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E*TRADE vs Google Pay

E*TRADE logo

E*TRADE

Software

Express your investing style

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Pay logo

Google Pay

Software

Fast, simple and secure payments

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Pay 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); Google Pay limited to Android devices and Chrome browser; lacks native support for iOS devices
  • They diverge on capability: E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools, Google Pay covers Digital wallet.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which E*TRADE and Google Pay actually diverge.

Attributes where E*TRADE and Google Pay differ
AttributeE*TRADEGoogle Pay
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modeltransactionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidAndroid, Chrome browser
Founded19562015

Identical on both: 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
  • Web support

Only in Google Pay

  • Digital wallet
  • Contactless payments
  • Online shopping
  • P2P money transfers
  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards

Both cover

  • Bank accounts
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

E*TRADE

  • Budget Managementnot Google Pay
  • Expense Trackingnot Google Pay
  • Investment Trackingnot Google Pay

Google Pay

  • Android users making contactless payments at supported retailersnot E*TRADE
  • Chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkoutnot 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)

Google Pay

  • Limited to Android devices and Chrome browser; lacks native support for iOS devices
  • International money transfer through third-party provider (Wise Inc.) with limited details on coverage

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

Google Pay

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Pay review.

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.
E*TRADE review

Choose Google Pay if

  • You need digital wallet.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android, Chrome browser.
  • You also want contactless payments.
Google Pay review

Questions people ask

Is E*TRADE or Google Pay better?
Neither clearly leads. E*TRADE starts at On request and Google Pay at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, E*TRADE or Google Pay?
Google Pay has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for E*TRADE and Free for Google Pay.
Does E*TRADE or Google Pay run on more platforms?
E*TRADE runs on Web, IOS, Android. Google Pay runs on Android, Chrome browser.
Can I use Google Pay for free?
Yes. Google Pay 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 Google Pay is typically brought in for.
What can E*TRADE do that Google Pay cannot?
E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools, Options and futures, Research tools, Mobile trading. Google Pay covers Digital wallet, Contactless payments, Online shopping, P2P money transfers. Both handle Bank accounts, IOS support, Android support.
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