Etrade
Interactive Investor
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Overview
Etrade was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in United States, while Interactive Investor was established in 1995 and is based in UK. Etrade holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while Interactive Investor is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Etrade serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Interactive Investor has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Etrade and $1 at Interactive Investor.
| Feature | Etrade | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Founded | 2012 | 1995 |
| Country | United States | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Etrade and Interactive Investor, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Investor has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Etrade). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Interactive Investor applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Etrade does not. Overall, Interactive Investor scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Etrade | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Etrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Interactive Investor supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Etrade | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | cTrader, SocialTrading, webPlatform, DesktopPlatform, Proprietary . | Web Trader, ProTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Etrade and Interactive Investor compare. Etrade runs regular live webinars; Interactive Investor does not. Both provide video tutorials. Etrade publishes daily market commentary; Interactive Investor does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Etrade maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Etrade scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Etrade | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Etrade accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Interactive Investor supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Etrade | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Etrade and Interactive Investor offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Etrade | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |