TradeStation vs eToro 2025
In this head to head comparison of TradeStation vs eToro, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of TradeStation vs eToro, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
When comparing TradeStation and eToro, the choice largely comes down to the specific investment features you value the most. TradeStation tends to attract those looking for a comprehensive range of investment options, including stock and margin trading, as well as futures and options trading. Conversely, eToro shines in areas such as fractional shares and cryptocurrency trading, offering an asset range that appeals to investors seeking more unconventional investment opportunities.
TradeStation offers investors the ability to trade stocks, options, mutual funds, and futures, making it well-suited for those who appreciate traditional investment routes. With the added benefit of margin trading and access to OTC stocks, TradeStation has earned a strong rating of 4.5 stars for its range of investment options. It even supports retirement accounts like traditional and Roth IRAs, providing a broader spectrum of financial planning tools. However, one of its notable shortcomings is the lack of cryptocurrency trading, a growing trend in the investment world.
eToro, on the other hand, provides a different appeal with its focus on modern trading solutions. Unlike TradeStation, eToro supports fractional shares, which allows investors to purchase smaller portions of high-value stocks. Furthermore, eToro excels in cryptocurrency offerings, featuring 26 different coins available for trading. While it lacks traditional services such as futures trading, mutual funds, and retirement accounts, eToro still provides options trading alongside its crypto and stock offerings. For users primarily interested in diverse but newer asset classes, eToro’s 2.5-star rating in the range of investments is still worthy of consideration.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Margin Trading | Yes | No |
Fractional Shares | No | Yes |
OTC Stocks | Yes | No |
Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | Yes | No |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 26 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025
When choosing between TradeStation and eToro, it becomes apparent that TradeStation excels as a comprehensive trading platform, especially if you're seeking a feature-rich experience. With a solid 4.5-star rating, TradeStation ranks third out of 15 on StockBrokers.com for its trading platforms and tools. In contrast, eToro holds a 2.5-star rating and lands at the 12th position, indicating a more basic offering suited for casual traders or those new to the trading scene.
TradeStation stands out with its downloadable Windows desktop platform, robust browser-based trading capability, and comprehensive charting tools. Traders can benefit from 294 technical indicators and 23 drawing tools for in-depth analysis. Features like the ability to adjust open orders directly on charts, display historical trades, and show corporate events further enhance the trading experience. Additionally, TradeStation offers an incredible 341 fields for watch lists, allowing for thorough market tracking and analysis.
On the other hand, eToro provides a fully online experience with its browser-based platform, eliminating the need for downloads, which might appeal to some users. However, when it comes to charting and customizable features, eToro offers fewer options with 46 technical indicators, 48 drawing tools, and only seven watch list fields. Despite lacking in features like chart pattern recognition and the ability to adjust orders directly on a chart, eToro's simplicity can be ideal for beginners who prefer a more straightforward, social trading environment.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
Paper Trading | Yes | Yes |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 341 | 7 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 294 | 46 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 48 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: Best Online Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025
When comparing TradeStation and eToro for beginner and investor education, both brokers offer some features that cater to new investors, but there are notable differences. TradeStation supports stock and options education, making it a solid choice for those keen on exploring these investment areas. On the other hand, eToro focuses solely on stock education. Both platforms provide paper trading capabilities and educational videos, allowing users to practice and learn at their own pace. However, TradeStation takes an edge by offering webinars, a feature not available with eToro. Neither broker provides comprehensive support for ETF, mutual funds, or bonds education, nor do they offer educational quizzes or track learning progress for their users.
