E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Alternatives & Competitors

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Replacement verdicts

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley logo

Alternatives to E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Curated replacements grouped by fit, tradeoffs, pricing flexibility, and platform access. Use this list to decide which E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley competitor is worth testing first.

Looking for a E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley replacement? We've profiled 9 alternatives by workflow fit, pricing flexibility, caveats, and platform access. Whether you need a free option to trial, mobile-ready workflows, or API integrations, this list helps you choose what to test first.

Disclosure: outbound links may include affiliate or sponsor links

Which Alternative Should You Use?

Charles Schwab logo

Charles Schwab

Closest replacement

Best for: U.S. investors who want brokerage, trading platforms, research, tax workflows, and several asset classes in one account.

  • Charles Schwab best matches the base workflow on brokerage trading, portfolio tracking, and market monitoring.
  • Charles Schwab shares Free pricing with the base tool.

Watch for: Advanced products need approval: Options, futures, forex, margin, and crypto access have separate approval, risk, and eligibility requirements.

Robinhood logo

Robinhood

Best workflow fit

Best for: U.S. retail investors who want mobile and web trading for stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and crypto.

  • Robinhood best matches the base workflow on brokerage trading, options data, and portfolio tracking.
  • Robinhood shares Free pricing with the base tool.

Watch for: Gold benefits change the economics: Margin perks, preferred IRA match, cash program rates, and discounted derivatives fees require Robinhood Gold. Gold Card and mortgage offers require annual membership.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) logo

Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

Best audience fit

Best for: Active investors who need global multi-asset access, advanced orders, APIs, and volume-based commissions.

  • Interactive Brokers (IBKR) best matches the base workflow on brokerage trading, portfolio tracking, and market monitoring.
  • Interactive Brokers (IBKR) shares Free pricing with the base tool.

Watch for: Commission and market-data details vary by market: The record contains separate stock, ETF, options, futures, crypto, and market-data pricing notes by region and product.

Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) logo

Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)

Strong runner-up

Best for: U.S. investors looking for $0 online stock and most ETF trades, research, tax documents, and several account types.

  • Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) best matches the base workflow on brokerage trading, options data, and portfolio tracking.
  • Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) shares Free pricing with the base tool.

Watch for: Not all trades are free: Options contracts, secondary bonds/CDs, crypto transactions, professional options fees, regulatory fees, and certain ETF purchase service fees can apply.

Detailed Alternatives

I want to

Our ranked order by workflow overlap and quality.

1
Charles Schwab logo
Closest replacement

Bottom line: U.S. investors who want brokerage, trading platforms, research, tax workflows, and several asset classes in one account.

Keep

  • Brokerage
  • Portfolio
  • Watchlist
  • Advanced Order Types
  • Options

Gain

  • Paper Trading
  • Smart/Direct Routing
  • News
  • Alerts

Lose

  • Downloadable Tax Reports

Watch out

  • Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on options data and filings and transcript research.
  • Free-plan limits: Signup required. Brokerage use requires an approved Schwab account. Options, futures, forex, margin, and API workflows require separate approval or authorization.
  • Advanced products need approval: Options, futures, forex, margin, and crypto access have separate approval, risk, and eligibility requirements.
Cost
Paid only

Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction

2

Bottom line: U.S. investors looking for $0 online stock and most ETF trades, research, tax documents, and several account types.

Keep

  • Brokerage
  • Portfolio
  • Watchlist
  • Advanced Order Types
  • Options

Gain

  • Smart/Direct Routing
  • Order Book / Level II
  • News
  • Financials

Lose

  • Downloadable Tax Reports

Watch out

  • Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on advisor and client reporting.
  • Free-plan limits: Signup required. Brokerage use requires an approved Fidelity account. Options, international trading, margin, crypto, and active-trader workflows have separate rules or approvals.
  • Not all trades are free: Options contracts, secondary bonds/CDs, crypto transactions, professional options fees, regulatory fees, and certain ETF purchase service fees can apply.
Cost
Paid only

Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction

3
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) logo
Best audience fit

Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

Analyst pickTested by us

Bottom line: Active investors who need global multi-asset access, advanced orders, APIs, and volume-based commissions.

Keep

  • Brokerage
  • Portfolio
  • Watchlist
  • Advanced Order Types
  • Options

Gain

  • Smart/Direct Routing
  • Paper Trading
  • Screeners
  • Risk Metrics

Lose

  • Downloadable Tax Reports

Watch out

  • Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on options data.
  • Free-plan limits: Signup required. Brokerage account has no recurring platform fee in the profile, but trading commissions and add-on fees vary by product. Real-time market data and Level II data generally require subscriptions.
  • Commission and market-data details vary by market: The record contains separate stock, ETF, options, futures, crypto, and market-data pricing notes by region and product.
Cost
Paid only

Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction

4
Merrill Edge logo
Merrill EdgeDrop-in replacement
4
Merrill Edge logo
Drop-in replacement

Bottom line: U.S. Bank of America customers valuing linked banking, immediate eligible transfers, and relationship-level visibility.

Keep

  • Brokerage
  • Portfolio
  • Watchlist
  • Advanced Order Types
  • Options
  • Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

No additional capabilities listed.

Lose

  • Cryptos coverage

Watch out

  • Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on filings and transcript research and advisor and client reporting.
  • Free-plan limits: Signup required. Brokerage use requires an approved Merrill account. Options, margin, trust, estate and business accounts have additional rules.
  • Low standard cash rate: The standard bank sweep pays 0.01% below $1 million under the current rate sheet.
Cost
Paid only

Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction

5
Vanguard Brokerage logo
Vanguard BrokerageDrop-in replacement
5
Vanguard Brokerage logo
Drop-in replacement

Bottom line: U.S. long-term investors who center portfolios on Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs.

