E*TRADE vs. TD Ameritrade: 2021 Comparison
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E*TRADE and TD Ameritrade often top the pile of online brokers, making it tough for investors to decide between the two. You won't pay activity or annual fees at either broker. Both offer commission-free trades of stocks, options and exchange-traded funds and have no opening account minimums.
The differences are in the details, and the decision likely comes down to the type of investor you are. If you're stuck going back and forth between E*TRADE and TD Ameritrade, look over our head-to-head comparison.
E*TRADE is best for:
Frequent traders.
Beginner investors.
Research and data.
Retirement planning assistance.
E*TRADE at a glance
Account minimum | $0 |
Stock trading costs | $0 |
Options trades | No base commission; $0.65 per contract (volume discount available) |
Account fees (annual, transfer, closing, inactivity) | No annual or inactivity fee. $75 full transfer out fee; $25 partial |
Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds | Over 4,300 |
Tradable securities | • Stocks • Bonds • Mutual funds • ETFs • Options • Futures |
Crypto offering | Investors have access to crypto-related products, but not cryptocurrencies themselves. |
Trading platform | Two platforms available for free to all customers: • E-Trade Web • Power E-Trade |
Mobile app | Two apps: • E*TRADE mobile • Power E*TRADE Available on iOS and Android. |
Research and data | Free and extensive, with over nine providers available at no cost. |
Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website) | Phone, email and chat support 24/7; 30 local branches |
TD Ameritrade is best for:
Beginner investors.
Advanced traders.
Investor education/advice.
Fund investors.
TD Ameritrade at a glance
Account minimum | $0 |
Stock trading costs | $0 |
Options trades | No base commission; $0.65 per contract. |
Account fees (annual, transfer, closing, inactivity) | No annual or inactivity fee. $75 full transfer; $0 partial transfer. |
Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds | More than 3,700. |
Tradable securities | • Stocks. • Bonds. • Mutual funds. • ETFs. • Options. • Futures. • Forex. • Foreign ADRs. • IPOs for qualified accounts. |
Crypto offering | No direct access to cryptocurrencies, but crypto coin trusts are available over-the-counter, and qualified clients can trade Bitcoin futures from CME. |
Trading platform | Two platforms: TD Ameritrade web and thinkorswim (desktop). |
Mobile app | TD Ameritrade mobile app, TDA thinkorswim app. |
Research and data | Research, analysis, commentary and news available from 15 providers, including Argus, CFRA, Reuters, Vickers and Morningstar. |
Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website). | Phone, email and live chat support 24/7; technical phone support Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. In-person at 250+ local branches. Support also available via text, Facebook Messenger, Twitter direct message, Apple Business Chat and Amazon Alexa. |
» Want more options? Compare the best online brokers for stock trading
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Fees$0 per trade for online U.S. stocks and ETFs | Fees$0 per trade | Fees$0 per trade |
Account Minimum$0 | Account Minimum$0 | Account Minimum$0 |
PromotionNone no promotion available at this time | Promotion$5 to $1,000 in free stock for users who sign up via mobile app | PromotionGet $600 or more when you open and fund an E*TRADE account with code: BONUS21 |
