ACY Securities and E*TRADE face off on regulation, costs, and platform depth in a battle over access to global equities. The tension lies in commissions, tools, and exchange coverage.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose ACY Securities if you value ASIC regulation with negative balance protection and multilingual support.
Choose if…
Choose E*TRADE if you want commission-free stocks, extended hours, and a proprietary platform with advanced tools.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 3.6/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $50 | N/A |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ACY Securities | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Pass |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
ETRADE rates 4.3/5 versus 3.6/5 for ACY Securities. ETRADE edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
ACY Securities starts from 0. Current spread data is not available for E*TRADE. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
ACY Securities requires $50. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for E*TRADE.
Both ACY Securities and E*TRADE 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, ACY Securities 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.
ACY Securities lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while E*TRADE lists up to 1:4. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
ACY Securities charges $7 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for E*TRADE are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
ACY Securities supports TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, while ETRADE supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. ACY Securities has exclusive access to TradingView and MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. ETRADE has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
E*TRADE offers commission-free stock trading while ACY Securities does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
E*TRADE wins due to commission-free stocks and ETFs.
E*TRADE wins, backed by SEC and FINRA oversight and SIPC protection.
E*TRADE wins for long-term investors due to dividend reinvestment and established platform stability.
E*TRADE wins for active traders with advanced options analytics and a powerful platform.
E*TRADE wins for beginners with no account minimum and a user-friendly platform.
E*TRADE wins for global market access due to broader exchange coverage.
| 0.7 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardCrypto | Bank transferACHWire transferCheque |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardCrypto | Bank transferACHWire transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free ACH; $25 wire transfer |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | Yes |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | Yes |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FSA Seychelles | SEC FINRA |
|---|
| Platforms | TradingView MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
E*TRADE is the editorial winner, with a higher overall score and stronger tools and regulation profile than ACY Securities.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.6 / 5
Personalised recommendation
Answer 6 quick questions and we’ll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker