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Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025

Jessica Inskip

Written by Jessica Inskip
Edited by Jeff Anberg
Reviewed by Blain Reinkensmeyer

August 22, 2025
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Jessica Inskip Jessica Inskip

Jessica Inskip is Director of Investor Research at StockBrokers.com, bringing 15 years of experience in brokerage and trading strategy. Jessica focuses on investor education and brokerage industry research.

Options trading has never been more accessible. Retail options volume has even overtaken institutional trading, marking a fundamental shift in how the market operates. However, what makes options truly exciting isn’t just their growth but the versatility they can bring to your portfolio.

The best brokers for options trading go beyond seamless order tickets and low fees; they offer tools to manage positions, analyze risk, and refine options strategies. As someone who primarily trades options, I know firsthand how the right platform can make or break your user experience or even your portfolio. Here are my top brokerage picks for options trading in 2025, detailing what makes these platforms the best for options traders.

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Since 2009, we've helped over 20 million visitors research, compare, and choose an online broker. Our writers have collectively placed thousands of trades over their careers. Here's how we test.

Best Options Trading Platforms of 2025

To determine the best brokerage for options trading, I combined rigorous quantitative and qualitative testing across 30+ variables. I assessed whether brokers provide essential tools like detailed options chains, analysis features, access to the greeks, and seamless multi-leg order execution. More importantly, I evaluated how effectively these tools serve retail options traders. Many firms claim to be the best, but few truly deliver. Here are the top performers for options trading in 2025.

tastytrade
4/5 Stars 4.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Best broker for options trading

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.50 info

The tastytrade platform is ideal for frequent options traders, with a per-contract commission that’s 23% less than top rivals. It also offers efficient workflow, useful risk management tools, great design and strong online content, and won our No. 1 Desktop Options Trading Platform award for 2025. Read full review

Pros
  • Excellent layout
  • Clear expertise with active trading
  • Great stock options pricing
Cons
  • Maverick approach makes initial learning curve a bit steep
  • Few choices for long-term investing
Charles Schwab
visit.jpg
5/5 Stars 5.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Best full-service broker for options and stock investors

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65

Schwab's acquisition of TD Ameritrade brings thinkorswim functionality to Schwab customers. Options traders will appreciate the powerful combo of Schwab's equity research and thinkorswim's phenomenal charts and Hacker tools. Read full review

Pros
  • TD Ameritrade’s excellent thinkorswim trading platforms now available
  • Trading-friendly app and browser enhancements
  • Exceptional high net worth services
Cons
  • No cryptocurrency trading
  • Mutual fund fees are complex
Interactive Brokers
5/5 Stars 5.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Best for professional options traders

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65

Trading tools within the Trader Workstation platform are built for professional options traders, encompassing algorithmic trading, Options Strategy Lab, Volatility Lab, Risk Navigator, Market Scanner and other features. The tradeoff is that TWS is not beginner-friendly. Read full review

Pros
  • Astounding array of customizable tools
  • Allows trading in foreign markets
  • Convenient apps for individual investors
Cons
  • Restrictive trading permissions
  • Main platforms might feel cold
Fidelity
5/5 Stars 5.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Unique OptionsPlay tool

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65

Fidelity is a value-driven online broker offering $0 trades, industry-leading research, excellent trading tools and an easy-to-use mobile app. Read full review

Pros
  • Excellent research and mobile app
  • Top-notch education
  • Decades of reliable client service
Cons
  • No dedicated mobile app for active trading
E*TRADE
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5/5 Stars 5.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Best for casual options trading

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65

For beginner, casual, and active options traders, Power E*TRADE offers the perfect blend of usability, excellent tools and seamless position management — custom grouping, real-time streaming Greeks, risk analysis, and more. Read full review

Pros
  • Watch lists are the best in the business
  • Smooth mobile navigation
  • High-quality high-net-worth Morgan Stanley proprietary research
Cons
  • Cryptocurrencies not currently available
  • Margin rates are high compared to other brokers
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Top picks for options brokers

Best broker for options trading - tastytrade

Company Minimum Deposit Stock Trades Options (Per Contract)
tastytrade logotastytrade
$0.00 $0.00 $0.50 info

Why tastytrade is the best broker for options trading in 2025: tastytrade gives serious options traders exactly what they need: smarter tools, faster execution, and unmatched education. It’s not just low-cost, it’s purpose-built by industry veterans who understand the real challenges of trading options. From live trade analysis on tastylive to instant feedback on strategy risk and exposure, everything on the platform helps you trade better. In my experience, tastytrade doesn’t just support options trading; it teaches you to master it.