In terms of ratings, TradeStation edges slightly ahead with a 3-star rating for education, compared to eToro's 2.5 stars, reflecting its broader educational offerings. According to StockBrokers.com, TradeStation is ranked #14 among 15 brokers for education quality, just ahead of eToro, which ranks at #15. For beginners who prioritize stock and options education and the availability of webinars, TradeStation may present a slight advantage, whereas eToro might suit those focusing only on stocks and seeking a straightforward entry into the trading world. Both brokers have room for improvement in offering more comprehensive educational resources.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | No | No |
Education (Options) | Yes | No |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
Education (Bonds) | No | No |
Paper Trading | Yes | Yes |
Videos | Yes | Yes |
Webinars | Yes | No |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When weighing TradeStation and eToro for stock trading app functionalities, both platforms offer unique strengths that cater to different trading preferences. TradeStation and eToro are evenly matched with a 4.5-star rating for their stock trading apps, yet TradeStation pulls ahead with a higher ranking by StockBrokers.com at eighth place, while eToro ranks eleventh. Both provide iPhone and Android apps, support after-hours trading, options trading, and deliver streaming quotes. However, eToro provides videos on demand and a wider array of technical studies, while TradeStation allows greater customization in watch list columns and supports multiple time frames for charting.
TradeStation is ideal for users who prioritize customization tools and the ability to craft their trading view. It allows the creation of custom watch lists and the adjustment of watch list columns, letting users tailor their experience finely. Despite not offering videos on demand, its app supports mobile after-hours trading, options trading, and lets traders tap into after-hours charting. Although it doesn't offer stock comparison on charts, TradeStation still provides a solid 45 technical studies in its mobile app, catering to users who appreciate depth in analysis tools.
eToro, however, stands out with a more extensive selection of 103 technical studies and the capability to display stock comparisons on charts, which may appeal to traders interested in comparative analysis. It also provides videos on demand, enriching the user experience with educational content. Despite lacking the feature to customize watch list columns, traders can still create custom watch lists, utilize stock alerts, and engage in after-hours charting and options trading. eToro balances its thorough technical analysis tools with user-friendly features that appeal to both novice and seasoned traders.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch App | No | No |
Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
Charting - Technical Studies | 45 | 103 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When comparing TradeStation and eToro based on account fees and charges, it's important to look at the different financial norms of both platforms. TradeStation has a slight edge for U.S. stock traders as it requires no minimum deposit, whereas eToro requires just $50. Both platforms compete closely when it comes to regular stock trades with a $0.00 fee, but there's a stark distinction in options contract fees – TradeStation charges $0.60 per contract, while eToro doesn't offer options trading at all. TradeStation also charges for margin balances, IRA annual and closure fees, and account transfers, areas where eToro has no fees mainly because such services aren't available.
TradeStation leads with no minimum initial deposit and offers a wide range of trading options, catering better to more experienced investors who may require features like margin trading or IRAs. On the other hand, eToro serves well for beginners or those interested in other financial markets, like cryptocurrencies, with its easy-to-navigate platform and social trading features. Both brokers come with commission-free trading for stocks, but TradeStation charges for every options contract and is more structured with varying fees, while eToro’s absence of options trading and margin facilities means these charges are irrelevant.
Although both platforms have their strong points, the key takeaway is TradeStation's appeal to more diversified and experienced U.S. traders who can take advantage of its complex offerings, even if it means paying more in fees. eToro is better suited for novice investors interested in social trading and willing to explore markets beyond traditional stocks. Your choice between the two ultimately depends on what kind of trading experience you're seeking and which platform’s fees align more with your trading needs.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $50.00 |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.60 | $0.00 |
Options Exercise Fee | $14.95 | $0.00 |
Options Assignment Fee | $5.95 | $0.00 |
IRA Annual Fee | $35.00 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $50.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
When it comes to day trading, TradeStation and eToro offer different features that cater to various trader preferences. For traders keen on deep market insights and control, TradeStation shines with features like direct market routing and ladder trading. These options provide traders with more precision and flexibility in executing trades. Additionally, TradeStation supports trading hotkeys for quick trade execution, level 2 quotes for better market depth, and both basic and advanced strategy backtesting, helping traders fine-tune their strategies effectively. The availability of a short locator tool is another advantage, offering real-time insights into shares available for shorting, combined with order liquidity rebates, enhancing the trading experience further.
