How to Buy Stocks on E*TRADE
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E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley is a feature-packed broker with an easy-to-use trading platform. That makes it a popular choice with everyone from beginners to experienced investors. If you've decided to use it, the next step is learning how to buy the stocks you want.
In this guide, you'll learn how to buy stocks on E*TRADE step by step. We'll also cover how to sell stocks, deciding if this is the right broker for you, and some alternatives in case you want to compare your options.
On E*TRADE's Secure Website.
2025 Award Winner
E*TRADE offers low fees and tons of account types. If you need it, chances are, E*TRADE has it. You can access advanced features through its popular Power E*TRADE platform. Open an E*TRADE account to trade fee-free mutual funds and do all your investing in one place.
Commission-free; other fees apply
$0
Open and fund a brokerage account and get up to $1,000. Terms apply.
On E*TRADE's Secure Website.
To invest on E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, you need to open an account, transfer money to it, pick a stock, and place your order. Here's more information on each of these steps.
You can set up an E*TRADE account online in about 10 minutes. Start by selecting the option to open an account, and then pick the type of account you want. E*TRADE offers standard brokerage accounts and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), including traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs.
You'll need the following information during the application process:
You have the option to transfer money to your E*TRADE account when you open it, or you can do it later. E*TRADE doesn't have a minimum balance requirement, so you don't need to fund your account right away.
Once you have an account, select "Transfer" to deposit money to it. You can then set up a bank account transfer or a money wire. Keep in mind that bank account transfers can take up to three business days, so you'll need to wait for that to process before you can start investing.
Go to the Trading section of your account and enter the ticker symbol for the stock you want to buy. You can do this through E*TRADE's web platform or its mobile investing app. Once you choose a stock, you'll see a current price quote, a snapshot of its chart, and an order form.
Always spend some time researching a stock before you invest in it. E*TRADE has some excellent tools to help with this, including recent news, fundamentals, analyst research, and much more.
Here's how to submit an order on E*TRADE:
Once you've done that, you can review and submit your order.
The process for selling stocks on E*TRADE is the same as buying stocks. The only difference is that you'll select the option to sell instead of buy. Here's exactly how it works:
Selling stocks has tax implications. You'll owe capital gains taxes if you made a profit, or if you lost money, you can use that as a deduction. For more information, check out Motley Fool Money's guide to investing and taxes.
If you're looking for an online broker, E*TRADE is a great choice. You'll have no shortage of investment opportunities, as it offers stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, options, and futures. It also has highly regarded user interfaces, including on its web platform, mobile app, and the Power E*TRADE platform.
E*TRADE doesn't have any major drawbacks, although it's missing a couple of features. Unlike many top stock brokers, E*TRADE doesn't offer fractional shares, so you need to buy entire shares of any stocks you want. It also doesn't offer cryptocurrency or forex trading.
None of those are huge issues, especially if you're primarily looking to invest in stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs. E*TRADE has everything you need for that, as well as ample research tools to help you decide where to invest your money.
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.
| Broker | Best For | Commissions | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
5.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Full-service investing at every experience level | $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETFs*. No account fees****. |
Learn More for Fidelity
On Fidelity's Secure Website. |
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Managing your finances under one roof | $0 for stocks, $0 for options contracts |
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing
On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website. |
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options |
Learn More for Robinhood
On Robinhood's Secure Website. |
Yes, it's free to buy stocks on E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley. It offers commission-free stock, ETF, and U.S. mutual fund trading.
E*TRADE doesn't have a minimum account balance. You don't need to transfer funds to open an account. When you're ready to deposit money, you can bring over any amount you want.
Yes, E*TRADE is safe. It has data encryption and offers two-factor authentication (2FA) to keep your account secure. Deposits have SIPC insurance coverage of up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
E*TRADE services are available just to U.S. residents.
Fidelity disclosure
Investing involves risk, including risk of loss
* - $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at Fidelity.com/commissions. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.
**Fidelity Crypto® is offered by Fidelity Digital Assets®. Investing involves risk, including risk of total loss. Crypto as an asset class is highly volatile, can become illiquid at any time, and is for investors with a high risk tolerance. Crypto may also be more susceptible to market manipulation than securities. Crypto is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Investors in crypto do not benefit from the same regulatory protections applicable to registered securities. Fidelity Crypto® accounts and custody and trading of crypto in such accounts are provided by Fidelity Digital Asset Services, LLC, which is chartered as a limited purpose trust company by the New York State Department of Financial Services to engage in virtual currency business (NMLS ID 1773897). Brokerage services in support of securities trading are provided by Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (“FBS”), and related custody services are provided by National Financial Services LLC (“NFS”), each a registered broker-dealer and member NYSE and SIPC. Neither FBS nor NFS offer crypto as a direct investment nor provide trading or custody services for such assets. Fidelity Crypto and Fidelity Digital Assets are registered service marks of FMR LLC.
***Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.
****Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See Fidelity.com/commissions for further details.
Robinhood disclosure
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Securities are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. For more information see the Robinhood Crypto Risk Disclosure.
Trades of stocks, ETFs and options are commission-free at Robinhood Financial LLC. Other fees may apply. Please see Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule to learn more.
Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. Not all securities available through Robinhood are eligible for fractional share orders. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement.
Robinhood Gold is an account offering premium services available for a $5 monthly fee. Not all investors will be eligible to trade on Margin. Margin investing involves the risk of greater investment losses. Additional interest charges may apply depending on the amount of margin used. Bigger Instant Deposits are only available if your Instant Deposits status is in good standing.
Investing is risky. Bonus offers subject to terms and conditions, visit robinhood.com/hoodweek for more information. Margin is not suitable for all investors. Robinhood Gold is offered through Robinhood Gold LLC and is a subscription offering services for a fee. Brokerage services offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), a registered broker dealer.