Platform features:

  • Real-time net greeks: As you build or adjust trades, net greeks update instantly, helping you manage directional exposure and volatility risk before executing.
  • Visual order building: The interactive options chain makes trade construction intuitive by allowing you to click and build complex spreads directly from the chain.
  • Full-featured mobile app: The mobile experience mirrors the desktop platform, letting you analyze trades, adjust positions, and monitor risk on the go.
Options chain with SPY bull call spread selected to trade off of chain Options chain with AAPL bull call spread selected to trade off of chain Backtesting tool with SPY put credit spread, 45 DTE with VIX parameters. All options courses

Best full-service broker for options and stock investors - Charles Schwab

Company Minimum Deposit Stock Trades Options (Per Contract)
Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
$0.00 $0.00 $0.65

Why Charles Schwab is the best full-service brokerage firm for options traders: With the Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade merger now fully integrated, we’re seeing the best of both platforms come together. Any gaps that existed before have been filled, creating one of the most comprehensive trading experiences available today. Schwab is my pick for the best overall brokerage firm, although when it comes to options, it lands at second-place, only behind tastytrade, which is itself hyper-focused on primarily options trading.

Platform features:

  • thinkorswim integration: Schwab now offers the full thinkorswim suite, including advanced tools like the Earnings Analyzer and custom strategy backtesting.
  • Options pairing and visualization: Positions are automatically grouped, and the platform supports side-by-side P&L charts and volatility graphs for trade review.
  • Institutional-grade research: Schwab’s in-house equity and options research tools are among the best for fundamental and technical idea generation.
Schwab Mobile's market research home page. Desktop chart of U.S. unemployment rates alongside a live news feed and streaming headlines Schwab’s web-based stock screener stands out with advanced filtering tools The introduction to the Leading Economics Indicators course.

Best for professional options traders - Interactive Brokers

Company Minimum Deposit Stock Trades Options (Per Contract)
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
$0.00 $0.00 $0.65

Why Interactive Brokers is the best broker for professional options traders: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the ultimate options trading platform for serious traders who need institutional-grade tools. Every part of the platform is built for risk management, efficiency, and advanced strategy execution and monitoring.

Platform features:

  • Risk Navigator: This tool allows you to beta-weight your entire portfolio and run stress tests to model exposure across various market scenarios.
  • Smart order routing: IBKR's algorithm seeks best price execution across exchanges, optimizing fill prices for multi-leg trades.
  • Global access: Trade options are available across the U.S. and international exchanges within the same platform, with support for multiple currencies and markets.
IBKR mobile platform toolbox IBKR Desktop's MultiSort screener showing a list of securities prioritizing a high dividend yield over lower volatility Trader Workstation's watchlist. Traders insight landing page (found under education) A screenshot of comments on a typical educational course.

Options trading platform pricing comparison

Here's a summary of the pricing for the best options trading brokers.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.50 info $0.65 $0.65 $0.65 $0.65
Futures (Per Contract) info $1.00 info $2.25 $0.85 (Not offered) $1.50
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $0 $25 Varies $32.95 $25

Options trading platform tools comparison

Here's a summary of the primary options trading features offered by the best options trading brokers.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Option Chains - Total Greeks info 5 5 5 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

FAQs

What is the best trading platform for options?

tastytrade is the best platform for options trading. Built with a special focus on the needs of options traders, it offers a seamless trading experience with intuitive tools, real-time net greeks, and fully integrated options pairing. Whether you're executing basic strategies or complex multi-leg options trades, tastytrade’s platform makes it easy to use and manage. Plus, with top-tier education, live trade analysis from tastylive, and an engaged trading community, it’s the go-to choice for both serious options traders and beginner options traders just starting out.

How to choose the best options trading platform?

Choosing the best platform for trading options comes down to how you trade. If you’re running multi-leg strategies, you’ll want real-time greeks, smart order routing, and visual trade builders. Beginners should prioritize intuitive tools, embedded education, and risk analysis features that explain strategy outcomes before execution. I always look at platform speed, how well positions are grouped post-trade, and whether mobile tools match desktop capability. Finally, cost matters, but not as much as usability and the tools that help you trade smarter, not just cheaper.

