Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs Robinhood, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Firstrade vs Robinhood: If you want a wider menu of traditional investments and retirement account choices, Firstrade is the stronger pick. Robinhood stands out if you want crypto, futures, or built-in advisor services. Both online brokers cover the basics—stocks, options, margin, fractional shares, and OTC stocks—and both support Traditional and Roth IRAs; neither supports forex. Your choice comes down to whether mutual funds (Firstrade) or crypto and futures (Robinhood) matter more.
Here’s how the investment options compare. Firstrade offers stock and options trading, margin and fractional shares, access to OTC stocks, and mutual funds; it also supports Traditional and Roth IRA accounts. It does not offer crypto, futures, or forex. Robinhood provides stock and options trading, margin and fractional shares, OTC stocks, and Traditional and Roth IRAs; it adds crypto trading with 22 supported coins and futures trading, plus advisor services, but it does not offer mutual funds or forex.
Independent ratings reflect these differences. For Range of Investments, StockBrokers.com rates Firstrade 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #6 out of 14 brokers, while Robinhood earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12. If you want mutual funds alongside stocks and options, Firstrade scores higher; if you value crypto and futures access, Robinhood’s lineup may suit you better.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 22 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
Bottom line: In the Firstrade vs Robinhood matchup for trading platforms and tools, Robinhood has a slight edge for most everyday traders. StockBrokers.com rates Robinhood 3.5 stars and ranks it 9th out of 14 brokers, while Firstrade earns 3 stars and ranks 11th. Robinhood stands out for chart flexibility and conveniences like adjusting open orders on charts, adding notes, using custom date ranges, and saving multiple chart profiles. Firstrade counters with more technical indicators and built-in automated chart pattern recognition, which may appeal to technical users.
Platform access is similar: neither Firstrade nor Robinhood offers a downloadable desktop platform for Windows or Mac; both run in your browser. Neither broker offers paper trading or a trading journal. Firstrade supports larger watch lists with up to 50 columns, compared with 34 on Robinhood. Both let you edit an SMA study with six fields, and neither supports creating custom studies. Only Robinhood lets you modify open orders directly on a stock chart.
Charting features diverge. Firstrade provides 102 technical indicators versus 90 on Robinhood and includes automated technical analysis for chart patterns, which Robinhood lacks. Robinhood, however, offers far more drawing tools (2,326 vs 8), plus chart notes, custom date ranges, and the ability to save multiple chart profiles—options Firstrade does not provide. Both platforms do not display historical trades or corporate events on charts. Choose Firstrade if you value more indicators and auto pattern detection; pick Robinhood if you want richer chart interaction and workflow features.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 50 | 34 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 90 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 2326 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
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Firstrade and Robinhood both cover the basics with stock and options education plus easy-to-watch videos. Robinhood goes further with ETF and bonds education, while both skip mutual funds. Neither platform offers paper trading, learning progress tracking, or quizzes, so hands-on practice and structured learning paths are limited.
Firstrade stands out with live webinars; Robinhood does not offer them. In ratings, Firstrade scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 of 14 for education on StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #8. If you want guidance on ETFs and bonds, Robinhood has the edge. If you prefer live sessions to ask questions in real time, Firstrade is the better fit.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
Bottom line when you compare Firstrade vs Robinhood stock trading apps: both are strong 4.5‑star choices, but they shine in different ways. Robinhood ranked #7 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, edging Firstrade at #9. Go with Robinhood if Apple Watch support and after‑hours charting matter most; choose Firstrade if you want landscape chart views and the ability to compare multiple stocks on a single chart.
App availability and core tools: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, mobile options trading, streaming quotes, price alerts, and custom watchlists with editable columns. Only Robinhood adds an Apple Watch app. Neither app includes streaming live TV or videos on demand. Firstrade supports mobile after‑hours trading; the information provided did not confirm whether Robinhood’s mobile app supports after‑hours trading.
Charts and analysis: both apps let you switch among multiple time frames. Firstrade offers 81 technical studies, landscape charting, and chart-based stock comparisons. Robinhood provides 90 technical studies and after‑hours charting, but it does not support landscape charts or stock comparisons on charts.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 90 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When comparing Firstrade and Robinhood, both online brokers offer highly attractive services with no minimum deposit requirement and zero-fee stock trading. Additionally, both platforms charge nothing for options contracts, making them competitive choices for cost-conscious investors. However, the main differentiation lies in their margin rates, as Robinhood offers significantly lower rates compared to Firstrade. Despite Robinhood's higher fees for account transfers, their competitive margin rates might make them the preferred choice for those who frequently use margin accounts.
