Software · head to head
Banktivity vs E*TRADE
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Banktivity runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version; E*TRADE stock and ETF trades were $0 commission but options carried a $0.65 per-contract fee, broker-assisted trades added a $25 surcharge, and margin interest rates ranged from 12.70% to 13.20% depending on balance tier (Internet Archive capture, 3 January 2023)
- They diverge on capability: Banktivity covers Account tracking, E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Banktivity and E*TRADE actually diverge.
| Attribute | Banktivity | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | transaction |
| Platforms | Mac, IOS | Web, IOS, Android |
| Founded | 2007 | 1956 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Banktivity
- Account tracking
- Bill management
- Investment tracking
- Budget forecasting
- Investment accounts
- Mac support
Only in E*TRADE
- Advanced trading tools
- Options and futures
- Research tools
- Mobile trading
- Wire transfers
- Web support
- Android support
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Banktivity
- Personal budgeting and money management on a Macnot E*TRADE
- Investment and net worth trackingnot E*TRADE
- Retirement planning projectionsnot E*TRADE
- Connecting to over 14,000 financial institutionsnot E*TRADE
E*TRADE
- Budget Managementnot Banktivity
- Expense Trackingnot Banktivity
- Investment Trackingnot Banktivity
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Banktivity
- Runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- Pricing is not shown on the product page and sits behind a separate plans page
E*TRADE
- Stock and ETF trades were $0 commission but options carried a $0.65 per-contract fee, broker-assisted trades added a $25 surcharge, and margin interest rates ranged from 12.70% to 13.20% depending on balance tier (Internet Archive capture, 3 January 2023)
Pricing, plan by plan
Banktivity
On request- Monthly$4.99/month
- Full feature access
- Cloud sync
- Annual$39.99/month
- All monthly features
- Discounted rate
E*TRADE
On request- Stock & ETF TradingFree
- Commission-free trades
- Real-time quotes
- Advanced Trading$undefined/month
- All Stock & ETF features
- Options, futures
- Advanced tools
Which should you pick?
Choose Banktivity if
- You need account tracking.
- You work on Mac, IOS.
- You also want bill management.
Choose E*TRADE if
- You need advanced trading tools.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want options and futures.
Questions people ask
- Is Banktivity or E*TRADE better?
- Neither clearly leads. Banktivity starts at On request and E*TRADE at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Banktivity or E*TRADE?
- Banktivity starts at On request and E*TRADE at On request.
- Does Banktivity or E*TRADE run on more platforms?
- Banktivity runs on Mac, IOS. E*TRADE runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- What is Banktivity best used for?
- Banktivity is most often used for personal budgeting and money management on a mac, investment and net worth tracking, retirement planning projections, connecting to over 14,000 financial institutions. Of those, personal budgeting and money management on a mac and investment and net worth tracking are not what E*TRADE is typically brought in for.
- What can Banktivity do that E*TRADE cannot?
- Banktivity covers Account tracking, Bill management, Investment tracking, Budget forecasting. E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools, Options and futures, Research tools, Mobile trading. Both handle Bank accounts, IOS support.
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