The best alternatives to TD Ameritrade are
- Charles Schwab - US discount broker
- E-Trade - US stockbroker
- Fidelity - US stockbroker
- Interactive Brokers - US discount broker
Let's see in a bit more detail how the TD Ameritrade alternatives compare to TD Ameritrade and each other:
| TD Ameritrade | Charles Schwab | E-Trade | Fidelity | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| Fees score | 4.3 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.1 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Account opening score | 2.9 stars | 4.5 stars | 3.8 stars | 2.9 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 2.2 stars | 2.2 stars | 2.2 stars | 3.6 stars | 2.5 stars |
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | 4.0 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Markets and products score | 3.9 stars | 3.3 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.9 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker |
Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to TD Ameritrade? There are many areas based on which TD Ameritrade can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to TD Ameritrade we mean these brokers are comparable in the following areas:
- The products they offer, meaning you can buy mostly the same things, i.e. stocks, CFDs, options, etc.
- The type of clients they target, i.e. beginners, experienced investors, or day traders.
TD Ameritrade alternatives recommendations
Brokers are different in a number of ways, which means each of them may be suitable for different people. Here's how they compare overall:
- TD Ameritrade is recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform
- Charles Schwab is recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research, low fees and great customer service
- E-Trade is recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and a great mobile trading platform
- Fidelity is recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and great trading platforms
- Interactive Brokers is recommended for traders looking for low fees and a professional trading environment
Important factors of finding TD Ameritrade alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 63 online brokers in detail, which gives this comparison a solid starting point.
Not only that, but all of these brokers are reviewed using the exact same broker review methodology, which makes everything easily comparable. For each broker, we
- open a live account
- check over 100 criteria, with weighting based on readers' preferences
- refresh data regularly
Whether TD Ameritrade or one of its alternatives is the best choice for you is on the following five broker characteristics that most interest people:
Fees. There are different types of fees that your online brokerage may charge, and both the number and the size of these fees may vary significantly from broker to broker. Both of these aspects can impact your returns and your overall experience. TD Ameritrade is one of the cheaper brokers, so if this is an important consideration for you, make sure you pick a similarly low-cost TD Ameritrade alternative.
Deposit/withdrawal. The number of ways that you can deposit or withdraw money to or from your account matters a lot. For example, while you cannot make a deposit with your credit card at TD Ameritrade, some alternatives might allow you to do that.
Web trading platform. While online brokers are usually available on various platforms like mobile apps, tablet apps or desktop software, most people use them through their web platform in a browser. User-friendly trading platforms that offer many different resources can significantly increase your trading comfort.
Markets and products. A lot of people have specific products they would like to invest in. Knowing whether stocks, forex, mutual funds, and other products are available at the given TD Ameritrade alternative is a must.
Now let's dive into the details of how TD Ameritrade and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!
TD Ameritrade alternatives
TD Ameritrade
TD Ameritrade was founded in 1978 and it is one of the biggest US-based stockbrokers. It is regulated by top-tier regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
TD Ameritrade is considered a safe broker since it has a long track record, is listed on a stock exchange, has a banking background, discloses its financials, and is regulated by top-tier regulators.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees (free stock and ETF trading) | • You can trade only in the US markets |
| • Superb desktop trading platform | • Slow and not fully digital account opening |
| • Great customer support | • No credit/debit cards and electronic wallets for money transfer |
Fees
TD Ameritrade provides free stock and ETF trading. The forex, bond, and options fees are low as well. On the other hand, they charge high fees for mutual funds.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High fund fees |
| • Low non-trading fees | |
| • Free stocks and ETFs |
| TD Ameritrade | Charles Schwab | E-Trade | Fidelity | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $1.0 |
| UK stock | - | - | - | $10.8 | $7.2 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k
Account opening
As a new client, you can change from many different account types at TD Ameritrade and as US citizen you will face no minimum deposit. Unfortunately, the process is not fully digital.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No minimum deposit | • Not fully digital |
| • Many account types |
| TD Ameritrade | Charles Schwab | E-Trade | Fidelity | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | >3 days | 1-3 days | 1-3 days |
Learn more about TD Ameritrade minimum deposit here.
