E*Trade vs. TD Ameritrade: E*Trade has been in business since 1982 and offers a wide range of products and services including stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, options, and forex trading. The company also offers retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s. TD Ameritrade was founded in 1975 and also provides access to stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, and options. In addition, the company offers futures and forex trading, as well as margin lending.
E*Trade
E*Trade is best for:
- Active trading.
- Beginner investors.
- Robust trading platforms.
- Retirement planning assistance.
- No-transaction-fee mutual funds.
E*Trade offers good pricing, easy to use system, and above average tools and features. Commission Fees: $0 (stock / ETF), $0.50 - $0.65/contract (options). Account Fees: $25 fee for partial transfers / $75 for full transfers. Account minimum: $0. Securities: Stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, options, futures.
Pros
Commission-free stock and ETF trades.
No account minimum.
Good customer service: Phone 24/7, email.
E-Trade Mobile App (App Store, Google Play).
Cons
No fractional shares.
» Read our full review of E*Trade.
TD Ameritrade
TD Ameritrade is best for:
- Beginner investors.
- Advanced traders.
- Fund investors.
- Trading platform and mobile app.
- Wide range of securities.
- Research and education.
TD Ameritrade's brokerage has a $0 commission rate on trades, top quality educational program, a traditional platform, and a mobile app that is optimized for both new investors and day traders. Commission Fees: $0 (stock / ETF), $0.65/contract (options). Account Fees: $75 transfer, No annual or inactivity fee. Account minimum: $0. Securities: Stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, options, futures, forex.
Pros
Commission-free stock and ETF trades.
No account minimum.
TD Ameritrade Mobile App (App Store, Google Play).
Customer service: Phone 24/7, email, +175 branches.
Rich educational programming
Cons
Higher fund fees than competitors.
No fractional shares.
» Read our full review of TD Ameritrade.
E*Trade vs. TD Ameritrade: Which Is Better For You?
E Trade has long been a favorite among active traders, thanks to its commissions structure and robust trading platform. TD Ameritrade, on the other hand, offers more commission-free ETFs and mutual funds. So if you’re looking to save on fees, Ameritrade may be the way to go.
Both brokers offer extensive research and education resources, so you can learn about investing before you put any money at risk. And both have mobile app versions of their platforms, so you can trade on the go.
So which one is right for you?
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