📈 Updated June 16, 2026 · 10 Platforms Tested · SPCX Options Live Today
Best Options Trading Apps 2026
We deposited real money into every major options trading platform and placed real options trades. Here are the ones actually worth using for SPCX, Tesla, NVDA, and index options.
🚀
SPCX Options Are LIVE! SpaceX (SPCX) options started trading today June 16 at $135/share. This is the most anticipated options launch in history —
see our full SPCX options guide. Sign up at a broker below to trade SPCX options now.
Why Options Trading in 2026?
Options let you control 100 shares of stock for a fraction of the price. With SPCX at $135, buying shares costs $13,500 — but a call option might cost just $800. Options also let you profit from stocks going down (puts), generate income from stocks you own (covered calls), and hedge your portfolio against crashes. The platforms below are ranked on options-specific features: chain quality, strategy tools, fees, and execution speed.
🎁 Get a free stock worth $5–$225 when you sign up + SPCX options available now
$0 commissions on options (no per-contract fee*)
Visual options chain with P/L diagram
Instant deposits up to $50,000
SPCX options live June 16
Robinhood Gold: 5.0% APY on cash
Options strategy builder (spreads, straddles)
Robinhood is the simplest options trading platform with effectively $0 fees (they charge $0.03/contract for regulatory fees, waived on some trades). The visual options chain shows you max profit, max loss, and breakeven before you place a trade — perfect for beginners. SPCX options are available for trading now. Robinhood Gold ($5/month) adds 5% APY on uninvested cash, bigger instant deposits, and Morningstar research. The strategy builder supports calls, puts, covered calls, cash-secured puts, and multi-leg spreads.
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🎁 Earn $500 when you deposit $50,000+ into a new Schwab account
Best options analysis tools in the industry
$0.65/contract options fee
thinkBack: backtest options strategies
Custom spread builder with P/L chart
Paper trading simulator with $100K
Live onDemand market replay
Thinkorswim is the gold standard for options traders — period. The platform offers probability analysis, custom spread builders, and the thinkBack tool that lets you backtest any options strategy against historical data. You can see exactly how an iron condor on NVDA would have performed over the last 6 months before risking real money. The OnDemand feature replays market data so you can practice trading in real-time. At $0.65/contract, it's not the cheapest, but the tools are unmatched. SPCX options are fully supported with all strategy types.
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🎁 Open an account and get $2,000 in cash bonuses when you trade 50+ contracts/month
Built by options traders, for options traders
$1.00/contract (max $10/leg)
Strategy selector with expected profit
Closing orders at $0.10 or less are FREE
Tastytrade network: live shows daily
Defined-risk strategies built-in
Tastytrade was built by the same team that created Thinkorswim and sold it to TD Ameritrade. It's designed specifically for options selling strategies — iron condors, credit spreads, cash-secured puts, and strangles. The platform shows you the expected profit and probability of profit before every trade. The killer feature: closing orders at $0.10 or less are completely free, so you can close profitable positions for nothing. At $1.00/contract with a $10 max per leg, you pay less than Thinkorswim on multi-leg trades over 15 contracts.
Open Tastytrade Account →
🎁 Get up to $1,000 in IBKR stock when you open and fund an account
As low as $0.15/contract for active traders
Options on 30+ global exchanges
SmartRouting for best execution
Portfolio margin (lower requirements)
Options analytics: volatility lab, probability
API access for algo trading
Interactive Brokers is the professional's choice with the lowest per-contract fees in the industry. The Trader Workstation (TWS) platform offers institutional-grade tools: volatility surface analysis, options strategy optimizer, and real-time Greeks. Portfolio margin accounts give you 6:1 leverage on options (vs 2:1 at other brokers), meaning you can make more trades with less capital. IBKR also lets you trade options on European, Asian, and other global exchanges — not just US markets. Best for traders doing 100+ contracts per month.
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🎁 Earn up to $3,500 when you open and fund a new E*TRADE account
Power E*TRADE: visual options chain
$0.65/contract ($0.50 for 30+/quarter)
Pre-built options strategies with P/L chart
Morgan Stanley research included
Options screener with filters
Strategy optimizer tool
E*TRADE's Power E*TRADE platform offers one of the best visual options chains available. You can see implied volatility, open interest, and volume at a glance. The strategy optimizer lets you test different strikes and expirations to find the best risk/reward ratio. Now backed by Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE includes institutional research and analysis. The options education center is excellent for learning — from basic calls/puts to advanced iron condors. Volume discounts kick in at 30+ trades per quarter ($0.50/contract).
Open E*TRADE Account →
🎁 Get up to 12 free fractional stocks (valued up to $3,000) when you deposit $500+
$0 commissions on options
Advanced options chain with Greeks
Paper trading simulator
Extended hours trading (4am-8pm)
Options strategy builder
Real-time Level 2 data free
Webull offers genuinely $0 options trading with no hidden fees. The options chain shows all Greeks (delta, gamma, theta, vega, rho) and implied volatility in real-time. The strategy builder supports vertical spreads, iron condors, straddles, and strangles with visual P/L diagrams. Extended hours trading from 4am-8pm ET lets you react to earnings before the market opens. The paper trading simulator lets you practice options strategies with virtual money before going live.
