E*TRADE vs Firstrade 2026
In this head to head comparison of E*TRADE vs Firstrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of E*TRADE vs Firstrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
E*TRADE and Firstrade are strong online brokers for everyday investors, but they diverge in a few key areas. E*TRADE is the better fit if you want futures trading and access to advisor services, while Firstrade stands out for fractional share investing. Both offer stocks, options, mutual funds, OTC (over-the-counter) stocks, and retirement accounts (Traditional and Roth IRAs), and neither supports forex or crypto. For Range of Investments, StockBrokers.com rates E*TRADE 4.5/5 stars (ranked #4 of 14) and Firstrade 4/5 stars (ranked #5 of 14).
Trading access: E*TRADE and Firstrade both support stock trading (including OTC), options, mutual funds, and margin. Only Firstrade offers fractional shares, making it easier to buy slices of higher-priced stocks with smaller amounts. Only E*TRADE offers futures if you want exposure beyond the stock and fund markets. Neither broker offers forex or crypto trading, and both list zero supported coins.
Accounts and support: Both brokers provide Traditional and Roth IRAs along with standard brokerage accounts. If you want professional guidance or portfolio help, E*TRADE offers advisor services, while Firstrade does not. Pick E*TRADE for futures access and advisory options, or choose Firstrade if fractional shares are a priority.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 0 |
| Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
In the E*TRADE vs Firstrade matchup for trading platforms and tools, E*TRADE is the stronger pick for most traders. It delivers desktop software for both Windows and Mac, offers paper trading, and packs far more chart features and order controls. Independent scores back that up: E*TRADE earns 4 stars and ranks #6 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Firstrade earns 1 star and ranks #12. Firstrade is simpler and browser‑only; it does provide more watch list columns, but it misses many features active traders expect.
Platform access is a key divider. E*TRADE provides downloadable platforms for Windows and Mac plus a browser‑based platform; Firstrade is browser‑only. E*TRADE also includes paper trading, which Firstrade lacks. Neither broker offers a built‑in trading journal.
For charts and tools, E*TRADE pulls ahead: 121 technical indicators vs 102 at Firstrade, and 37 drawing tools vs 8. E*TRADE lets you adjust open orders directly on the chart, add notes, view your historical trades, overlay corporate events, set custom date ranges, and save multiple chart profiles; Firstrade does not offer those capabilities. Both brokers support automated chart pattern recognition. E*TRADE’s SMA study has 8 editable fields (vs 6 at Firstrade). Neither broker supports creating custom studies. Watch lists tilt slightly to Firstrade with 50 available columns vs 43 at E*TRADE.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 43 | 50 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 121 | 102 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 37 | 8 |
| Advanced Trading |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
Comparing E*TRADE and Firstrade for beginner and investor education, E*TRADE covers more ground. Both brokers offer stock and options education, plus videos and live webinars. However, E*TRADE also teaches ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, and it provides a practice account (paper trading) so you can learn by doing—areas Firstrade does not offer. Neither platform includes quizzes or tools to track your learning progress.
For overall quality, E*TRADE earns 4 stars and ranks #5 out of 14 brokers for education at StockBrokers.com, while Firstrade earns 2.5 stars and ranks #13. If you want a broader curriculum and the ability to practice without risking real money, E*TRADE is the stronger fit; if you only need basic lessons with videos and webinars, Firstrade can still get you started.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
If you’re choosing between E*TRADE and Firstrade for a stock trading app, E*TRADE comes out ahead. It earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #5 out of 14 at StockBrokers.com, while Firstrade scores 4/5 stars and ranks #8. Both apps cover the essentials, but E*TRADE adds useful extras like Apple Watch support, streaming live TV, after-hours charting, and a larger set of technical tools—making it the stronger pick for investors who want more research and monitoring on mobile.
On devices and trading features, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps. Only E*TRADE includes an Apple Watch app. Both apps support mobile options trading, streaming quotes, stock alerts, custom watch lists, and customizable watch list columns. E*TRADE supports after-hours stock trading on mobile; Firstrade’s mobile after-hours availability isn’t specified here, so check its app for current details. Neither app offers videos on demand, and only E*TRADE streams live TV.
For charts, both apps allow landscape mode, multiple time frames, and stock comparisons. E*TRADE provides after-hours charting (Firstrade does not) and offers 107 technical studies versus Firstrade’s 81, giving E*TRADE more depth for technical analysis on the go.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 107 | 81 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Both E*TRADE and Firstrade offer competitive platforms with no minimum deposit requirements, making them accessible to a wide range of investors. For regular stock trades and IRA maintenance, both platforms provide a cost-effective option with zero charges. However, differences emerge in options trading and certain account transfer fees; E*TRADE charges $0.65 per options contract while Firstrade offers this service for free. On the other hand, E*TRADE's partial account transfer is free, whereas Firstrade charges $55 for the same service. These nuanced differences can influence which platform might be more beneficial based on individual trading needs.
