Option trading commissions

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Best Options Trading Brokers and Platforms.

NerdWallet offers financial tools and advice to help people understand their options and make the best possible decisions. The guidance we offer and info we provide are deeply researched, objective and independent.

We spent over 300 hours reviewing the top online brokers before selecting the best for our readers. And to help you find the one that’s best for you, we’ve highlighted their pros, cons and current offers.

Who is the best options broker today? The answer depends on whom you ask and what they value. For some investors, the best broker for trading options is the one with the cheapest commissions. Others prioritize trading tools, platform design, research, customer service or all of the above.

While most of the brokers on our best-of list below would be a good, all-encompassing choice for many investors, we’ve also highlighted the standout candidates in specific areas that matter most to options traders.

Unsure what you’re looking for? See how to choose an options broker for more on what can make or break an options trading experience.

Summary: Best online stock brokers for options trading.

Best for low-cost.

Best options trading platform.

Best for research and education.

Best overall for options trading.

Our top picks cover all the option trader needs — access to high-quality research, analytical tools, a user-friendly platform — at reasonable prices.

TD Ameritrade and Interactive Brokers earn high marks for options investors for their advanced trading platforms, deep bench of research and tools, plus their high-caliber options trading capabilities.

TD Ameritrade handily serves option traders no matter where they are on the learning curve. The broker’s thinkorswim platform offers a robust options trading experience for active investors seeking professional-grade tools to identify trading opportunities, analyze potential risks and rewards, test trade strategies and quickly place even the most complex options trades.

The broker’s web-based Trade Architect platform is for investors just getting into options or those who don’t require a high-octane platform. Its stripped-down, easy-to-use interface won’t overwhelm newbies. And although Trade Architect isn’t as fully stocked with tools and data as thinkorswim, it’s no slouch, either. Intermediate investors will find advanced features like a market/options heat map, screening and tradefinder tools, and streaming news. Get details in our TD Ameritrade review.

For cost-conscious, active options traders looking for low costs and a platform with a lot more meat on its bones, Interactive Brokers may be more your style. Interactive Brokers charges just 70 cents per contract with no base fee ($1 minimum order), plus discounts for larger volumes, if you can manage the $10,000 account minimum. Its Trader Workstation platform (with an options strategy lab) is considered one of the best and most sophisticated around. But watch other fees to ensure that the lower commissions pay off.

Both brokers allow prospective clients to test-drive the goods without putting any real money on the line. TD Ameritrade offers a paperMoney virtual trading account to test out the thinkorswim platform. At Interactive Brokers, once customers open a real account (which has a $10,000 minimum funding requirement), they can set up a paper trading account that offers them hands-on practice using IB’s Trader Workstation platform and tools.

Best brokers for low-cost options trading.

These brokers offer competitively priced options trading commissions and have eliminated or dramatically capped minimum trading fees.

In early 2017 most of the mainstream online brokers slashed commissions to levels once reserved for their deep-discount peers. That doesn’t mean that they’re the best deal in town for every investor.

For active options traders, eOption earns five stars from NerdWallet for its low options trade commissions. The company charges a fixed $3 base plus 15 cents per contract. Another plus: eOption is known for having some of the lowest margin rates available. Although eOption charges a $50 annual inactivity fee on accounts that have placed fewer than two trades in the past 12 months or have less than $10,000 in credit or debit balances, the minimum trade workaround isn’t onerous, even for infrequent traders.

Charles Schwab’s trade commission of $4.95 base rate plus 65 cents per contract puts it within spitting distance of deep-discount peers. Schwab recently fully took over the old OptionsXpress and incorporated that broker’s options experience into its own platform, with both web-based and mobile functionality.

Commissions aren’t the only costs associated with trading options. Platform, data and other fees can quickly cancel out what you save on commissions. See our full reviews of Charles Schwab and eOption for details on what they offer. For those simply looking for a cheap way to execute options trades, Charles Schwab and eOption get the job done.

Best options trading platforms.

These brokers offer some of the most powerful trading platforms available for a reasonable price.

Judging a broker’s trading platform by the number of features it offers is like buying a car based solely on what you read in the dealer brochure. While all investors have their must-have features, what’s more important is how the platform feels when it’s in their hands.

The trading platforms at Ally Invest and TradeStation offer a wide variety of analytical tools, provide stable and speedy trade execution, and allow investors to customize the tools and design to best suit their needs.

