Best options platform youtube

The Best Options Broker. Latest Update October 28, 2016. The best options trading platform isn’t going to be an afterthought tacked on to an existing suite of products: it should be robust and easy to use. Beginners need enough support to learn the ropes and experienced traders are after low fees and powerful tools. We signed up, assessed the fees, took the tools for a spin, and narrowed it down to three top picks. The one that's best for you depends on what you’re after. Tons of online and in-person support, plus a practice platform that lets you try everything out with “paperMoney.” The downside? Higher fees. Rock-bottom pricing, but no research or method support. Unrivaled tools & research with pricing that favors active traders. There are a lot of brokers that are perfectly capable of trading options — nearly all of the big (read: old-school) names have an options platform integrated into their suite of offerings.

But for those looking to really dive in, whether as a beginner just starting out or an active trader looking to level up, the best platform won’t be something that’s just tacked on. How We Found the Best Options Broker. To find the brokers that cater specifically to options, we looked at 36 choices and analyzed their products. We prioritized the most important aspects: Cost matters a lot when it comes to trading options. It’s the very nature: part of the appeal of options is that the returns can be major even if you don’t fork over a lot of cash up front, and many traders use options as a cheaper alternative to going long on a high-priced stock. Fees can add up and even wipe out the profits from any profitable trades. Granted, slightly higher fees may be worth it if a broker can provide other perks (say, excellent resources and education for beginners), but we wanted all our picks to have competitive pricing. We also wanted to avoid minimum balance requirements, or a set number of trades per month. Easy-to-use interfaces are a make-or-break for most platforms. The price of options contracts can swing a lot over the course of a trading day poking around a clunky options chain can literally cost you. Education and resources are important, especially for investors who are getting their feet wet. Sure you’ve got a handle on multi-leg options trades, but do you know when it’s the right time for a bull call spread?

What’s an iron butterfly? Not all traders will need hand-holding, but we wanted to find at least one excellent options broker we could recommend to newcomers. Flexibility can be interpreted a few ways. For us, it meant the robustness of the platform (could we research and purchase stocks and ETFs in addition to options?) its flexibility (could we streamline a multi-leg options trade, or did we have to input them all separately?) and whether or not we could customize it to our liking. It was quick work to eliminate the most expensive platforms, as well as the ones that had absolutely no resources or reports. To test ease of use and flexibility, we signed up for accounts and simulated making trades on all the rest. Three brokers rose to the top, and each brings something unique to the table. Our Picks for Best Options Broker. TD Ameritrade Higher fees on an ultra-easy platform.

Plus, tons of support and education. TD Ameritrade is one of the largest online brokerages in the market today, with over 7 million funded customer accounts and over $700 billion in total client assets, and despite its slightly higher prices, it provides the best platform for a beginner trading any product, options or otherwise. For more novice traders, the platform supports the jump from trading stocks with the funds in an IRA to more sophisticated products like options. It’s robust, plus it has the customer service and educational resources to make the transition. There are webinars and hours of on-demand videos that’ll teach you about options strategies and how to literally execute those strategies on the platform. TD Ameritrade is a full-service broker, and that full service (we’re talking 247 customer service and 100 branches for face-to-face consultations) does come with higher fees. Barron’s agrees, awarding it “best platform for novices” five years running. We can anticipate its service only getting better too. In 2016, TD Ameritrade started the process of acquiring Scottrade, another platform known for it’s in-person customer service offerings. In fact, TD Ameritrade is one of the best platforms for all levels of investors, serving up two discrete products: thinkorswim and Trade Architect. Thinksorswim is a desktop platform designed for an all-around trading experience: charts with real-time data, news tickers, 300-plus technical studies, alerts and alarms, heat mapping, options screeners, securities scanner, and more, all accessible in a single click.

It’s definitely for seasoned investors — newcomers will likely be overwhelmed — but it’s worth bringing up because a virtual playspace called paperMoney allows even total novices to cut their teeth without risking even a single penny. We recommend beginners stick to TD Ameritrade’s web-based platform Trade Architect. It is nowhere near as robust as thinkorswim (and has nowhere near as jazzy a name), but it provides everything a new investor would want and it’s ultra-easy to use. It’s not bogged down with all the bells and whistles and live-streaming CNBC. Tabs at the top are simply categorized under jargon-free headings: account overview, watch lists, alarms, idea generators, and heat maps. Unlike thinkorswim, the platform is customizable. If you want more widgets, like say, additional stock tickers or video, they’re there for the adding. If beginner investors use TD Ameritrade’s education library to learn the ropes, practice using paperMoney in thinkorswim, and then easily execute trades with Trade Architect, the slightly higher fee may suddenly seem worth it. OptionsHouse The lowest fees and no minimum balance requirements. OptionsHouse isn’t the most recognizable name in the industry, and that’s probably because this online broker hasn’t pursued an aggressive marketing campaign like some of the other brokers out there (remember E*Trade’s old Super Bowl ads?). The company was founded in 2005 and was established to specifically provide options traders who demanded lower fees from the then burgeoning online brokerage industry. Those low fees are still what makes OptionsHouse so popular. There’s a $0 minimum deposit to join and options trade at $4.95 + $0.50contract (stocks trade at a flat $4.95 fee). This is the lowest price in the industry. Only TradeKing comes close — matching that $4.95 options base fee, but charging $5 more than OptionsHouse for the exercise fee.

The OptionsHouse platform is striking if a bit chaotic — there are buttons, tabs, and menus all over the place. It’s intuitive and there’s a tutorial to walk you through, but to a beginner it might seem more like sitting in front of the controls of an aircraft than is comfortable. Beginners take note: OptionsHouse does have a virtual platform that’s great for practicing. And, the tradeLAB makes dissecting options spreads simple — the green smiley face is good the red frown is no good. What you won’t get for those low fees is method and research: OptionsHouse has about 30 technical studies TD Ameritrade has 300. It’s important to note that E*Trade purchased OptionsHouse for a whopping $725 million in 2016. It is still unclear how any pricing structures or account features and perks will change after the sale is completed, but an OptionsHouse blog post suggests that E*Trade’s tools and services will become available after the platforms merge. Best Tools and Research. optionsXpress A one-stop shop within a major firm, with an options-native platform. OptionsXpress was purchased by Charles Schwab back in 2011 to enhance Schwab’s competitive edge in options trading. The result is a one-stop shop with an options-native platform that’s pretty whiz-bang.

