Head to head
tastytrade vs thinkorswim
Both platforms are scored with the same methodology and the same category rubric. Nothing on this page is influenced by advertising.
53/100 | 56/100Higher score | |
|---|---|---|
| Category rank | #6 | #5 |
| Confidence | High confidence | High confidence |
| External Reputation | 66 | 64 |
| AI Authority | 26 | 52 |
| Web Authority | 57 | 43 |
| Expert Assessment | 69 | 65 |
| TOP10 User Score | — | — |
| Pricing | $0.75 per micro futures contract to open and $0.75 to close, plus $0.30/contract clearing fee + exchange fees + NFA fee · free tier: None — no plans or subscriptions; stocks and ETFs trade at $0.00 commission (clearing fee $0.0008/share + regulatory fee) and event contracts at $0.00 commission | $0 commission on online stocks/ETFs · free tier: All Schwab trading platforms — thinkorswim desktop, web, mobile, Schwab.com and Schwab Mobile — are free with any Schwab account; paper trading included free |
| Pricing model | Usage-based (per contract / per trade commissions, no subscription tiers) | Usage-based |
| Best for | US-based active retail traders working micro and E-mini equity-index futures and futures options who want SPAN-based risk tooling in one account and fund by ACH. | High-volume options and futures traders who want free professional-grade charting and will invest weeks in mastering the platform. |
| Avoid if | You are a non-US resident, finance positions on equity margin, trade high-volume futures options expecting the $10 cap, are crypto-led, or may transfer out soon. | You are a beginner wanting simplicity, you depend on fast responsive human support, or you park large uninvested cash balances between trades before checking sweep rates. |
| Markets | Retail self-directed traders, Active derivatives traders, Small-to-mid account sizes | Retail self-directed traders, Active options and futures traders |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, United States (1330 W Fulton St., Suite 600) | — |
A higher TOP SCORE means more of the evidence favours that platform on this methodology — it is not a recommendation, and it does not account for your specific requirements. Advertisers are never declared the winner of a comparison.