Broker Comparison
Cost Effective and Straightforward Commissions
At eOption, you do not have to bother with complicated or multiple pricing structures, volume requirements or a minimum account balance. Our commission schedule is the same for everyone and is easy to calculate without confusing fine print. Our low commissions even apply to auto trading services.
Competitor "Base Rate" Comparison
- Options
- Stocks
| Options | Base Commission | 1 Contract |
10 Contracts |
20 Contracts |
50 Contracts |
Broker Assistance | Options Exercise |
| eOption | $3.00+10¢ per contract | $3.10 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $8.00 | Add $6.00 | $9.00 |
| E*TRADE | $9.99+75¢ per contract | $10.74 | $17.49 | $24.99 | $47.49 | Add $45.00 | $19.99 |
| Fidelity | $7.95+75¢ per contract | $8.70 | $15.45 | $22.95 | $45.45 | $32.95+75¢ per contract | $19.95 |
| OptionsHouse | Up to 5 for $5 - $5(+$1.00) | $5.00 | $10.00 | - | - | Online commission rate | $5.00 |
| $8.50(+$0.15) | - | - | $11.50 | $16.00 | |||
| optionsXpress | $14.95 min/1.50 per contract | $14.95 | $15.00 | $30.00 | $75.00 | Online commission rate | $14.95 |
| Schwab | $8.95+75¢ per contract | $9.70 | $16.45 | $23.95 | $46.45 | Add $25.00+online commission rate |
Online rate |
| Scottrade | $7.00+1.25 per contract | $8.25 | $19.50 | $32.00 | $69.50 | $27+1.25 per contract | $17.00 |
| TD AMERITRADE | $9.99+75¢ per contract | $10.74 | $17.49 | $24.99 | $47.49 | $44.99+75¢ per contract | $19.99 |
optionsXpress: Rate requires 0-34 trades per quarter
| Stocks | Market or Limit |
500 Shares |
1,000 Shares |
10,000 Shares |
Broker Assistance |
| eOption | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | Add $6.00 |
| E*TRADE | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | Add $45.00 |
| Fidelity | $7.95 | $7.95 | $7.95 | $7.95 | $32.95 |
| OptionsHouse | $2.95 | $2.95 | $2.95 | $2.95 | Online commission rate |
| optionsXpress | $14.95 | $14.95 | $14.95 | $149.95 | Online commission rate |
| Schwab | $8.95 | $8.95 | $8.95 | $8.95 | Add $25.00+$8.95 |
| Scottrade | $7.00 | $7.00 | $7.00 | $7.00 | Add $27.00+2¢ per share for stocks $1 and above |
| TD AMERITRADE | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $44.99 |
E*TRADE Base Rate: Accounts with less than $50,000 in assets and 0-29 trades per quarter. For orders listed on a national securities exchange a fee of $.015 per share applies to portion of order that exceeds 2,000 shares.
Fidelity Base Rate: Less than 9 trades per quarter and less than $25,000 in assets. Add $0.015 per share for each share >1,000. Max charge: 5% of principal.
OptionsHouse: For stocks priced $2.00 or less that are not options eligible, add $0.005 per share for the entire order. Customers may trade up to 50,000 shares per trade; trades in excess will be billed as separate orders.
optionsXpress Base Rate: 0-8 trades per quarter. For orders over 1,000 shares, a fee of $0.015 per share applies. Active trader rates are not available for Xecute services. Commissions on Penny Stocks will be capped at 5% of total purchase price, subject to the $14.95 minimum.
Scottrade: For stocks priced under $1, add ½% of the principal value to the commissions shown.
Competitor "Best Published Rate" Comparison
The rate comparison below includes the best published competitor rates or trading levels of some brokers with escalating commissions and/or thresholds. At eOption, you can trade when you want and without worrying about meeting a structured requirement.
