td ameritrade
USAA
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Overview
td ameritrade was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Malta, while USAA was established in 2008 and is based in United States. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. td ameritrade serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; USAA has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at td ameritrade and $25 at USAA.
| Feature | td ameritrade | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $25 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F319 | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) |
| Founded | 2016 | 2008 |
| Country | Malta | United States |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between td ameritrade and USAA, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. USAA has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $25 (vs $250 at td ameritrade). USAA charges withdrawal fees while td ameritrade does not, giving td ameritrade an edge for frequent withdrawers. USAA charges deposit fees; td ameritrade does not. Overall, USAA scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | td ameritrade | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $25 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
td ameritrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while USAA supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. USAA supports social and copy trading features, which td ameritrade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | td ameritrade | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4 ,Android,iPhone,Mac |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how td ameritrade and USAA compare. USAA runs regular live webinars; td ameritrade does not. USAA has a video library; td ameritrade does not. USAA publishes daily market commentary; td ameritrade does not. USAA integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); td ameritrade does not. USAA maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. USAA scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | td ameritrade | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. td ameritrade accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while USAA supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). td ameritrade uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. td ameritrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | td ameritrade | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | No |
| Neteller | Yes | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both td ameritrade and USAA offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. td ameritrade supports 8 languages and USAA supports 2, giving td ameritrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | td ameritrade | USAA |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English, and Chinese |