On the other hand, eToro provides a more simplified approach to day trading. While it may not have the same extensive toolset as TradeStation, it does offer essential streaming time and sales data for stocks, which is crucial for monitoring market activity. However, absence of features like direct market routing, ladder trading, and trading hotkeys might make it less appealing to those who seek detailed market engagement. eToro lacks strategy backtesting tools and a short locator, which could limit traders looking for comprehensive trading analysis and strategies. In essence, TradeStation's platform is tailored for traders who require extensive tools and features, whereas eToro focuses on a more straightforward trading experience.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes |
Streaming TV | No | No |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | Yes | No |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No |
Short Locator | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025
In the realm of market research capabilities, TradeStation generally stands stronger compared to eToro. Both platforms offer stock and ETF research, but while TradeStation provides insights into Pink Sheets/OTCBB, eToro does not. Moreover, TradeStation allows users to see portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available on eToro. Conversely, eToro leverages social media sentiment data for stock research and offers ESG insights, areas where TradeStation falls short. Overall, when rated out of five stars for market research, TradeStation scores slightly better at two stars compared to eToro’s 1.5 stars. Furthermore, StockBrokers.com ranks TradeStation at #11 and eToro at #14 among 15 brokers, highlighting TradeStation's marginal edge in this arena.
When it comes to detailed downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, neither TradeStation nor eToro provide these resources. However, TradeStation distinguishes itself by offering a stock screener for trade ideas, whereas eToro does not provide this capability. Both platforms lack screeners for ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, which might be a significant consideration for investors seeking comprehensive research tools.
Both TradeStation and eToro come with their unique offerings in market research. TradeStation might appeal more to users interested in diverse stock research and portfolio insights. Meanwhile, eToro caters to those interested in innovative approaches like social media sentiment analysis and ESG research. Depending on your investment strategy and research needs, each platform presents its own set of strengths and limitations.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Screener - ETFs | No | No |
Research - Mutual Funds | No | No |
Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
Research - Bonds | No | No |
Screener - Bonds | No | No |
Research |
|
|
When considering the banking capabilities of online brokers TradeStation and eToro, it's important to note that both platforms do not provide traditional banking services. Neither TradeStation nor eToro offers checking or savings accounts to their users, and options like debit or credit cards are also unavailable. Furthermore, users seeking mortgage loans will find that these are not offered by either broker. Additionally, common banking products such as Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are not part of their service lineup. Both TradeStation and eToro focus on investment-related services rather than traditional banking products, making them similar when it comes to strictly financial banking capabilities.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Checking Accounts | No | No |
Savings Accounts | No | No |
Debit Cards | No | No |
Credit Cards | No | No |
Mortgage Loans | No | No |
CDs | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 15 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that TradeStation is better than eToro. TradeStation finished with an overall score of 80.2%, while eToro finished with a score of 66.1%.
TradeStation supports casual traders through its web-based platform and active traders through its desktop platform. We like the web-based platform and mobile app, but the flagship desktop platform could use a refresh.
