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Brokerage Account Review⚙️ Best for Options

E*TRADE

Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE

Stock trades $0. Options traders, intermediate investors.

At a Glance

Stock Trades

$0

Options Trades

$0.65/contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades/qtr)

Min. Deposit

$0

Research Tools

Advanced

Fractional Shares

Yes

Crypto Trading

No

Rates & Fees

Stock Trades

$0

Options Trades

$0.65/contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades/qtr)

Min. Deposit

$0

Account/Inactivity Fee

None

Full Transfer-Out Fee

$75 for a full account transfer (ACAT)

Key Features

Power E*TRADE platform is best for options traders

Volume discount on options ($0.50/contract)

Prebuilt portfolios (Core Portfolios robo-advisor)

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Excellent options trading tools
  • Volume discount for active traders
  • Core Portfolios automated investing

Tradeoffs

  • No fractional shares
  • No crypto
  • Owned by Morgan Stanley — some overlap/confusion

Best for: Options traders, intermediate investors

How to Apply

Decide which account type fits your goal — Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE offers Individual, Joint, Roth IRA, and more.

Have your Social Security number, employment information, and a funding source (bank account or transfer) ready.

Open the account directly on Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE's site or app; identity verification is required by federal law for all brokerages.

Fund the account with any amount — this broker has no minimum deposit requirement.

Review commission schedules and any account fees before placing your first trade.

How It Compares

Current product highlighted
ProductStock TradesOptions TradesMin. Deposit
E*TRADE$0$0.65/contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades/qtr)$0
Fidelity Investments$0$0.65/contract$0
Charles Schwab$0$0.65/contract$0
Robinhood$0$0$0

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE charge fees to trade stocks?

Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE's stock trade commission is "$0." Options trades are priced at $0.65/contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades/qtr), and other fees (like broker-assisted trades or account transfers) can still apply.

What's the minimum deposit for Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE?

Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE doesn't require a minimum deposit to open an account, so you can start with any amount.

Can I trade fractional shares and crypto with Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE?

Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE supports fractional shares, and does not offer direct crypto trading.

Are there any ongoing or account-closing fees with Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE?

Account/inactivity fee: None. Fee to transfer your full account to another broker: $75 for a full account transfer (ACAT). Transfer-out fees are common industry-wide and are charged by the broker you're leaving, not the one you're moving to.

How does Morgan Stanley / E*TRADE compare to other brokerages?

See the "How It Compares" table on this page for a few close alternatives side by side, or browse the full list of brokerage accounts to compare commissions, minimums, and platform features.

Other Brokerage Accounts

Fidelity Investments

Stock trades: $0

Charles Schwab

Stock trades: $0

Robinhood

Stock trades: $0

Fees and features shown are illustrative as of 2026 and subject to change — always confirm current terms directly with the broker before opening an account.

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