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E*TRADE vs Firstrade 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025

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
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4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
Firstrade
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Range of investments

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 logoE*TRADE
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info No Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 0
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026

Trading platforms and tools

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 logoE*TRADE
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Paper Trading info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 43 50
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 121 102
Charting - Drawing Tools info 37 8
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026

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Beginners and education

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 logoE*TRADE
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) info Yes No
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026

Stock trading apps

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 logoE*TRADE
Firstrade logoFirstrade
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info Yes No
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Technical Studies info 107 81
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026

Fees

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 logoE*TRADE
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.65 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $0.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026

Day Trading

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 logoE*TRADE
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes info 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 of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders

Market Research

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 logoE*TRADE
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income info Yes Yes
Screener - Fixed Income info Yes Yes
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Banking

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 logoE*TRADE
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Checking Accounts info Yes Yes
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes Yes
Credit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
Brokerage CDs info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026

Winner

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.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with E*TRADE or Firstrade?

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

Does E*TRADE or Firstrade offer IRAs?

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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Compare

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Overall Rating E*TRADE Firstrade
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review Firstrade Review
Broker Screenshots E*TRADE Firstrade
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees E*TRADE Firstrade
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $6.95 info $0.00
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $0.00 $0
Options (Per Contract) info $0.65 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) info $1.50 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $25 $19.95
Margin Rates E*TRADE Firstrade
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 12.95% info 12.75%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 12.7% 12.50%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 12.2% 12.00%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 11.7% 11.50%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 11.2% 11.25%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info Varies info 9.35%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info Varies info 8.75%
Account Fees E*TRADE Firstrade
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $0.00 $55.00
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 E*TRADE Firstrade
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info No Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 4
Futures Trading info Yes No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 0
Fixed Income (Treasurys) info Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) info Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) info Yes Yes
Traditional IRAs info Yes Yes
Roth IRAs info Yes Yes
Advisor Services info Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types E*TRADE Firstrade
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - OCO info Yes Yes
Order Type - OTO info Yes Yes
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes Yes
Beginners E*TRADE Firstrade
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes No
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) info Yes No
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info Yes No
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps E*TRADE Firstrade
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info Yes No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes Yes
Stock App Features E*TRADE Firstrade
Mobile Research - Market Movers info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info Yes No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watchlist (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watchlist (Streaming) info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization info Yes Yes
Stock App Charting E*TRADE Firstrade
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes Yes
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 107 81
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info Yes Yes
Trading Platforms E*TRADE Firstrade
Active Trading Platform info Power E*TRADE N/A
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info Yes No
Trade Journal info No No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 43 50
Stock Chart Features E*TRADE Firstrade
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 121 102
Charting - Drawing Tools info 37 8
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Historical Trades info Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range info Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info Yes Yes
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations info 8 6
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading E*TRADE Firstrade
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info Yes No
Ladder Trading info No No
Trade Hot Keys info Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes info 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 E*TRADE Firstrade
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Screener - Fixed Income info Yes Yes
Portfolio Asset Allocation info Yes Yes
Stock Research E*TRADE Firstrade
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 8 1
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 No Yes
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes Yes
ETF Research E*TRADE Firstrade
ETFs - Investment Objective info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes Yes
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes Yes
ETFs - Ratings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes Yes
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes Yes
Mutual Fund Research E*TRADE Firstrade
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info Yes Yes
Options Trading E*TRADE Firstrade
Option Chains - Total Greeks info 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Banking E*TRADE Firstrade
Bank (Member FDIC) info Yes No
Checking Accounts info Yes Yes
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
Customer Service E*TRADE Firstrade
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) info Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) info No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info Yes No
Overall E*TRADE Firstrade
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review Firstrade Review
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