The latter can be used on either Windows or Mac, while the former is only available through Windows. StreetSmart Edge is available both as a desktop platform and a cloud-based trading system. TradeStation’s platform can trade these products plus futures contracts. StreetSmart Edge can be used to trade options, stocks, ETFs, and closed-end funds. Up to $5,000 cash bonus when you transfer funds into TradeStation.Ĭharles Schwab: Get commission-free online stock trades. We like TradeStation better in this category. Trades involving large blocks of securities requiring special handling may incur surcharges. The brokerage firm has no account minimum, and most trades are commission-free. Schwab has slightly more generous policies for its desktop program StreetSmart Edge. Furthermore, the $0 commission policy applies only to the first 10,000 shares in a trade. TradeStation requires a $2,000 account balance to place trades with zero commissions on its desktop platform, which carries the same name as the brokerage firm.