Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Firstrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Bottom line: If you want the broadest investment selection, Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick. It earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #1 out of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Firstrade holds 4 stars and ranks #5. Both let you trade stocks, options, mutual funds, margin, fractional shares, and OTC stocks, but only Interactive Brokers adds forex, futures, and cryptocurrency trading (11 coins). That makes Interactive Brokers better for multi‑asset traders, while Firstrade suits investors focused on the core markets.
Trading features compared: Interactive Brokers and Firstrade both support stock trading, margin trading, fractional shares, OTC stocks, mutual funds, and options. Where they differ is in specialty markets. Interactive Brokers offers forex and futures trading; Firstrade does not. Interactive Brokers also provides crypto trading with access to 11 coins, while Firstrade does not offer crypto.
Accounts and extras: Both brokers offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts, and neither provides advisor services. If you plan to stick with mainstream assets, Firstrade covers the essentials. If you want one account that can handle stocks, options, funds, plus forex, futures, and crypto, Interactive Brokers offers more choices.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Firstrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 11 | 0 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Interactive Brokers vs Firstrade: for trading platforms and tools, Interactive Brokers is the standout. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #2 of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Firstrade scores 1 star and ranks #12. Traders who want full-featured desktop software, deeper charting, paper trading, and a trading journal will be better served by Interactive Brokers; Firstrade covers the basics for simple web trading but lacks many advanced features.
Platform access and core tools: Interactive Brokers offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, along with a browser-based platform. Firstrade offers only a web platform—there is no Windows or Mac download. Interactive Brokers also includes paper trading and a built-in trading journal; Firstrade offers neither.
Charting and trading tools: Interactive Brokers supports 659 watchlist fields (vs 50 at Firstrade), order adjustments directly on charts, 155 indicators (vs 102), and 85 drawing tools (vs 8). You can add notes, show your past trades, overlay earnings/splits/dividends, and set custom date ranges on charts with Interactive Brokers; none of these are available at Firstrade. Both brokers provide automated chart pattern recognition and six edit fields on an SMA study, and neither supports building custom studies. Interactive Brokers also lets you save multiple chart profiles; Firstrade does not.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Firstrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 50 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 155 | 102 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 85 | 8 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Interactive Brokers and Firstrade both teach the basics, offering stock and options education along with educational videos and webinars. Interactive Brokers goes further with lessons on ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, plus paper trading to practice with virtual money. It also adds quizzes and the ability to track your learning progress—features Firstrade does not include. Firstrade does not cover ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds, and it lacks paper trading, quizzes, and progress tracking.
For education quality, Interactive Brokers is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Firstrade earns 2.5 stars and ranks #13 out of 14. If you want broader topics and hands-on practice, Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice. If you only need basic stock and options lessons with videos and webinars, Firstrade can meet those needs.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Firstrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms & Apps for Beginners in 2026
Bottom line: Interactive Brokers offers a more feature-rich stock trading app experience than Firstrade. Both brokers deliver capable iPhone and Android apps with streaming quotes, options trading, alerts, and customizable watchlists, but Interactive Brokers pulls ahead with Apple Watch support, live TV and on-demand videos, after-hours charting, and a larger library of technical studies (97 vs 81). That advantage shows up in third‑party reviews: StockBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers 5 stars and ranks it #2 of 14 brokers, while Firstrade earns 4 stars and ranks #8.
App availability is strong on both sides: Interactive Brokers and Firstrade each offer iPhone and Android apps, along with streaming quotes, stock alerts, custom watchlists, customizable columns, and mobile options trading. Interactive Brokers adds an Apple Watch app and supports mobile after-hours trading; Firstrade’s status for mobile after-hours trading wasn’t specified. For media, Interactive Brokers streams live TV and offers videos on demand, while Firstrade does not include those features.
Charting tools are where Interactive Brokers further widens the gap. Both apps support landscape charts, multiple time frames, and the ability to compare stocks on the same chart. However, Interactive Brokers includes after-hours charting (Firstrade does not) and offers more built-in studies (97 vs 81). Traders who value deeper charting and extras like wearable support and market video will likely prefer Interactive Brokers, while Firstrade still covers the core needs for everyday stock and options trading on mobile.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Firstrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 97 | 81 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Bottom line: Interactive Brokers is generally cheaper for margin borrowing and for moving your account, while Firstrade can be the low-cost pick for options traders thanks to $0 per-contract pricing. Both brokers have $0 stock commissions, $0 minimum deposits, and no IRA fees. If you plan to use margin or might transfer your account, Interactive Brokers often comes out ahead; if you trade a lot of options without borrowing, Firstrade can lower your costs.
Trading fees are straightforward. Minimum deposit: Interactive Brokers $0; Firstrade $0. Online stock trades: both $0. Options pricing differs: Interactive Brokers charges $0.65 per contract, while Firstrade charges $0. Options exercise and assignment fees are $0 at both brokers.