Which broker has free options trading?

Instead of calling their revenue per trade “commissions,” many options brokers charge per-contract fees (including some brokers who claim to have "zero commission" options trading). The exceptions are Robinhood, SoFi Invest , Firstrade, and Webull, which charge no commissions or fees for options. Of these, I prefer Firstrade, which has a ton of options-focused tools and research.

What is the best app to trade options?

tastytrade is the best app for options trading. Unlike most brokers that limit functionality on mobile, tastytrade offers a fully featured app with the same tools as its desktop platform. You can build and adjust multi-leg options strategies, see real-time net greeks, and manage trades seamlessly. With intuitive order entry, fast execution, and integrated education, tastytrade’s app is the top choice for options traders primarily using a mobile device.

Where can I practice options trading?

To practice options trading, choose an options trading platform that offers a free paper trading account. With paper trading, virtual money is used to place options trades in a simulated environment. E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, TradeStation, Webull, and Interactive Brokers all let you paper trade options.

Our testing

Why you should trust us

Jessica Inskip is Director of Investor Research at StockBrokers.com, bringing 15 years of experience in brokerage and trading strategy. A former FINRA-licensed rep, she held Series 7, 63, 66, and 4 licenses. Jessica focuses on investor education and brokerage industry research, appears regularly on CNBC, Bloomberg, The Schwab Network, Fox Business, and Yahoo! Finance, and hosts the Market MakeHer podcast.

Blain Reinkensmeyer, co-founder of StockBrokers.com, has been investing and trading for over 25 years. After having placed over 2,000 trades in his late teens and early 20s, he became one of the first in digital media to review online brokerages. Today, Blain is widely respected as a leading expert on finance and investing, specifically the U.S. online brokerage industry. Blain has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fast Company, among others. Blain created the original scoring rubrics for StockBrokers.com and oversees all testing and rating methodologies.

How we tested

  • We used our own brokerage accounts for testing.
  • We collected thousands of data points across the brokers we review.
  • We tested each online broker's website, desktop platforms, and mobile app, where applicable.
  • We maintained strict editorial independence; brokers cannot pay for inclusion or a higher rating.

Our research team meticulously collected data on every feature of importance to a wide range of customer profiles, including beginners, casual investors, passive investors, and active traders. We carefully track variables like margin rates, trading costs, fees, and platform features and use them to help rate brokers across a range of categories measuring ease of use, range of investments, research, education, and more.

At StockBrokers.com, our reviewers use a variety of computing devices to evaluate platforms and tools. Our reviews and data collection were conducted using the following devices: iPhone SE running iOS 17.5.1, MacBook Pro M1 with 8 GB RAM running the current MacOS, and a Dell Vostro 5402 laptop i5 with 8 GB RAM running Windows 11 Pro.

Each broker was evaluated and scored on over 200 different variables across seven key categories: Range of Investments, Platforms & Tools, Research, Mobile Trading, Education, Ease of Use, and Overall. Learn more about how we test.

Trading platforms tested

We tested 14 online trading platforms for this guide:

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About the Editorial Team

Jessica Inskip

Jessica Inskip is Director of Investor Research at StockBrokers.com, bringing 15 years of experience in brokerage and trading strategy. A former FINRA-licensed rep, she held Series 7, 63, 66, and 4 licenses. Jessica focuses on investor education and brokerage industry research, appears regularly on CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg, and hosts the Market MakeHer podcast.

Jeff Anberg

Jeff Anberg is a Senior Editor at StockBrokers.com. Along with years of experience in media distribution at a global newsroom, Jeff has a versatile knowledge base encompassing the technology and financial markets. He is a long-time active investor and engages in research on emerging markets like cryptocurrency. Jeff holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature with a minor in Philosophy from San Francisco State University.

Blain Reinkensmeyer

Blain Reinkensmeyer has 20 years of trading experience with over 2,500 trades placed during that time. He heads research for all U.S.-based brokerages on StockBrokers.com and is respected by executives as the leading expert covering the online broker industry. Blain’s insights have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Chicago Tribune, among other media outlets.

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