Softwr

Software · head to head

E*TRADE vs YNAB

E*TRADE logo

E*TRADE

Software

Express your investing style

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YNAB logo

YNAB

Software

You Need A Budget

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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); YNAB subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • They diverge on capability: E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools, YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where E*TRADE and YNAB differ
AttributeE*TRADEYNAB
Starting priceOn request$14.99/month
Pricing modeltransactionsubscription
Founded19562004

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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
  • Bank accounts
  • Wire transfers
  • IOS support

Only in YNAB

  • Zero-based budgeting
  • Bank sync
  • Goal tracking
  • Reports
  • Multi-device sync
  • Bank connections
  • Plaid
  • Bank-level encryption

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

E*TRADE

  • Budget Managementnot YNAB
  • Expense Trackingnot YNAB
  • Investment Trackingnot YNAB

YNAB

  • Individual budget tracking with 34-day free trial before subscription commitmentnot E*TRADE
  • Household budget management with wife-on-plan sharing for up to 6 household membersnot E*TRADE
  • Manual transaction entry for banks outside the supported import listnot 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)

YNAB

  • Subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • Multi-currency support restricted to one currency per spending plan
  • Bank import limited to select institutions in US, Canada, UK, and EU only
  • Household plan can only be shared with up to 6 people; additional members cannot access shared plan

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

YNAB

$14.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the YNAB 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 YNAB if

  • You need zero-based budgeting.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want bank sync.
YNAB review

Questions people ask

Is E*TRADE or YNAB better?
Neither clearly leads. E*TRADE starts at On request and YNAB at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, E*TRADE or YNAB?
E*TRADE starts at On request and YNAB at $14.99/month.
Does E*TRADE or YNAB run on more platforms?
E*TRADE runs on Web, IOS, Android. YNAB runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 YNAB is typically brought in for.
What can E*TRADE do that YNAB cannot?
E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools, Options and futures, Research tools, Mobile trading. YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Bank sync, Goal tracking, Reports. Both handle Web support, Android support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on E*TRADE

More on YNAB

Keep looking

Other head to heads