Everything happens through the desktop platform, Xtend, but all the trading tools are also on the optionsXpress web platform. It’s fully customizable, and it’s easy to find real-time quotes and market data, news and reports, and company background information. The Idea Hub scans the market for volatility, earnings, and income-based strategies and offers new trade ideas. With Walk Limit, you can set a few parameters, and it will scan updated market data and re-create an order you may have made at a higher price in the past. Sign up for the Xpresso newsletter and you’ll get a daily email alerting you to the day’s risks and opportunities. Add to that an impressive library of educational resources, as well as access to all of Charles Schwab’s investment research (and free access to its seminars and meetings at local branches), and a virtual trading platform that helps beginner investors practice all types of trading with $25,000 in fake cash. If you need help from a broker — to calm your first-timer nerves or to walk you through a complex method — they’re ready to help and totally free, too. The standard rates are steep, so we don’t recommend optionsXpress to the casual trader. Make more than 35 trades a quarter and you’ll click into “Active Trader” status and your fees will go down. Trade in volumes and there’s another discount trade contracts under a nickel and there’s another discount. This is all to say the price structure favors the active.

And while optionsXpress has a $0 account minimum and does not charge any annual or inactivity fees, if you leave, there is a $60 full outgoing transfer fee. The Best Options Broker at a Glance. Options are contracts that allow an investor the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset on or before a set date. Here’s an example: Say you are a buyer looking for a specific vintage car and you end up finding one you just have to have. When you find it, however, you know you won’t have any cash to buy it for another six months. You then negotiate with the owner to give you an option to buy the car in six months for a specific amount. If the owner agrees, you pay him a percentage up front for that option. The same scenario applies in the stock market – just for financial assets instead of vintage cars. If you were trading stocks, you’d be actually buying the car. Or, rather, not buying it since you didn’t have the money. Because options are simply options and not promises, if something happened to that vintage car — say it was sitting in the driveway and a tree fell on it — you wouldn’t have to buy it. You’d still be out the price you paid for the options contract, but at least you wouldn’t have lost all that money on a now-worthless pile of steel. And, if in those same six months something happens that makes the car go up in value, well, hey, you’ve already locked in your price. If you’re new, you should prize learning tools.

If you’re experienced, you’ll need to choose between low cost or amazing tools. No matter what, options trading shouldn’t be an afterthought tacked onto your platform. Best for Beginners. TD Ameritrade TD Ameritrade fees might be higher, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Consider your entire investment method. Don’t make your final decision solely based on options trading if it’s not the only kind of trading you’ll be doing. These online brokerage firms all offer a variety of investment opportunities. You may want to take into account their extra perks or the price of their mutual funds, for example. Know your expirations. Options are contracts that expire if they’re not acted on and an expired contract is worthless. Make sure you understand your expirations and set reminders using your broker’s platform, or on your calendar if you’re not trading every day. We find the best of everything.

How? We start with the world. We narrow down our list with expert insight and cut anything that doesn't meet our standards. We hand-test the finalists. Then, we name our top picks. The Best Options Trading Simulators in 2016. If you’ve been in the investing game for a little while now you may have overheard at least one person mention the term “options trading” at one point or another. That’s because many savvy investors understand the lucrative potential they possess. There's really no use in learning about options unless you take action. I recommend you First go ahead and sign up for a trading account at OptionsHouse . Then you'll actually get to make some money from all the knowledge you get from reading this article. Before diving into the exciting and complex world of options, you might be wondering what exactly options are.

The short answer is that they’re a type of security, a binding contract that allows the owner to sell an underlying asset at a certain price within a certain amount of time. They have great versatility but come with strict terms and conditions. And while there are many strategies for buying, selling, and trading options, even those with working knowledge of the market is at risk of losing serious amounts of money. Pros and Cons of Options Trading. If you’re knowledge of the market is extensive, that risk becomes less of a threat. However, just know that options trading will not make you rich overnight either. The benefit here versus stock trading is that transactions will typically require less capital. And while they may see smaller returns, they will be greater percentage-wise than returns on stocks. Another factor to consider is that their profit oftentimes is directly correlated to their contract’s premium, and the potential for loss can be large. Leverage also means that returns can be potentially significant and the amount of money required is, on average, smaller than with stock transactions. However, options trading may not be for everyone but they are some of the most flexible choices you can make investment-wise.

Potentially, they can either protect or even enhance your portfolio, depending on whether you’re the kind of investor who treds in rising, falling, or neutral markets. That’s why a serious investors will trade options using a simulator in order to sharpen their skills. By giving users an exact simulation of current market conditions, along with real-time analytics, individuals looking to learn options trading without risking money can do so with any one of these great platforms we’ve listed below. Users will hone their craft through a form of paper trading, where, upon receiving makeshift currency, they participate in virtual options trading and set up their up very own trading account. But while many options brokers create these with their very own options trading software, many can be suboptimal and downright inaccurate in terms of emulating genuine market conditions. With so many choices out there, it can be difficult finding the a well rounded simulator. That’s why I’ve taken the time in order to compile a list of what I believe to be the most useful ones. So without further ado, I present you with the best options trading simulators in 2016. We’ll start off our list with one of the best stock market simulators out there. Investopedia is a great company that can immediately get you started on options trading. The tool allows you to instantly create your own options simulator game, albeit not the most expedited process, customize your contest, and invite whomever you like to participate. Their simulator is a great learning aid and has an intuitive user experience with a good trading feature to boot.

