TradeStation Review [2024]: A Feature-Rich Platform for Active Traders

People invest for their futures in different ways. Some people prefer to take a passive approach by investing in mutual funds or index funds. Others may want to take control of their financial future and pick which stocks they want to buy and sell. This process, called active trading, can be done on a casual or more advanced level.

Advanced active traders might pay closer attention to the details of the platforms they use and the transactions they make. TradeStation could be a good fit for these investors, thanks to its powerful technology, tools, and competitive pricing. Here’s what you need to know to decide if it’s a good fit for you.

What is TradeStation?

TradeStation traces its roots back to a company called Omega Research, which was founded by William and Rafael Cruz and released its first product, System Writer, in 1987. The company wanted to develop a way to gain a strategic edge with investment trading. Today, the company focuses on using state-of-the-art technology to help self-directed traders.

TradeStation was launched in 1991 and is headquartered in Plantation, Florida. Today, it is owned by Monex Group, Inc., one of Japan’s largest financial services providers. As of April 2021, TradeStation had over 150,000 active accounts with $10,842,000,000 in total client assets. The company is a New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) member.

	TradeStation
Minimum investment	None for TS Go None for TradeStation Crypto $2,000 for TS Select $500 for a cash equities account on the per-share commission plan $2,000 for a margin account on the per-share commission plan $500 for a futures account on the tiered commission plan
Fees	No commissions on stock or ETF trades up to 10,000 shares per trade Per-contract fees on stock options, futures, futures micro e-mini, and futures options that vary by account type $10 fee for each equity and options trade on TradeStation desktop trades for TS GO accounts Cryptocurrency fees based on account balance and maker or taker status
Asset classes	Stocks Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) Options Futures contracts Futures options Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and more) Initial public offerings (IPOs) Mutual funds Bonds
Account types available	Individual Joint with right of survivorship Joint tenants in common Custodial Traditional IRA Roth IRA SEP IRA SIMPLE IRA Trust Corporation General partnership Limited partnership Limited liability company Sole proprietorship
Features	Three separate trading platforms depending on your needs Market-scanning tools Customizable charting Fast and reliable trade execution Advanced management of orders Backtest trading strategies with historical data Built-in trading apps Simulated trading Watch lists
Best for...	Intermediate to advanced active traders that want to take advantage of TradeStation’s technology and powerful tools.

What does TradeStation offer?

TradeStation is a powerful trading platform designed for active traders. Unfortunately, TradeStation’s offerings might be a bit overwhelming to someone new to investing money. Fortunately, the platform has substantial educational resources, such as tutorials and webinars, to help people learn how to start trading and use the TradeStation platforms.

When you set up your account with TradeStation, you have a few plans with different pricing options to choose from, including TS Go and TS Select. It also offers a plan for cryptocurrency called TS Crypto.

TradeStation also has three platforms to help you customize your trading experience. These are TradeStation Desktop, TradeStation Mobile Apps, and TradeStation Web Trading. Here’s what you should know about each to select the right option for you.

TS Go

TS Go requires no minimum deposit amount, which can be appealing to certain investors. This model charges the following fees:

• Stocks and ETF trades (up to 10,000 shares per trade) - No commission
• Stock options - No commission + $0.50 per contract
• Futures - No commission + $0.85 per contract, per side
• Futures micro e-mini - No commission + $0.50 per contract, per side
• Futures options - No commission + $1.50 per contract, per side

With TS Go, you’ll also get free use of TradeStation’s web trading and mobile app platforms. If you want to make trades using TradeStation Desktop, you will incur a $10 fee for each equities and options trade you make. Futures trades will incur a $1.40 surcharge per contract.

TS Select

With TS Select, you need an account minimum of $2,000. Ironically, this plan charges more for certain trade types than TS Go. Prices are as follows:

• Stocks and ETF trades (up to 10,000 shares per trade) - No commission
• Stock options - No commission + $0.60 per contract
• Futures - No commission + $1.50 per contract, per side
• Futures micro e-mini - No commission + $0.50 per contract, per side
• Futures options - No commission + $1.50 per contract, per side

The benefit to using the TS Select pricing model offers free access to all of TradeStation’s trading platforms, including no surcharge trades on TradeStation's Desktop platform.

TS Crypto

TradeStation Crypto allows you to trade Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and USD Coin with no minimum deposit. Pricing varies based on your account balance and decreases as your balance grows. Fees can also vary depending on the type of transaction you make, though the fee is 0.30% for all transactions in the smallest account balance tier.

