Software · head to head
E*TRADE vs EveryDollar
The short version
- Only EveryDollar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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); EveryDollar the free version has no bank connection, so every transaction is entered by hand
- They diverge on capability: E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools, EveryDollar covers Zero-based budgeting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which E*TRADE and EveryDollar actually diverge.
| Attribute | E*TRADE | EveryDollar |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | transaction | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 1956 | 2014 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web, IOS, Android), 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 E*TRADE
- Advanced trading tools
- Options and futures
- Research tools
- Mobile trading
- Wire transfers
Only in EveryDollar
- Zero-based budgeting
- Transaction tracking
- Budget planning
- Financial insights
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
E*TRADE
- Budget Managementnot EveryDollar
- Expense Trackingnot EveryDollar
- Investment Trackingnot EveryDollar
EveryDollar
- Zero based monthly budgeting using the Ramsey methodnot E*TRADE
- Tracking bills and sinking funds by categorynot E*TRADE
- Automatically importing bank transactions into a budget on Premiumnot E*TRADE
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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)
EveryDollar
- The free version has no bank connection, so every transaction is entered by hand
- CSV export of budget data is Premium only
- Spending reports and historical comparisons are Premium only
- Premium costs $17.99 per month billed monthly, and the $6.67 headline rate requires paying $79.99 for a year up front
- The free trial lasts 14 days and is limited to new users
Pricing, plan by plan
E*TRADE
On request- Stock & ETF TradingFree
- Commission-free trades
- Real-time quotes
- Advanced Trading$undefined/month
- All Stock & ETF features
- Options, futures
- Advanced tools
EveryDollar
Free- FreeFree
- Manual budget entry
- Plus$14.99/month
- Bank sync
- Mobile app
- Transaction tracking
Which should you pick?
Choose E*TRADE if
- You need advanced trading tools.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want options and futures.
Choose EveryDollar if
- You need zero-based budgeting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want transaction tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is E*TRADE or EveryDollar better?
- Neither clearly leads. E*TRADE starts at On request and EveryDollar at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, E*TRADE or EveryDollar?
- EveryDollar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for E*TRADE and Free for EveryDollar.
- Does E*TRADE or EveryDollar run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use EveryDollar for free?
- Yes. EveryDollar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. E*TRADE starts at On request.
- What is E*TRADE best used for?
- E*TRADE is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what EveryDollar is typically brought in for.
- What can E*TRADE do that EveryDollar cannot?
- E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools, Options and futures, Research tools, Mobile trading. EveryDollar covers Zero-based budgeting, Transaction tracking, Budget planning, Financial insights. Both handle Bank accounts, Web support, IOS support, Android support.