Platform Comparison

Axos Invest vs E*TRADE

Compare Axos Invest and E*TRADE on fees, DRIP, fractional shares and research for dividend investing.

AX

Axos Invest

3.9

A budget-friendly robo-advisor with automatic rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting at just 0.24% annually—great value but limited customization.

Higher Rated
ET

E*TRADE

4.6

Morgan Stanley's full-service brokerage pairs $0 commissions and free dividend reinvestment with institutional-grade research—and in 2026 it finally added direct fractional shares and crypto trading.

Axos Invest vs E*TRADE: Fees, Minimums & DRIP Compared

FeatureAxos InvestE*TRADE
Our Rating3.9/54.6/5
Trading CommissionsN/A$0
Account Minimum$1$0
Fractional SharesN/AYes (phased rollout)
DRIPYesFree
Research ToolsAutomatedExcellent
Best ForCost-Conscious BeginnersResearch-Driven Dividend Investors

Axos Invest vs E*TRADE: Pros and Cons

Axos Invest

Pros

  • + Very low 0.24% annual advisory fee
  • + No account minimum for managed portfolios ($1 to start)
  • + Automatic dividend reinvestment (DRIP) included
  • + Tax-loss harvesting at no extra cost
  • + Automatic portfolio rebalancing

Cons

  • - Limited portfolio customization—can't exclude specific ETFs
  • - Only 5 pre-built portfolios to choose from
  • - No direct indexing or advanced tax strategies
  • - Customer support limited to business hours

E*TRADE

Pros

  • + Commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs
  • + Free dividend reinvestment (DRIP) with fractional shares, enrollable per security
  • + Industry-leading research from Morgan Stanley, Morningstar, and MarketEdge
  • + Direct fractional-share purchases now rolling out (started Q2 2026)
  • + Crypto trading live at a 0.50% fee—cheaper than Coinbase, Schwab, and Fidelity

Cons

  • - Fractional-share purchases are still in a phased rollout—not every stock is eligible yet
  • - No dollar-based orders yet; fractional buys are share-quantity only
  • - Low interest rate on uninvested cash
  • - Website navigation can be confusing

Which Is Better for Dividend Investors: Axos Invest or E*TRADE?

Choose Axos Invest if you...

  • Are in Axos Invest's core audience: cost-conscious beginners
  • Need automatic dividend reinvestment

Choose E*TRADE if you...

  • Are in E*TRADE's core audience: research-driven dividend investors
  • Prefer a higher-rated overall platform

Want the full breakdown of fees, DRIP, and research tools? Read our Axos Invest review and E*TRADE review.

Investment Disclaimer

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.