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Does Trading 212 offer options? Future plans and alternatives!

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Franklin Silva
Co-Founder & Fintech Analyst
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Pedro Braz
Co-Founder, Forbes 30 under 30
Fact checked by: Pedro BrazUpdated on Oct 23, 2024

If you want to invest beyond stocks and ETFs, investing in options might be a suitable choice. However, not all platforms, including Trading 212, allow it.

Trading 212 has gained popularity as a go-to platform for commission-free trading. Despite its appeal, investors have noticed a significant gap in the platform’s offerings: the absence of options trading. Options trading is a crucial tool for investors looking to hedge risks, speculate on market movements, or enhance their portfolios with strategic flexibility.

In this article, we will explore when Trading 212 plans to offer trading options and alternatives already available in the market! Let’s dig in!

Are options available on the Trading 212 platform?

No. Trading 212 doesn’t offer options trading just yet. According to the latest update on Trading 212 Forum, the company intends to offer options during 2024 (there is no fixed date):

Trading 212 options on sight

Still, you do not have to wait. Other brokers have been offering options trading for quite some time and can be considered a better alternative due to their experience dealing with this financial instrument.

Let’s explore them!

Alternatives to Trading 212 for trading options

Award Winner

Interactive Brokers logo
#1 Best broker overall
Options fees from $0.15/contract
Min. deposit of €/£0
Excellent reputation (founded in 1978)
See broker summary
Visit BrokerRead review
Broker summary
Supported countriesWorldwide (exceptions apply)
Fractional sharesYes
RegulatorsFINRA, SIPC, SEC, CFTC, IIROC, FCA, CBI, AFSL, SFC, SEBI, MAS and MNB.
Interest on uninvested cashEUR: 2.645%; USD: 4.33%; GBP: 4.53% (as of October 2024)
Products and MarketsStocks, ETFs, options, futures, Forex, commodities, bonds and funds.
Visit BrokerRead review

Award Winner

Saxo Bank logo
#2 Best for research tools
Options fees from $0.75/contract
Min. deposit of €/£0
Interest on uninvested cash
See broker summary
Visit BrokerRead review
Broker summary
Supported countriesWorldwide (exceptions apply - not available in the USA)
Fractional sharesNo
RegulatorsASIC, FSA, FCA, SFC, MAS, FINMA, DFSA.
Interest on uninvested cashUSD: Up to 3.60%; EUR: Up to 2.15%; GBP: Up to 3.70% (as of October 2024)
Products and MarketsStocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, crypto ETPs, options, futures, Forex, Forex options, crypto FX, CFDs and commodities
Visit BrokerRead review

62% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Award Winner

Does Trading 212 offer options? Future plans and alternatives! 2
#3 Best for low-cost options broker for global access
Options fees from $0.75/contract
Min. deposit of €/£0
Easy-to-use trading platform
See broker summary
Visit BrokerRead review
Broker summary
Supported countriesEurope
Fractional sharesNo
RegulatorsAFM, DNB
Interest on uninvested cash0%
Products and MarketsStocks, ETFs, investment funds, futures, leveraged products, bonds and warrants.
Visit BrokerRead review

Investing involves risk of loss.

Does Trading 212 offer options? Future plans and alternatives! 3
#4 Best discount broker, but US-focused
Options fees of $1 (free to close)
Min. deposit of €/£/$0
Advance trading platform
See broker summary
Visit Broker
Broker summary
Supported countriesWorldwide
Fractional sharesYes
RegulatorsSEC, FINRA, NFA
Interest on uninvested cash0%
Products and MarketsStocks, ETFs, commodities, indices, options, futures and options on futures.
Visit Broker
Does Trading 212 offer options? Future plans and alternatives! 4
#5 Best discount broker, but US-focused
Options fees from $0.60/contract
Min. deposit of €/£/$0
Acess to OptionStation Pro
See broker summary
Visit Broker
Broker summary
Supported countries
Fractional sharesYes
RegulatorsSEC and FINRA
Interest on uninvested cash0%
Products and MarketsStocks, ETFs, options, futures, futures options, crypto, mutual funds and Forex.
Visit Broker

Comparison table (pricing)

Broker US options pricing (per contract)
Interactive Brokers From $0.15 (minimum of $1 per order)
Saxo From $0.75
DEGIRO $0.75 (+€5 monthly commission)
tastytrade $1 (free to close)
TradeStation $5 commission per trade (+$0.60 per contract)

Interactive Brokers at a glance

Interactive Brokers logo
Visit brokerRead review
Options pricingFrom $0.15 (minimum of $1 per order)
Minimum deposit€/$/£0
RegulatorsFINRA, SIPC, SEC, CFTC, IIROC, FCA, CBI, AFSL, SFC, SEBI, MAS, MNB
Visit brokerRead review

Founded in 1978 and publicly listed in NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR), Interactive Brokers is a global online broker that has surpassed significant financial crises, showing resilience and a rigorous risk management process.

