Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.

2026-01-20T14:02:26Z

Article written and Venn diagram created.

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== E*TRADE vs. Scottrade ==
Before the acquisition of Scottrade by TD Ameritrade in 2017, both E*TRADE and Scottrade were prominent brokerage firms in the United States, each catering to retail investors but with different service models.<ref name="ref1" /> E*TRADE was a pioneer in online trading, known for its digital platforms, while Scottrade distinguished itself with a large network of physical branch offices, offering in-person customer support.<ref name="ref2" /> Their differences in fees, platform technology, and service offerings represented a key choice for investors selecting a brokerage during that time.

The landscape of the brokerage industry has since shifted significantly. TD Ameritrade acquired Scottrade in a $4 billion deal that closed in September 2017, with client accounts fully transitioning by February 2018.<ref name="ref3" /><ref name="ref2" /> Subsequently, Charles Schwab acquired TD Ameritrade, a transaction announced in late 2019 and valued at approximately $26 billion.<ref name="ref4" /> In October 2020, Morgan Stanley completed its acquisition of E*TRADE. These consolidations mean that a direct comparison between E*TRADE and Scottrade reflects a historical perspective of the retail brokerage environment prior to 2017.

=== Comparison Table ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Category !! E*TRADE (circa 2016) !! Scottrade (circa 2016)
|-
| '''Stock Trade Commission'''
| $9.99 per trade for most clients.<ref name="ref5" />
| $7 per online trade.
|-
| '''Trading Platforms'''
| Offered multiple platforms, including the advanced Power E*TRADE, E*TRADE Web, and mobile apps tailored for different levels of trading activity.
| Provided several platform options, including a standard web-based platform, Scottrader for active traders, and the downloadable Scottrade Elite.<ref name="ref5" />
|-
| '''Customer Support'''
| Primarily online and phone-based, with 24/7 customer service availability via phone and online chat. It also operated around 30 regional branches.
| Emphasized in-person support with a network of over 500 branch offices across the United States. Phone support was also available.
|-
| '''Account Minimum'''
| No minimum deposit required to open a standard brokerage account.<ref name="ref5" />
| $2,500 minimum deposit to open an online brokerage account.
|-
| '''Investment Products'''
| Offered a wide range of products including stocks, options, ETFs, a large selection of mutual funds, futures, and bonds.
| Provided access to stocks, options, ETFs, over 14,500 mutual funds, and bonds.
|-
| '''No-Transaction-Fee Mutual Funds'''
| Provided access to a significant number of no-transaction-fee (NTF) mutual funds.
| Offered a selection of NTF mutual funds, but the holding period to avoid a short-term trading fee was 90 days.
|}

[[File:Venn_diagram_Differences_between_E*TRADE_versus_Scottrade_comparison.png|thumb|center|800px|alt=Venn diagram for Differences between E*TRADE and Scottrade|Venn diagram comparing Differences between E*TRADE and Scottrade]]

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="ref1">[https://www.advisorhub.com/etrade-plans-zero-cost-funds-that-only-its-clients-can-buy/ "advisorhub.com"]. Retrieved January 20, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref2">[https://www.oreateai.com/blog/the-evolution-of-td-ameritrade-from-scottrade-acquisition-to-schwab-integration/a953b3f06ee84777e6246012d315807e "oreateai.com"]. Retrieved January 20, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref3">[https://www.reddit.com/r/etrade/comments/1mbpgen/prefer_e_trade_than_power_e_trade_app_anyone/ "reddit.com"]. Retrieved January 20, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref4">[https://www.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/4cgb82/am_i_an_idiot_to_be_using_scottrade/ "reddit.com"]. Retrieved January 20, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref5">[https://us.etrade.com/frequently-asked-questions/account-info "etrade.com"]. Retrieved January 20, 2026.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Differences between E*TRADE and Scottrade - Revision history

Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.