TD Ameritrade Logo
Written by:
Fact checked by:
Updated:
May 2023
Recommended for
  • beginners 4.2/5
  • equity trading 4.4/5
  • forex trading 4.2/5
Trusted broker
  • Top-tier regulation in the US
  • Compensation in case of broker bankruptcy (terms apply)
  • Long track record - founded in 1975
Popularity
20,849 people chose this broker in the last 6 months

Our take on TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade is one of the biggest stockbrokers in the US. If you’re looking for a wide range of asset classes and commission-free stock trading, TD Ameritrade is an excellent choice. Its trading platform - thinkorswim - is exceptional, account opening is user-friendly, and no minimum deposit is required. Be aware, though, that TD Ameritrade is only available in a few countries outside the US, and you can only trade on US markets.

BrokerChooser score
4.9 4.9 /5
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TD Ameritrade is available in United States
Stock fee
Low
Fractional shares
No
Minimum deposit
$0
Inactivity fee
$0
Pros
Cons
Low trading fees (free stock and ETF trading)
You can trade only on US markets
Superb desktop trading platform
Accounts mostly limited to US residents
Great customer support
No credit/debit cards and electronic wallets for money transfer
Expert opinion
“I mainly recommend TD Ameritrade to US investors, because accounts are mostly limited to US residents. CFD traders should obviously look elsewhere as CFD trading is illegal in the US. I was reassured by TD Ameritrade’s banking background and the fact that it is listed on NASDAQ. I was also impressed by the well-equipped thinkorswim trading platform.”
Gergely Korpos
Co-founder / CPO

TD Ameritrade main highlights

🗺️ Country of regulation USA, Hong Kong, Singapore
💰 Trading fees class Low
💰 Inactivity fee charged No
💰 Withdrawal fee amount $0
💰 Minimum deposit $0
🕖 Time to open an account 1-3 days
🎮 Demo account provided Yes
🛍️ Products offered Stock, ETF, Forex, Fund, Bond, Options, Futures, Crypto

TD Ameritrade summary

Fees
4.1
Account opening
4
Deposit and withdrawal
2.2
Web trading platform
4.3
Mobile trading platform
4.8
Desktop trading platform
4.5
Markets and products
3.9
Research
5
Customer service
5
Education
5
Safety
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To read much more details about the broker's services and features, expand on the sections below.

TD Ameritrade review
Fees

Score: 4.1/5
+
TD Ameritrade offers free stock and ETF trading, while forex, bond and options fees are also low. On the other hand, it charges high fees for non-free funds and futures.
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TD Ameritrade review
Account opening

Score: 4/5
+
TD Ameritrade offers many different account types and there is no minimum deposit for US citizens.
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TD Ameritrade review
Deposit and withdrawal

Score: 2.2/5
+
The account funding is user-friendly with no deposit fees; however, USD is the only available base currency and wire transfers incur a high fee.
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TD Ameritrade review
Web trading platform

Score: 4.3/5
+
TD Ameritrade offers a good web trading platform with a clean design. On the flip side, the platform is not customizable.
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TD Ameritrade review
Mobile trading platform

Score: 4.8/5
+
The TD Ameritrade mobile app is great. It is user-friendly and well-designed.
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TD Ameritrade review
Desktop trading platform

Score: 4.5/5
+
The 'thinkorswim' desktop platform is one of the best on the market, we really liked it. The only feature we missed was two-step authentication.
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TD Ameritrade review
Markets and products

Score: 3.9/5
+
You can trade many asset classes, from stocks to futures and forex, while nice extras include social trading and robo-advisory. On the other hand, only the US market is covered.
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TD Ameritrade review
Research

Score: 5/5
+
TD Ameritrade has great research tools, including trading ideas and detailed fundamental data.
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TD Ameritrade review
Customer service

Score: 5/5
+
TD Ameritrade customers have access to great customer service 24/7 and can expect relevant answers.
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TD Ameritrade review
Education

Score: 5/5
+
TD Ameritrade offers great educational materials such as webcasts and articles, and its excellent thinkorswim desktop platform has a demo account.
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TD Ameritrade review
Safety

+
The brokerage is overseen by top-tier US regulators such as the SEC and FINRA. Clients are covered by a high investor protection amount, but negative balance protection is not provided.
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TD Ameritrade review
Bottom line

TD is one of the biggest US online brokers and it charges no commission on stock and ETF trades.

Research and education are outstanding, the thinkorswim desktop platform is one of the best on the market, and customer service is great.

There are a few drawbacks, most notably high margin rates, and the fact that credit/debit cards and electronic wallets are not accepted for money transfers. Furthermore, the product portfolio covers only US markets.

We definitely recommend giving TD a try, especially as their education tools include a demo account.

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TD Ameritrade review
FAQ

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Author of this review

Adam Nasli

Author of this review

Adam is a motivated finance expert. He is one of the first hires at BrokerChooser and has since tested almost all 100+ brokers covered by BrokerChooser. Adam holds a professional degree from CEU and he helps teach finance and programming courses at his alma mater. Previously he worked in the banking sector, including at Citi Bank. He loves researching the financial industry, managing his long-term investments, and trading with algorithms.

Adam Nasli

Analyst Head

Adam is a motivated finance expert. He is one of the first hires at BrokerChooser and has since tested almost all 100+ brokers covered by BrokerChooser. Adam holds a professional degree from CEU and he helps teach finance and programming courses at his alma mater. Previously he worked in the banking sector, including at Citi Bank. He loves researching the financial industry, managing his long-term investments, and trading with algorithms.

Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology

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