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Firstrade vs eToro 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

January 23, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs eToro, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Firstrade
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00
eToro
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $50.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Range of investments

When considering Firstrade and eToro for your investment needs, it's clear that Firstrade stands out in terms of offering a wider range of investment options. Firstrade provides opportunities for stock, margin, and options trading, and also allows investments in mutual and OTC stocks. It even offers traditional and Roth IRA accounts, with an impressive rating of 4.5 stars for its range of investments, ranking it 6th out of 18 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. Meanwhile, eToro, with a 2.5-star rating and ranked 16th, offers unique options like crypto trading with 26 available coins, aligning more with traders interested in digital assets.

For those interested in traditional investments, Firstrade offers a comprehensive platform that includes stock and options trading, with additional perks such as fractional shares and access to mutual and OTC stocks. Margin trading is also supported, providing an opportunity for leveraged investments. The inclusion of traditional and Roth IRA accounts further enhances Firstrade's appeal to investors looking to plan for the future.

In contrast, eToro prioritizes newer investment avenues by providing crypto trading, making it a solid choice for those eager to engage with digital assets. Though eToro lacks margin trading, mutual funds, and some retirement account options, it still caters to a specific audience focused on cryptocurrencies and also supports stock and fractional shares trading along with options trading. This highlights its targeted approach towards modern and tech-savvy investment strategies.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes No
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Mutual Funds info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 26
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025

Trading platforms and tools

When choosing between Firstrade and eToro for trading platforms and tools, Firstrade has a slight edge, earning a 3-star rating compared to eToro's 2.5 stars. Both brokers do not offer downloadable trading platforms for Windows or Mac, but they do provide browser-based options for easy access. While neither platform supports the ability to adjust open orders directly on stock charts, eToro offers a paper trading feature, which is missing in Firstrade. Overall, Firstrade ranks slightly higher than eToro for trading platforms and tools according to StockBrokers.com, positioned at #11 out of 18 brokers compared to eToro's #12 ranking.

Firstrade offers 50 columns for watch lists, significantly more than eToro's 7, making it more suitable for traders who prefer detailed lists. In charting features, Firstrade provides more technical indicators with 102 options, while eToro offers 46. However, eToro shines with 48 drawing tools, contrasting Firstrade's 8. Additionally, eToro allows users to add notes to charts and save multiple chart profiles, features that Firstrade does not support. Both platforms allow for adding index overlays to charts but lack the ability to display corporate events or automated technical analysis.

For those interested in personalization, when editing a Simple Moving Average (SMA) study, Firstrade provides six customization fields, slightly edging out eToro's five. However, neither platform supports creating custom studies for charts. While Firstrade delivers more in terms of technical indicators and watch list customization, eToro offers unique charting functionalities such as adding notes and saving different profiles, catering to a more personalized trading experience.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 46
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 48
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025

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Beginners and education

When comparing beginner and investor education between Firstrade and eToro, Firstrade offers a slightly more comprehensive learning experience. Both brokers provide stock educational resources, but Firstrade extends its offerings to include options education as well—an area where eToro falls short. While neither platform provides ETF, mutual fund, or bonds education, both cater to visual learners through educational videos. Firstrade takes a step further by hosting webinars, a resource eToro does not provide. Despite these educational differences, neither Firstrade nor eToro offers educational quizzes or the ability to track learning progress, which can be a drawback for users seeking a structured educational journey.

eToro distinctly stands out with its paper trading feature, allowing beginners to practice trading with virtual money, which can be a valuable tool for learning without financial risk. However, when weighted against StockBrokers.com's ratings, Firstrade scores a 3.5-star rating, ranking #13 out of 18 brokers for education, while eToro has a lower 2.5-star rating, positioned at #15. This suggests that while eToro offers some useful features for beginners, Firstrade provides a broader scope of educational resources to guide investors in their learning journey.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes No
Education 3.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

When it comes to choosing between Firstrade and eToro for stock trading app capabilities, both offer a solid experience with unique strengths. Both platforms deliver iPhone and Android apps and support essential functions like mobile options trading, streaming quotes, and the ability to create custom watch lists. Each app is rated equally with 4.5 stars for stock trading. However, Firstrade slightly edges out eToro, ranking #9 among 18 brokers on StockBrokers.com compared to eToro's #11 ranking.

