E*TRADE review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley suits US investors and savers who want commission-free stock dealing alongside an easy-access cash account. Stock trades cost $0, the account fee is $0 and cash earns 4.25% variable, so the bundle rarely charges you to hold it.
Key facts
- Best for
- Commission-free US stock dealing with a linked easy-access cash account
- Minimum deposit
- $0↗
- Stock trade fee
- $0↗
- Account fee
- $0↗
- Markets
- Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds↗
- Regulators
- FINRA↗
- Investor protection
- SIPC up to USD 500,000↗
- Options contract fee
- $0.65↗
- Account types
- IRA, Joint↗
- Legal entity
- E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley↗
- Headquarters
- United States↗
- Founded
- 1982↗
- Support channels
- Phone, Help-centre↗
- Pricing model
- Commission-free
- Official website
- etrade.com
Savings
Robo-advisors
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 8 sources
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- WikidataWikipediaXLinkedInTrustpilot
Pros and cons
Pros
- Commission-free model with stock trades of $0 and an account fee of $0
- No minimum deposit of $0 to start dealing
- Cash sits in an easy-access account paying 4.25% variable, compounded daily
- Investments are protected by SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- Options contracts are priced separately at $0.65, the one dealing cost in the bundle
- The managed portfolio starts higher, with a minimum investment of $500
- Help is offered by phone and in the help centre only, on phone and help centre
Who it suits
- US investors buying stocks and ETFs without a dealing charge
- Savers who want cash accessible at any time without giving up a variable rate
- Retirement savers looking for an IRA alongside joint accounts
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for UK or European savers, since the cash side sits with a US bank and FINRA regulation
- Not for options traders who want pricing included in the headline dealing cost
Fees and currency costs
Dealing is commission-free, so stock trades cost $0 and there is no minimum deposit of $0. The account fee is $0, so holding cash alongside investments adds nothing. Options are the exception: each contract is priced at $0.65. The managed side carries its own terms, with a minimum investment of $500 and a management fee of 0.3% a year.
How E*TRADE compares
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.3
9.1 vs 8.5
9.1 vs 9.4
9.1 vs 9.3
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 9.2eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex, wider than the stocks, etfs and options range at E*TRADE
9.1 vs 8.7
9.1 vs 8.6
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.2
9.1 vs 9.1
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 9.0
9.1 vs 8.8
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to trade stocks?+
Stock trades are $0 under the commission-free model, and there is no minimum deposit of $0 to get started. The account fee is $0 as well, so holding the account adds no annual charge.
What does the managed portfolio charge?+
The managed side takes a management fee of 0.3% and asks for a minimum investment of $500. Portfolios cover ETF, crypto and cash options, which is a different arrangement from buying shares yourself.
What does the cash account pay and can I get at my money?+
The premium savings account pays 4.25% variable, with interest compounded daily and credited monthly. Access is unlimited and penalty free, and there is no ongoing balance requirement, with a monthly fee of $0.
How is my money protected?+
Investments sit under SIPC up to USD 500,000, and the bank side carries FDIC up to USD 250,000. The brokerage is registered with FINRA, so the two protections cover different pots of money.
Which markets can I trade?+
The broker covers stocks, etfs and options, which is a US equity and fund range rather than a global one. There is no forex or CFD trading here, so anyone wanting currency pairs should look at CFI or eToro instead.
Can I open a retirement or joint account?+
Account types include ira and joint, so retirement and joint holdings sit in the same platform as the dealing account. That makes it easier to hold cash, funds and retirement money in one place.
How do I get help if something goes wrong?+
Support runs on phone and help centre, so you can call or work through the help centre. The brand was founded in 1982 and is part of Morgan Stanley, which is a useful check on stability.
Sources
- banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind/details/34221 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Deposit protection
- brokercheck.finra.org checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Investor protection, Regulators
- brokerchooser.com/broker-reviews/e-trade-review/e-trade-fees checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Account fee, Markets, Pricing model, Options contract fee, Stock trade fee
“There are no monthly account fees”
- brokerchooser.com/broker-reviews/e-trade-review/e-trade-m... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Minimum deposit
“E*TRADE has no minimum deposit requirement”
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Trade checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters
“Founded in 1982”
- us.etrade.com/bank/premium-savings-account checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Access terms, Account kind, Headline rate, Monthly fee, Rate type
“Our Premium Savings Account offers unlimited, penalty-free access to your cash”
- etrade.com/what-we-offer/pricing-and-rates checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Account types, Management fee, Minimum investment, Portfolio types, Support channels
“IRA and non-IRA Brokerage accounts are ineligible ... If you are attempting to enroll in this offer with a Joint Account”
- linkedin.com/company/etrade checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley”
Compiled from 8 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Inactivity fee, Retail accounts that lose money.
E*TRADE
Commission-free US stock dealing with a linked easy-access cash account