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

Broker Name

E*TRADE

TradeStation

Broker Overview

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

Both ECN and STP broker

ECN broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

1982

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

5.2 million client accounts

226506+ clients

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FRS, FINRA, SIPC, SEC, NFA, FDIC

CFTC, NFA, FINRA, SEC

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

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

Best in Class awards in StockBrockers.com 2023 Online Broker Review, Best Brokerage App at the 2023 Benzinga Global Fintech Awards, TradingView's Best Broker in the AMER Region 2023 Award

Security Measures

SIPC

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

Futures option

Currency Pairs

Commodities

Indices

Cryptocurrencies

CFDs

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

MT5

cTrader

Social Trading

Copy Trading

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Power Etrade web, Power Etrade app

Desktop, Web trading, Mobile app, Futures Plus

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

Individual, Retirement, Entity

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Minimum Deposit

Leverage Available

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

Beginners and experienced traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

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

Wire transfer, Check, Electronic transfer

Withdrawal Methods

E-wallets, check, Wire transfer

Wire transfer, Check, Electronic transfer

Other E-Wallets Supported

Electronic transfer

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 Insights, Webinars, Online Trading Courses, Strategy Development and Backtesting

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

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

Commission- Stocks and ETFs- $0, Stock options- $0 Commission + $0.60 per contract, Future options- $0 Commission + $0.60 per contract, Micro futures- $0 Commission + $0.50 per contract, per side, Futures- $0 Commission + $1.50 per contract, per side

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Per Lot Fees

Options Contract Fees

$0.65

$0 Commission + $0.60 per contract

Futures Contract Fees

$1.50

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Maximum Leverage

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$10 per month

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

TradeStation platform - $149.95 / month, Without Brokerage Account- $99.99 / month $199.99 for professionals, folio-level strategy back-testing tool - $59.95 / month

Advisory Fees

0.30%

$25

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Statement or Document Fee

$1 per page

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

$15/ month

$35 per year

Deposit Fee

Currency Conversion Fee

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

Starts from $0.35

Withdrawal Fee

Check return - $25, Electronic return -$25

Wire transfer- $25- $35

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

9:30 am ET to 4:00 pm ET

Customer Support

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

8 AM - 8 PM ET on weekdays

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET

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: 800.822.0512, Live chat, E-mail: [email protected]

Support Languages

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Arlington, Virginia, United States Buyenlarge, Getty

8050 SW 10th Street, Suite 2000. Plantation, FL 33324

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, TradeStation offers more comprehensive services with slightly higher fees, especially for advanced tools and asset classes.

E*TRADE uses a digital-first onboarding approach with clear instructions and fast ID verification. TradeStation goes a step further with manual checks and optional account tiers, ideal for serious professionals.

E*TRADE platform is great for fast-paced day trading, especially with features like one-click trading. TradeStation platform, by comparison, is built for strategy testing and long-term portfolio management.

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

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