Unlike TradeStation, Ally Invest (formerly TradeKing) is technically a deep discount broker as reflected in its commissions (options traders pay a $4.95 base plus 65 cents per contract with only one base charge per spread), $0 account minimum and free access to research and data. Frequent traders (those who place 30 or more trades per quarter or who carry a balance of $100,000 or more) pay a discounted $3.95 base and 50 cents per contract.

But don’t be fooled by the lower prices: Customers get a lot of platform power for free.

Ally is suitable for newer options investors. The browser-based platform resembles the offerings of its pricier competitors and comes with free options trading tools for screening and advanced charting. Navigation is easy and streamlined. Customers can create a custom dashboard with movable modules with the data and features they want to use. The setup extends to what users see across all devices, including mobile and tablet.

TradeStation is best left to more experienced, tech-savvy investors who want to experience options trading using the same tools as pro traders. The broker provides all the tools needed to design, test-drive, monitor, automate and speedily execute the most complex trades via direct-market access (no pesky middleman to slow down the process). Its OptionsStation Pro platform is fully integrated into TradeStation’s regular trading platform. An added bonus is the broker’s active investor forums, where traders discuss ideas, ask questions and get help.

Access to all of TradeStation’s bells and whistles used to come at a steep $99.95 monthly platform fee for those who didn’t meet account balance or trading activity minimums. But in March 2017 TradeStation eliminated the service fee, lowered its trade commissions for stocks and options and tossed in free real-time market data and free access to its market-monitoring and portfolio-level back-testing tools. Educational tools and platform tutorials are plentiful, which is a plus: Because of the sophisticated nature of the platform, it may require some time to become familiar with all that it offers. See more in our TradeStation review.

Best research and options trading education.

Both offer extensive research and data for free, as well as live classes and webinars for beginning and advanced options traders.

If you’re new to options trading or want to expand your trading strategies, a broker that devotes its resources to research and customer education is a must. Because Schwab and Fidelity each have offices across the country in addition to their online options education libraries, they’re able to offer in-person guidance and free seminars on how to trade options, as well as one-on-one guidance on using the tools each platform offers.

Fidelity’s constantly refreshed library draws from more than 20 providers, including Recognia, Ned Davis, S&P Capital IQ and McLean Capital Management. The full suite is available to customers when they sign into the broker’s web-based platform. And you don’t have to stop digging when you’re away from your computer: Fidelity has a strong mobile app that lets customers access the company’s full suite of research through a mobile browser.

Charles Schwab’s options trading capabilities and lineup of trading data and research got a big boost as the company integrated its purchase of OptionsXpress. In October Schwab re-launched its online platform under the StreetSmart name, with both web-based and mobile functionality, though for now only former OptionsXpress clients have access to the new platform. In the first quarter of 2018, Schwab will begin rolling out the new platform to all clients. While the platform name is changing, Schwab still provides a fully realized suite of offerings for options traders, including trade assessment tools, customizable screeners, access to Schwab analyst options-market commentary, live online webinars and pre-recorded seminars.

Best brokers for beginner options investors.

These brokers provide ideal conditions (educational resources, user-friendly platforms, customer support and low minimums) for investors just learning the options trading ropes.

TD Ameritrade — one of our top overall brokers — ranked highest in this category, too. But since there are many types of beginners with many different preferences, instead of highlighting the category champions we’ve focused on brokers that are excellent candidates in three key areas:

Low minimum opening balance requirements.

Ally Invest, TD Ameritrade, Merrill Edge: If you’re not yet ready to devote a lot of your capital to options trading, you don’t want to tie up much in an account to meet the minimum. Many of the brokers on our list require no money to open an account. However, industry regulations require that traders maintain a $2,000 minimum to trade options.

Strong customer support.

Scottrade and TD Ameritrade: On-call help is particularly handy when starting out. One way to test a broker’s level of service is to contact the company with any questions you have about its option trading offerings before you even open an account. Scottrade is known for its standout customer service and huge physical presence of 500 branches. So is TD Ameritrade, with around-the-clock phone and support and 100 branches where clients can attend seminars and meet with investment associates. At the end of 2017, TD’s acquisition of Scottrade will be complete, increasing each broker’s ability to serve clients.

User-friendly platforms.

Ally, Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade: There’s nothing better than test-driving a broker’s platform before you commit. Check to see if the broker you’re considering offers paper trading (virtual trading on a platform that mimics the real deal) or contact customer service to see if they will set you up with a demo account. As for brokers discussed in this review, Ally Invest’s browser-based platform is intuitive and easy to customize. And both Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade have multiple platforms customers can use to start learning the ropes, then graduate to more sophisticated tools and trades if desired.

