Where E*TRADE shines

Something for everyone: Whether you are a beginner or an advanced trader, E*TRADE has a platform and a mobile app for you. The E*TRADE Web platform and the mobile app offer real-time quotes and market commentary, stock and exchange-traded fund screeners and a good deal of account management. More active traders can turn to the Power E*TRADE platform and app to get technical studies, drawing tools, customizable options chain views, trading ladders and other features for complex strategies.

Tradable securities: E*TRADE offers a wide range of investment choices, from stock, bonds, ETFs and more than 4,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds, to futures and advanced options strategies.

Educational resources and support: The educational resources and support options on offer from E*TRADE are some of the best. You can watch webinars on diversification and technical analyses as well as on more-complex topics like options trading. There are online investing courses that cover a host of topics, and a thematic investing section covering how to invest in companies that align with your values.

Where E*TRADE falls short

Website transparency: Our testers examined E*TRADE’s website and were unable to easily find the company’s guidance on how to close an account, which should be readily available.

Default sweep interest rate: At 0.01%, E*TRADE’s interest rate on uninvested cash is among the lowest of all brokers we review. As interest rates went up in 2023, some brokers increased their default sweep interest rates, but E*TRADE did not.