Charles Schwab vs. E*TRADE: 2025 Comparison
Charles Schwab and and E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley are both good for advanced and beginner investors, but fractional shares and website ease-of-use differ. NerdWallet compares the two brokers.
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There's a lot to like about E*TRADE and Charles Schwab. Both brokers cater to beginner investors and advanced traders alike. Both offer extensive investment selections, commission-free trades of stocks and exchange-traded funds and access to extensive research. Schwab has an above-average mobile app, but it provides a smaller selection of fractional shares than some other brokers.
E*TRADE's two mobile apps are impressive, but the broker's website can be a bit difficult to navigate. However, E*TRADE may appeal to options traders, particularly those who trade high volumes and will benefit from the discounts available.
Read more information about the two brokers to decide which one might be right for you.
Charles Schwab is best for:
Beginner investors.
Advanced traders.
Investors seeking no-minimum index funds.
Investors who rely on premium research.
Charles Schwab at a glance
Account minimum | $0. |
Stock trading costs | $0. |
Options trades | $0.65 per contract |
Account fees (annual, transfer, closing, inactivity) | Annual fee: $0 Inactivity fee: $0 Outgoing transfer fee (partial or full): $50 |
Interest rate on uninvested cash | 0.45% |
Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds | More than 8,000 |
Tradable securities | Stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, options, bonds, futures, futures options, forex |
Trading platform | Five: Schwab.com, Schwab Mobile and thinkorswim for web, desktop and mobile |
Mobile app | Available for iOS and Android |
Research and data | Over a dozen, including Morningstar, Refinitiv/LSEG, Argus, Vickers and Computrade/Market Edge |
Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website) | 24/7 phone and chat support |
» Read our full review of Charles Schwab
E*TRADE is best for:
Frequent traders.
Research and data.
Retirement planning assistance and educational resources.
E*TRADE at a glance
Account minimum | $0 |
Stock trading costs | $0 |
Options trades | $0.65 per contract (volume discount available) |
Account fees (annual, transfer, closing, inactivity) | Annual fee: $0 Inactivity fee: $0 Outgoing transfer fee (partial or full): $75 |
Interest rate on uninvested cash | 0.01% to 0.15% |
Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds | Over 6,000 |
Tradable securities | Stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, options, bonds, futures |
Trading platform | Two: E*TRADE and Power E*TRADE |
Mobile app | Available for iOS and Android |
Research and data | Nine research providers, including Moodys, Refinitiv, Morningstar, MarketEdge and Smart Consensus |
Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website) | 24/7 phone support; live chat Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern. |
» Read our full review of E*TRADE
Want to compare more brokerages? Here's our full list of the best brokers for stock trading.
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