Best options trading brokers: summary.

Updated June 30, 2017.

Disclaimer: NerdWallet has entered into referral and advertising arrangements with certain broker-dealers under which we receive compensation (in the form of flat fees per qualifying action) when you click on links to our partner broker-dealers and/or submit an application or get approved for a brokerage account. At times, we may receive incentives (such as an increase in the flat fee) depending on how many users click on links to the broker-dealer and complete a qualifying action.

Transparent Trading Fees.

Making Every Dollar Count.

At Scottrade, we offer a valuable array of products and services to help you meet your financial goals, many of which are provided at no cost. Our trading fees and commissions are intentionally straightforward and clear, and we don’t charge our clients fees for account maintenance or inactivity.

Stocks 1 & ETFs 2.

1 For stocks priced under $1, add ВЅ% of the principal value to the commissions shown. Commissions are charged on a per-order basis. Limit orders executed over multiple days and orders modified after partial execution on the same day are handled as separate orders for commission calculation purposes. A majority of orders must be executed online to qualify for online commission rates. Some foreign and pink sheet stocks must be traded with Investment Consultant (IC) assistance. Every market has its own fees and/or taxes assessed by local governments and exchanges. These fees may be automatically included in the quote.

3 For clients who do not wish to trade online, Scottrade has branch offices staffed with Investment Consultants to assist you over the phone or in person. Our non-online commissions for stock and ETF orders are just two cents per share in addition to the broker-assisted and touchtone rates. Broker-assisted commissions apply for all other transactions (including stocks priced under $1). Mailed confirmations and statements are free of charge.

Detailed information on our fees can be found in the Explanation of Fees (PDF).

4 Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Detailed information on our policies and the risks associated with options can be found in the Scottrade Options Application and Agreement, Brokerage Account Agreement, and by downloading the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options and Supplements from The Options Clearing Corporation, or by requesting a copy from a Scottrade branch office. Supporting documentation for any claims will be supplied upon request. Keep in mind profit will be reduced or loss worsened, as applicable, by the deduction of commissions and fees.

Detailed information on our fees can be found in the Explanation of Fees (PDF).

Mutual Funds 5.

5 In addition to the commissions above, all no-load shares purchased from Scottrade and held 90 days or less will be charged a short-term redemption fee. Exceptions to this short-term redemption fee are the Rydex, Guggenheim, ProFunds and Direxion families of funds, which are intended for short-term traders. Detailed information on our fees can be found in the Explanation of Fees (PDF).

Mutual fund purchase orders must be the greater of $100 or the fund's minimum initial investment. Prior to placing the trade, you must have sufficient settled funds in the account to meet both the applicable minimum and cover transaction fees and other fees prior to placing the trade.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a mutual fund carefully before investing. Mutual funds are subject to market fluctuation including the potential for loss of principal. A prospectus contains this and other information about the fund and may be ordered through Scottrade or through a Scottrade В® branch office. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

Mutual funds are subject to the terms and conditions of the NTF program. Scottrade is compensated by the funds participating in this program through record keeping, shareholder or SEC Rule 12b-1 fees.

No Fee refers to Scottrade ® transaction fees. See the fund’s prospectus for other fees and expenses that apply to a continued investment in the fund.

With regard to no-load funds that are not in the NTF program, Systematic Purchase/Redemptions will be charged $2 per occurrence.

Fixed Income.

*When Scottrade acts as principal, bonds are subject to a markup or markdown.

Detailed information on our fees can be found in the Explanation of Fees (PDF).

Additional Fees.

Equities* $0.000119 per share sold.

Options $0.002 per contract sold.

*with a maximum charge of $5.95 per trade of 50,000 shares or more.

Professional (Real-Time Streaming)

$121 at activation.

$121 per month following activation.

Canadian Investment Fee 13.

9 A $2,500 minimum equity balance must remain in the account; otherwise the $75 full transfer fee will apply.

11 A regulatory transaction fee that is assessed by Scottrade for certain FINRA regulatory costs on stock and option sell trades. All calculations of this fee are truncated to the penny (i. e. $0.01 increments). If your confirmation indicates that an average price was received, the fee amount shown is determined by first calculating the fee, then summing all those fees together and truncating to the penny. In certain cases this fee is capped at a maximum rate.