Deposit and withdrawal
TD Ameritrade has user-friendly account funding and charges no deposit fees, but are several drawbacks as well. You can use only bank transfer and a high fee is charged for wire transfer withdrawals.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • User-friendly | • High withdrawal fee for wire transfers |
| TD Ameritrade | Charles Schwab | E-Trade | Fidelity | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
TD Ameritrade offers a good web-based trading platform with a clean design. On the flip side, there is no two-step login and the platform is not customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Good variety of order types |
| TD Ameritrade | Charles Schwab | E-Trade | Fidelity | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | 4.0 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.8 stars | 4.2 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.5 stars | 4.0 stars | - | 3.8 stars | 3.0 stars |
Learn more about TD Ameritrade's web trading platform in the detailed TD Ameritrade review.
Markets and products
At TD Ameritrade you can trade with a lot of asset classes, from stocks to futures and forex. We also liked the additional features like social trading and the robo-advisory service. On the other hand, the offered products cover only the U.S. market.
| TD Ameritrade | Charles Schwab | E-Trade | Fidelity | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| CFD | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Verdict
TD Ameritrade is one of the biggest US online brokers. Reflecting the wave of introducing commission-free trading at the end of 2019, TD Ameritrade now charges no commission of stock and ETF trades.
Research and education are outstanding and covers a lot of tools. The Thinkorswim desktop trading platform is one of the best on the market. The customer service is great, you will get relevant answers within a short time.
It has some drawbacks though. It charges high financing (margin) rates and it doesn't provide credit/debit cards and electronic wallets for money transfers. Furthermore, the product portfolio covers products only from U.S. markets.
As there are great education tools including a demo account, feel free to try it.
| TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|
| Summary | TD Ameritrade is a US stockbroker, regulated by top-tier authorities the SEC and FINRA. The company is listed on NASDAQ and has a banking background as part of the TD Group. |
| Fees score | 4.3 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform |
TD Ameritrade alternatives
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab was founded in 1971 and it is a US discount broker listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
It is regulated by several top-tier financial authorities, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research, low fees and great customer service
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stock and ETF trading | • High fees for some mutual funds |
| • Outstanding research | • Product selection covers only the US market |
| • Great customer service | • Not well-structured educational platform |
Fees
Charles Schwab offers free stock and ETF trading, while some mutual funds and bonds are also free. Non-trading fees are also low. On the negative side, the fees for some mutual funds are quite high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • High fees for non-free mutual funds |
| • Free stock and ETF trading | |
| • Some mutual funds and bonds are free |
| Charles Schwab | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $0.2 | $0.2 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | - | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | $13.4 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Opening an account at Charles Schwab is easy, fast and fully digital. For US-clients there is no minimum deposit. If you open an account outside the US, there is a $25,000 minimum deposit.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • For non-US clients $25,000 minimum deposit |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| Charles Schwab | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Charles Schwab minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Transferring money is easy and user-friendly at Charles Schwab and there is no deposit fee. On the flip side, you can only use bank transfer and a high fee is charged for wire transfer withdrawals.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • High fee for wire (bank transfer) withdrawals |
| • User-friendly |
| Charles Schwab | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Charles Schwab offers a good web-based trading platform with a clean design. On the flip side, the platform is not customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Price alerts |
| Charles Schwab | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.2 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.2 stars | 4.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.0 stars | 4.5 stars |
Learn more about Charles Schwab's web trading platform in the detailed Charles Schwab review.
Markets and products
At Charles Schwab, you can trade with a lot of asset classes, from stocks to futures. Unfortunately, the product portfolio covers only US exchanges.
| Charles Schwab | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Charles Schwab is one of the biggest discount US brokers regulated by top-tier regulators.
Reflecting the wave of introducing commission-free trading at the end of 2019, Charles Schwab charges no commission for stock and ETF trades. Its research is outstanding and covers many tools, including trading ideas and detailed fundamental data. The customer service is great, you will get relevant answers within a short time.
It has some drawbacks though. It charges high fees for some mutual funds and the product portfolio covers only US markets. Lastly, the educational platform is not well-structured.
