E*TRADE

4.3(1900)

SEC/FINRA

Vanguard

4.5(2300)

SEC/FINRA

E*TRADE vs Vanguard

Head-to-Head Comparison 2026

Our Verdict

Vanguard has a higher rating of 4.5/5 compared to E*TRADE (4.3/5). Vanguard has been in the market since 1975, making it the more experienced provider.

Comparison Table

Criteria	E*TRADE	Vanguard
Rating	4.3/5 (1900 reviews)	4.5/5 (2300 reviews)✓
Regulation	SEC/FINRA	SEC/FINRA
Fees	$0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.65 per contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades)	$0 commission on stocks and ETFs, Vanguard funds with no transaction fee
Min. Deposit	0 $	0 $
Instruments	Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Futures	Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Options, CDs
Platforms	ETRADE Web, Power ETRADE, E*TRADE App	Vanguard Web, Vanguard App
Options Trading	Yes, comprehensive options trading with Power E*TRADE	Yes, US options available ($1 per contract)
Founded	1982	1975
Headquarters	New York	Valley Forge

Detailed Comparison

Fee Comparison

E*TRADE: $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.65 per contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades). Minimum deposit: 0 $.

Vanguard: $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, Vanguard funds with no transaction fee. Minimum deposit: 0 $.

Product Range

E*TRADE (6 categories)

StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual FundsFutures

Vanguard (6 categories)

StocksETFsMutual FundsBondsOptionsCDs

Trading Platforms

E*TRADE

E*TRADE Web
Power E*TRADE
E*TRADE App

Vanguard

Vanguard Web
Vanguard App

Regulation & Security

E*TRADE is regulated by SEC/FINRA (HQ: New York).

Vanguard is regulated by SEC/FINRA (HQ: Valley Forge).

Who Is It For?

E*TRADE

Established US broker by Morgan Stanley with strong options platform

✓ Power E*TRADE – excellent options platform

✓ Commission-free stock and ETF trading

✓ Part of Morgan Stanley – high security

✗ Only available for US customers

✗ International markets not available

Vanguard

World-leading index fund provider with commission-free trading

✓ World leader in low-cost index funds

✓ Commission-free stock and ETF trading

✓ Client-owned structure – no external shareholders

✗ Trading platform more functional than modern

✗ Only available for US customers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is E*TRADE or Vanguard cheaper?

E*TRADE charges $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.65 per contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades). Vanguard charges $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, Vanguard funds with no transaction fee. The minimum deposit is 0 $ at E*TRADE and 0 $ at Vanguard.

Which broker offers more products: E*TRADE or Vanguard?

E*TRADE offers Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Futures. Vanguard offers Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Options, CDs.

Which broker is better regulated?

E*TRADE is regulated by SEC/FINRA. Vanguard is regulated by SEC/FINRA.

Is E*TRADE or Vanguard better for beginners?

E*TRADE has a minimum deposit of 0 $ and offers E*TRADE Web, Power E*TRADE, E*TRADE App as platforms. Vanguard has a minimum deposit of 0 $ and offers Vanguard Web, Vanguard App. E*TRADE has the lower entry barrier.

E*TRADE vs Vanguard: Which broker is better overall?

The choice between E*TRADE (4.3/5, 1900 reviews) and Vanguard (4.5/5, 2300 reviews) depends on your needs. E*TRADE: Established US broker by Morgan Stanley with strong options platform. Vanguard: World-leading index fund provider with commission-free trading.

E*TRADE

Established US broker by Morgan Stanley with strong options platform

Open Account →

From 0 $ min. deposit

Vanguard

World-leading index fund provider with commission-free trading

Open Account →

From 0 $ min. deposit

E*TRADE read review →Vanguard read review →