tastytrade
tastytrade.com
An options- and futures-focused US broker with $1 opening option commissions capped at $10 per leg, free closing trades and built-in options backtesting.
What it is
tastytrade is a US broker designed around derivatives. Its desktop, web and mobile platforms put the options chain, probability figures and position analysis front and center, and the same account trades stocks, ETFs, options, futures, options on futures, crypto, forex and prediction markets. It shares a company with tastylive, whose free market shows and courses are built into the platform.
The pricing is the main reason options traders look at it. Stocks and ETFs are commission-free. Stock and ETF options cost $1 per contract to open, capped at $10 per leg, and nothing to close, so large multi-contract trades stay cheap. The cap does not apply to proprietary index options such as SPX or VIX or to options on futures, which also carry per-contract exchange fees. Futures are $1 per contract each way and micros $0.75. Exchange, clearing and regulatory fees are passed through on top.
Options backtesting is included at no extra cost on the web and desktop platforms (not mobile), with more than ten years of data and prebuilt strategies such as iron condors and strangles. There is no inactivity fee. The platforms favor fast, numbers-first options trading over long-form research, so buy-and-hold investors may find fewer fundamental tools than at a full-service broker.
Key features
- Options-first platforms
- Desktop, web and mobile apps built around the options chain, with an analysis tab for probabilities, risk and volatility shifts before placing a trade.
- Options backtesting
- Free with every account on web and desktop: pick a symbol, legs or a prebuilt strategy, DTE rules and profit or stop exits, tested on 10+ years of data.
- Futures and futures options
- Standard and micro futures plus options on futures in the same account, with a depth-of-market ladder for fast order entry.
- Capped option commissions
- $1 per contract to open stock and ETF options, capped at $10 per leg, and $0 to close.
- Open API
- An open API for connecting your own code or third-party tools to the account.
- tastylive content
- Live market shows, webinars and courses on options mechanics available inside and alongside the platform.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | $0 | To open and close, including fractional shares |
| Stock and ETF options | $1 per contract to open | $10 maximum per leg; $0 to close |
| Index options | $1 per contract | To open, $0 to close; no cap, and proprietary index fees apply to SPX, VIX and similar |
| Futures | $1 per contract | Each way; micro futures $0.75; options on futures $1.25 |
| Crypto | 1% per trade | 0.75% for BTC and ETH, to open and to close |
Exchange, clearing and regulatory fees apply on top of commissions (except crypto). There is no platform subscription and no inactivity fee.
Free option: Opening an account and using the desktop, web and mobile platforms is free, stock and ETF trades are commission-free, and options backtesting is included at no extra cost.
Checked September 25, 2026 on tastytrade.com. Prices change; confirm on the provider's site before you subscribe.
Strengths
- The $10 per-leg cap and $0 closing commission keep large options trades inexpensive
- Stocks, options, futures, futures options and crypto in one account
- Options backtesting included free on web and desktop
- No inactivity fee and no platform subscription
Limitations
- The commission cap does not apply to SPX, VIX and other proprietary index options or to options on futures
- Exchange, clearing and regulatory fees are charged on top of the listed commissions
- Backtesting is not available in the mobile or tablet apps
- The platforms focus on derivatives trading rather than fundamental research
Good fit for
- Active options traders who sell premium or trade multi-leg spreads
- Traders who combine equity options with futures and futures options
- Traders who want to backtest options strategies without paying for a separate tool
Look elsewhere if
- Long-term investors who mainly want research reports and fundamental tools
- Heavy SPX traders expecting the capped commission to apply
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tastytrade questions
How much does tastytrade charge for options?
$1 per contract to open stock and ETF options, capped at $10 per leg, and $0 to close. Exchange, clearing and regulatory fees are added.
Does the $10 cap apply to SPX options?
No. Proprietary index options such as SPX and VIX, and options on futures, are charged per contract with no cap, plus index fees.
Does tastytrade charge an inactivity fee?
No. tastytrade's help center states there are no inactivity fees on any account type.
Can I backtest options strategies on tastytrade?
Yes. Backtesting is included free on the web and desktop platforms, with more than ten years of data and prebuilt strategies. It is not in the mobile app.
Written from tastytrade's own website and documentation. All Trading Tools lists and compares tools; it does not recommend trades or give financial advice. Sources: tastytrade.com, tastytrade.com/pricing, tastytrade.com/trading-platforms, tastytrade.com/desktop-platform, tastytrade.com/options-backtesting.