Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FBS vs tastytrade
FBS vs tastytrade: the differences
| Compare |  FBS |  tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Options, Futures, Crypto |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | SIPC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Mobile, Desktop, Web |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Joint |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- FBS scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only FBS offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only tastytrade offers SIPC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at tastytrade: $0 vs $5.
- Markets: only FBS offers CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only tastytrade offers Options, Futures, Crypto.
- Platforms: only FBS offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only tastytrade offers Mobile, Desktop, Web.
- Features: only FBS offers Demo account.
- Features: only tastytrade offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
FBS
Fbs Partners suits readers who want a plain, low cost picture from a firm regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: the account fee is $0 and the stock trade fee is $0. The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% and the retail loss rate of 66.43% are the figures to weigh before funding.
tastytrade
tastytrade suits traders who want options, futures and crypto in the same account as shares and ETFs, and it suits anyone starting small. The minimum deposit is $0, share dealing costs $0 a trade, and options cost $1 a contract, so the bill grows only if you trade derivatives.
Score breakdown
| Area | FBS | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.1The commission free model keeps equity dealing cheap, but the options contract fee of $1 is the line heavy option traders watch. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 8.8Higher | 8.6 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | FBS | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 69649 |
What each covers
| Markets | FBS | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | FBS | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 110 of 471 | 150 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 47 of 147 | 65 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 45 of 145 | 63 of 145 |
What we checked
FBS
- investing.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fbs.eu: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
tastytrade
- tastytrade.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FBS | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Tradestone Limited | TASTYTRADE INC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2009 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FBS | tastytrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43%below the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FBS
Pros
- An account regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses Tradestone Limited under 331/17, so the contract has a named entity behind it.
- The stock trade fee is $0 on a commission free model, so dealing in the shares and ETFs inside stocks, etfs and forex carries no ticket charge.
- The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained by account charges.
Cons
- The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% is the charge that lands on every forex and CFD trade, so currency traders feel it more than the flat fees suggest.
- The minimum deposit of $5 sits above CFI's $0, so readers who want the smallest opening balance have a lower floor elsewhere.
- The market list stocks, etfs and forex leaves out crypto and futures, which eToro covers in stocks, etfs and forex.
tastytrade
Pros
- Share dealing costs $0 a trade, and the account opens from $0.
- All of stocks, etfs and forex sit under the same account.
- Protection is recorded as SIPC up to USD 500,000, with membership logged as SIPC member 69649.
Cons
- Options cost $1 a contract, so regular contract buyers pay more than occasional ones.
- The recorded account types under ira and joint are an IRA and a joint account.
- In the stock comparison, 72.03% of retail accounts lose money.
Who each suits
FBS
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a new trading account: the minimum deposit is $5 and the account fee is $0.
- Readers who hold shares and ETFs alongside forex: stocks, etfs and forex covers that mix on the same account.
- European readers who want a Cyprus regulated firm: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses the entity behind the brand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the smallest possible opening balance: CFI takes $0.
- Readers who need crypto or futures in the same account: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, and those lines sit outside stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want crypto added to a forex, CFD, stock, ETF and metals mix: Vantage covers forex, cfds and stocks.
tastytrade
Who it suits
- Traders who want options and futures in the same account as shares and ETFs.
- Anyone starting small, since the minimum deposit is $0.
- People saving into an IRA who also want crypto and forex nearby.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro if you want CFDs listed alongside the core markets: stocks, etfs and forex.
- CFI if you want the shorter list in stocks, etfs and forex, which ends at crypto.
- Vantage if you would rather start above the floor, since its minimum deposit is $5.
Country by country
| Country | FBS | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
FBS
What does it cost to run an account at Fbs Partners?+
The account fee is $0, the stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so nothing is charged for holding the account, dealing in shares or leaving a balance idle. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either. What remains on a forex or CFD trade is the spread, quoted at 0.5% on EUR/USD.
How much does the EUR/USD spread cost in practice?+
The EUR/USD spread is 0.5%. On a currency pair that spread is the dealer's charge for opening and closing, so it lands on every position rather than on a ticket line. The stock trade fee of $0 and the account fee of $0 sit alongside it, which makes the spread the number to size positions around.
tastytrade
Is there a minimum deposit to open a tastytrade account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened and funded with whatever you want to start on. Share dealing then costs $0 a trade, which keeps the running cost close to the opening balance.
What does an options contract cost?+
Options are charged per contract at $1. If you buy options often, that fee becomes the main line you track, while share dealing stays at $0. Traders who touch options now and then will feel it far less than regular contract buyers.
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