Keep

  • Brokerage
  • Portfolio
  • Watchlist
  • Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

No additional capabilities listed.

Lose

  • Advanced Order Types
  • Options
  • Cryptos coverage
  • Desktop access

Watch out

  • Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on options data and market monitoring.
  • Free-plan limits: Signup required. New accounts require eligible U.S. status, address, and identity details. Options, margin and specialized registrations require approval or separate rules.
  • Fractional scope is narrow: Dollar-based ETF trading is documented for Vanguard ETFs, not generalized to non-Vanguard stocks and ETFs.
Cost
Paid only

Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction

6
Firstrade logo
FirstradePartial replacement
6
Firstrade logo
Partial replacement

Bottom line: U.S. and supported international investors seeking $0 online stock, ETF, mutual-fund, and options commissions.

Keep

  • Brokerage
  • Portfolio
  • Watchlist
  • Options
  • Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

No additional capabilities listed.

Lose

  • Advanced Order Types
  • Cryptos coverage
  • Desktop access

Watch out

  • Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market monitoring, filings and transcript research, and advisor and client reporting.
  • Free-plan limits: Signup required. An approved domestic or supported international brokerage account is required. Regulatory, short-borrow, fixed-income, fund, broker-assisted, and transfer costs can apply.
  • Restricted international matrix: International onboarding is limited to 27 named countries and regions and cannot be generalized globally.
Cost
Paid only

Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction

7
Webull logo
WebullDrop-in replacement
7
Webull logo
Drop-in replacement

Bottom line: Eligible U.S. traders looking for mobile, web, and desktop execution with $0 online commissions for U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs.

Keep

  • Brokerage
  • Portfolio
  • Watchlist
  • Advanced Order Types
  • Options
  • Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

No additional capabilities listed.

Lose

  • Bonds coverage
  • Mutual Funds coverage
  • Cryptos coverage

Watch out

  • Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on filings and transcript research and advisor and client reporting.
  • Free-plan limits: Signup required. Trading requires an approved eligible brokerage account. Options, margin, entity and IRA access have additional rules.
  • U.S. eligibility rules: Applicants need a U.S. address, SSN or ITIN, and permanent-resident or accepted-visa status.
Cost
Paid only

Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction

8
Robinhood logo
RobinhoodBest workflow fit
8
Robinhood logo
Best workflow fit

Bottom line: U.S. retail investors who want mobile and web trading for stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and crypto.

Keep

  • Brokerage
  • Portfolio
  • Options

Gain

  • Wealth Management

Lose

  • Watchlist
  • Advanced Order Types
  • Downloadable Tax Reports
  • Bonds coverage

Watch out

  • Verify your core workflow against the current feature set before switching.
  • Free-plan limits: Signup required. Brokerage use requires account approval. Gold is a paid subscription after the one-time free trial.
  • Gold benefits change the economics: Margin perks, preferred IRA match, cash program rates, and discounted derivatives fees require Robinhood Gold. Gold Card and mortgage offers require annual membership.
Cost
Paid only

Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction

9
Public.com logo
Public.comDrop-in replacement
9
Public.com logo
Drop-in replacement

Bottom line: Eligible U.S. investors looking for stocks, ETFs, bonds, and options in one self-directed interface.

Keep

  • Brokerage
  • Portfolio
  • Watchlist
  • Options
  • Downloadable Tax Reports

Gain

No additional capabilities listed.

Lose

  • Advanced Order Types
  • Mutual Funds coverage
  • Cryptos coverage
  • Desktop access

Watch out

  • Avoid as a full replacement if you rely on market monitoring and filings and transcript research.
  • Free-plan limits: Signup required. An approved eligible U.S. brokerage account is required. U.S.-listed equity trades, including extended hours, and OTC trades have $0 stated commission; routing, transfer, and regulatory fees can apply.
  • U.S.-only onboarding: Opening requires a U.S. residential address, valid SSN, and supported citizenship, residency, or visa status.
Cost
Paid only

Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction

What This Shortlist Tells You

Charles Schwab is the closest drop-in replacement with overlapping coverage in Brokerage, Portfolio, and Watchlist while adding Paper Trading and Smart/Direct Routing coverage and Zero-commission online trades for listed stocks and ETFs; options at $0.65 per contract and futures/futures options at $2.25 per contract per side, with separate exchange/regulatory/overnight fees where applicable. and thinkorswim® platform suite (desktop, web, mobile) plus Schwab Mobile, with extended 24/5 trading access to 1,300+ stocks and ETFs including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100. features (workflow overlap ~83%).

Round out your stack with new coverage areas like Paper Trading, Smart/Direct Routing, News, and Alerts.

Coverage Snapshot

Where alternatives already align

Most shared categories across the top matches.

New angles introduced

Categories the alternatives add beyond E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley.

Access & Pricing

Free to start

0/9

0 of 9 start free, which E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley does not.

Paid plans from

Not listed

No comparable monthly prices are listed for these alternatives.

Mobile app

9 of 9

9 have a mobile app, like E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley.

API access

3 of 9

3 expose an API or data feed, usually on a paid plan.

Hands-on tested

1 of 9

1 tested hands-on. 1 are analyst picks.

Coverage overlap

92%

Average share of E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley categories each alternative covers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best alternatives to E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley?

Charles Schwab, Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC), and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) share the most workflows with E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, in that order. Start with the one whose Keep list matches what you use daily.

Which workflows do the top E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley alternatives cover?

Between them the top matches cover Advanced Order Types, Brokerage, Downloadable Tax Reports, Options, Portfolio, and Watchlist. E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley workflows in those areas move over as they are. The Lose column on each card names what does not.

Feedback

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Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.