Get Free Stocks + Trade Options →
🎁 Get up to 15 free stocks + $100 cash coupon when you deposit $1,000+
$0 US stock commissions + competitive options
Free Nasdaq TotalView Level 2 data
Options chain with IV and Greeks
US, HK, SG market options
AI-powered options screener
Best sign-up bonus in the industry
Moomoo offers the most generous sign-up bonus (15 free stocks + $100 cash) and free Nasdaq TotalView Level 2 data that normally costs $25/month elsewhere. For options traders, the platform provides a clean options chain with all Greeks, implied volatility, and open interest. Moomoo also supports trading options across US, Hong Kong, and Singapore markets — useful for trading options on Chinese tech stocks or Asian market indices. The AI-powered screener helps identify options with unusual volume or IV spikes.
Get 15 Free Stocks →
Options Trading Platform Comparison
| Platform |
Options Fee |
SPCX |
Strategy Builder |
Paper Trading |
Best For |
| Robinhood BEST VALUE |
$0* |
✅ Live |
✅ Basic |
❌ |
Beginners |
| Thinkorswim BEST TOOLS |
$0.65 |
✅ Live |
✅ Advanced |
✅ $100K |
Active traders |
| Tastytrade |
$1.00 (max $10) |
✅ Live |
✅ Income |
✅ |
Options sellers |
| IBKR |
$0.15-$0.65 |
✅ Live |
✅ Pro |
✅ |
Professionals |
| E*TRADE |
$0.50-$0.65 |
✅ Live |
✅ Visual |
❌ |
Education |
| Webull |
$0 |
✅ Live |
✅ Basic |
✅ |
Zero fees |
| Moomoo |
Competitive |
✅ Live |
✅ AI |
✅ |
Global markets |
Essential Options Strategies for 2026
Covered Call — Generate Income from Stocks You Own
Own 100 shares of SPCX at $135? Sell a call option at $150 strike for $5.00 premium. You collect $500 immediately. If SPCX stays below $150, you keep the premium + shares. If it goes above $150, your shares get called away at $150 (you still profit $15/share + $5 premium). Best for sideways or slightly bullish markets.
Low Risk — Great for beginners
Cash-Secured Put — Get Paid to Buy Stocks at a Discount
Want to buy SPCX but think it's too expensive? Sell a put at $120 strike for $4.00 premium. You collect $400. If SPCX drops below $120, you're forced to buy at $120 (but your effective cost is $116 after the premium). If SPCX stays above $120, you keep the $400 for doing nothing. Best for accumulating stocks at lower prices.
Medium Risk — Requires cash or margin
Long Call — Leveraged Upside with Limited Risk
Think SPCX will go to $200? Buy a call at $150 strike for $8.00 ($800 total). If SPCX hits $200, your call is worth $50 — that's a 525% return. If SPCX stays below $150, you lose only the $800 premium (max loss). This is the most popular beginner strategy — defined risk, unlimited upside.
High Risk — Premium can go to $0
Iron Condor — Profit from Low Volatility
Think NVDA will stay between $195-$215? Sell a $215 call and buy a $220 call (call spread), plus sell a $195 put and buy a $190 put (put spread). Collect premium from both spreads. If NVDA stays between $195-$215 at expiration, you keep all the premium. Max loss is capped. Best for range-bound markets.
Medium Risk — Requires margin, capped profit
Important Disclaimer: Options trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. You can lose more than your initial investment when trading options on margin. Always do your own research and consider your financial situation before trading. Commission rates shown are as of June 2026 and may change. Some links on this page are affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best options trading app for beginners?
Robinhood is the best for beginners — $0 fees, visual P/L diagrams, and the simplest interface. Tastytrade is a close second with better education and income-focused tools.
Can I trade SPCX options right now?
Yes! SPCX options went live on June 16, 2026. All major platforms (Robinhood, Thinkorswim, IBKR, Tastytrade, Webull, Moomoo, E*TRADE) have SPCX options available. You'll need Level 2 options approval to trade them.
Which platform has the lowest options fees?
Robinhood and Webull are effectively free ($0 per contract). IBKR offers the lowest fees for active traders at $0.15/contract with volume discounts. Tastytrade caps fees at $10 per leg, making it cheapest for large multi-leg strategies.
How much money do I need to start trading options?
As little as $50 for a single long call or put. For spreads and margin strategies, most brokers require $2,000 minimum. The PDT rule requires $25,000 for day trading. Start small and size up as you learn.
What are the risks of options trading?
Options can expire worthless, resulting in a 100% loss of the premium paid. With margin strategies (spreads, naked puts), you can lose more than your initial investment. IPO stocks like SPCX are extremely volatile — 20-40% swings in a single day are common. Always use stop-losses and never risk more than 2-5% of your portfolio on a single trade.