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

Broker Name

E*TRADE

Global Prime

Broker Overview

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

Both ECN and STP broker

Market maker broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

1982

2010

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

5.2 million client accounts

No information

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FRS, FINRA, SIPC, SEC, NFA, FDIC

ASIC and VFSC

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

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

No major awards listed

Security Measures

SIPC

No compensation scheme

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

150+ Financial assets

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Fractional Shares

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Precious Metals

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Equities

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

Yes

MT5

cTrader

Social Trading

Copy Trading

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Power Etrade web, Power Etrade app

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

Standard and Raw account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Minimum Deposit

Leverage Available

1:5 to 1:500

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on assets class

1000 lots

Commission (per account type)

Standard: $0, Raw account: $3.5 per lot

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

Beginners to experienced traders

Beginner traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

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

Visa, Mastercard, Crypto, Bpay, Bank wire, QR code, Astro pay, Interac,PayID, e-wallets

Withdrawal Methods

E-wallets, check, Wire transfer

Visa, Mastercard, Crypto, Bpay, Bank wire, QR code, Astro pay, Interac,PayID, e-wallets

Other E-Wallets Supported

Electronic transfer

PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, GATE8, Dragon Pay, VN Pay, FasaPay, Pagsmile, Jeton, Mifinity, XPay, Perfect money

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

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

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

Trading Education, Market Analysis, Webinars, Trading Guides, Video Tutorials, Podcast Market Insights, Blog Trading News and Analysis

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

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

Crypto: 0.1%, indices, Bonds, and Commodities (excl. Metals): $0, Commission: AUD $7, USD $7, EUR € 6.20, GBP £5.4, SGD $9.50, CAD $9, Standard: 0.9 pips, raw : $3.5

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Per Lot Fees

$3.50

Options Contract Fees

$0.65

Futures Contract Fees

$1.50

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Maximum Leverage

1:500

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

Advisory Fees

0.30%

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

$15/ month

Deposit Fee

Currency Conversion Fee

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

$20-$30

Withdrawal Fee

Check return - $25, Electronic return -$25

International bank transfer: $20-$30

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

24 hours a day, 5 days a week. 5 PM New York on Sunday through to 5 PM New York on Friday

Customer Support

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

8 AM - 8 PM ET on weekdays

24/7

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]

Phone: +61 (2) 8379 3622, E-mail: [email protected], Live chat

Support Languages

14+

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Arlington, Virginia, United States Buyenlarge, Getty

FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd Level 10, 627 Chapel St, South Yarra 3141 Australia

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.

While E*TRADE maintains low trading fees with no minimum deposit, Global Prime includes some charges for premium features and certain asset trades, making E*TRADE the better option for budget-focused traders.

The account creation flow at E*TRADE is modern and app-driven, making it seamless for new users. Global Prime, however, leans toward traditional processes with forms and verifications that take more time.

Traders who value simplicity and execution speed may prefer E*TRADE platform. Meanwhile, Global Prime offers more flexibility through tools like advanced order types and multi-screen support.

For market veterans, E*TRADE brings the tools they need. New investors might find Global Prime more approachable and cost-effective.

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