Firstrade provides an edge with tailored features such as the customization of watch list columns and the ability to view charts in landscape mode. It also supports mobile after-hours stock trading, offering flexibility for traders on the go. Although it does not offer after-hours charting or the ability to display stock comparisons on charts, Firstrade enables users to view multiple time frames for charting, backed by 81 available technical studies.

eToro differentiates itself by offering video on demand, which is absent in Firstrade, allowing users to access educational content and market insights directly within the app. It also excels in after-hours charting and has a broader range of technical studies at 103, along with the ability to display stock comparisons on charts. While it lacks features like customizable watch list columns and landscape chart viewing, these tools make eToro a compelling choice for more in-depth chart analysis.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 103
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When it comes to choosing between Firstrade and eToro for your online trading needs, both stand strong with features catering to different investor preferences. Firstrade emerges as a cost-effective choice for those looking to avoid initial investment barriers, offering a $0 minimum deposit and no fees for stock or options trades. eToro, conversely, requires a modest $50 minimum deposit but matches Firstrade's zero-fee structure for stock and options trading. While both platforms offer commission-free trading, Firstrade maintains an edge with no IRA fees and zero charges for options-related activities.

Firstrade offers comprehensive account fee structures, spotlighting various features like margin trading with interest rates ranging from 13.00% to 13.75% depending on balance. In contrast, eToro does not provide margin trading services, which might limit traders interested in leveraging such options. When discussing account transfers, Firstrade charges $55 for partial and $75 for full transfers, whereas eToro maintains a flat $75 fee for either type of transfer. The slight variance in transfer fees could influence long-term strategic decisions based on potential future transitions between brokers.

For traders considering IRA-related services, Firstrade distinguishes itself by maintaining a $0 charge for both annual fees and closure fees, an area where eToro does not provide comparable service information. This becomes an important aspect for retirement-focused investors who prioritize cost-efficiency in managing long-term accounts. Overall, while both platforms offer competitive free trading experiences, Firstrade provides extra savings with its fee transparency and more detailed margin trading options, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious traders and retirement planners alike.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $50.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

When it comes to day trading capabilities, Firstrade and eToro each have their own strengths and limitations. For traders requiring streaming time and sales data for stocks, eToro has the edge, offering this feature while Firstrade does not. However, both platforms lack other advanced trading features such as live streaming TV, direct market routing for stocks, ladder trading, and trading hotkeys for keyboard entry. Essential tools like level 2 quotes and both basic and advanced strategy backtesting are also unavailable with both platforms. This could affect traders who rely on detailed market analytics and simulation tools for their trading strategies.

Neither Firstrade nor eToro provides a short locator tool, which means traders aiming to view real-time availability of shares for short selling will need alternative solutions. Additionally, lacking order liquidity rebates, both platforms might not fully satisfy traders looking for incentives related to maker/taker fees. While eToro’s offering of streaming time and sales for stocks may be beneficial for some day traders, those in need of a more comprehensive suite of trading tools might find both platforms lacking in features that support high-frequency trading or in-depth market analysis.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

When it comes to market research for online brokers, Firstrade clearly outshines eToro. Firstrade offers an extensive range of research tools and reports, catering to a broad spectrum of investment needs. Whether you are interested in stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, pink sheets, or bonds, Firstrade provides research capabilities in all these areas. On the other hand, eToro's research facilities are limited. It does not support mutual fund, pink sheets, or bond research, and lacks downloadable PDF reports for stocks and ETFs, unlike Firstrade, which adds to the broker’s comprehensive service. These distinctions are evident in their market research ratings where Firstrade garners an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared to eToro's modest 1.5 stars.

