I'd say TD and Optionsxpress are the best options brokers , you can call them ask them for commission discount.
I think the most important aspect for a broker is their customer service. All broker commissions are kind of inline. If someone is much higher in commissions then they probably offer a service you desparately need or don't. You don't have any friends in trading. Your broker is the closest thing you have to a partner.
I have cleared (recently) with Wedbush and Newedge for vanillas and my fills at IB are no better or worse.
One of the first instruments i traded was index options on the FTSE 100 many, many years ago. I was being charged £20 (over $30) per lot in commissions. How much would that cost nowadays, pls?
Nobody can beat IB in commission costs for small retail traders. How much ever discount you get from other brokers, it won't be lesser than IB. Show me one small retail person who has better overall price than IB ?
Ha ha , who cares about broker commissions , care about this 101-Year-Old Marathoner Calling It Quits