TT
4.4

2156 reviews

Tastytrade Review

Best for Options Income

The options-focused platform with low contract fees, excellent education, and DRIP support—ideal for dividend investors using covered call strategies.

$0
Stock/ETF Commissions
$1 open / $0 close
Options Pricing
Yes ($5 min)
Fractional Shares
Free
DRIP

Pros

  • Commission-free stock and ETF trading
  • Low options pricing: $1 to open, $0 to close (capped at $10/leg)
  • Fractional shares available for purchases and DRIP
  • Free dividend reinvestment program
  • Exceptional options education and content
  • Powerful platform designed for options analysis
  • Strong mobile app with full trading capabilities
  • No account minimums or annual fees

Cons

  • Very low 0.01% interest on uninvested cash
  • No mutual funds, bonds, or forex trading
  • Higher-than-average margin rates
  • Steep learning curve for beginners
  • Limited external research providers
  • $75 account transfer fee

Options Income Strategy

Tastytrade (formerly tastyworks) was founded by the creators of thinkorswim with a focus on options trading. The platform excels at helping investors generate income through options strategies.

For dividend investors, this means covered calls on your dividend stocks—collecting option premium on top of dividends for enhanced income.

The combination of free stock trading, low options fees, and DRIP support makes tastytrade uniquely suited for dividend + options income strategies.

Options Pricing Advantage

Tastytrade charges $1 to open an options contract and $0 to close. This effectively works out to $0.50 per contract since you only pay once.

Even better: option commissions are capped at $10 per leg. If you're trading large positions, this cap can save significant money compared to per-contract pricing.

Compare this to the standard $0.65 per contract at most brokers—tastytrade's pricing adds up to real savings for active options traders.

Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP)

Tastytrade offers free DRIP with fractional share reinvestment. Dividends can automatically purchase additional whole or fractional shares of the paying security.

The minimum purchase amount is $5 for fractional shares, with a $0.10 clearing fee per fractional transaction. Full shares have no additional fees.

This makes tastytrade one of the few options-focused platforms that also supports proper dividend compounding.

  • Free dividend reinvestment
  • Fractional share reinvestment
  • Direct fractional purchases ($5 min)
  • $0.10 clearing fee on fractional trades
  • Commission-free whole share DRIP

Education & Content

Tastytrade's educational content is exceptional. The company runs a live financial network with hours of daily programming covering options strategies, market analysis, and trading concepts.

Shows like 'tastylive' provide free education that helps investors understand options mechanics, volatility, and income strategies.

This educational focus makes tastytrade valuable even if you're still learning covered calls and other income techniques.

Futures Trading

Tastytrade offers futures and micro-futures trading. Regular futures cost $1.00 per contract on both open and close; micro contracts are $0.75 each way.

For investors interested in diversifying beyond stocks and options, futures access adds another dimension to the platform.

Futures margin requirements are competitive for active traders.

Limitations

Cash earns just 0.01% interest—essentially nothing. If you hold significant cash, move it to a high-yield savings account.

No mutual funds, bonds, or forex trading. OTC stocks and IPOs are also unavailable.

Margin rates are higher than average. The platform is really optimized for options, not margin lending.

Fees & Costs

Transparent breakdown of all fees you might encounter.

Fee TypeCost
Stock & ETF Trades$0
Options Trades$1 open / $0 close (cap: $10/leg)
Futures$1.00/contract/side
Micro-Futures$0.75/contract/side
Fractional Shares$0.10 clearing fee
Account Minimum$0
Account Maintenance Fee$0
Inactivity Fee$0
Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP)Free
Cash Interest Rate0.01% (very low)
Account Transfer Out (ACAT)$75
IRA Termination$60

Who Tastytrade Is Best For

Covered Call Writers

The ideal platform for generating options income on dividend stocks with capped commissions.

Options Learners

Exceptional educational content helps you understand and implement options strategies.

Active Options Traders

Purpose-built platform with low fees, powerful analysis, and efficient execution.

The Bottom Line

Tastytrade is the premier platform for dividend investors who want to enhance income through covered calls and other options strategies. The $1 open/$0 close pricing, $10 cap per leg, and DRIP support create an excellent environment for options income investing. The educational content alone makes it worth exploring. However, if you're not interested in options and just want basic dividend investing, platforms like Fidelity or M1 Finance are simpler choices. For the dividend + options combo, tastytrade excels.

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DividendScope may earn a commission if you open an account through our links. This doesn't affect our editorial independence—we only recommend platforms we've personally tested and believe are excellent for dividend investors.