In addition, they offer many guides to familiarize yourself with the process if you’re a beginner. To get your feet wet today, be sure to give Investopedia’s simulator a look. Another well-known institution in the world of trading is OptionsXpress. Their simulator is called Virtual Trade offers great insights that allow you to learn the basics of options trading in an all-encompassing environment. With Virtual Trader, you can put your strategies to the test under real market conditions. They offer many features such as an initial $25,000 of practice money in your paper trading account, real-time quotes and charts, over forty innovative trading tools, advanced ordering tools, and an in-depth Education Center that offers free training and how-to guides for traders of all experience levels. Pro-tip: OptionsXpress requires a large amount of personal information when signing up. Wall Street Survivor. Wall Street Survivor separates itself from the competition by giving you the choice of utilizing your option spreads within your trade method. They also offer a free setup and a mobile app so you can trade on the go. The company puts a lot of emphasis on the educational aspect of options trading, granting its users access to free articles, guides, and real instructors to expand your knowledge. In addition they provide educational tools on a variety of other topics and provide you with quizzes to put your skills to the test. Their trading simulator starts you off at $100,000 in virtual currency, and once you’re ready to take the next step, you can enter competitions through the simulator itself.

One example is that one month, the top three investors who earned the most with the practice money given to them will receive prize payouts in real money. Virtual Stock Exchange. Market Watch’s Virtual Stock Exchange’s trading simulator might not look the most glamorous, but their bareboned interface offers great ways to elevate your skills in options trading. It’s also surprising that with such a modest layout, Virtual Stock Exchange allows its users to connect to their personal Facebook accounts and begin the trading process immediately. The program allows you to trade in real-time with your virtual portfolio, discuss strategies with other users within your game, and provide the option to customize and create either public or private games. One thing to note is that Virtual Stock Exchange does not allow trades under $2.00, so keep that information in mind before entering. Pro-tip: If you are looking for a advanced level day trader simulator check out this one out from MarketWatch. The Options Industry Council (OIC) The OIC is a group whose sole purpose is dedicating itself to bettering the education of individuals, including investors, advisors, and managers. In addition to their core program, they provide many learning tools such as a multi-part overview of how options work, detailing the benefits and risks of trading, and courses on options pricing. Additionally, their comprehensive website offers seminars, on-demand videos, and even events you can attend. Their trading simulator differs in that users do not use virtual currency but rather the OIC uses a Position Simulator that explains what affects the price of options and uses a mathematical formula with specific inputs to calculate the new price. Because of this, the OIC does not provide a traditional simulator but offers a sophisticated online calculator that can price American stock options given the specified data. A great, proactive learning environment and extremely user-friendly.

How The Market Works. Similar to the Options Industry Council, How The Market Works is another educational company that teaches aspiring investors about their namesake. Their sophisticated options trading software has put their simulator on the map, where it’s currently used by over 350,000 individuals worldwide along with 10,000 high school and middle schools every year. And like with all simulators, How The Market Works teaches you how to invest in the market through trading games online, creating a virtual portfolio using real-time market conditions. The company’s simulator differs from others on this list due to its in-depth environment and numerous features. The program allows users to access Forex portfolios, penny stocks, and mutual funds in both the US and Canadian markets. With their simulator, you can have up to three stock and Forex portfolios and start between $100 to $500,000, They also offer contests each month within different formats, such as penny stocks or short sells, and offers prize payouts. OptionsHouse is a broker that offers the unique feature of using their platform before starting a paper trading account with them. They have what it takes to compete with the industry’s finest due to their efficiency, product quality, and fantastic user-experience interface. Their intuitive platform and functionality provide investors of all levels the tools they need to succeed. Their virtual trading feature is a great way for amateur investors to woodshed their skills and compete with the pros. It’s easy to find quotes and their filing system allows the user to create notes after each trade. Back in 2015, OptionsHouse also expanded their chart trading feature which conveniently allows you to adjust trades onto the actual chart.

You can also see and review an order ticket that’s already filled out before submitting your trade. Their charts also contain all of your past buys and sells, something many other brokers don’t offer. What Else To Look For. Now that you’re better informed of the various brokers that offer options trader simulators, there’s just a few more things we need to review before you begin your exciting new paper trading career. In the process of choosing the broker with the best online simulator, be aware that you’re looking for a multi-level platform that give you things beyond just the numbers. By that I mean a platform that gives you reports analyzing and detailing the ‘how’ and ‘why’ a price changed. Another aspect to consider are the overlying factors affecting an option’s price. It’s very important that you find a medium that is not only fast and efficient but also analytical enough to improve your trading method. Furthermore, analytical reports are a great way to track your own progress as you make your way through the learning process. Along with numbers, things such as line and bar graphs and charts, along with growth and loss indicators, are crucial as they should reflect actual reports and explanations explaining why certain options prices rose or fell. While analytics is a key factor in your decision-making process, you must also consider their software and its features.

Probably even more important for beginners, finding software that’s sophisticated, yet user-friendly, is a great combination for when you finally practice options trading yourself. Tutorials are always a good feature to have and help buttons can offer immediate assistance when you can’t figure out something yourself. Additionally, each trading simulator offers different features so always be prepared to consider what truly motivates you when you finally make your choice. If it’s the thrill of the market and your competitive nature that drives you to becoming a better investor, find a broker that offers games and competitions. That way not only are you furthering your own growth in this field but you’re enjoying yourself as well. The gaming aspect of options trading is a great way of gauging how you fair with the rest of the competition while earning real prizes and money along the way. If furthering your own financial knowledge seems more appealing to you, then be sure to direct your attention to the educational materials a broker offers in addition to their simulators. Theory is just as important as practice and if you feel you need to expand your knowledge some more before getting your feet wet then be sure to find a broker that offers extensive articles, guides, and even videos that teach you about the subject matter. For even further assistance, look for a platform that not only gives you tutorials but will interact with you in real-time. Many of these will not only give you the literature to learn more about options trading but they will also offer suggestions for trading based on current market conditions and trends. The flipside to this is that these recommendations tend to be a little bit “by-the-book” so if you are testing out a new method you should take these with a grain of salt.

