Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs tastytrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Choosing between online brokers Firstrade and tastytrade comes down to the types of investments you want. Firstrade suits investors who want a wide mix of traditional assets, while tastytrade shines for traders who want futures, forex, and crypto alongside stocks and options. Both offer margin and fractional shares, plus Traditional and Roth IRAs, and neither provides advisor services. For Range of Investments, Firstrade earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #6 of 14 at StockBrokers.com; tastytrade earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #10.
Firstrade covers the basics and more: stock trading, options, margin, fractional shares, OTC stocks, and mutual funds. It does not offer forex, futures, or crypto (0 coins). With both Traditional and Roth IRA accounts available, Firstrade is a solid fit for investors who want stocks and options plus access to OTC names and mutual funds in tax-advantaged accounts.
tastytrade also supports stock trading, options, margin, and fractional shares, but skips OTC stocks and mutual funds. Its standout advantage is access to forex, futures, and crypto trading, with 17 coins available. Traditional and Roth IRAs are supported as well. If you focus on active trading strategies across derivatives and digital assets, tastytrade offers those added markets that Firstrade lacks.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 17 |
| 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: for trading platforms and tools, tastytrade comes out ahead for most traders thanks to advanced charting, desktop apps for Windows and Mac, and extras like a built-in trading journal. It earns 4 stars and ranks #8 out of 14 brokers with StockBrokers.com. Firstrade is simpler and web-only, rated 3 stars and ranked #11 out of 14, but it does win a couple of niches, including automated chart pattern detection and a larger watchlist column capacity.
Platform access and core features: Firstrade does not offer downloadable desktop software for Windows or Mac, while tastytrade offers both. Each broker has a browser-based platform. Neither supports paper trading. For tracking and reflection, tastytrade includes a trading journal; Firstrade does not. If you rely on data-dense watchlists, Firstrade allows up to 50 columns, compared with 33 on tastytrade.
Charting and order control: tastytrade lets you adjust open orders on charts, add notes, show historical trades, display corporate events, set custom date ranges, save multiple chart profiles, and create custom studies. It also offers 308 technical indicators and 31 drawing tools, with 7 editable fields in an SMA study. Firstrade provides 102 indicators and 8 drawing tools, 6 SMA fields, and lacks notes, prior-trade markers, event overlays, custom date ranges, and multi-profile saving. That said, Firstrade includes automated technical analysis (pattern recognition), which tastytrade does not.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 50 | 33 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 308 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 31 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
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For beginner investors comparing education at online brokers, both Firstrade and tastytrade teach stocks and options and offer free videos and webinars. tastytrade goes a step further with ETF education, while neither broker focuses on mutual funds or bonds. Neither platform includes paper trading or quizzes, and only tastytrade lets you track your learning progress over time.
tastytrade earns the higher education score with 4 stars and a #9 of 14 ranking from StockBrokers.com, compared to Firstrade’s 3.5 stars and #12 ranking. If you want core stock and options lessons with videos and webinars, Firstrade covers the basics well. If ETF education and progress tracking matter, tastytrade is the better fit for growing your knowledge.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
Both Firstrade and tastytrade offer capable iPhone and Android stock trading apps with options trading, streaming quotes, stock alerts, and customizable watch lists. Each earns 4.5 out of 5 stars from StockBrokers.com, with Firstrade ranked #9 and tastytrade #10. The key split: Firstrade delivers far deeper on-chart tools (81 technical studies plus stock comparison overlays), while tastytrade answers with after-hours charting. Firstrade supports mobile after-hours trading; tastytrade’s mobile after-hours trading availability wasn’t specified. Neither broker has an Apple Watch app, live TV, or videos on demand.
Charting on both apps works in landscape and supports multiple time frames. Firstrade adds 81 built-in studies and the ability to compare symbols on the same chart; tastytrade lists 0 studies and no comparison overlays but does include after-hours charting (Firstrade does not). Both provide real-time streaming quotes to keep prices updating as you watch.
For day-to-day use, you can create custom watch lists on both apps and tailor the columns you see. Each platform supports mobile options trading and price alerts. Mobile after-hours stock trading is available on Firstrade; information for tastytrade’s mobile after-hours trading was not provided.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When choosing between Firstrade and tastytrade for your online brokerage needs, your decision may hinge on the specific types of transactions you expect to prioritize. Firstrade emerges as the more cost-effective option for options traders, offering zero charges per options contract and no fees for options exercise or assignment. In contrast, tastytrade charges $0.50 per options contract and $5.00 for options exercise and assignment. Though both brokers have a $0 minimum deposit and provide free regular stock trades, tastytrade distinguishes itself with lower margin rates across various balance tiers, starting at 11% for balances below $25,000. However, take note of the IRA closure fee of $60 with tastytrade, which Firstrade does not impose.
