E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Review: All-In-One Shop for Your Money
Review
Updated
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E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley might be for you if: You're looking for an all-in-one broker with low fees and physical branch locations. The platform offers thousands of mutual funds you can trade without paying hefty transaction fees. In our E*TRADE review, we'll cover the details so you can decide if this stock broker is right for you.
On E*TRADE's Secure Website.
2025 Award Winner
E*TRADE offers low fees and tons of account types. If you need it, chances are, E*TRADE has it. You can access advanced features through its popular Power E*TRADE platform. Open an E*TRADE account to trade fee-free mutual funds and do all your investing in one place.
Commission-free; other fees apply
$0
Open and fund a brokerage account and get up to $1,000. Terms apply.
On E*TRADE's Secure Website.
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.
| Broker | Best For | Commissions | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Managing your finances under one roof | $0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴ |
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing
On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Low mutual fund fees. | $0 per trade |
Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options |
Learn More for Robinhood
On Robinhood's Secure Website. |
Author's note: My favorite brokers are those that make investing in stocks and ETFs easy and affordable. I've been investing for four years, and I plan on holding my investments for decades. is my go-to platform. Top perks include an IRA match and a no-frills interface. I don't day trade or dabble in mutual funds, but I do invest in Bitcoin; it's a must-have option.
E*TRADE gives all the basic investment options and then some -- E*TRADE offers over 6,000 mutual funds. The platform also gives you a truly staggering number of brokerage account types to choose from. These include IRAs, rollovers, and a robo-advisory account.
E*TRADE offers cheap stock, ETF, and options trading. You can even trade over 6,000 no-load mutual funds through the online brokerage platform. E*TRADE also offers E*TRADE Core Portfolios from Morgan Stanley, a robo-advisory service with its own fees.
| Reason | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stocks and ETFs trading | $0 |
| Options per contract fee | $0.65, $0.50 if you make over 30 trades quarterly |
| Mutual funds trading (U.S. based) | $0 |
| Early redemption fee for no-load, no-transaction-fee funds | $49.99 |
E*TRADE lets you invest on margin, but rates are high compared to alternatives.
| Amount borrowed | Margin rate |
|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 13.20% |
| $10,000 to $24,999 | 12.95% |
| $25,000 to $49,999 | 12.70% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 12.20% |
| $100,000 to $249,999 | 11.70% |
| $250,000 to $499,999 | 11.20% |
| $500,000 or more | Contact E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley for latest rates |
E*TRADE sometimes offers promotions that could save you money. Click below to go to our dedicated page covering current E*TRADE promotions:
E*TRADE offers a number of research reports and tools, more than your typical discount broker.
Independent research reports: You get access to reports from independent research providers, such as Thomson Reuters and Credit Suisse.
TipRanks: E*TRADE pulls consensus price targets from analysts who are ranked on TipRanks, which tracks the accuracy of sell-side analysts, columnists, and other market followers.
Screeners: E*TRADE offers tons of screeners for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, but one area where E*TRADE really shines is in options, thanks to its Power E*TRADE platform. Its StrategySEEK tool lets you search for options trades based on your view of where a stock may trade in the future. It might help you maximize a profit or loss, or to minimize the cost of making an options trade.
Active traders love E*TRADE's basic web platform, as well as its advanced platform for active traders who qualify for access.
The basic web platform contains many of the features active traders and investors like to see -- free streaming market data, market commentary, analyst research, and a lengthy list of screeners to sort the market to find good investments. You can make a trade with just a few clicks, and it's simple enough for investors of all experience levels.
The Power E*TRADE platform offers impressive charting capabilities, and options trading features that have made it a favorite among options traders. The platform offers graphics to show the maximum profit or loss and breakeven point for a given options trade, making it easy to see the potential risks and rewards of complex (multi-leg) options positions. With features that include Level II quotes, advanced charting tools, and even a live Bloomberg TV feed, it's built with active traders in mind.
The E*TRADE Mobile and Power E*TRADE apps are available on iOS and Android devices, giving you powerful platforms on which you can place trades on just about any device. The basic E*TRADE app and the advanced Power E*TRADE app are rated 4.6 and 4.5 on the App Store, respectively. The stock trading apps are also available on Google Play.
People who live near an E*TRADE branch get an additional avenue for customer support through one of its brick-and-mortar locations. Given its branch network isn't as robust as Fidelity or Charles Schwab, you may want to see if there's an E*TRADE nearby before opening an account. (Frankly, 24/7 phone and online chat support is good enough for most investors, anyway.)
You can get in touch with E*TRADE via:
E*TRADE is a safe place to invest your money. The broker covers you if someone uses your account without permission. It won't sell your personal information to advertisers, it encrypts your data, and it offers two-factor authentication. Deposits are covered by the SIPC for up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for cash only).
E*TRADE Securities Inc. was founded in 1991. Since then, it's undergone big changes. Most recently, Morgan Stanley acquired E*TRADE in 2020. That's why you can walk into Morgan Stanley banks for in-person customer service on your E*TRADE accounts. E*TRADE acquired what's now the Power E*TRADE platform after it was founded, which is why there are two apps.
Though E*TRADE is technically a discount brokerage, it's evolved to offer much, much more than cheap options trading. From Roth IRAs to custodial accounts, you can open pretty much any kind of brokerage account you want. You can even bank through the online platform.
Keep reading about E*TRADE on these pages:
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SoFi Disclosure:
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
Value Prop Disclosures
Promotion Disclosures
E*TRADE services are available just to U.S. residents.
J.P Morgan Disclosure
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
Robinhood disclosure
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Securities are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. For more information see the Robinhood Crypto Risk Disclosure.
Trades of stocks, ETFs and options are commission-free at Robinhood Financial LLC. Other fees may apply. Please see Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule to learn more.
Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. Not all securities available through Robinhood are eligible for fractional share orders. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement.
Robinhood Gold is an account offering premium services available for a $5 monthly fee. Not all investors will be eligible to trade on Margin. Margin investing involves the risk of greater investment losses. Additional interest charges may apply depending on the amount of margin used. Bigger Instant Deposits are only available if your Instant Deposits status is in good standing.
Investing is risky. Bonus offers subject to terms and conditions, visit robinhood.com/hoodweek for more information. Margin is not suitable for all investors. Robinhood Gold is offered through Robinhood Gold LLC and is a subscription offering services for a fee. Brokerage services offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), a registered broker dealer.
