E*Trade

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 1982
Developer: Morgan Stanley
Pricing: $0 commissions for online US-listed stocks, ETFs, and options trades; $0.65 per options contract; other fees apply
Open source: No
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web

Indexes

Investing/Portfolio

Overview

E*TRADE is an online brokerage platform that enables trading of stocks, ETFs, options, futures, mutual funds, bonds, and other securities. It provides tools for portfolio management, research, performance tracking, and banking services including check deposits and bill payments. Targeted at individual investors and active traders, it stands out with dedicated platforms like Power E*TRADE for advanced charting and technical analysis.

Key Features

Commission-free trading - Online US-listed stock, ETF, and options trades at $0 commission.
Power E*TRADE platform - Intuitive platform for active traders with advanced charting, support/resistance lines, and technical pattern identification.
Portfolio performance tracking - View and compare portfolio history against benchmarks like S&P 500, Dow, or NASDAQ.
Research and screeners - Access comprehensive research tools, screeners, alerts, watchlists, and live Bloomberg video.
Mobile banking - Deposit checks, pay bills, transfer money, and get unlimited ATM fee refunds with debit card.
Options and futures trading - Trade options and futures with real-time quotes and market tools.
Educational resources - Tutorials on account setup, trading securities, portfolio analysis, and advanced features like conditional orders.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Standard brokerage	$0 commissions on stocks/ETFs/options	Online US-listed trades; $0.65 per options contract; mutual funds, futures, bonds extra fees.
Power E*TRADE	$0 (included)	Advanced trading platform for stocks, ETFs, options, futures with charting tools.

Platforms & Requirements

Available as web platforms on desktop browsers, and mobile apps on iOS and Android. No native desktop apps for macOS or Windows mentioned. Minimum requirements align with standard mobile OS versions; web access requires modern browser.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Bloomberg live video streaming
Market data feeds for real-time quotes
Debit card for banking (ATM refunds)
Check deposit and bill pay
Portfolio benchmarking (S&P, Dow, NASDAQ)
Customer service chat in app

Alternatives

App	Difference
Fidelity	Offers similar commission-free trades but emphasizes zero-expense-ratio index funds and stronger retirement planning tools.
Charles Schwab	Provides commission-free trades with extensive branch network and thinkorswim platform for advanced options trading.
TD Ameritrade (Schwab)	Known for thinkorswim tools; now under Schwab, focuses on active traders with paper trading.
Robinhood	Targets beginners with simpler interface and fractional shares, but fewer advanced research tools.

Reputation

E*TRADE is regarded as a reliable brokerage for trading and investing, with praise for its mobile apps, commission-free structure, and tools like Power E*TRADE.¹²³ Users note strong functionality for stocks, options, and portfolio tracking, though some criticize UI design and customer service call wait times.⁸ Overall, it maintains a solid position post-Morgan Stanley acquisition for active and general investors.

Sources (9)