Robinhood’s commission-free trading drove major brokers such as E*Trade and TD Ameritrade to offer free stock, ETF, and options trading as well. As these reputable financial firms have similar offerings and pricing, traders on Reddit who are debating between E*Trade and TD Ameritrade consider their platforms, especially the mobile version, as one of the top determining factors. Here’s what Reddit users have to say about their interface.
E*Trade vs TD Ameritrade: Reddit Reviews
Redditors are in unison that TD Ameritrade’s thinkorswim is the best platform out there
When Reddit CrashNT asked on subreddit StockMarket which platform is better, E*Trade or TD Ameritrade, the answers were unanimous: TD Ameritrade’s thinkorswim. Before we delve into the helpful comments we found, it is worth mentioning that TD Ameritrade offers the following desktop, web, and mobile platforms: TD Ameritrade and thinkorswim. Almost wherever you look on Reddit, users rave about thinkorswim.
Reddit user ActualBP provides a detailed comparison of his experience with both E*Trade and TD Ameritrade in his comment:
TD Ameritrade’s thinkorswim offers topnotch research and planning tools and customizations without compromising ease of use. It’s easy to switch from mobile to desktop as well as the interface is similar. Reddit users benignacct and T_O_beats agree with ActualBP’s comment above:
For traders who are always on the go, TD Ameritrade and its thinkorswim platform is hard to beat.
Research and Analysis Tools
Both E*Trade and TD Ameritrade deliver extensive research tools, but Reddit users say thinkorswim comes out on top
Those who use the two brokers alongside each other opt to do their research on TD Ameritrade
Making a sound buying and selling decision requires research and analysis of market trends, and TD Ameritrade’s charts and friendly platform makes researching less of a chore. E*Trade also offers extensive research tools, but it can’t compete against TD Ameritrade’s. As Reddit user OPT_HUNTER puts it:
Commission and Fees
Both offer commission-free trading and charge a certain fee for every options contract
A look at E*Trade’s snapshot analysis for options trading
E*Trade and TD Ameritrade offer similar products and pricing. They both offer free stock, ETF, and options trading and charge a fee for every options contract. For every options contract, there’s a fee of $0.65. Where they differ is with E*Trade, the cost of every options contract gets reduced to $0.50 if you process 30 or more stock, options, and ETF trades every quarter. If you’re a heavy options trader, this is something worth considering.
E*Trade vs TD Ameritrade Comparison Chart
| Investing Platform | E*Trade | TD Ameritrade |
| Account Minimum | $O | $O |
| Fees | Free stock and ETF trading, $0.65 cents for every options contract which gets reduced to $0.50 for executions of 30 contracts or more per quarter, $1.50 for futures contracts | Free stock and ETF trading, $0.65 cents for every options contract, $6.95 for over-the-counter stock trading |
| Account Types | Brokerage, Retirement, Managed Portfolios, Small Business Retirement | Standard, Retirement, Education, Specialty, Managed Portfolios, Margin Trading |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes (Bitcoin Futures) | Yes (Bitcoin Futures) |
| Fractional Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Short Selling | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Forex, International Exchange | No | Yes |
| Cash Management | Yes | Yes |
| Penny Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research Tools | Advanced | Advanced |
Verdict
Reddit users are confident that TD Ameritrade and thinkorswim are easily the best trading and investing platforms