TradeStation Desktop

TradeStation’s most in-depth platform is its desktop platform. This platform requires you to download and install a program on your computer to use it, and it comes with the following features:

• Over a dozen built-in trading apps
• Fully customizable charting
• The ability to browse for hundreds of extra features in TradeStation’s TradingApp Store (some cost money)
• The ability to write programs using its EasyLanguage tool to implement trading strategies
• RadarScreen to scan for trading opportunities
• The option of backtesting strategies using historical data
• The Matrix, a tool providing detailed market depth information and an advanced order entry tool
• OptionsStation Pro to visualize options strategies
• A simulated trading mode

TradeStation Web Trading

TradeStation's web platform can be accessed from computers with internet connections and access to a web browser. It includes the following features:

• Charting with technical studies
• The Matrix tool
• Market data
• Ability to place trades
• Historical market data
• Watchlists
• Works with mobile apps for a unified experience

TradeStation Mobile Apps

You can even choose to trade on the go with TradeStation. The company offers both iOS and Android apps to facilitate mobile trading. If you aren’t yet a client, you have the option to download and preview the app for free. The apps include features such as:

• Real-time quotes
• Options information
• The Matrix tool
• Charting and technical studies
• Ability to place trades
• Track your positions and orders

Pros and cons of TradeStation

TradeStation has many benefits traders can take advantage of, including:

• Three platforms (Desktop, web, and mobile apps) to choose from
• Two pricing tiers to choose from (TS Go and TS Select)
• Offers the option to open an account with no minimum deposit with TS Go
• A cryptocurrency trading option
• Powerful trading tools including charting, The Matrix, RadarScreen, and a simulated trading mode
• Commission-free trades for certain stock transactions under 10,000 shares

Using TradeStation can have some downsides, though, including:

• Multiple fee structures can confuse individuals unsure of which to choose
• Several platforms can be overwhelming to new investors, especially combined with multiple fee structures
• Inactivity fee if your average end-of-month equity balance isn’t $2,000 or higher with a TS Select account, or you haven’t placed at least five trades during the 12 months following each anniversary of the account’s fund date
• A long list of service fees for specific activities or events

Who can open an account with TradeStation?

U.S. residents with a valid Social Security or taxpayer-identification number can open an account on the Tradestation platform. International residents with a valid passport and address verification may be able to open an account, as well.

TradeStation is likely a good fit for intermediate-to-advanced active traders who want to take advantage of TradeStation’s powerful tools. These traders likely have intimate knowledge of the investments they plan to trade and have developed specific strategies they wish to enact. If this sounds like you, this platform might be an option worth considering.

How much can you earn with TradeStation?

TradeStation allows you to pick your own investments, so it’s impossible to estimate how much a person can earn with the platform. Investing is inherently risky. While you might help spread out that risk by building a diverse portfolio, some of your assets may decrease drastically or even end up worthless. Investments that perform well could potentially offset your losses, though.

Your specific earnings will vary based on what you choose to invest in, when you buy and sell the investment, how the markets perform, your risk tolerance, and several other factors.

FAQs about TradeStation

How to open a TradeStation account

U.S. residents with a valid Social Security number or taxpayer-identification number opening most account types can open an account online. However, U.S. residents who want to open a futures IRA account, international residents, or entities must open an account using a paper application that must be signed and mailed in.

When applying for an account, expect to provide identification numbers, personal information such as your birth date and address, financial information, and investing experience. In addition, international applicants need to provide a valid passport and address verification from the past 60 days.

Other investing platforms to consider

After carefully considering TradeStation’s features, it may not be the best fit for every investor. Instead, you may want to consider some of the other best investment apps to find a better option for you.

Gatsby may be a good fit if you’re interested in options trading. This online broker allows you to trade both options and most U.S.-listed stocks with a minimum investment of just $10. It offers commission-free trading, although you do have to pay a small $0.05 per contract LQT fee. In a unique twist, Gatsby allows you to earn rewards and view trades made by others in your community. Read our Gatsby review to learn more and see if it is a good fit for you.

TD Ameritrade could be a good alternative for people looking for a more mainstream brokerage that offers a wide variety of investments and services. The company provides an extensive account type list which includes managed portfolios, UGMA/UTMA accounts for minors, and solo 401(k)s in addition to the more traditional taxable brokerage account and IRA options. They offer an equally wide variety of asset classes ranging from stocks and ETFs to forex, cryptocurrency, and IPOs. Read our TD Ameritrade review to find out more about this brokerage.