When it comes to margin trading, E*TRADE and Firstrade have similar fee structures with some small differences. For balances below $25,000, E*TRADE charges a slightly higher rate of 12.95% compared to Firstrade's 12.75%. As the margin balance increases, this discrepancy narrows, but Firstrade still maintains a slight edge with lower rates across all tiers up to $99,999. Margin rates can greatly affect the cost of trading on borrowed money, making Firstrade a marginally more appealing option for those heavily involved in margin trading.
Despite these differences in certain fees, both platforms allow traders to invest without worrying about IRA annual or closure fees, and neither charges for options exercise or assignment fees, which could be a relief for investors focused on long-term retirement savings or those trading options. Additionally, the cost to fully transfer an account is identical at $75 on both platforms, signaling a level playing field if considering a full move elsewhere. Ultimately, the choice between E*TRADE and Firstrade will likely come down to specific preferences around options trading costs and partial account transfer fees.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
When it comes to day trading capabilities, E*TRADE stands out with features that cater to active traders. E*TRADE offers streaming time and sales for stocks, allowing traders to see real-time transactions. Additionally, traders have access to streaming live TV, which can provide crucial financial news updates as they happen. The platform also supports direct market routing for stocks, giving traders more control over their trades. E*TRADE enhances the trading experience with the option of using hotkeys for fast trade entry, as well as by providing level 2 quotes for more comprehensive market data. However, it's worth noting that E*TRADE does not offer ladder trading or strategy backtesting.
In contrast, Firstrade may appeal to more casual investors rather than dedicated day traders. Firstrade lacks several advanced features that E*TRADE offers, such as streaming time and sales, live TV, and trading hotkeys. Moreover, Firstrade does not provide direct market routing or level 2 quotes, which might limit the trading options for day traders seeking more detailed market insights. Both platforms do not offer ladder trading, strategy backtesting, a short locator tool, or offer order liquidity rebates. While Firstrade could meet the needs of some investors, those looking for a more feature-rich environment for day trading might find E*TRADE to be the superior choice.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
E*TRADE vs. Firstrade: for market research, E*TRADE has the edge. It earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #3 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Firstrade scores 4/5 and ranks #6. The biggest gap is in downloadable reports—E*TRADE offers eight stock research PDFs plus ETF and mutual fund PDFs; Firstrade provides one stock report, ETF PDFs, and no mutual fund PDFs. Pick E*TRADE if you want more reports and fund coverage; choose Firstrade if ESG research matters to you, since E*TRADE doesn’t offer ESG.
Both brokers cover the same investment types, including stock, ETF, mutual fund, bond, and OTC/Pink Sheets research. Each platform lets you see portfolio allocation by asset class and includes stock research that factors in social media sentiment. For idea generation, both offer screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds.
The key differences come down to depth and extras. E*TRADE supplies eight downloadable stock reports and provides PDFs for ETFs and mutual funds, giving you more material to read before placing a trade. Firstrade stands out by offering ESG (environmental, social, and governance) research, which can help if you prefer values-based investing, but it trails on report quantity with just one stock report and no mutual fund PDFs.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Research |
|
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When comparing the banking features of online brokers E*TRADE and Firstrade, there are several key differences to consider. E*TRADE provides a wide array of financial products, including checking and savings accounts, giving users options to manage their money effectively. In contrast, Firstrade only offers checking accounts, limiting its banking capabilities. Both platforms provide debit cards, but E*TRADE goes a step further by offering credit cards, which Firstrade does not. For those interested in mortgage loans, E*TRADE has opportunities available, unlike Firstrade, which does not provide mortgage services. However, in terms of Certificates of Deposit, both E*TRADE and Firstrade offer CDs to their customers. Overall, E*TRADE presents a more comprehensive platform for those seeking a broader range of banking services compared to Firstrade.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that E*TRADE is better than Firstrade. E*TRADE finished with an overall score of 86.0%, while Firstrade finished with a score of 67.8%.
With two distinct platforms (E*TRADE Web and Power E*TRADE) the broker effectively serves both the "set-it-and-forget-it" investor and the high-volume derivatives trader. Whether you aim to construct a long-term retirement portfolio or deploy complex options strategies, E*TRADE provides a sophisticated, dependable environment that grows with your ambition.
Both E*TRADE and Firstrade do not offer crypto trading and provide access to zero coins for trading cryptocurrencies.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both E*TRADE and Firstrade offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts without any annual or closure fees, making them equally favorable options for IRA investments.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
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| Review | E*TRADE Review | Firstrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Trading Fees | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $6.95 | $0.00 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $0.00 | $0 | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $1.50 | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | $19.95 |
| Margin Rates | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.95% | 12.75% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.7% | 12.50% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.2% | 12.00% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.7% | 11.50% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 11.2% | 11.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 9.35% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 8.75% |
| Account Fees | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $55.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 0 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OCO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | Yes |
| Beginners | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Features | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 107 | 81 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Power E*TRADE | N/A | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 43 | 50 |
| Stock Chart Features | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 121 | 102 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 37 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 8 | 6 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | No | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 8 | 1 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | Yes |
| ETF Research | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Fund Research | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | Yes |
| Options Trading | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | No |
| Overall | E*TRADE | Firstrade | |
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| Education |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | E*TRADE Review | Firstrade Review |