E-Trade vs. TD Ameritrade

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Overview of E-Trade & TD Ameritrade

Highlights

E-Trade vs. TD Ameritrade: A Comprehensive Broker Comparison

Welcome to our comprehensive comparison of E-Trade and TD Ameritrade, two leading brokerage platforms in the world of investing. In this comparison, we will provide you with a detailed overview of each broker, their pros and cons, and a conclusion to help you decide which platform is the best fit for your investment needs.

E-Trade

E-Trade is a well-established online brokerage platform that offers a wide range of investment products, including stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and mutual funds. Founded in 1982, E-Trade has a long history of providing user-friendly trading tools and educational resources to help investors navigate the world of investing.

• Most Popular
  • Brokerage account
  • Core Portfolios
  • Premium Savings Account
  • Traditional IRA
  • Roth IRA¹
  • Rollover IRA
• Brokerage
  • Brokerage account
  • Coverdell ESA
  • Custodial Account
• Retirement
  • Rollover IRA
  • Roth IRA¹
  • Traditional IRA
  • Beneficiary IRA
  • E*TRADE Complete^TM IRA
  • IRA for Minors
• Managed Portfolios
  • Core Portfolios
  • Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors
• Small business retirement
  • Individual and Roth Individual 401(k)
  • SIMPLE IRA
  • SEP IRA
  • Investment-Only Account
• Morgan Stanley Private Bank
  • Premium Savings Account
  • Max-Rate Checking
  • Checking
  • Line of Credit

E-Trade is an excellent choice for investors seeking a user-friendly platform with a wide range of investment options and comprehensive research tools. However, investors seeking low fees for options trading or those interested in fractional share trading may find better options elsewhere. E-Trade’s extensive educational resources and commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs make it a suitable choice for both beginner and experienced traders looking for a well-rounded platform.

TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade is a leading online brokerage platform that offers a range of investment products and services, including stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and mutual funds. Founded in 1975, TD Ameritrade has built a reputation for its advanced trading tools, competitive pricing, and exceptional customer service.

• Standard Account
  • Individual
  • Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship (JTWROS)
  • Tenants in Common
  • Community Property
  • Tenants by the Entireties
  • Guardianship or Conservatorship
• Retirement Account 
  • Traditional IRA
  • Roth IRA
  • Rollover IRA
  • SEP IRA
  • Solo 401k (for small businesses)
  • SIMPLE IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees)
  • Pension or Profit Plan
• Education Account
  • 529 Plans
  • Coverdell Education Savings Account
  • Custodial Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA)/Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA)
• Specialty Account 
  • Trust
  • Limited Partnership
  • Partnership
  • Limited Liability
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Corporate (profit or non-profit)
  • Non-Incorporated
  • Small Business Plans
  • NOW AVAILABLE – Charitable

TD Ameritrade is a great choice for investors who require advanced trading tools and a wide range of investment options, including commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, and options. However, its complex platform and inactivity fees may not be ideal for beginners or infrequent traders. Its competitive pricing and exceptional customer service make it a strong option for experienced traders and those with diverse investment interests.

Features and Primary Uses

At this point, it’s probably clear to you which broker is stronger in which areas. However, let’s go into the details of their features so you can get some more help in deciding which one you want to go for. 

Trading Fees

The first thing to know here is that the difference their trading fees are not huge. Yes, one’s a bit more affordable than the other but it can’t really be a decisive factor for you if you are not extremely tight on budget. E*Trade on the whole has more reasonable fees, such as the $0.65 per options contract for up to 29 trades in a quarter. As soon as you hit 30+ trades in a quarter, your fee goes down to $0.50 per options contract.

The base options trading fee on TD Ameritrade is the same i.e. $0.65 but it never goes down. For futures contracts, you’d pay $1.50 on every contract with E*Trade whereas $2.25 per contract with TD Ameritrade. Last but not least, TD AmeriTrade’s margin rates are also higher than E*Trade’s. 

Investment Options

It’s quite close between the two when you look at the number or types of instruments they offer you for trading. They both offers you tradable instruments in 8 different categories. Whether you are looking to trade ETFs, CDs, stocks, futures, options, bonds, and what not, you will find them on both broker’s platforms. Which broker you pick might come down to the fees you pay on trading these assets.  

Investment Plans

It’s yet another area where both these brokers are pretty neck and neck with each other. TD Ameritrade offers you a tad bit more options in each category. For example, it has 6 accounts in the Standard category and 7 in the Retirement accounts category, whereas E*Trade has 3 and 6 in the same categories respectively.

Now, E*Trade does offer 5 different retirement, profit-sharing, and investment-only accounts to small businesses, TD Ameritrade takes things up a notch with offering the same and some more. Its specialty category definitely stands out by offering Limited Liability, Partnership, Trust, etc. account options.

Education

There is plenty of educational material available from both brokers. Unlike many others out there, they don’t force you to sign up with them before you can access their educational material. The good news is they both have their training and educational material in multiple formats i.e. you can either read informative articles or watch explainer videos to learn basic as well as difficult trading concepts. 

Customer Support

Let’s start by talking about their FAQs. They both have plenty of these FAQs on the website. However, there are definitely other customer support elements that set them apart. E*Trade offers you with 24-hour support from Monday to Friday only. 

On the other hand, TD Ameritrade has its lines open for you to call 24/7. How TD Ameritrade stands apart is by offering you separate phone numbers for support in Spanish and Chinese. It has a separate phone number for other international customers. 

Trading Platform

They both offer some great trading platforms, and the fact that they are available on your desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones makes things even better. You can trade from the comfort of your home or while traveling. 

Their mobile platforms can be downloaded on Android phones and iPhones. Better yet, both brokers’ platforms are compatible with Apple Watch. Both brokers are doing a great job of offering web platforms that don’t need any downloading. You can use them any time you want using all major browsers.

Which One Should You Pick?

Which one you pick comes down to your preferences. Yes, it might sound like a cliché but that’s the truth. TD Ameritrade may sound a bit more expensive, but it has better customer support, more investment plans suited to different types of individuals and entities, and shorter transfer processing times. E*Trade, on the other hand, offers a variety of retirement and standard brokerage accounts along with the account option for minors for much lower fees. Don’t forget that its margin rates are also lower than TD Ameritrade’s.

If a verdict has to be given at any cost, then small businesses will find more options at TD AmeriTrade and first time investors will find E*Trade more fitting according to their budgets.

Conclusion

When deciding between E-Trade and TD Ameritrade,

consider your specific investment goals, experience level, and trading preferences. E-Trade is suitable for those seeking a user-friendly platform with a wide range of investment options and comprehensive educational resources. On the other hand, TD Ameritrade offers a more advanced trading platform with competitive pricing, exceptional customer service, and a wider range of investment options.

Investors seeking low fees and a simpler platform may find E-Trade to be a better fit, while those who require advanced trading tools and a more customizable platform may prefer TD Ameritrade. However, both brokers offer commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, and options, and provide comprehensive research tools and educational resources.

In conclusion, both E-Trade and TD Ameritrade are well-established brokerage platforms that cater to different types of investors. Consider your specific needs and investment goals when choosing a platform, and take advantage of the resources and tools provided by each broker to make informed investment decisions.