Cobra Trading vs TradeStation

Cobra Trading vs TradeStation Comparison Table 2024
Cobra Trading TradeStation
3.3
3.5

Established in 2003, Cobra Trading is a US-based brokerage specializing in equities and options contracts. The firm offers 3 powerful platforms and is aimed at professional clients or those looking for retirement accounts. Cobra Trading is regulated by the NFA and SIPC and is a member of FINRA.

TradeStation is a popular, SEC-regulated broker offering stock, CFD and futures trading through powerful proprietary trading platforms. Available assets vary by region, with CFD trading available on the global branch. The US-based broker has different pricing methods split to cater for active day traders, or longer term stock holders.

Comment by Reviewer
"After exploring this popular US brokerage, I think experienced stock traders who can deposit at least $30,000 to open an account with appreciate the broker’s low trading fees of $0.0015 per share." "TradeStation is a secure, tried-and-tested broker for stock traders who want a powerful, flexible platform. The $500 minimum deposit makes this broker a better fit for experienced traders."
Pros
  • I’m happy with the broker’s regulatory status in the US, with oversight from reputable bodies including the SIPC, NFA and FINRA. This, coupled, with the broker’s strong reputation since 2003 is a great sign of a trustworthy firm
  • I think the choice of 3 platforms means all strategies and trading styles are catered to. All platforms offer comprehensive charting packages, with sophisticated analysis tools and advanced order types
  • I found some reasonably low fees at Cobra Trading, including shares from $0.0015, options from $0.30 and margin rates as low as 8%
  • Cobra Trading offers a good range of account types, including traditional and Roth IRA’s, plus joint, corporate and trust accounts
  • I like that Cobra Trading doesn’t enforce any minimums on trades and there are also no locate fees
  • Reputable brand with oversight from top US regulators
  • Powerful trading platform with desktop, webtrader and mobile app
  • Support for third-party platform add-ons
  • Fast and responsive customer service
  • Quick, straightforward account setup
  • Competitive commissions on US stocks
Cons
  • Despite the low trading fees, this broker does charge several other platform and admin fees which will soon add up, including monthly software fees from $100 and market data packages from $18 per month
  • Unfortunately, Cobra Trading isn’t going to be suitable for novices, as the minimum deposit to open an account is $30,000. I think it’s a shame that there are no beginner-friendly accounts at this broker
  • I did find that pattern day trading (PDT) restrictions will apply, though this is expected from a US brokerage
  • Limited ETF options with no commission-free ETFs
  • Expensive subscription fees for many add-ons
  • Pricing disadvantages less active traders
  • Limited free data and in-depth research
Instruments
Stocks, options CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Futures, Commodities
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$500
Trading Platforms
  • Own
  • MT4
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
$1 Min lot size will vary
Regulator
FINRA SEC
Margin Trading
No No
Margin Rate
8%
STP Account
No No
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
No No
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No No
Mobile Apps
Yes iOS, Android and Windows
Auto Trading
Yes
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
Trade Signals
Yes
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Islamic Account
No No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • CHF
Commodities
CFD Trading
CFD trading not offered Trade CFDs on popular asset classes, including forex and stocks. FX CFD commissions are competitive at 0.6 basis points while for shares it's a minimum of $3 per order.
Leverage
1:20
FTSE Spread
N/A
GBPUSD Spread
N/A
Oil Spread
0.06 pips
Stocks Spread
0.2% Var
Forex Trading
Forex trading not offered Speculate on 26 currencies including majors. Top-tier liquidity is available from 17 of the biggest forex dealing banks, alongside dynamic order management and low commissions.
GBPUSD Spread
Variable
EURUSD Spread
Variable
EURGBP Spread
Variable
Assets
26
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