With all this information under your belt, you are now more fully-equipped to choose a simulator that suits your needs and style of investment. The key is to take small steps in achieving your goals and don’t get frustrated if you’re not seeing positive returns right away. These simulators are a safe place to make mistakes as well, so the decisions you make in these versus real world conditions may vary. Just make decisions as if you were actually spending money. With that said, I wish you luck on your newest venture in options trading. No related posts. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE. Top 10 Explosive Penny Stocks to Invest In 2017 (Hot Picks) Methods For Building And Repairing Credit. 3 Best Small Business Credit Cards for 2017. Popular Categories.

Tom Smallwood. Tom is a former accountant turned entrepreneur. He is not a financial adviser but does tend to give a lot of financial advice to his friends and colleagues. He currently runs a small online venture and blogs about his research and experiences. Best Options Trading Brokers and Platforms. NerdWallet offers financial tools and advice to help people understand their options and make the best possible decisions. The guidance we offer and info we provide are deeply researched, objective and independent. We spent over 300 hours reviewing the top online brokers before selecting the best for our readers. And to help you find the one that’s best for you, we’ve highlighted their pros, cons and current offers. Who is the best options broker today? The answer depends on whom you ask and what they value. For some investors, the best broker for trading options is the one with the cheapest commissions. Others prioritize trading tools, platform design, research, customer service or all of the above.

While most of the brokers on our best-of list below would be a good, all-encompassing choice for many investors, we’ve also highlighted the standout candidates in specific areas that matter most to options traders. Unsure what you’re looking for? See how to choose an options broker for more on what can make or break an options trading experience. Summary: Best online stock brokers for options trading. Best for low-cost. Best options trading platform. Best for research and education. Best overall for options trading. Our top picks cover all the option trader needs — access to high-quality research, analytical tools, a user-friendly platform — at reasonable prices. TD Ameritrade and Interactive Brokers earn high marks for options investors for their advanced trading platforms, deep bench of research and tools, plus their high-caliber options trading capabilities. TD Ameritrade handily serves option traders no matter where they are on the learning curve. The broker’s thinkorswim platform offers a robust options trading experience for active investors seeking professional-grade tools to identify trading opportunities, analyze potential risks and rewards, test trade strategies and quickly place even the most complex options trades.

The broker’s web-based Trade Architect platform is for investors just getting into options or those who don’t require a high-octane platform. Its stripped-down, easy-to-use interface won’t overwhelm newbies. And although Trade Architect isn’t as fully stocked with tools and data as thinkorswim, it’s no slouch, either. Intermediate investors will find advanced features like a marketoptions heat map, screening and tradefinder tools, and streaming news. Get details in our TD Ameritrade review. For cost-conscious, active options traders looking for low costs and a platform with a lot more meat on its bones, Interactive Brokers may be more your style. Interactive Brokers charges just 70 cents per contract with no base fee ($1 minimum order), plus discounts for larger volumes, if you can manage the $10,000 account minimum. Its Trader Workstation platform (with an options method lab) is considered one of the best and most sophisticated around. But watch other fees to ensure that the lower commissions pay off. Both brokers allow prospective clients to test-drive the goods without putting any real money on the line. TD Ameritrade offers a paperMoney virtual trading account to test out the thinkorswim platform. At Interactive Brokers, once customers open a real account (which has a $10,000 minimum funding requirement), they can set up a paper trading account that offers them hands-on practice using IB’s Trader Workstation platform and tools. Best brokers for low-cost options trading. These brokers offer competitively priced options trading commissions and have eliminated or dramatically capped minimum trading fees.

In early 2017 most of the mainstream online brokers slashed commissions to levels once reserved for their deep-discount peers. That doesn’t mean that they’re the best deal in town for every investor. For active options traders, eOption earns five stars from NerdWallet for its low options trade commissions. The company charges a fixed $3 base plus 15 cents per contract. Another plus: eOption is known for having some of the lowest margin rates available. Although eOption charges a $50 annual inactivity fee on accounts that have placed fewer than two trades in the past 12 months or have less than $10,000 in credit or debit balances, the minimum trade workaround isn’t onerous, even for infrequent traders. Charles Schwab’s trade commission of $4.95 base rate plus 65 cents per contract puts it within spitting distance of deep-discount peers. Schwab recently fully took over the old OptionsXpress and incorporated that broker’s options experience into its own platform, with both web-based and mobile functionality. Commissions aren’t the only costs associated with trading options. Platform, data and other fees can quickly cancel out what you save on commissions.

See our full reviews of Charles Schwab and eOption for details on what they offer. For those simply looking for a cheap way to execute options trades, Charles Schwab and eOption get the job done. Best options trading platforms. These brokers offer some of the most powerful trading platforms available for a reasonable price. Judging a broker’s trading platform by the number of features it offers is like buying a car based solely on what you read in the dealer brochure. While all investors have their must-have features, what’s more important is how the platform feels when it’s in their hands. The trading platforms at Ally Invest and TradeStation offer a wide variety of analytical tools, provide stable and speedy trade execution, and allow investors to customize the tools and design to best suit their needs. Unlike TradeStation, Ally Invest (formerly TradeKing) is technically a deep discount broker as reflected in its commissions (options traders pay a $4.95 base plus 65 cents per contract with only one base charge per spread), $0 account minimum and free access to research and data. Frequent traders (those who place 30 or more trades per quarter or who carry a balance of $100,000 or more) pay a discounted $3.95 base and 50 cents per contract. But don’t be fooled by the lower prices: Customers get a lot of platform power for free. Ally is suitable for newer options investors.

