Interactive Brokers vs E*TRADE options fees (2026)
Both charge $0.65 per contract for stock/ETF options. Both charge $0.00 for exercise/assignment. At the smallest balance tier each lists, Interactive Brokers charges 5.38% (Pro $0-$100k) and E*TRADE charges 12.7% (<$10,000).
| Interactive Brokers (Lite / Pro <=10k contracts) | E*TRADE | |
|---|---|---|
| Per-contract commission | $0.65 Source: www.interactivebrokers.com, retrieved 2026-10-25 | $0.65 Source: us.etrade.com, retrieved 2026-10-25 |
| Exercise / assignment fee | $0.00 Source: www.interactivebrokers.com, retrieved 2026-10-25 | $0.00 Source: us.etrade.com, retrieved 2026-10-25 |
| Index option fees | exchange fees passed through (Pro); amount varies Source: www.interactivebrokers.com, retrieved 2026-10-25 | SPX $0.54, NDX $0.66, VIX $0.30, RUT $0.17 Source: us.etrade.com, retrieved 2026-10-25 |
| Margin rates | Pro $0-$100k: 5.38% Pro $100k-$1M: 4.88% Pro $1M-$50M: 4.63% Pro $50M+: 4.38% Lite (all balances): 6.38% Source: www.interactivebrokers.com, retrieved 2026-10-25 | <$10,000: 12.7% $10,000-$24,999: 12.45% $25,000-$49,999: 12.2% $50,000-$99,999: 11.7% $100,000-$249,999: 11.2% $250,000-$499,999: 10.7% Source: us.etrade.com, retrieved 2026-10-25 |
Per-contract figures exclude regulatory pass-through fees. Estimate your yearly cost with the calculator. See full pages for Interactive Brokers and E*TRADE.