12 Monthly fee following initial activation. Designated Professional Subscribers requesting real-time streaming quote data will be assessed a recurring monthly charge in the stated amount per user, per professional account. Monthly subscription Streaming Market Data Services (Professional Quote) fees will be automatically deducted from your Scottrade В® account on the first business day of each month following activation, and each designated user, per professional account will pay for usage/services for that month.

Activation fees associated with this data also apply, will be charged to you in full during the month you begin receiving the data, without proration, and will equal the amount of the monthly fee. You remain responsible for satisfying any obligations owed to Scottrade for Streaming Market Data Services, and any other fees associated with your account.

13 In addition to your Scottrade commission, brokerage fees of $.0005 - $.0075 per share may either be included in the currency conversion to U. S. dollars by the executing broker-dealer, or may execute on a net basis; which means that the executing broker-dealer would purchase the security for its own account in the foreign country in the foreign currency and then sell the security to execute your order at a higher price that includes the cost of currency conversion, fees, taxes, etc. In either case, the total fees will be included in the execution price displayed on the trade confirmation.

Detailed information on our fees can be found in the Explanation of Fees (PDF).

Free Services.

Branch Appointments Online Educational Resources Portfolio Review Services Retirement & Financial Calculators Real-Time Streaming Quotes & Charts (for non-professionals)

Processing fees assessed by third parties may be passed through to your account. Some products and services may require additional fees or transaction minimums not specifically listed here. Prior to placing the trade, it is the client's responsibility to ask the broker if any additional fees will apply. Scottrade receives compensation for certain equity and option orders as described at Scottrade/routing.

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Not a recommendation. Any specific securities, or types of securities, used as examples are for demonstration purposes only. None of the information provided should be considered a recommendation or solicitation to invest in, or liquidate, a particular security or type of security or account.

Authorized account login and access indicates customer’s consent to the Brokerage Account Agreement. Such consent is effective at all times when using this site.

Unauthorized access is prohibited.

Scottrade, Inc. and Scottrade Investment Management, Inc. are separate entities but are affiliated subsidiaries of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation. Scottrade Bank has merged into TD Bank, N. A. As a result of the merger, Scottrade Bank has become a trade name of TD Bank, N. A. or its affiliates. Deposit products and services offered by TD Bank, N. A. and TD Bank USA, N. A., Members FDIC. TD Bank, N. A. and TD Bank USA, N. A. and TD Ameritrade are affiliated through their parent companies.

Brokerage products and services offered by Scottrade, Inc. - Member FINRA and SIPC.

Brokerage products are not insured by the FDIC — are not deposits or other obligations of the Bank and are not guaranteed by the Bank — are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.

All investing involves risk. The value of your investment may fluctuate over time, and you may gain or lose money.

Online market and limit stock trades are just $6.95 for stocks priced $1 and above. Additional charges may apply for stocks priced under $1, mutual fund and option transactions. Detailed information on our fees can be found in the Explanation of Fees (PDF).

Scottrade does not charge setup, inactivity or annual maintenance fees. Applicable transaction fees still apply.

Scottrade does not provide tax advice. The material provided is for informational purposes only. Please consult your tax or legal advisor for questions concerning your personal tax or financial situation.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, charges, expense, and unique risk profile of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) before investing. A prospectus contains this and other information about the fund and may be obtained online or by contacting Scottrade. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

Leveraged and inverse ETFs may not be suitable for all investors and may increase exposure to volatility through the use of leverage, short sales of securities, derivatives and other complex investment strategies. These funds’ performance will likely be significantly different than their benchmark over periods of more than one day, and their performance over time may in fact trend opposite of their benchmark. Investors should monitor these holdings, consistent with their strategies, as frequently as daily.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a mutual fund before investing. A prospectus contains this and other information about the fund and may be obtained online or by contacting Scottrade. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. No-transaction-fee (NTF) funds are subject to the terms and conditions of the NTF funds program. Scottrade is compensated by the funds participating in the NTF program through recordkeeping, shareholder or SEC 12b-1 fees.

Margin trading involves interest charges and risks, including the potential to lose more than deposited or the need to deposit additional collateral in a falling market. The Margin Disclosure Statement and Agreement (PDF) is available for download, or it is available at one of our branch offices. It contains information on our lending policies, interest charges, and the risks associated with margin accounts.

Market volatility, volume and system availability may impact account access and trade execution.

Hyperlinks to third-party websites contain information that may be of interest or use to the reader. Third-party websites, research and tools are from sources deemed reliable. Scottrade does not guarantee accuracy or completeness of the information and makes no assurances with respect to results to be obtained from their use.