The browser-based platform resembles the offerings of its pricier competitors and comes with free options trading tools for screening and advanced charting. Navigation is easy and streamlined. Customers can create a custom dashboard with movable modules with the data and features they want to use. The setup extends to what users see across all devices, including mobile and tablet. TradeStation is best left to more experienced, tech-savvy investors who want to experience options trading using the same tools as pro traders. The broker provides all the tools needed to design, test-drive, monitor, automate and speedily execute the most complex trades via direct-market access (no pesky middleman to slow down the process). Its OptionsStation Pro platform is fully integrated into TradeStation’s regular trading platform. An added bonus is the broker’s active investor forums, where traders discuss ideas, ask questions and get help. Access to all of TradeStation’s bells and whistles used to come at a steep $99.95 monthly platform fee for those who didn’t meet account balance or trading activity minimums. But in March 2017 TradeStation eliminated the service fee, lowered its trade commissions for stocks and options and tossed in free real-time market data and free access to its market-monitoring and portfolio-level back-testing tools. Educational tools and platform tutorials are plentiful, which is a plus: Because of the sophisticated nature of the platform, it may require some time to become familiar with all that it offers. See more in our TradeStation review. Best research and options trading education.

Both offer extensive research and data for free, as well as live classes and webinars for beginning and advanced options traders. If you’re new to options trading or want to expand your trading strategies, a broker that devotes its resources to research and customer education is a must. Because Schwab and Fidelity each have offices across the country in addition to their online options education libraries, they’re able to offer in-person guidance and free seminars on how to trade options, as well as one-on-one guidance on using the tools each platform offers. Fidelity’s constantly refreshed library draws from more than 20 providers, including Recognia, Ned Davis, S&P Capital IQ and McLean Capital Management. The full suite is available to customers when they sign into the broker’s web-based platform. And you don’t have to stop digging when you’re away from your computer: Fidelity has a strong mobile app that lets customers access the company’s full suite of research through a mobile browser. Charles Schwab’s options trading capabilities and lineup of trading data and research got a big boost as the company integrated its purchase of OptionsXpress. In October Schwab re-launched its online platform under the StreetSmart name, with both web-based and mobile functionality, though for now only former OptionsXpress clients have access to the new platform. In the first quarter of 2018, Schwab will begin rolling out the new platform to all clients. While the platform name is changing, Schwab still provides a fully realized suite of offerings for options traders, including trade assessment tools, customizable screeners, access to Schwab analyst options-market commentary, live online webinars and pre-recorded seminars. Best brokers for beginner options investors. These brokers provide ideal conditions (educational resources, user-friendly platforms, customer support and low minimums) for investors just learning the options trading ropes. TD Ameritrade — one of our top overall brokers — ranked highest in this category, too. But since there are many types of beginners with many different preferences, instead of highlighting the category champions we’ve focused on brokers that are excellent candidates in three key areas: Low minimum opening balance requirements.

Ally Invest, TD Ameritrade, Merrill Edge: If you’re not yet ready to devote a lot of your capital to options trading, you don’t want to tie up much in an account to meet the minimum. Many of the brokers on our list require no money to open an account. However, industry regulations require that traders maintain a $2,000 minimum to trade options. Strong customer support. Scottrade and TD Ameritrade: On-call help is particularly handy when starting out. One way to test a broker’s level of service is to contact the company with any questions you have about its option trading offerings before you even open an account. Scottrade is known for its standout customer service and huge physical presence of 500 branches. So is TD Ameritrade, with around-the-clock phone and email support and 100 branches where clients can attend seminars and meet with investment associates. At the end of 2017, TD’s acquisition of Scottrade will be complete, increasing each broker’s ability to serve clients. User-friendly platforms. Ally, Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade: There’s nothing better than test-driving a broker’s platform before you commit. Check to see if the broker you’re considering offers paper trading (virtual trading on a platform that mimics the real deal) or contact customer service to see if they will set you up with a demo account. As for brokers discussed in this review, Ally Invest’s browser-based platform is intuitive and easy to customize. And both Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade have multiple platforms customers can use to start learning the ropes, then graduate to more sophisticated tools and trades if desired.

Best options trading brokers: summary. Updated June 30, 2017. Disclaimer: NerdWallet has entered into referral and advertising arrangements with certain broker-dealers under which we receive compensation (in the form of flat fees per qualifying action) when you click on links to our partner broker-dealers andor submit an application or get approved for a brokerage account. At times, we may receive incentives (such as an increase in the flat fee) depending on how many users click on links to the broker-dealer and complete a qualifying action. OptionsHouse Review 2017. Editor’s Note: E-Trade has acquired OptionsHouse. Current OptionsHouse customer accounts, assets and positions will be moved to E-Trade on August 4-6. (For more details visit E-Trade’s FAQ.) See NerdWallet. com’s E-Trade review. Sophisticated investors — particularly options traders (no surprise) — get a lot of broker for very little money with OptionsHouse. The firm’s low-cost commissions ($4.95 a trade for stocks and options), $0 minimum to open and maintain an account, and professional-grade research, trading tools and platform earn it NerdWallet’s five-star rating.

That said, OptionsHouse is not a one-size-fits-all brokerage solution mutual fund and exchange-traded fund investors can find a much better fit for their needs elsewhere. NerdWallet's rating: 5.0 5. Commissions: $4.95 flat rate Account minimum: $0 Promotion: $1,000 in free trades with deposit of $5,000 or more. OptionsHouse is best for: Options traders Advanced traders Fee-conscious traders No account minimums or inactivity fees Premium platform and tools. OptionsHouse investments at a glance. Where OptionsHouse shines. Account minimum and fees: OptionsHouse scores big points for requiring no minimum balance to open an account. Even better — and this is a standout among brokerages that cater to active traders — the company charges no maintenance fees to customers who fail to make a certain number of trades per month or year. Similarly, customers pay nothing extra for the platform or data. Options trading platform and tools: OptionsHouse started as a broker for experienced, self-directed investors who were active in options, and it still offers professional-grade tools and execution at a low price. The company’s merger with TradeMonster in late 2014 and full integration in 2015 made a big impact, with OptionsHouse taking on that company’s highly regarded web-based trading platform. It’s designed for fast and easy trade execution.