As the trading and non-trading fees are generally low, research tools are great and the account opening is seamless, feel free to try it.
| Charles Schwab | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Charles Schwab is a US discount broker, regulated by top-tier US authorities the SEC and FINRA. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and holds a banking license. |
| Fees score | 4.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for solid research, low fees and great customer service |
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TD Ameritrade alternatives
E-Trade
E-Trade is a US-based stockbroker founded in 1982. It is regulated by top-tier regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
E-Trade is considered safe because it has a long track record, is listed on a stock exchange, has a banking background, discloses its financials and is regulated by top-tier, US regulators.
In February 2020, E-trade was acquired by Morgan Stanley. In case you are curious, we have written an article about this in which you can find the reasons behind the acquisition.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and a great mobile trading platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees (free stock and ETF trading) | • Only US markets covered |
| • User-friendly mobile trading platform | • Slow account verification |
| • Great research tools | • No forex |
Fees
E-Trade offers free stock, ETF trading. Some mutual funds and bonds are also free. The non-trading fees are low. On the negative side, the fees for non-free mutual funds are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • Higher fees for non-free mutual funds |
| • Free stock and ETF trading | |
| • Some mutual funds and bonds are free |
| E-Trade | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $0.2 | $0.2 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | - | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | $13.4 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
The account opening is fully digital and user-friendly for US clients. On the flip side, the account verification process was slow.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Slow |
| • User-friendly |
| E-Trade | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | >3 days | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in E-Trade minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
E-Trade charges no deposit fees and transferring money is user-friendly. On the flip side, you can only use bank transfer and a high fee is charged for wire transfer withdrawals.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • User-friendly | • $25 fee for wire transfer withdrawal |
| E-Trade | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
E-Trade has a great web-based user-friendly trading platform with a clear fee report. On the negative side, there is no two-step login and cannot be customized.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Good search function |
| E-Trade | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.0 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.5 stars | 4.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | 4.5 stars |
Learn more about E-Trade's web trading platform in the detailed E-Trade review.
Markets and products
At E-Trade, you can trade with a lot of asset classes, from stocks to futures. On the other hand, there is US market only and you can't trade with forex.
| E-Trade | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
E-Trade is one of the biggest US stockbrokers regulated by top-tier regulators.
At the end of 2019, riding the commission-free trading trend in the USA E-Trade introduced zero commission on stock and ETF trades. E-Trade's research functions are high-quality and channel a lot of tools, including trading ideas, and strategy builders as well. We liked the easy handling and the personalizable features of the mobile trading platform.
It has some drawbacks though. E-Trade doesn't provide credit/debit cards and electronic wallets for money transfers and the product portfolio covers only US markets. In addition, the account verification process is slow.
As the trading fees are generally low, the research tools are great and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to try E-Trade.
| E-Trade | |
|---|---|
| Summary | E-Trade is a US stockbroker, regulated by top-tier authorities the SEC and FINRA. The company is listed on NASDAQ and has a banking background. |
| Fees score | 4.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for solid research and a great mobile trading platform |
TD Ameritrade alternatives
Fidelity
Fidelity is a US stockbroker, founded in 1946. It is regulated by top-tier regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Fidelity is considered safe because it has a long track record and is regulated by top-tier regulators.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and great trading platforms
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Solid research tools | • Not fully digital account opening |
| • Great web trading platform | • High mutual fund fees |
| • US and international stocks | • Financing rates are high |
Fees
Fidelity has low trading fees and low non-trading fees. There are no commissions for stock trading which is great. On the negative side, fees for some mutual funds and financing rates can be high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • High financing rate |
| • Free stock and ETF trading | • Higher fees for non-free mutual funds |
| • Some mutual funds are free |
| Fidelity | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $0.2 | $0.2 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $22.1 | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | $13.4 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Opening an account at Fidelity is easy and fast, but not fully digital. The application had to be mailed with the relevant ID's photocopy.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No minimum deposit | • Not fully digital |
| • Low minimum deposit | |
| • User-friendly |
| Fidelity | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Fidelity minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Fidelity offers an exceptionally wide range of base currencies. Credit/debit cards are not accepted and the wire withdrawals are charged.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free withdrawal | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • No deposit fee | • $10 for outgoing wire transfers |
| • Several account base currencies |
| Fidelity | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Fidelity's web platform is easy to use, has a lot of order types, and provides a two-step authentication. On the negative side, the web trading platform is not customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Fidelity | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.5 stars | 4.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.8 stars | 4.5 stars |
Learn more about Fidelity's web trading platform in the detailed Fidelity review.