Margin and other charges tilt toward Interactive Brokers. For margin balances under $100,000, Interactive Brokers lists 6.83%, while Firstrade shows 12.75% (under $25k), 12.50% ($25k–$49,999), and 12.00% ($50k–$99,999). Account transfers (ACAT) are $0 for partial and full at Interactive Brokers versus $55 partial and $75 full at Firstrade. IRA annual and closure fees are $0 at both. Pricing can change—check each broker’s site for the latest rates.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Firstrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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, Interactive Brokers stands out compared to Firstrade thanks to its comprehensive features that cater specifically to active traders. Interactive Brokers offers streaming time and sales data for stocks, providing real-time information that is crucial for making informed trading decisions. Additionally, users have access to streaming live TV, allowing them to stay updated on market news and events. The platform also supports direct market routing, ladder trading, and trading hotkeys for quick trade entries via keyboard, all essential tools for those looking to engage in rapid-fire trading.
Moreover, Interactive Brokers equips its users with level 2 quotes and both basic and advanced strategy backtesting capabilities, which enable traders to develop and refine their strategies over time. The platform offers a short locator tool for tracking the availability of shares to short, enhancing the trader's ability to act swiftly in dynamic markets. It also provides order liquidity rebates, rewarding traders for contributing to the market's liquidity. In comparison, Firstrade lacks these advanced day trading features, making it less suitable for traders who rely on sophisticated tools and real-time data.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Firstrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No |
| Short Locator | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms and Apps for 2026
If market research is a top priority, Interactive Brokers edges out Firstrade. Both platforms cover research for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, OTC/pink sheets, and bonds, and both provide screeners, ESG data, social media sentiment, and portfolio allocation views. However, Interactive Brokers offers far more downloadable reports and earns a higher research score (4.5 vs 4 stars) and a better ranking (#5 vs #6 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com), making it the stronger choice for most research-focused investors.
Coverage is broad on both brokers. Interactive Brokers and Firstrade each supply research across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, OTC/pink sheets, and bonds. For finding ideas, both include stock, ETF, mutual fund, and bond screeners. They also let you review portfolio allocation by asset class and layer in newer data sets like environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics and stock sentiment from social media.
The biggest difference is the volume of downloadable research. Interactive Brokers offers 17 downloadable PDF stock research reports, compared with 1 at Firstrade. Both provide downloadable ETF research, but only Interactive Brokers adds downloadable reports for mutual funds. If you want more third-party reports at your fingertips, Interactive Brokers clearly provides a wider library.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Firstrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
|
When comparing banking features, Interactive Brokers and Firstrade differ in key ways. Firstrade offers a checking account and a debit card, while Interactive Brokers does not provide checking or debit options. Neither broker offers a savings account or mortgage loans. For card perks, Interactive Brokers does have a credit card, whereas Firstrade does not. Both Interactive Brokers and Firstrade make CDs (certificates of deposit) available. In short, choose Firstrade if you need a checking account and debit card linked to your brokerage, pick Interactive Brokers if you want a credit card, and note that neither provides savings accounts or mortgages.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Firstrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | Yes |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | No | Yes |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No |
| Mortgage Loans | No | 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 Interactive Brokers is better than Firstrade. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall score of 90.6%, while Firstrade finished with a score of 67.8%.
Interactive Brokers is a go-to choice for professionals because of its institutional-grade desktop trading platform, high-quality trade executions and low margin rates.
Interactive Brokers offers crypto trading with access to 11 different coins, while Firstrade does not support any crypto trading options.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both Interactive Brokers and Firstrade provide traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees or closure fees, making them cost-effective choices for investors seeking flexible retirement account options without hidden charges.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Firstrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Trading Fees | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.01 | $0.00 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $14.95 | $0 | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $0.85 | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | Varies | $19.95 |
| Margin Rates | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 6.83% | 12.75% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 6.83% | 12.50% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 6.83% | 12.00% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 6.83% | 11.50% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 6.83% | 11.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 6.83% | 9.35% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 6.83% | 8.75% |
| Account Fees | Interactive Brokers | 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) | $0.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 6 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No | |
| Forex Trading | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 11 | 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 | No | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 36 | 0 |
| Order Types | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Yes | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
| Videos on Demand | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 97 | 81 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | IBKR Desktop and Trader Workstation (TWS) | N/A | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Journal | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 50 |
| Stock Chart Features | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 155 | 102 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 85 | 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 | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 6 | 6 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
| Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No | |
| Short Locator | Yes | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | Yes | No |
| Research Overview | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 17 | 1 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | Yes |
| ETF Research | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
| Checking Accounts | No | Yes | |
| Savings Accounts | No | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Debit Cards | No | Yes | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Customer Service | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Firstrade | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Firstrade Review |
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TradingView
Tradervue
TradeZella