Furthering its advantage, Firstrade has tools that allow investors to explore portfolio allocation by asset class, an area where eToro does not compete. Both platforms do offer stock research using social media sentiment data, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) research, which is a nod to the growing importance of sustainability in investment decisions. However, Firstrade steps up with its offering of downloadable PDF reports for ETFs and its effective screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, giving investors comprehensive resources to generate trade ideas.

Firstrade's market research capabilities are reflected in its position as the 6th ranked broker among 18 on StockBrokers.com, demonstrating a significant edge over eToro, which sits at the 14th spot. These rankings encapsulate the breadth and depth of Firstrade's research tools, reaffirming its suitability for investors who value in-depth market analysis. In contrast, eToro’s limited features and tools suggest a more basic offering, making it less appealing to those seeking detailed research and analysis.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Bonds info Yes No
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing Firstrade and eToro on their banking capabilities, Firstrade stands out by offering a few more options for financial management. Firstrade provides checking accounts and debit cards, along with certificates of deposit (CDs), giving users a bit more breadth in banking services. Meanwhile, eToro does not offer these services, focusing solely on trading and investment. Neither Firstrade nor eToro offer savings accounts, credit cards, or mortgage loans. Therefore, for those looking for an online broker that extends beyond trading to include some basic banking functions, Firstrade offers a slight edge over eToro.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info No No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Credit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
CDs info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 18 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Firstrade is better than eToro. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 81.8%, while eToro finished with a score of 66.1%.

Firstrade scored well for penny stock trading in our 2024 Annual Awards, and is a great choice for Chinese-speaking investors. However, it lags behind the competition in certain areas, especially platforms, tools and education.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Firstrade or eToro?

Firstrade does not offer cryptocurrency trading, while eToro provides access to trading with 26 different coins, making eToro a more suitable choice for investors interested in the crypto market.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Firstrade or eToro offer IRAs?

Firstrade offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual or closure fees, whereas eToro does not provide traditional or Roth IRA options.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Firstrade eToro
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A N/A
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars N/A
Education 3.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review eToro Review
Broker Screenshots Firstrade eToro
Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand)
Research Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Firstrade eToro
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $50.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $0.00 N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $0 N/A
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) info (Not offered) (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $19.95 $0
Margin Rates Firstrade eToro
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 13.75% Not offered
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 13.50% Not offered
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 13.00% Not offered
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 12.50% Not offered
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 12.50% Not offered
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 12.50% Not offered
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 12.50% Not offered
Account Fees Firstrade eToro
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $55.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Firstrade eToro
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes No
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 0
Futures Trading info No No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 26
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 15460 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 19666 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes No
Bonds (Corporate) info Yes No
Bonds (Municipal) info Yes No
Traditional IRAs info Yes No
Roth IRAs info Yes No
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Firstrade eToro
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes No
Order Type - After Hours info Yes No
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - OCO info Yes No
Order Type - OTO info Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners Firstrade eToro
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Retirement Calculator info Yes No
Investor Dictionary info Yes No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes No
Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Firstrade eToro
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes No
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes Yes
Stock App Features Firstrade eToro
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes No
Stock App Charting Firstrade eToro
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 103
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No Yes
Trading Platforms Firstrade eToro
Active Trading Platform info N/A
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 7
Stock Chart Features Firstrade eToro
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 46
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 48
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info No No
Charting - Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info No No
Charting - Save Profiles info No Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations info 6 5
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Firstrade eToro
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info No No
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview Firstrade eToro
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes No
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Bonds info Yes No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes No
Stock Research Firstrade eToro
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 1 0
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info Yes Yes
Stock Research - Social info Yes Yes
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info Yes Yes
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes Yes
ETF Research Firstrade eToro
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes No
Mutual Fund Research Firstrade eToro
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info Yes No
Options Trading Firstrade eToro
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info No No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 8 0
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 4
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info No Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis info No No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks info No No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info No No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping info No No
Banking Firstrade eToro
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service Firstrade eToro
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes No
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info No No
Overall Firstrade eToro
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A N/A
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review eToro Review
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