tastytrade is an online trading platform for experienced, active traders. It has a broad lineup of available asset types, including stocks, exchange-traded funds, options, futures, and cryptocurrencies. tastytrade Review: Stock and ETF trades are free, with variable commissions and fees for other asset types.
tastytrade’s core features enable the quick construction and execution of simple or complex trades. Unlike more beginner-friendly brokerages, tastytrade is designed for traders deeply familiar with the markets and confident in their trading strategies.
It lacks comprehensive educational resources, but it does have social features that let average users follow experts as they trade the markets.
What Sets tastytrade Apart? (tastytrade Review)
tastytrade stands out from many other online brokerages in ways both positive and negative:
- Excellent account opening bonus. tastytrade offers an account opening bonus worth up to $5,000 for new users. You can get the maximum bonus amount with a new money deposit of $1,000,000
- Tastytrade offers sophisticated features specifically designed for active traders. tastytrade is designed for active traders in scenarios where seconds (or even milliseconds) count. The ordering interface prioritises speed and accuracy.
- Tastytrade provides access to advanced asset types such as futures and futures options. Tastytrade offers stock and ETF trading, which is also available through most online brokerages. Its futures, futures options, and cryptocurrency offerings are less common in this market and quite welcome for serious traders looking to diversify.
- Limited trader education resources. The other side of tastytrade’s appeal to experienced traders is its relative lack of trader education resources. It is not the best place to learn the basics of investing.
Key Features of tastytrade
Before opening a tastytrade account, understand how its platforms work and what to expect from its trading features. Familiarise yourself with its pricing and account opening bonus opportunity too.
Account Opening Bonus
For a limited time, tastytrade has an exciting account opening promotion* for new customers. To earn it, complete the following qualifying activities:
- Open and fund your account by the stated offer end date, currently March 31, 2025
- Make a qualifying new money deposit of at least $2,000 — but you must deposit at least $1,000,000 to earn the full $5,000 bonus
- Meet other bonus requirements as spelled out in tastytrade’s offer terms
Bonus tiers are as follows:
| Deposit | Cash Bonus |
| $2,000-$4,999 | $50 |
| $5,000-$24,999 | $100 |
| $25,000-$99,999 | $500 |
| $100,000-$249,999 | $2,000 |
| $250,000 – $499,999 | $3,000 |
| $500,000 – $999,999 | $4,000 |
| $1,000,000+ | $5,000 |
Your deposit can be cash, securities, or some combination of the two, but all of it must be new to tastytrade. Funds transferred from another tastytrade account don’t count toward the bonus amount.
Account Types
tastytrade offers two taxable account types: combination and joint. You hold an individual account in your name only and a joint account with one other combination.
tastytrade offers several types of tax-advantaged accounts as well, including traditional, Roth, and SEP IRAs.
Products Available to Trade (tastytrade Review)
tastytrade offers a comprehensive lineup of asset types to trade:
- Stocks (including fractional shares)
- ETFs
- Options contracts
- Futures contracts
- Options contracts for futures
- Cryptocurrencies
- Commodities
Note that you can only trade stocks and ETFs in a basic account. You need to complete separate applications to get permission to trade other asset types, like options and futures. Standards vary by asset type, but you generally need to have a minimum amount of cash in your account at all times to trade more advanced asset types.
Commissions & Fees
tastytrade charges no commissions at all on stock and ETF trades and no direct commissions on most other trades.
Options and futures trades carry variable per-contract fees that vary depending on the contract type and underlying asset.
For cryptocurrency trades, it is $0 to open a position and $0 to close.
Trading Platforms & Tools
Tastefultrade has three distinct platforms: a desktop platform that you download once and run on your computer, a web browser that you can use on any machine as long as you have your login credentials, and a mobile app for on-the-go trading from your phone.