From the trade ticket, users can quickly make changes, walking through trade ideas where everything is customizable. TradeLAB gives investors a profitlossbreak-even snapshot on a single screen as well as the probability of any profit, based on the current stock price and the current implied volatility. Within tradeLAB, investors can play out “what-if” scenarios for every angle they can come up with. The platform also has significant automation capabilities, including trigger alerts that allow users to pre-populate orders. The platform then pushes an alert to the user when an event is triggered. Investors can then submit already-saved orders directly from the web or via the OptionsHouse mobile app. Another standout tool is strategySEEK, which helps investors scan live market data for options strategies based on specific criteria. The tool turns up a list of matches, allowing the user to quickly create an order, using the above features to analyze the trade within the ticket. On-the-go investors will appreciate that OptionsHouse’s trade platform is browser-based. Any customizations the user makes are saved in his or her profile and available no matter what device is used to access the account. Virtual trading platform: Paper trading (virtual trading without putting real money on the line) is a nice perk for new traders and new-to-the-platform investors.

Once customers open a real account (which, remember, has no minimum funding requirement), they can set up a paperTRADE account that mirrors all of the live trading platform’s bells and whistles. Through paperTRADE, investors can get hands-on practice trading virtual currency in a live market environment — a perk that makes OptionsHouse stand out among its peers. Where OptionsHouse falls short. Commission-free ETFs: Having only five commission-free ETFs is disappointing, but not unusual in the realm of discount brokerages. Active ETF investors who want to keep commission costs down should consider OptionsXpress or TD Ameritrade’s ETF lineups. How OptionsHouse stacks up. OptionsHouse offers some of the lowest commissions and fees, making it one of the most affordable choices in its competitive set. Its advanced tools and fast trade executions, along with a full-service platform, make it well-suited for options traders. OptionsHouse vs. similar brokers. Although OptionsHouse is not the right fit for mutual fund and ETF investors, it’s hard to beat when it comes to serving options traders and active stock investors at every experience level. Rock bottom commissions (just $4.95 a trade for stocks plus 50 cents per contract for options), $0 account minimum, lack of hidden fees, speedy trade execution and free pro-level investing tools and trading platform are why OptionsHouse continues to show up on our best-of lists.

Dayana Yochim is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: dyochim@nerdwallet. com. Twitter: @dayanayochim. Best Online Advisors. Recent Broker Reviews. Recent Online Advisor Reviews. Disclaimer: NerdWallet has entered into referral and advertising arrangements with certain broker-dealers under which we receive compensation (in the form of flat fees per qualifying action) when you click on links to our partner broker-dealers andor submit an application or get approved for a brokerage account. At times, we may receive incentives (such as an increase in the flat fee) depending on how many users click on links to the broker-dealer and complete a qualifying action. 8 Best YouTube Alternatives For Business Video Hosting. With 100 hours of video uploaded every minute, YouTube is definitely still the king of online video hosting. If you want to amplify your brand’s reach, then establishing a presence on YouTube remains a smart move. YouTube has its downfalls, however. For example, YouTube displays ads next to video content, which may very well be for a productservice in competition with yours.

Customization is somewhat limited, plus there’s the fact that many companies block staff from browsing YouTube at work. Finally, YouTube has the right to shut down your account at will. If you find yourself up against YouTube’s limitations, the good news is there are many other options for business video hosting. Here are eight YouTube alternatives for video hosting, which all offer a free trial period: 8 YouTube Alternatives for Video Hosting. While Vimeo has less traffic and a lower profile than YouTube, reducing your potential audience, it has built a reputation for high quality content and established itself as the video hosting platform of choice for creative professionals. Note that if you’re looking for business video hosting, you need to pay for a Vimeo Pro account ($199year). Paying for a premium membership entitles you to unlimited bandwidthtime limits, HD video, the ability to customize and brand your own video player, impressive analytics, and more. As a Pro user, you’ll also be able to monetize your own content by enabling viewers to ‘tip’ your video between $1-500 using PayPal or a credit card. Looking for a platform designed specifically for business video hosting? Meet Wistia. When you embed videos on your site, you’ll enjoy full control over the branding, including the option to add social sharing buttons, a clickable call to action, even integration with marketing tools to collect viewers’ emails and set up triggered campaigns. Thanks to Twitter integration, Wistia videos are also watchable from within a tweet.

Interactive text options further boost accessibility and SEO. Wistia’s analytics package includes a heatmap for every view, which shows exactly which parts of the video was watched, skipped, or rewatched, and what other videos the user has previously viewed. Over time, this information is aggregated to analyze how your video library is performing as a whole. Wistia doesn’t display ads beside content , but users can manage their own sponsorship and advertising through the likes of pre-rolls. Another tailored business video hosting option is Sprout Video. Sprout Video helps you integrate your video content into your marketing method by adding a call to action, email collection form, creating curated playlists, and tracking how individual users interact with your content through heatmaps, aggregate, and individual data. How much of the video did he or she watch? Where was the video embedded and where in the world was the viewer at the time? If security is a concern, there’s a slew of privacy settings (you can even have multiple logins for each video and track every login). And if you’re worried about how your video might rank in search results while hosted on a smaller platform, don’t worry – check out the Video SEO option . As a YouTube alternative, Vzaar offers plenty of video hosting control, from uploading and encoding to display and delivery. To name a few, you may upload from web, mobile or desktop, choose your desired quality and dimensions, and control what domains are allowed to play your videos.

The content management system enables you to quickly categorize your videos for playlist or podcast creation. Monetization is allowed through pre, mid and post roll linear advertising. Vzaar also integrates with Google Analytics , so you can track the performance of your content. Watch this video to learn more about Vzaar. Viddler offers a comprehensive business video hosting service, including custom branding, playlists and RSS syndication, and geo-filtering, so you can limit access to your videos by location. Companies may also appreciate the video contest manager . (In other words, users can upload their own video content, and viewers then vote for their favorites.) But perhaps the biggest selling point is that Viddler enables users to monetize their videos . This might be through choosing ads that complement their content, or creating their own online stores to sell access to their premium videos. Plus you can build custom features or apps based on the Viddler platform.