Firstrade and tastytrade both provide a welcoming entry point for new investors, offering no minimum deposit and charging zero for regular stock trades. This feature makes them appealing for those looking to get started without upfront financial barriers. For IRA account holders, both brokers provide fee-free account maintenance, although tastytrade imposes a $60 closure fee that Firstrade does not. Additionally, Firstrade sets itself apart with fee-free options contract trading and no charges for options exercise and assignment, an advantage for options traders seeking to minimize costs.
Considering margin trading, tastytrade offers more competitive rates than Firstrade. For example, margin balances below $25,000 incur an 11% charge with tastytrade, compared to Firstrade's 12.75%. The savings grow as your margin balance increases, with tastytrade offering a rate of 10% for balances between $50,000 and $99,999, compared to Firstrade's rate of 12%. However, if options trading is your focus, Firstrade's $0 cost per contract may prove advantageous over tastytrade's $0.50 charge. Both platforms charge $75 for a full account transfer (ACAT), though Firstrade charges a lesser fee for partial transfers at $55 compared to tastytrade's $75. Ultimately, your choice between Firstrade and tastytrade will depend on whether you prioritize cost-effective options trading or lower margin rates.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.50 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $60.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
For day trading stocks, both Firstrade and tastytrade miss several core tools. Neither platform offers streaming time and sales, Level 2 quotes, direct market routing, keyboard hotkeys, or maker/taker rebates. Those gaps matter to traders who rely on fast reads of order flow and precision order control. Both also skip basic strategy backtesting, which limits on-platform strategy checks.
Where tastytrade pulls ahead is in added features that active traders may value: streaming live TV for market insight, ladder trading for fast order entry, advanced strategy backtesting, and a short locator tool to check real-time short stock availability. Firstrade lacks these. If you want more day-trading-friendly tools and plan to short or iterate on strategies, tastytrade is the stronger pick. If you only place occasional stock trades and don’t need advanced tools, Firstrade can get the job done, but neither platform is ideal for traders who demand Level 2, direct routing, or hotkey-based execution.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | No |
| Streaming TV | No | Yes |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes |
| Short Locator | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: In the Firstrade vs tastytrade matchup for market research, Firstrade is the easy winner. It covers more asset types and offers more ways to analyze them, including social media sentiment and ESG data, plus downloadable PDF reports. Reflecting that edge, StockBrokers.com rates Firstrade 4.5/5 and ranks it #6 of 14 brokers, while tastytrade earns 1.5/5 and ranks #13. Choose Firstrade if you want full-spectrum research; pick tastytrade only if you need minimal research alongside trading tools.
Both brokers provide stock and ETF research and let you view portfolio allocation by asset class. Firstrade goes further with research on mutual funds, Pink Sheets/OTCBB, and bonds—areas where tastytrade offers no research. Only Firstrade includes stock research using social media sentiment and dedicated ESG research.
For downloadable materials, Firstrade supplies one PDF stock report and ETF PDFs (neither broker offers mutual fund PDFs), while tastytrade provides no PDFs. For idea generation, both have stock and ETF screeners; Firstrade also adds a mutual fund screener, and both include a bond screener even though tastytrade lacks bond research. Overall, Firstrade delivers a broader, more informative research experience than tastytrade.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking capabilities of Firstrade and tastytrade, it's clear that Firstrade provides more options for those interested in specific banking features. Firstrade offers checking accounts and debit cards, which tastytrade does not. Furthermore, Firstrade offers certificates of deposit (CDs) to its users, another feature not available with tastytrade. Neither Firstrade nor tastytrade provides savings accounts, credit cards, or mortgage loans, making them similar in these respects. Overall, Firstrade might be a better choice for someone looking to integrate certain banking services with their brokerage account.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No |
| Credit Cards | No | No |
| 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 tastytrade. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 81.8%, while tastytrade finished with a score of 80.1%.
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.
Firstrade does not offer crypto trading, whereas tastytrade provides access to trading 17 different cryptocurrency coins, making it a more diverse option for crypto enthusiasts.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Firstrade and tastytrade both offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, but while Firstrade charges no closure fee when closing IRA accounts, tastytrade imposes a $60.00 closure fee.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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| Review | Firstrade Review | tastytrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
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| Trading Fees | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | $0.50 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | $1.00 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $19.95 | $0 |
| Margin Rates | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.75% | 11% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.50% | 10.5% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.00% | 10% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.50% | 9.5% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 11.25% | 9% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 9.35% | 8.5% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.75% | 8% |
| Account Fees | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $60.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $55.00 | $75.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Investment Options | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 17 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | No | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Order Type - OCO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | Yes |
| Beginners | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | No | Yes | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | 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 | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | N/A | tastytrade | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 50 | 33 |
| Stock Chart Features | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 308 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 31 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
| 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 | 7 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | Yes |
| Day Trading | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | No | |
| Streaming TV | No | Yes | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes | |
| Short Locator | No | Yes | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | No | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 1 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | No | |
| Credit Cards | No | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Customer Service | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Overall | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Firstrade Review | tastytrade Review |
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