All three platforms have a comprehensive array of features and capabilities for serious traders:
- Percent-of-profit orders, which allow you to set a strike price with a higher probability of occurring (and thus locking in your profits)
- A rapid order adjustment feature that allows you to change pricing and trade structure on open orders without placing the order again
- Curve analysis, a visual representation of expected profit or loss for a given trade based on the strike price
- Quick roll is a fast way to roll open options orders into the next expiration month without reopening the trade
- Social features like the Follow Feed, where you can follow expert traders’ moves in real time, and an in-platform video feed where expert traders narrate their trades
The mobile trading app has separate versions for Android and iOS. It’s essentially the desktop and browser trading platforms in miniature, with many of the same features and capabilities. The user experience is excellent, and execution speed (which is critical for serious traders) is on par with the other platforms as long as you have a strong Wi-Fi or LTE signal. Both versions have high marks from thousands of verified users.
check out:15 Best Online Brokers to Trade Stocks
Pros & Cons (tastytrade Review)
tastytrade has some key pros and cons to understand before opening your account.
Pros
Tastytrade is a comprehensive, social, and well-designed online broking platform that caters to experienced traders.
- There are no trading commissions on stocks and ETFs. Tastytrade does not charge any commissions for stock or ETF trades. If these are the only assets you buy and sell on tastytrade, you’ll pay almost nothing (other than unavoidable regulatory fees) to use it.
- Tastytrade provides access to various less common asset types. tastytrade’s less common asset types include futures, futures options, cryptocurrencies, and commodities that you can buy and sell directly. Many competing brokerages offer only stocks, funds, and options.
- Tastytrade also offers a potentially generous account opening promotion. tastytrade’s account opening promotion is worth up to $5,000 with a qualifying new money deposit. You can earn the full amount with $1,000,000 in new money.
- The platform offers powerful tools for order construction and execution. tastytrade is built for sophisticated order construction and rapid execution. If your income depends on getting in and out of trading positions quickly, this is a key advantage.
- Tastytrade is accessible from any location with an Internet connection. TastefulTrade’s three trading platforms are available anywhere with an Internet connection. The mobile apps offer most of tastytrade’s capabilities on the go.
Cons
tastytrade is best for advanced investors, so it’s unsuitable for most market participants. It also has some gaps in asset availability and higher-than-average pricing for certain asset types.
- Not ideal for beginners. Tastytrade is not suitable for beginners or even intermediate investors. It’s meant for active traders who know what they’re doing. If you do not fit this description, consider using a different online broking.
- It is not intended for passive investors. You can use tastytrade to build a long-term stock and ETF portfolio that you occasionally write options against. But you can do that with dozens of other online brokerages as well. And tastytrade lacks basic research and education features that long-term investors need.
- Some missing asset types. Though tastytrade has some bond ETFs, you can’t buy or sell government or corporate bonds directly on the site. The platform also lacks mutual funds. Truly comprehensive brokerages have both asset types.
- Certain assets offer pricing that is above average. tastytrade’s options and futures pricing are a bit higher than average in some cases. Futures option pricing ranges up to $2.50 per contract, nearly double what more reasonable brokerages charge.
How tastytrade Stacks Up (tastytrade Review)
tastytrade is one of several high-quality online brokerages serving experienced, active traders. One of its closest competitors is TradeStation, which has a similar breadth of assets. Before opening an account with either, see how they compare.
| tastytrade | TradeStation | |
| Account Opening Promo | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Commissions | $0 | $0 |
| Options Contracts | $1 per contract to open, $0 to close | $0.50 per contract |
| Futures Contracts | $0.85 to $1.25 per contract | $0.50 to $1.50 per contract |
| Cryptocurrency Available | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds Available | No | No |
Tastytrade is roughly equivalent to TradeStation in terms of stock, ETF, and cryptocurrency trading. Both lack direct bond access as well. But TradeStation is superior overall thanks to more competitive pricing on certain asset types.
Final Word (tastytrade Review)
tastytrade has a powerful trading interface built for experienced, active market participants. It’s quick, intuitive, and effective.
If that sounds like everything you need in an online broker, tastytrade could be the right platform for you. Unfortunately, most investors aren’t super-experienced or particularly active. tastytrade isn’t designed with them in mind.
On the bright side, there’s an abundance of beginner-friendly online brokerages for DIYers, plus even more low-cost, easy-to-use robo-advisors built for passive investors. You don’t have to use tastytrade just because it’s a well-designed product. In fact, if you have to stop and think about whether it makes sense for you, it probably doesn’t.