Viddler’s own analytics tracks engagement, views by geography and other websites, and also integrates with Google Analytics, comScore, and Site Catalyst. Viewbix doesn’t actually provide video hosting. Instead, it lets companies insert interactivity into their video content. These could range from engaging with an email campaign to a sales transaction, an experience that can then be shared by the user across the web, mobile and social platforms. According to Viewbix, more than 20% of viewers who watch a video in Viewbix click on the call to action or engage with at least one of the apps inside the player itself. There are two ways to make a Viewbix player for your video: upload it to a third-party site, or use a direct link to an MP4 file. Viewbix supports YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo Pro. Viewbix will then embed videos within its player. Another comprehensive YouTube alternative is Brightcove. With Brightcove, you can easily add custom video players to websites, social media profiles, and mobile, as well as livestream events.

There are 15 different player templates , each with six languages and built-in social sharing. Thanks to YouTube Sync you can also save time by automatically pushing videos to YouTube. Want to monetize your content? Video Cloud provides built-in support for all standard IAB video ad formats, and accommodates pre, mid and post-rolls. Supported ad networks include Tremor Media, Adap. tv and YuMe. Here’s a great tour of Brightcove. As YouTube alternatives go, one of Vidyard’s strengths is its real-time analytics, and the fact that you can channel this data into your Eloqua, Hubspot, or Marketo records . Aside from that, it offers full customization, AB testing for thumbnails, security options, playlists, pop-out calls to action, and a public uploader for running video contests and campaigns. You can embed videos with lightboxing, inline on Twitter, automatically export to YouTube and social networks. And when it comes to gated content, Vidyard captures those email leads and tracks how they engage afterwards. Sign up for GoAnimate Newsletter. Get the latest video making tips, resources, and platform updates.

Top 10 Video Monetization Platforms – It’s Not Only YouTube. This is not another list of video monetization platforms because at AdNgin we have the publishers’ concerns in mind. We know that monetizing videos is one of those concerns. But a constant supply of quality video content is even more difficult. That’s why we included a few video monetization platforms that also provide contextualized content. YouTube is the biggest but definitely not the only video monetization platform out there. The fact is: as a video publisher or aggregator you have some excellent choices. It’s easy for publishers to fall into the trap. We start thinking of video monetization in YouTube terms. The ads preroll at the start of your videos, and then gets out of the way for your content.

But online video growth isn’t slowing down – and it won’t. Video publishers now get the benefit of new monetization platforms and strategies. Online video has started out by mirroring traditional TV models. There are sponsored content, merchandise, content licensing, and even PPV (pay per view) platforms! But technological innovations mean that it’s hard to know what to expect in the future. For instance, what kind of effect will the Internet of Things have on video ads? Will we see personalized video ads that can identify us by DNA? This audience shift and monetization convergence isn’t going to stop so if you want to stay ahead of the monetization curve and make some extra revenue on the way check out these top 10 video monetization platforms you can start using today. So what are the top 10 video monetization platforms for you to choose from? Brightcove Wochit Liverail Kaltura Facebook Youtube DailyMotion AdNgin Video Widget Matomy AdSense for Video. Brightcove is a platform designed with online marketing method at is core.

Publishing with its Video Marketing Suite works great for lead generation. It lets you drive traffic back to your site to get the conversions. It even accounts for SEO factors and social media sharing. It has built in analytics to report the activity your videos generate. Live streaming is also supported. Wochit is a pretty cool platform. It allows publishers to be video creators by using the Wochit video library. You can combine various videos snippets into one storyboard and use your own voiceover to make it your own. It makes the whole process of video creation quick and very affordable. They will also provide publishers with video content contextualized to match their own website’s niche. Liverail got Mark Zuckerberg’s attention to the tune of up to $500 million. Facebook acquired them in 2014. That comes with the huge benefit of direct access to Facebook data. The result is “ people-based targeting ”.

That’s why advertisers love it. Publishers love it because it can manage and optimize mobile and desktop demand sources, including direct advertiser relationships and third-party demand sources, all in one place. Kaltura provides something similar to a YouTube channel on your home turf. However, since it is your home-turf, you have more control over how you want to monetize your content. They offer their “ Out of the Box Video Portal ”. It has some advanced integration options with other CMS platforms like WordPress. It also supports video overlays, calls to action, and email registration forms. This all helps with lead generation. Facebook offers video creators 55% of ad revenue in their pilot program. As of July 2015, they were working with selected partners in the program. Yet, to attract more video publishers to the network, this program will have to expand. When this happens, it gives video publishers a monetization platform with generous revenue sharing.

Not to mention billions of precisely targeted eyeballs to get in front of. Lookout YouTube? YouTube did over $4 Billion in ad revenue in 2014. We’d like to zero in on the competitors… but the list wouldn’t be complete without the platform taking its rightful place here. Facebook is emerging as a major competitor to youTube’s video monetization platform… but don’t predict its demise just yet, YouTube is already a well established monetization platform but when you’re owned by Google you can be sure they’re taking it easy. Let’s just call Dailymotion France’s answer to YouTube. Afterall, it is straight outta Paris, and one of the leading video platforms in the world. Their monetization platform has a similar feature set to Brightcove. But it pairs much better with a glass of red, and you may get attract snooty premium advertisers by speaking with a French accent! #8 AdNgin Video Widget. Ok, so Adngin has a great option for you. As a part of our service, we offer an advanced video widget . AdNgin has partnered with WochIt to provide Google AdSense publishers with video content that matches their website’s site. That includes page by page contextual matching.