Markets and products
Fidelity offers a lot of asset classes, from stocks to options. There are international stocks too, not just US stocks. Forex and futures are missing.
| Fidelity | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Fidelity is one of the biggest US stockbrokers regulated by top-tier regulators.
Fidelity's research is outstanding and covers many tools, including trading ideas and detailed fundamental data. The web trading platform is easy to use and offers advanced order types. The product offer covers international stock exchanges besides the US market, not common among the US brokers.
Fidelity has some drawbacks though. The account is not fully digital, fees for mutual funds are quite high, also financing rate.
As the research tools are great, the web trading platform is user-friendly, and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to try Fidelity.
| Fidelity | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Fidelity is a US stockbroker. It is regulated by top-tier authorities the SEC and FINRA. |
| Fees score | 4.1 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for solid research and great trading platforms |
TD Ameritrade alternatives
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers was founded in 1978 and is one of the biggest US-based discount brokers. The broker is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including top-tier ones like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
As it has licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, the broker is considered safe. Also, having a long track record and publicly disclosed financials while being listed on a stock exchange are also great signs for its safety.
Recommended for traders looking for low fees and a professional trading environment
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Wide range of products | • Extremely complex desktop trading platform |
| • Many great research tools | • Complicated account opening process |
| • Regulated by several authorities | • High inactivity fee |
Fees
Interactive Brokers has low trading fees and for US clients, stock and ETF trading is free. On the negative side, there is a high inactivity fee for non-US clients.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • Low stock and ETF fees | |
| • Low financing rate | |
| • Free stock and ETF trading for US clients |
| Interactive Brokers | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $2.2 | $0.2 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $14.9 | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | $13.4 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
IB's account opening process is fully digital and the required minimum deposit is low. On the negative side, the online registration is complicated and account verification takes around 2 business days.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Not user-friendly |
| • No minimum deposit for most accounts types | • Confusing messages throughout the process |
| Interactive Brokers | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Interactive Brokers minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Interactive Brokers offers many account base currency options and one free withdrawal per month. The main drawbacks are that you can only use bank transfer and the process is not user-friendly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • Several account base currencies | • Not user-friendly |
| • First withdrawal each month free |
| Interactive Brokers | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Interactive Brokers's web platform is simple and easy to use even for beginners. On the negative side, it is not customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Interactive Brokers | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 4.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | 4.5 stars |
Learn more about Interactive Brokers's web trading platform in the detailed Interactive Brokers review.
Markets and products
Through Interactive Brokers you can access an extremely wide range of markets, with every product type available.
| Interactive Brokers | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFD | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
Interactive Brokers is one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, regulated by several top-tier regulators globally. We recommend this broker for advanced traders.
On the plus side, IB has a vast range of markets and products available, with diverse research tools and low costs.
There are some drawbacks though: there is a high inactivity fee and the account opening process is complicated. The desktop platform is complex and hard-to-understand, especially for beginners.
If you have experience navigating complex platforms and you like transparent low-cost trading, Interactive Brokers could be a great fit for you.
| Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Interactive Brokers is a US discount broker. It is listed on a stock exchange and regulated by several authorities, including top-tier ones like the FCA and the SEC. |
| Fees score | 4.3 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders looking for low fees and a professional trading environment |
TD Ameritrade alternatives
Bottom line
Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to TD Ameritrade. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.
| Broker | Info | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| TD Ameritrade | US-based stockbroker | Investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform |
| Charles Schwab | US discount broker | Investors and traders looking for solid research, low fees and great customer service |
| E-Trade | US stockbroker | Investors and traders looking for solid research and a great mobile trading platform |
| Fidelity | US stockbroker | Investors and traders looking for solid research and great trading platforms |
| Interactive Brokers | US discount broker | Traders looking for low fees and a professional trading environment |
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