- Options
- Stocks
| Options | Commission | 1 Contract |
10 Contracts |
20 Contracts |
50 Contracts |
Broker Assistance | Options Exercise |
| eOption | $3.00+10¢ per contract | $3.10 | $4.00 | $5.00 | $8.00 | Add $6.00 | $9.00 |
| E*TRADE | $7.99+75¢ per contract | $8.74 | $15.49 | $22.99 | $45.49 | Add $45.00 | $19.99 |
| Fidelity | $7.95+75¢ per contract | $8.70 | $15.45 | $22.95 | $45.45 | $32.95+75¢ per contract | $19.95 |
| OptionsHouse | Up to 5 for $5 - $5(+$1.00) | $5.00 | $10.00 | - | - | Online commission rate | $5.00 |
| $8.50(+$0.15) | - | - | $11.50 | $16.00 | |||
| optionsXpress | $12.95 min/1.25 per contract | $12.95 | $12.95 | $25.00 | $62.50 | Online commission rate | $9.95 |
| Schwab | $8.95+75¢ per contract | $9.70 | $16.45 | $23.95 | $46.45 | Add $25.00+online commission rate |
Online rate |
| Scottrade | $7.00+1.25 per contract | $8.25 | $19.50 | $32.00 | $69.50 | $27+1.25 per contract | $17.00 |
| TD AMERITRADE | $9.99+75¢ per contract | $10.74 | $17.49 | $24.99 | $47.49 | $44.99+75¢ per contract | $19.99 |
E*TRADE: Rate requires 150+ trades per quarter.
optionsXpress: Rate requires 35 or more trades per quarter
| Stocks | Market or Limit | 500 Shares |
1,000 Shares |
10,000 Shares |
Broker Assist 1,000 Shares |
| eOption | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $3.00 | Add $6.00 |
| E*TRADE | $7.99 | $7.99 | $7.99 | $7.99 | Add $45.00 |
| Fidelity | $7.95 | $7.95 | $7.95 | $7.95 | $32.95 |
| OptionsHouse | $2.95 | $2.95 | $2.95 | $2.95 | Online commission rate |
| optionsXpress | $9.95 | $9.95 | $9.95 | $99.95 | Online commission rate |
| Schwab | $8.95 | $8.95 | $8.95 | $8.95 | Add $25.00+$8.95 |
| Scottrade | $7.00 | $7.00 | $7.00 | $7.00 | Add $27.00+2¢ per share for stocks $1 and above |
| TD AMERITRADE | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $9.99 | $44.99 |
E*TRADE: Rate requires 150+ trades per quarter.
OptionsHouse: For stocks priced $2.00 or less that are not options eligible, add $0.005 per share for the entire order. Customers may trade up to 50,000 shares per trade; trades in excess will be billed as separate orders.
optionsXpress: 9+ trades per quarter. For orders over 1,000 shares, a fee of $.01 per share applies. Active trader rates are not available for Xecute services. Commissions on Penny Stocks will be capped at 5% of total purchase price, subject to the $14.95 minimum.
Scottrade: For stocks priced under $1, add ½% of the principal value to the commissions shown.
The competitor rates from published web sites are believed to be accurate but they are not guaranteed. Certain firms may waive or offer reduced commissions if additional criteria such as account value, trading volume or certain other conditions are met. Some firms may offer products or services eOption does not offer. The comparison is based on the standard trading platform and does not include all trading platforms the identified firms may provide. Data contained in this section was verified as of 02/12/2010. Please contact each broker individually to confirm their commission schedule.
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Certain requirements must be met to trade options through eOption. Online trading has inherent risks due to delay or loss of online services, system performance, market conditions, erroneous or unavailable market data. Investors should understand these and additional risks before trading. Before considering any option transaction, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options provided by the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC), available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. A current copy may also be obtained by calling eOption at 1-888-793-5333 or by mailing your request to eOption, 950 Milwaukee Ave., Ste. 102, Glenview, IL 60025. Because of the importance of tax considerations, eOption recommends consulting your tax advisor before contemplating any options transaction. Supporting documentation for any claims, comparison, recommendations, statistics, or other technical data, will be supplied upon request.