Overview
ETRADE is a big US online broker that now sits inside Morgan Stanley. It suits US investors and active traders who want stocks, ETFs, options and futures under one login, with real depth in research and tools. Its brokerage arms, ETRADE Securities LLC and E*TRADE Clearing LLC, are FINRA members, and accounts carry SIPC cover up to $500,000.
Accounts and costs
The standard brokerage account has no minimum and no maintenance fee. Online US stocks, ETFs and options are commission-free, but options add $0.65 per contract, which drops to $0.50 if you place 30 or more options trades a quarter. Futures cost $1.50 per contract per side. Bonds cost $1 each on the secondary market with a $10 minimum, and Treasuries are free. Margin follows the usual Reg T rules, and portfolio margin opens up with Level 4 options approval and $100,000 in equity.
There are also IRAs, a Core Portfolios robo-advisor from $500 at 0.30% a year, and a crypto account run with zerohash for Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana at 0.50% a trade.
Platforms and markets
Everything runs on ETRADE's own platforms: the website, the ETRADE app and **Power E*TRADE** for more active traders, with screeners and multi-leg options on mobile. Futures cover CME Group, ICE US and CFE, and you can trade options on futures nearly 24 hours a day. There's no forex.
Money in and out
Funding is by bank: ACH, wire, check or direct deposit. ACH deposits and withdrawals are free, while outgoing wires cost $25. New deposits are usually available to withdraw on the third business day. Checking and savings accounts come through Morgan Stanley Private Bank, with FDIC cover up to $250,000.
Good
- No account minimum and no maintenance fee
- $0 commission on online US stocks, ETFs and options
- Futures on CME Group, ICE US and CFE from one platform
- Power E*TRADE for active traders, plus a simple app for investors
- Backed by Morgan Stanley, with banking from Morgan Stanley Private Bank
- Treasuries trade commission-free
Watch for
- Options cost $0.65 a contract unless you trade 30+ times a quarter
- No forex trading
- Funding is by bank only, and wire withdrawals cost $25
- $25 extra for broker-assisted trades
- Crypto is limited to Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana
Accounts and costs
What each account needs to open and what you pay to trade on it.
| Account | Min deposit | Pricing | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brokerage account | None | $0 commission on online US-listed stocks, ETFs and options, plus $0.65 per options contract ($0.50 with 30+ options trades a quarter); futures $1.50 per contract per side | Reg T margin; portfolio margin with Level 4 options approval and $100,000 equity |
| Retirement account (IRA) | None | Same trading commissions as the brokerage account; $25 fee for early or excess-contribution withdrawals | — |
| Core Portfolios (robo-advisor) | $500 | 0.30% annual advisory fee | — |
| Crypto account (zerohash) | — | 0.50% commission on Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, $10 minimum trade, no added spread | — |
Regulation
Which entity holds which licence. Your protection depends on the entity you open an account with.
Investor protection: SIPC up to $500,000 for securities and cash; FDIC up to $250,000 on Morgan Stanley Private Bank deposits
Platforms and markets
Platforms
Markets
Deposits and withdrawals
- Methods
- Bank transfer
- Minimum deposit
- None
What traders say
Scores from the sites traders use, and our summary of what they're saying, checked 6 October 2026.
E*TRADE scores poorly on consumer review sites, while traders on Reddit are far more mixed to positive. It holds 1.1 on Trustpilot from about 650 reviews, 1.8 on SmartCustomer from about 290 and 1.35 on Reviews.io from 75. ConsumerAffairs, WalletHub and PissedConsumer carry hundreds more reviews, mostly complaints. Several long-time users on Reddit point out that unhappy customers are the ones who tend to post.
What traders like
Platform and tools. Active traders on Reddit like Power E*TRADE's charting and options tools, and find lot-level selling easier than at some rivals.
Long, quiet track records. Several Reddit users say they have held accounts for 20 years or more with no real problems.
Fair handling of fees. A few say support waived a fee or sorted a transfer without fuss.
Common complaints
Account locks and frozen transfers. The most common theme on ConsumerAffairs, WalletHub and PissedConsumer is accounts or transfers blocked by security alerts, with reviewers saying they had to call repeatedly to release their own money.
Hard-to-reach support. Many reviewers describe long hold times and chats that go unanswered, and some say escalation was difficult.
Slow transfers and rollovers. Some say incoming rollovers and account transfers took weeks despite promises of a day.
Fees. Some reviewers object to charges such as a fee on mandatory stock splits.
The Morgan Stanley move. Some reviewers, mainly stock-plan users, are unhappy that assets were moved to E*TRADE after the Morgan Stanley takeover, and one Reddit trader disliked a recent update to the Pro platform.
Recently
September 2026: ConsumerAffairs reviewers report a savings account locked about ten times in three months and a long-standing customer leaving over service.
August to September 2026: new WalletHub and PissedConsumer complaints repeat the pattern of repeated security holds on legitimate transfers.
Where this comes from
Trustpilot: the main E*TRADE page.
SmartCustomer, Reviews.io and Yelp: consumer reviews.
ConsumerAffairs: recent detailed reviews.
WalletHub and PissedConsumer: complaints.
Reddit r/etrade: customer threads, positive and negative.
Verified reviews
Reviews from traders who've connected an account at E*TRADE to Chartnaut, so you know they actually traded there. Opening soon.