For those looking into the details of margin financing, Firstrade charges a 12.75% interest rate for balances below $25,000, while Robinhood offers a more affordable 5.75%. As balances increase, Firstrade's rates adjust to 12.50% for $25,000 to $49,999, and 12.00% for balances up to $99,999. Conversely, Robinhood's rates are consistently lower, with 5.75% for $25,000 to $49,999 and a slight decrease to 5.55% for $50,000 to $99,999, saving heavy margin users a substantial amount in interest charges.
Both platforms excel in managing retirement accounts without charging annual fees or IRA closure fees, offering peace of mind to long-term investors. When it comes to transferring accounts, however, Firstrade has the edge, charging $55 for partial transfers and $75 for full transfers compared to Robinhood's $100 fee for both types of transfers. Nonetheless, both brokers offer commendable value for investors, each with slight advantages depending on individual financial strategies and preferences.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $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 |
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Comparing Firstrade vs. Robinhood for day trading shows a similar profile: both lack streaming time and sales, streaming live TV, direct market routing, trading hotkeys, basic and advanced strategy backtesting, a short-locate tool, and maker/taker rebates. That means neither platform supplies many of the specialized tools active traders often look for to analyze tape action, automate entries, or optimize order flow.
The key differences tilt toward Robinhood. Robinhood offers ladder trading—handy for quickly placing and adjusting orders across price levels—and it provides Level 2 quotes so you can see depth of market beyond the best bid and ask. Firstrade does not offer either feature. If you value ladder trading and Level 2 for faster decision-making and a better view of liquidity, Robinhood is the stronger fit; if you don’t need those, the day trading experience on both platforms is largely the same.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | No |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: Firstrade is the stronger choice for market research. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #6 of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood holds 2 stars and ranks #10. If you want broader coverage and more tools to analyze investments and find ideas, Firstrade fits better; Robinhood suits those who only need basic stock research.
Both brokers offer stock and ETF research and let you view portfolio allocation by asset class. Each also covers OTC/Pink Sheets. Firstrade goes further with research on mutual funds and bonds, plus stock insights using social media sentiment and ESG data—features Robinhood does not provide. For downloadable research, Firstrade supplies one PDF stock report and PDFs for ETFs; Robinhood offers no downloadable stock or ETF reports. Neither broker provides PDF reports for mutual funds.
Screening tools widen the gap. Both have a stock screener, but only Firstrade adds screeners for ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. That broader toolset helps you filter opportunities across more markets, while Robinhood limits screening to stocks.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking features of Firstrade and Robinhood, there are several differences to consider. Firstrade offers checking accounts, giving users a straightforward way to manage their everyday finances, whereas Robinhood does not provide this option. Both platforms offer debit cards, making everyday transactions convenient, but only Robinhood gives clients the option of a credit card. Neither Firstrade nor Robinhood offers savings accounts or mortgage loans, keeping their focus on investment services rather than traditional banking products. For those looking to invest in Certificates of Deposit, Firstrade offers CD options, while Robinhood does not. Ultimately, the choice between Firstrade and Robinhood's banking capabilities depends on the specific financial tools you're looking to access alongside your trading activities.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Cards | No | Yes |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Firstrade is better than Robinhood. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 81.8%, while Robinhood finished with a score of 77.3%.
With steady innovation and a growing feature set, Firstrade is quickly climbing the ranks to earn its place among the best online brokers. Firstrade’s $0 contract fee, no exercise/assignment fees, and top-tier options trade ticket make it one of the most cost-effective and well-designed platforms for options trading.
When it comes to crypto trading, Firstrade does not offer any cryptocurrency options, whereas Robinhood provides a more extensive selection with 22 different coins available for trading.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Both Firstrade and Robinhood offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual or closure fees, providing cost-effective options for investors seeking retirement savings solutions.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
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| Review | Firstrade Review | Robinhood Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
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| Trading Fees | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.00 | N/A | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $0 | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | $0.75 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $19.95 | N/A |
| Margin Rates | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.75% | 5.75% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.50% | 5.75% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.00% | 5.55% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.50% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 11.25% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 9.35% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.75% | 5% |
| Account Fees | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $55.00 | $100.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $100.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 22 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 1 |
| Order Types | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
| Beginners | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 90 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | N/A | Robinhood Legend | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 50 | 34 |
| Stock Chart Features | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 90 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 2326 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | No | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | No | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 6 | 6 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | No | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | No | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 1 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | No | |
| Credit Cards | No | Yes | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Customer Service | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | No | Yes |
| Overall | Firstrade | Robinhood | |
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| Research |
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| Education |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Firstrade Review | Robinhood Review |
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