While TradeStation does not offer crypto trading options, eToro provides access to the cryptocurrency market with 26 different coins available for trading.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
In comparing online brokers, TradeStation distinguishes itself by offering both traditional and Roth IRA accounts, with an annual fee of $35.00 and a $50.00 closure fee, whereas eToro does not provide IRA options, making TradeStation the favorable choice for individuals seeking retirement account offerings.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5Overall Rating | TradeStation | eToro | |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Customer Service |
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Education |
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Ease Of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | TradeStation Review | eToro Review |
Broker Screenshots | TradeStation | eToro | |
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Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Education Gallery (click to expand) |
Trading Fees | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $50.00 | |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.01 | N/A | |
Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $14.95 | N/A | |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.60 | $0.00 | |
Futures (Per Contract) | $1.50 | (Not offered) | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | $0 |
Margin Rates | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 13.0% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 13.0% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.5% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 12.0% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 12.0% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 7.5% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 7.5% | Not offered |
Account Fees | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
IRA Annual Fee | $35.00 | ||
IRA Closure Fee | $50.00 | ||
Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $125.00 | $75.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Full) | $125.00 | $75.00 | |
Options Exercise Fee | $14.95 | $0.00 | |
Options Assignment Fee | $5.95 | $0.00 |
Investment Options | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Margin Trading | Yes | No | |
Fractional Shares | No | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 0 | |
Futures Trading | Yes | No | |
Forex Trading | No | No | |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 26 | |
Mutual Funds (No Load) | 800 | 0 | |
Mutual Funds (Total) | 4000 | 0 | |
Bonds (US Treasury) | Yes | No | |
Bonds (Corporate) | Yes | No | |
Bonds (Municipal) | Yes | No | |
Traditional IRAs | Yes | No | |
Roth IRAs | Yes | No | |
Advisor Services | No | No | |
International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
Order Types | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Limit | Yes | No | |
Order Type - After Hours | Yes | No | |
Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - OCO | Yes | No | |
Order Type - OTO | Yes | No | |
Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
Beginners | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (ETFs) | No | No | |
Education (Options) | Yes | No | |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
Education (Bonds) | No | No | |
Education (Retirement) | No | No | |
Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
Investor Dictionary | No | No | |
Paper Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars | Yes | No | |
Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
Progress Tracking | No | No | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
Stock Trading Apps | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple Watch App | No | No | |
Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Complex Options | Yes | No | |
Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | Yes |
Stock App Features | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | No | No | |
Videos on Demand | No | Yes | |
Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | No |
Stock App Charting | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No | No | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 45 | 103 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | No | Yes |
Trading Platforms | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Active Trading Platform | TradeStation 10 | N/A | |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No | |
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Trade Journal | No | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 341 | 7 |
Stock Chart Features | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 294 | 46 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 48 | |
Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | No | |
Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | No | |
Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | No | |
Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Study Customizations | 12 | 5 | |
Charting - Custom Studies | Yes | No |
Day Trading | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes | |
Streaming TV | No | No | |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
Trade Hotkeys | Yes | No | |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No | |
Short Locator | Yes | No | |
Order Liquidity Rebates | Yes | No |
Research Overview | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | No | |
Research - Bonds | No | No | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Screener - ETFs | No | No | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
Screener - Bonds | No | No | |
Misc - Portfolio Allocation | Yes | No |
Stock Research | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | No | Yes | |
Stock Research - Insiders | No | Yes | |
Stock Research - Social | No | Yes | |
Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - ESG | No | Yes | |
Stock Research - SEC Filings | No | Yes |
ETF Research | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
ETFs - Strategy Overview | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | No | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | No | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets | No | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | No | No | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
ETFs - Sector Exposure | No | No | |
ETFs - Risk Analysis | No | No | |
ETFs - Ratings | No | Yes | |
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
Mutual Fund Research | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Prospectus | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - StyleMap | No | No |
Options Trading | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Option Chains - Basic View | Yes | Yes | |
Option Chains - Strategy View | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Streaming | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Total Columns | 29 | 0 | |
Option Chains - Greeks | 5 | 4 | |
Option Chains - Quick Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | No | |
Option Probability Analysis | Yes | No | |
Option Probability Analysis Adv | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Greeks | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Adv Analysis | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Rolling | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Grouping | Yes | No |
Banking | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
Checking Accounts | No | No | |
Savings Accounts | No | No | |
Credit Cards | No | No | |
Debit Cards | No | No | |
Mortgage Loans | No | No |
Customer Service | TradeStation | eToro | |
---|---|---|---|
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) | Yes | No | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
24/7 Support | No | No |
Overall | TradeStation | eToro | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Education |
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Ease Of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | TradeStation Review | eToro Review |