Options Trading is offered on 30+ market centers with commissions starting from $0.15 per contract (minimum of $1 per order) for US option contracts. The trading platform presents advanced options trading tools such as Rollover Options Tool, OptionTrader, and Option Analytics. You can view your positions, market data, and option chains and customize your trading strategies using a Strategy Builder. The Interactive Brokers Traders’ Academy might be excellent for deepening your knowledge of options!

They provide zero account opening fees and no minimum activity fees.

Interested? Read our comprehensive IBKR review.

Interactive Brokers Options window

Saxo at a glance

Saxo Bank logo
Visit brokerRead review
Options pricingFrom $0.75 (minimum of $1 per order)
Minimum deposit€/$/£0
RegulatorsFCA, FSA (Denmark), MAS, FINMA, AMF, ASIC, SFC, FSMA, DNB
Visit brokerRead review

62% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Our runner-up, Saxo Bank is a deeply research-oriented broker with a track record, like IBKR, spanning decades. They cater to all levels of experience with a variety of different platforms, but their focus on premium perks and design works best for intermediate to advanced options traders.

We find that SaxoTraderGO will work best for most traders, while those who operate professionally or daily could do even better with SaxoTraderPRO. The former is an award-winning platform that blends the sophistication of desktop-based trading alongside a powerful mobile app for 24/7 coverage.

Their tiered pricing structure feels somewhat convoluted with three possible options, but fortunately, they explain the key details well. The basic “Classic” choice charges USD 2 per US stock option contract, the “Platinum” charges USD 1 and the “VIP” offering charges USD 0.75.

Read our comprehensive Saxo review.

DEGIRO at a glance

Does Trading 212 offer options? Future plans and alternatives! 2
Visit brokerRead review
Options pricing$0.75 (+€5 monthly commission)
Minimum deposit€/£0
RegulatorsAFM & DNB
Visit brokerRead review

Investing involves risk of loss.

DEGIRO is Europe’s leading broker for low-cost options trading through an advanced desktop platform, or streamlined mobile app, providing access to European and American options.

The platform operates an extensive blog catering to beginners and intermediate traders, or anyone who wishes to brush up on the basics before diving into options trading. You can immediately feel that DEGIRO, while championing the “do-it-yourself” ethos, also has “safety first” in mind. This is not a discount brokerage that sees you as a number and wants you to succeed.

From a cost perspective, it’s extremely competitive at EUR 0.75 plus a flat EUR 5 for “connecting” to relevant options exchanges. The broker does cover the necessities for active trading, such as charting, news alerts, and analyst views, but the research may not be deep enough for value- or fundamentals-based investors. A solid third place entry.

Read our comprehensive DEGIRO review.

DEGIRO options

Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.

tastytrade at a glance

Does Trading 212 offer options? Future plans and alternatives! 3
Visit broker
Options pricing$1 (free to close)
Minimum deposit€/£0
RegulatorsSEC, FINRA, ASIC
Visit broker

Tastytrade, formerly known as Tastyworks, is an online brokerage firm based in the US focused on options trading, but it also provides access to stocks, ETFs and cryptos. The robust trading platform was developed by the same people who built the thinkorswim trading platform (operated by TD Ameritrade).

Tastytrade offers options on stocks and ETFs, futures, and micro futures for a commission of $1 ($10 cap), $2.50 and $1.50 per contract, respectively. No commission is charged to close any options position.

Tastytrade Options Dashboard

TradeStation at a glance

Does Trading 212 offer options? Future plans and alternatives! 4
Visit broker
Options pricing$5 commission per trade (+$0.60 per contract)
Minimum deposit€/£0
RegulatorsSEC, FINRA
Visit broker

Founded in 1982, TradeStation is a US broker committed to offering you the best trading experience within their rewarded platforms and brokerage services. You can trade stocks, ETFs, options, futures and crypto with competitive pricing models.

The price per contract starts at $0.60 with access to real-time data for stock options. The platform has been developed with powerful and intuitive tools that match the needs of both beginner and advanced investors. The in-house software, OptionStation Pro, lets you quickly build options chains, analyze any options strategy scenario, and then promptly place trades directly into the market.

To complement, it offers a variety of multimedia educational and training resources designed to help you continually improve your trading skills.

Tradestation option Dashboard

Bottom line

Trading 212 is a popular platform for investors seeking commission-free trading and a user-friendly experience. However, its current lack of options trading might be a significant drawback for those who wish to engage in more sophisticated trading strategies.

While there is no exact date for when options trading will become available on Trading 212, investors should explore other platforms that already offer this financial instrument.

The investment firms shown above are well-suited alternatives for options. All of them, provide comprehensive options trading along with a variety of tools and resources to support traders. Please consider the fees, educational resources, and customer support when choosing the right platform for trading options.

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About the author
Author Avatar
Franklin Silva
Co-Founder & Fintech Analyst

Franklin has three years of experience in Wealth Management as a Fund Research Analyst, has passed the CFA level II, and is the host of the "Edge Over Hedge" YouTube channel.

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