ETRADE charges $0 commission on all online ETF trades and provides access to thousands of ETFs from every major provider. While ETRADE does not have its own ETF family, it compensates with Power ETRADE — a robust platform with a dedicated ETF screener — and Morgan Stanley research following the 2020 acquisition. Here is how to buy ETFs at ETRADE in 2026.
ETF Costs at E*TRADE
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Online ETF commission | $0 |
| Third-party ETF expense ratios | Varies (fund cost only) |
| Account maintenance fee | $0 |
| Account minimum | $0 |
| Broker-assisted ETF trade | $25 surcharge |
E*TRADE’s $0 commission applies to all electronically traded ETFs. Broker-assisted trades (calling in an order) carry a $25 surcharge, but the vast majority of investors trade online or via app.
ETF Selection at E*TRADE
E*TRADE does not have a proprietary ETF family, but provides access to the full US-listed ETF universe — over 5,000 ETFs. Popular ETFs available at $0 commission include:
| ETF | Category | Expense Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| VOO | S&P 500 (Vanguard) | 0.03% |
| VTI | Total US Market (Vanguard) | 0.03% |
| QQQ | Nasdaq-100 (Invesco) | 0.20% |
| SPY | S&P 500 (SPDR) | 0.0945% |
| IVV | S&P 500 (iShares) | 0.03% |
| SCHB | Broad US Market (Schwab) | 0.03% |
| SCHD | US Dividend Equity (Schwab) | 0.06% |
| AGG | US Aggregate Bond (iShares) | 0.03% |
| BND | Total Bond Market (Vanguard) | 0.03% |
| VXUS | Total International (Vanguard) | 0.07% |
| GLD | Gold (SPDR) | 0.40% |
| JEPI | JP Morgan Equity Premium Income | 0.35% |
E*TRADE also offers access to Morgan Stanley-affiliated funds and ETFs, including Morgan Stanley institutional strategies made available to retail investors after the acquisition.
How to Buy an ETF at E*TRADE — Step by Step
- Log in to ETRADE.com or the ETRADE mobile app
- Go to “Trading” then “Stocks & ETFs”
- Enter the ticker symbol in the search bar (e.g., VOO, AGG, QQQ)
- Review the ETF quote page — includes bid/ask spread, volume, Morningstar rating, and expense ratio
- Click “Buy”
- Choose order type — Market, Limit, Stop, or Stop-Limit
- Enter quantity in whole shares (fractional ETF shares not available)
- Select account — brokerage, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, etc.
- Review and submit
For active investors, Power E*TRADE provides real-time streaming quotes, level 2 data, advanced charting, and the ETF screener — all available at $0 commission upgrade from the standard platform.
ETRADE ETF Screener (Power ETRADE)
Power E*TRADE’s ETF screener lets you filter by:
- Asset class — equity, fixed income, alternatives, commodity
- Geography — US, international, emerging markets, sector-specific
- Expense ratio — filter for funds below 0.10%, 0.20%, etc.
- Morningstar rating — 1–5 star filter
- Performance — 1-month, YTD, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year
- Dividend yield — filter by trailing 12-month yield
- Assets under management — larger funds typically have tighter bid/ask spreads
Morgan Stanley equity research is available for individual stocks and selected ETFs. E*TRADE’s Snapshot Analysis — its options analytics tool — can also be applied to leveraged and inverse ETFs.
Building an ETF Portfolio at E*TRADE
E*TRADE does not have a house view on ETF selection, but its research tools make it straightforward to build a passive portfolio using any major ETF family:
Three-fund portfolio using widely available ETFs:
- 60% VTI (US total market, 0.03%)
- 30% VXUS (international, 0.07%)
- 10% BND (US bonds, 0.03%)
Growth-oriented portfolio:
- 50% QQQ (Nasdaq-100, 0.20%)
- 30% VTI (US total market, 0.03%)
- 20% VEA (Developed international, 0.05%)
Income-focused portfolio:
- 40% SCHD (dividend equity, 0.06%)
- 25% JEPI (equity premium income, 0.35%)
- 25% VYM (high dividend yield, 0.06%)
- 10% AGG (bonds, 0.03%)
For investors who want automatic portfolio management, E*TRADE Core Portfolios builds and rebalances an ETF portfolio for a 0.30% annual advisory fee with a $500 minimum.
ETFs in E*TRADE IRAs
| IRA Type | ETF Commission | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roth IRA | $0 | Tax-free growth |
| Traditional IRA | $0 | Tax-deferred growth |
| Rollover IRA | $0 | Roll 401(k) into E*TRADE |
| SEP IRA | $0 | High contribution limit for self-employed |
| SIMPLE IRA | $0 | Employer matching option |
DRIP is available for eligible ETFs in both E*TRADE taxable and IRA accounts. Dividends reinvest in whole shares, with cash remainders going to your money market or sweep account.
E*TRADE vs. Schwab vs. Fidelity for ETF Investing
| Feature | E*TRADE | Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETF commission | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Proprietary ETF family | No | Yes (SCHD, SCHB…) | Yes (FZROX, FXAIX…) |
| ETF screener | Power E*TRADE (good) | thinkorswim (best in class) | Fidelity.com + Morningstar |
| Analyst research | Morgan Stanley | Schwab Equity Ratings | Morningstar/CFRA/Argus |
| Fractional ETF shares | No | No | No |
| Robo-advisor | Core Portfolios (0.30%, $500 min) | Intelligent Portfolios ($0 fee, $5K min) | Fidelity Go ($0 fee) |
ETRADE is a strong ETF platform for investors who value research depth (Morgan Stanley) and want Power ETRADE’s analytical capabilities without switching to a more active-trader-focused broker.
Key Takeaways
- E*TRADE charges $0 commission on all online ETF trades with no account minimums
- No proprietary ETF family — E*TRADE is a marketplace for all major ETF providers
- Power E*TRADE’s ETF screener is solid, with Morningstar ratings and Morgan Stanley research
- E*TRADE Core Portfolios provides automated ETF investing at 0.30%/year ($500 minimum)
- All ETFs are available commission-free in E*TRADE IRAs with DRIP support
For platform details, see our Power E*TRADE guide. For a head-to-head comparison, see our E*TRADE vs. Schwab review.
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