Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
TradeZero vs Zacks Trade
TradeZero vs Zacks Trade: the differences
| Compare |  TradeZero |  Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Inactivity fee | $0Lower | $15 |
| Markets | Stocks, Options | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | AFM | FINRA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Margin rate | 9% | 8.83%Lower |
| Options contract fee | $0.59Lower | $1 |
| Platforms | ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile, TZ1, TradingView | Zacks Trade Pro, Client Portal, Zacks Trade app |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $250 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $15 wire transfer out | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- TradeZero scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only TradeZero offers AFM.
- Regulators: only Zacks Trade offers FINRA.
- Founded is lower at Zacks Trade: 2013 vs 2015.
- Stock trade fee is lower at TradeZero: $0 vs $1.
- Inactivity fee is lower at TradeZero: $0 vs $15.
- Margin rate is lower at Zacks Trade: 8.83% vs 9%.
- Options contract fee is lower at TradeZero: $0.59 vs $1.
- Markets: only Zacks Trade offers ETFs, Bonds, Funds.
- Platforms: only TradeZero offers ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile.
Our verdict on each
TradeZero
TradeZero suits traders who want stocks and options on a single account without a per-trade commission, and the demo account gives beginners a place to practise. Options cost $0.59 a contract, and the account works through desktop, mobile and charting tools.
Zacks Trade
Zacks Trade is a US broker built for experienced traders and day traders who want options and margin, charging a stock trade fee of $1 and a minimum deposit of $250 on its IRA account. The catch is the $15 inactivity fee for anyone whose account sits idle.
Score breakdown
| Area | TradeZero | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherStock trades cost $0, ranking first of 161 brands on that fee, and the inactivity fee ranks first of 56. | 8.5Cheap trades at $1 a stock and $1 an option, offset by a $250 minimum deposit and a $15 inactivity fee. |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.7Higher |
Which one suits you
Pick TradeZero if cost, stock trade fee, inactivity fee, and options contract fee matter most.
Pick Zacks Trade if markets and margin rate matter most.
What each covers
| Markets | TradeZero | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | TradeZero | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 169 of 471 | 201 of 471 |
| Options trading platforms | 58 of 103 | 66 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 18 of 22 | 20 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | TradeZero | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Mobile app, Options |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Low fees |
| Audience | Experienced, Beginners, Day tradersCovers more | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | TradeZero Europe B.V. | LBMZ Securities Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 2015 | 2013Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | TradeZero | Zacks Trade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $250highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $15above the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 9%above the median | 8.83%above the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.59below the median | $1highest quarter | $0.625 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
TradeZero
Pros
- Regulated in the Netherlands by AFM, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Margin positions run at a rate of 9%.
- A demo account and a mobile app are included, so the platform can be learned before funding.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only.
- A wire transfer out of the account costs $15 wire transfer out.
- The market range is stocks and options, so forex, crypto and metals are not covered.
Zacks Trade
Pros
- Simple per-trade pricing: $1 a stock, $1 an options contract, margin at 8.83%.
- FINRA registration under licence 7874, and client holdings sit with SIPC protection.
- Support covers email, chat and phone, so phone and chat are both available.
Cons
- The $15 inactivity fee sits above the €10 upper quartile among the brokers compared.
- A $250 minimum deposit is well above the €4.64 median on the site.
- Account types cover ira only, which rules out a taxable brokerage account for wider investing.
Who each suits
TradeZero
Who it suits
- Traders buying stocks and options who do not want a per-trade commission.
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before putting money in.
- Day traders who work across several platforms rather than a single terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after forex, crypto or futures, where eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Traders who want metals and CFDs beside stocks, which Vantage covers with forex, cfds and stocks.
Zacks Trade
Who it suits
- Experienced traders and day traders who already know the markets they trade.
- US investors who want an IRA and plan to trade options or use margin.
- Investors who will keep trading, since the inactivity fee applies once an account goes quiet.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, which takes a minimum deposit of $0 rather than $250.
- eToro, where a stock trade costs $0 against $1 here.
- Vantage, with a minimum deposit of $5, which suits a smaller starting balance.
Current offers
TradeZero
Current offer
Bonus
Welcome Offer WELCOME250: 250
with a $250+ deposit during sign-up
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | TradeZero | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
TradeZero
What does TradeZero charge to trade stocks and options?+
Stock trades cost $0 per trade, and options cost $0.59 a contract. The pricing model is described as commission-free and low-fee, so the per-order cost is the main thing to compare. The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
The account is provided by TradeZero Europe B.V., which is licensed by AFM in the Netherlands. Investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so money above that figure sits outside the scheme. Keeping larger balances elsewhere limits what is at stake.
Zacks Trade
What does it cost to trade stocks and options?+
Stocks cost $1 per trade and options contracts $1, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $250. Margin runs at 8.83%. Every figure here applies to the IRA account, which is the account type on offer.
Is my money protected and who regulates the broker?+
Zacks Trade is registered with FINRA under licence 7874, and the legal entity behind the brand is LBMZ Securities Inc. Client holdings sit with SIPC protection, which is the scheme covering money in the account rather than the firm's own balance sheet.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- TradeZero vs Charles Schwab
- TradeZero vs TradeUP
- TradeZero vs TradeStation
- TradeZero vs Lightspeed Financial
- TradeZero vs Tradier
- TradeZero vs Webull
- TradeZero vs Fidelity
- TradeZero vs Saxo
- TradeZero vs Freetrade
- TradeZero vs IG
- TradeZero vs Firstrade
- TradeZero vs quantfury
- TradeZero vs Freedom24
- TradeZero vs ActivTrades
- TradeZero vs XTB
- Zacks Trade vs Mintos
- TradeZero vs Bitpanda
- TradeZero vs Robinhood
- TradeZero vs Kraken
- TradeZero vs EBC Financial Group
- TradeZero vs Traders Place
- TradeZero vs CapTrader
- TradeZero vs Lightyear