Withdrawal Methods

E-wallets, check, Wire transfer

Linked bank account

Other E-Wallets Supported

Electronic transfer

Apple pay , google pay

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Educational Resources, Tools, Market News and Insights, Tutorials and Webinars

Learn (Trading Education), Freetrade Blog (Market Insights), Webinars, Investing Guides, Video Tutorials, Community Forum

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs- $0, Bonds- $1, FINRA trading activity fee- $0.000166

FX fee of 0.59%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Per Lot Fees

Options Contract Fees

$0.65

Futures Contract Fees

$1.50

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Maximum Leverage

100:1

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

Advisory Fees

0.30%

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Statement or Document Fee

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

$15/ month

£10.97

Deposit Fee

£5

Currency Conversion Fee

Direct trade-$0.005 per share, Broker assisted trader- $25

Exchange rate + 0.99%

Withdrawal Fee

Check return - $25, Electronic return -$25

£5

Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Sunday 5 p.m. CT to Friday 4 p.m. CT

Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET (2:30 PM - 9:00 PM GMT) European Market Hours- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CET (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT)

Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

8 AM - 8 PM ET on weekdays

24/5

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Live chat, FAQ, Phone- 800-387-2331, 800-838-0908, Beneficiary Services: [email protected] General inquiries: [email protected]

Help hub, community forum, E-mail, Social media

Support Languages

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Arlington, Virginia, United States Buyenlarge, Getty

Level 2, The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, England, E1 6QL

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.

E*TRADE stands out for its zero-commission trading model, appealing to cost-conscious investors. In contrast, Freetrade offers more comprehensive services with slightly higher fees, especially for advanced tools and asset classes.

Account approval at E*TRADE is usually completed within hours, often with automated ID checks. Freetrade might take longer due to manual reviews, but provides in-depth onboarding support along the way.

If you're trading on-the-go, E*TRADE mobile platform is fluid and intuitive. Freetrade desktop and web apps are more robust, making them suitable for in-depth trading sessions.

E*TRADE supports complex strategies and asset diversity, while Freetrade offers clarity and low-cost access for long-term holders.

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