Commissions, Margin Rates, and Fees.

Whether you trade stocks, options, bonds, or CDs, you'll receive competitive online commission rates.

How do we stand apart from the rest?

$4.95 for all online U. S. equity trades Margin rates among the most competitive in the industry—as low as 4.50%* 91 commission-free ETFs available for purchase.

Get started.

It's easy. Opening your new account takes just minutes.

Full brokerage commission and fee schedule (PDF)

Download and print full details of our commissions and fees, including our low rates for online trades and our rates for automated telephone service (FAST ® ) or representative-assisted trades.

Online Commissions.

Margin Rates.

Fee Information.

Online Commissions.

Any number of shares or trades.

All online options trades.

Buy to close orders of $0.65 to $0.11.

Buy to close orders of $0.10 or less NEW.

$0.65 per contract.

Bonds and CDs.

Mutual Funds 3.

1. Fidelity makes certain new issue products available without a separate transaction fee. Fidelity may receive compensation from issuers for participating in the offering as a selling group member and/or underwriter. For representative assisted treasury auction orders, a $19.95 transaction fee applies.

Margin Rates.

The margin rate you pay depends on your outstanding margin balance—the higher your balance, the lower the margin rate you are charged.

Apply online for margin or options approval Log In Required.

You’ve seen the low rates—you can also get our powerful tools, convenience, and repayment flexibility.

Fee Information.

$1 per transaction thereafter.

$15 through a representative 6.

1. $25 per year for SIMPLE IRAs; deducted from account (usually in November) unless employer has already paid separately. Fidelity may deduct an administrative fee of $12 per quarter ($48 annually) from your Fidelity HSA; waived for households that meet certain asset minimums at Fidelity (Households with $250k or more in assets. For details, see Fee Waiver Eligibility Section). The administrative fee will not be deducted if its paid by your employer.

Waived for households with $1 million or more in assets with Fidelity, or $25,000 in assets with Fidelity and 120 trades per year.

Next steps.

800-353-4881 800-353-4881 Chat with a representative.

More information.

Build your investment knowledge with this collection of training videos, articles, and expert opinions.

Learn more about what it means to trade with us.

Free commission offer applies to online purchases of Fidelity ETFs and select iShares ETFs in a Fidelity brokerage account. Fidelity accounts may require minimum balances. The sale of ETFs is subject to an activity assessment fee (from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). iShares ETFs and Fidelity ETFs are subject to a short-term trading fee by Fidelity if held less than 30 days.

$4.95 commission applies to online U. S. equity trades in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Certain accounts may require a minimum opening balance of $2,500. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other conditions may apply. See Fidelity/commissions for details. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Clearing and Custody Solutions are subject to different commission schedules.

4.50% rate available for debit balances over $1,000,000. Fidelity's current base margin rate, effective since 12/15/2017, is 7.575%.

ETFs are subject to market fluctuation and the risks of their underlying investments. ETFs are subject to management fees and other expenses. Unlike mutual funds, ETF shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than their NAV, and are not individually redeemed from the fund.

For iShares ETFs, Fidelity receives compensation from the ETF sponsor and/or its affiliates in connection with an exclusive long-term marketing program that includes promotion of iShares ETFs and inclusion of iShares funds in certain FBS platforms and investment programs. Additional information about the sources, amounts, and terms of compensation can be found in the ETF’s prospectus and related documents. Fidelity may add or waive commissions on ETFs without prior notice. BlackRock and iShares are registered trademarks of BlackRock Inc., and its affiliates.

Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.

Commission comparison based on published website commission schedules for retail accounts, as of 3/13/2017, for E*Trade, Schwab, and TD Ameritrade for online U. S. equity trades. For E*Trade: $6.95 per trade for 0 to 29 trades per quarter and $4.95 per trade for 30 or more trades per quarter. For TD Ameritrade: $6.95 per market or limit order trade for an unlimited amount of shares. For Schwab: $4.95 for up to 999,999 shares per trade, though orders of 10,000 or more shares or greater than $500,000 may be eligible for special pricing. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions are subject to different commission schedules. Commissions are subject to change without notice. See each provider's website for any additional information and restrictions.

Margin trading entails greater risk, including, but not limited to, risk of loss and incurrence of margin interest debt, and is not suitable for all investors. Please assess your financial circumstances and risk tolerance before trading on margin. Margin credit is extended by National Financial Services, Member NYSE, SIPC.

System availability and response times may be subject to market conditions.