How does this work? It’s actually very simple. with the same ease of use and efficiency that you can create multiple AdSense setups you can now add engaging new video content to your website. the videos are produced on daily basis and can be filtered by a topic andor specific keyword, just point and click your way to more engaged users. Matomy’s video network has a two sided approach that is similar to WochIt. They can provide video ads to run with your content or they can provide the video content itself. They work with leading International brands across all verticals. Their team works with you to create a customized plan for your site. The goal is to maximize engagement – and ad revenue. #10 AdSense for Video. They say one of the best ways to attract people to you is to play hard to get.

AdSense for Video is a program that lets you monetize video on your own platform (outside of YouTube). But you still run AdSense ads and share revenue. They have a signup form for you to apply. Beware. They require your videos to have more than 2 million impressions on a monthly basis. If you are achieving that level of views, congratulations! If you’re not there yet, consider it a great goal. Total-Apps. This cool little tool was actually brought to our attention after this post went live. But, far be it from us to exclude a nifty solution from this list.

Total-Apps provides a “donation” overlay with a call-to-action for viewers, and the videos can be uploaded with the overlay to facebook. This could be a great solution for fundraisers who are looking for a new way to raise funds. What is your video monetization method? YouTube controls the most eyeballs for now and is easy to get started. By the time you get to this spot, you’ll know that there are a bunch of different platforms. Each of them has their own unique strengths – and sometimes frustrating exclusivity. Brightcove, Liverail, and Kaltura all give you more powerful publishing capabilities. They work on your own site. But you may find our AdNgin video module to be one of the most dynamic for you. It’s best equipped for discovering the right video and ad content mix. That will get good results for your traffic and impressions level. For now, I guess we’re going to go watch some Meok Bang live streams… while eating a measly peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

It’s not the type of Le Cordon Bleu appetizers they must serve at Dailymotion… but, hey, it still goes great with a cold glass of milk. Before you go, tell us which video monetization platform you’re currently using. Which of our top 10 have you experimented with? The complete guide to UX for AdSense publishers. Why should AdSense publishers care about UX? ​How to improve UX and increase ad revenue How to improve CTR by using less ads​ Sign up below to get access to your FREE Product. I don’t make videos for my site, but if I start, I will check out some of these platforms. I have been wanting to get more into videos. Thank you for the great tips! wow, great information here. I am not big into video but this is very helpful. I dont watch many movies. I need to check this one out though. Thanks for sharing awesome list! I have to check them out..

i dont even know adsense offer video ads. Actually Riki. AdSense for Video is more for premium publishers. But you can have contextualized sponsored videos that stream through YouTube on your website. More info here: support. google. comadsenseanswer179192?hl=en. This is awesome! Ijust started on YouTube but it looks like there are several others I need to check out, too! Great list!

At least half of these are new to me, so I’ll need to check them out. This is a great list! I had no idea some of these even existed, but I’ll definitely look into them now! Interesting and great list ..I thought of only You Tube now I am inform there are many more thanks for sharing. Youtube is what crosses my mind when I think about online videos. I will have too look in to the top three for myself. I just started doing some videos but not for the monetization – just to mix things up a bit on my page. If ever I wanted to go this route, yours would be a great resource. Good luck Claudette. Videos are the future. Great list. Thank you so much for sharing!

I needed a new list. Amber N. Oh my gosh I’ve never heard of any of these haha I’m so behind on the video front! This is awesome for people who are planning to monetize their blogs or websites for extra income. Thanks for the detailed information. The only ones I’m using on your list right now are Youtube and AdSense. I’ll have to look into some of the others too. Yes, there are other video monetization platforms aside from YouTube. Accessing and assessing what each of these platforms offers can help the video marketer generate leads and increase conversions with viewers. From the short review of each of these platforms, it becomes necessary we should never ignore the niche base they singularly provide. Just curious, why is Vimeo not in this list? I left this comment and question in kingged. com as well. What a great list. I have not heard of some of them.

I will be checking them later. Bloggers will get a lot of tips out of this, great job! It’s so important to know all your options for monetizing your blog! Wow. I had no idea there were so many. Lots to check out. What about Periscope? Is that something that will be happening now too? Great list! I’ve heard of some but will have to check out some of the others. Thanks. Cool! The point is are we legally allowed to put the same videos on youtube and other platforms listed – or do i need to edit and change the content – at least marginally? That all depends on whether or not you own the content.

If you won it you can display your content wherever you choose, certain platforms have limitations. Bu publishing on YouTube you are not giving YouTube the rights to your content. just had a look and it does not look like this site you are blogging from has its own video hosting options, has it changed since you wrote this write up? everything I have been seeing is so out of date that sites that are dead or now charge to host videos monthly (one is charging 199 dollars a month to host like 50 videos, crazy) or they dont allow monetizing, or are just plain dead. and I cant seem to find anything even from late 2016, let alone 2017, if anyone has a link to something more relevant I am all ears, and eyes, what am I looking for? something that I can upload content to, and get these options. earning in 3 ways, PPV, ad revenue, or PPS (pay per subscription so full access for a limited time like monthly) engagement right on the site, youtube does this by allowing comments, the only place similar I have found is dailymotion and it has no comment section, nor does it offer the comment section, thanks to anyone taking the time to read my mess of text and even more thanks for anyone that can point me in the right direction, as I want as many options as possible thanks to issues with google and the current events youtube is having occur with advertisers dropping them and them getting crazy with restrictions, I did check out matonamy and will dig deeper as I get my account set up to look into what they actually offer. i’ve just purchased a video hosting program but it came without any type of monitization so i’m looking for a module that I can upload to it for advertisers wanting to pay for advertising banner space on my site. Not all platforms mentioned here gives you money rather they are charging money for using their services, So how they are similar to YouTube? Contus Vplay is also one of the best enterprise video solution provider that helps video publisher to manage, distribute and monetize their video contents across all devices with high end security. It offers various monetization strategies including SVOD, TVOD, AVOD, Pay per view and etc to make your video work and earn profit. AdSense Tips (37) Blogging Best Practices (25) Publisher Tools (45) Website Monetization (47) Start Increasing Your.

Take advantage of AdNgin’s AdSense. optimization tools: combine innovative technology and industry expertise to max revenue.