Two regulated brokers compete on safety, cost, and platform choice. The tension lies in regulation breadth, pricing structures, and toolsets.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose OANDA if you want MT4/MT5 access. You also benefit from strong regulatory oversight and client funds protection.
Choose if…
Choose tastytrade if you want an options-first platform with capped commissions and $0 to open options trades. You trade within the US only.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.5 / 5 |
Pros
Available to US residents (NFA-registered)
Best-in-class research and economic data
No minimum deposit
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | OANDA | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: OANDA rates 4.6/5 and tastytrade rates 4.3/5. OANDA has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
OANDA starts from 1 pips. Current spread data is not available for tastytrade. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date pricing.
Neither OANDA nor tastytrade requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both OANDA and tastytrade hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, OANDA provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
OANDA lists maximum leverage of 50:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
tastytrade charges $1 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for OANDA are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
OANDA supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while tastytrade supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. OANDA has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4.
OANDA offers spreads from 1.00 pips.
OANDA is favored for safety and regulation due to NFA/FCA/ASIC/CBI/CMF oversight and segregated funds.
tastytrade wins for active traders with low options commissions and dedicated options-first platform.
OANDA offers MT4/MT5 plus proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView, expanding platform options.
OANDA's $0 min deposit and strong support help new traders start with confidence.
tastytrade provides about 10,000 instruments versus OANDA's roughly 70.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5 | 4.7 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1996 | 2017 |
|---|
| Headquarters | New York, United States | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 1 pips | N/A |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $1/lot |
|---|
| N/A | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 50:1 | N/A |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 12 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferDebit card | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free for ACH | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FCA CMF CBI NFA | CFTC NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Options commissions capped at $10/leg, major cost advantage for traders who size up
$0 to open options trades; $1/contract to close
Platform built natively for options: IVR, Greeks, curve tool, and multi-leg management all first-class
Futures and futures options on the same account as equity derivatives
No PFOF on options, exchange-routed for best execution
Part of IG Group (LSE-listed), institutional governance and financial stability
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Cons
Spreads slightly wider than ECN-style brokers
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
Cons
US-only, no international accounts
Options-first interface has a steep learning curve for equity-focused traders
No live chat support, phone and email only
Minimal fundamental research tools; no stock screener or analyst reports
Mobile app less appropriate for entering complex multi-leg strategies than the desktop platform
No negative balance protection
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Support available in limited languages
OANDA edges tastytrade overall with a higher editorial score, driven by stronger trust/regulation, broader platform coverage (MT4/MT5) and investor protections.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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