E-Trade is a popular online broker for a reason: The company offers several trade platforms, a wealth of research and educational tools and a large selection of commission-free ETFs and transaction-fee-free mutual funds. Its commission structure is easy to navigate, and favors traders who make at least 30 trades per quarter.
» Check out our 2018 E-Trade review
Key facts on E-Trade fees
- E-Trade’s tiered commission structure offers discounted rates to frequent traders. Those who trade at least 30 times per quarter qualify for $4.95 commissions. For fewer than 30 trades, commissions are $6.95.
- Even for active traders, commissions are higher than those at many other brokerages. E-Trade does offer a large selection of transaction-fee-free mutual funds and commission-free ETFs, generally not available from discount brokers.
- E-Trade’s Pro trading platform is available only to customers who maintain at least a $250,000 account balance or execute at least 30 stock or options trades per quarter, but two other platforms are available to all investors, including E-Trade’s advanced platform OptionsHouse, where investors can trade stocks, options, ETFs and futures.
- There are no minimum trade requirements or inactivity fees.
- The company’s account minimum is $500 for brokerage accounts and $0 for IRA accounts.
» Compare the top online brokers of 2018
Here’s an overview of E-Trade’s commission and fee structure:
E-Trade Fees
| Service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commission for stocks, options and ETFs | $6.95 for fewer than 30 trades per quarter $4.95 for 30+ trades per quarter | 150+ commission-free ETFs |
| Commission-free ETF short-term trading fee | $19.99 for 0-149 stock and options trades per quarter $15.99 for 150+ stock and options trades per quarter | E-Trade may charge a fee for sales of ETFs held less than 30 days |
| Mutual funds | Transaction fee: $19.99 Load funds: Load listed in prospectus | 4,400+ no-transaction-fee mutual funds |
| Mutual fund short-term redemption fee | $49.99 | Charged on redemptions or exchanges of no-load, no-transaction-fee funds held less than 90 days |
| Options | $6.95 plus $0.75 for fewer than 30 trades per quarter $4.95 plus $0.50 for 30+ trades per quarter | |
| Options exercises and assignments | $4.95 | |
| Futures | $1.50 per contract, per side Bitcoin futures: $2.50 per contract, per side | Plus exchange and regulatory fees |
| Margin rates | Base rate is 7.75%; rates range from 6.75% to 10.25% | |
| Broker-assisted trades | $25 plus applicable commission | |
| Extended-hours trading | $0.005 per share | |
| Paper statements | $2 (some accounts exempted from fee) | Electronic statements are free |
| Outbound account transfer | $75 full account $25 partial account | No partial transfer fee if remaining balance is greater than $5,000 |
| Early withdrawal (before age 59-1/2) from retirement account | $25 | |
| Removal of excess retirement-account contribution | $25 | |
| Recharacterization of Roth IRA or traditional IRA contribution or conversion | $25 |
