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.
Here’s the bottom line on Firstrade vs tastytrade: both brokers cover the basics well with stock and options trading, margin, and fractional shares, and each earns 4 stars for Range of Investments. If you want mutual funds and OTC stocks, Firstrade is the better fit, which helps explain its higher StockBrokers.com ranking (#5 vs tastytrade’s #9). If you want futures, forex, and crypto, tastytrade wins, offering crypto trading with 17 coins. Both support Traditional and Roth IRAs, and neither offers advisor services.
For stock-focused investors, both platforms let you trade stocks with margin and buy fractional shares. The key differences show up in what you can add around stocks: Firstrade supports OTC stocks and mutual funds, while tastytrade does not. That makes Firstrade appealing for investors who like fund choices and access to smaller, off-exchange names.
Active traders who want more markets may lean to tastytrade. It offers options like Firstrade, but also adds futures, forex, and crypto trading (17 coins). Firstrade does not support those three. Both brokers offer Traditional and Roth IRAs for retirement savers, and neither provides advisor services, so you’ll manage your own portfolio on either platform.
| 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 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: for trading platforms and tools, tastytrade beats Firstrade by a wide margin. Tastytrade offers desktop apps for both Windows and Mac, richer charts, a built-in trading journal, and the ability to adjust orders directly on charts. StockBrokers.com rates tastytrade 4 out of 5 stars and ranks it #5 of 14 brokers for platforms and tools, while Firstrade earns 1 out of 5 stars and ranks #12. Firstrade does have a couple of bright spots—larger watch list fields (50 vs 33) and automated chart pattern recognition—but overall it trails on features active traders value.
Platform access and workflow: Firstrade is web-only; there’s no downloadable platform for Windows or Mac, no paper trading, and no trading journal. Tastytrade covers more ground with desktop platforms for Windows and Mac plus a browser platform. While neither broker offers paper trading, tastytrade includes a trading journal and lets you modify open orders right on a chart, which can speed up trade entry. For watch lists, Firstrade shows up to 50 columns, compared with 33 on tastytrade. Tastytrade also lets you save multiple chart profiles; Firstrade does not.
Charting and studies: Firstrade supplies 102 technical indicators and 8 drawing tools, and it can auto-detect chart patterns. Tastytrade goes deeper on customization, with 308 indicators, 31 drawing tools, the ability to add notes to charts, show historical trades, display corporate events, set custom date ranges, and create custom studies. Editing a simple moving average offers more controls on tastytrade (7 fields vs 6). Tastytrade doesn’t auto-mark chart patterns, but its broader tool set and flexibility will better suit most traders who rely on charts.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 50 | 33 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 308 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 31 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Comparing Firstrade vs tastytrade for beginner and investor education, both brokers offer stock and options lessons supported by videos and webinars. tastytrade stands out by also covering ETFs and letting users track their learning progress, which can help beginners stay organized. Neither broker offers education on mutual funds or bonds, and neither provides paper trading or quizzes.
In independent ratings, StockBrokers.com scores Firstrade 2.5 out of 5 stars for education and ranks it 13th out of 14 brokers, while tastytrade earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks 11th. For newcomers who want ETF education and a clearer path to follow, tastytrade has the edge. If you only need straightforward stock and options basics, Firstrade can do the job, but its education is more limited.
| 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 |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Bottom line: For most people comparing stock trading apps, Firstrade edges out tastytrade thanks to stronger charting tools and a higher placement in StockBrokers.com’s rankings (Firstrade #8 of 14 vs. tastytrade #12), even though both earn 4 stars. Both brokers cover core mobile needs on iPhone and Android, but if you want many technical studies or to compare stocks directly on charts, Firstrade is the clearer fit. If after-hours charting is essential, tastytrade has that feature. Mobile after-hours trading is available on Firstrade; tastytrade’s availability for after-hours trading on mobile wasn’t specified in the data provided.
Apps and trading basics: Firstrade and tastytrade both offer iPhone and Android apps; neither supports Apple Watch. Mobile after-hours stock trading: Firstrade yes; tastytrade not stated. Mobile options trading: both yes. Streaming quotes: both yes. Streaming live TV and videos on demand: neither offers them. Stock alerts and customizable watch lists (including custom columns): both brokers provide these.
Charts on mobile: Both apps support landscape mode and multiple time frames. After-hours charting is available on tastytrade but not on Firstrade. Technical studies are a major separator: Firstrade offers 81 studies, while tastytrade offers none. Firstrade also lets you display stock comparisons on charts; tastytrade does not. Taken together, Firstrade is better for chart-driven traders, while tastytrade may appeal if you specifically want after-hours charting within the app.
| 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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
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 2026
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 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
In the Firstrade vs tastytrade market research matchup, Firstrade is the stronger choice. It covers more investment types, offers more ways to analyze ideas, and gives you access to downloadable reports that tastytrade lacks. Reflecting that, StockBrokers.com rates Firstrade 4 stars and ranks it #6 out of 14 brokers for research, while tastytrade earns 2 stars and ranks #13.
Both brokers provide research for stocks and ETFs and let you see your portfolio allocation by asset class. Firstrade goes further with mutual fund, pink sheets/OTC, and bond research, plus extras like social media sentiment and ESG insights—none of which tastytrade offers. For downloadable PDFs, Firstrade supplies one stock report and ETF reports; tastytrade offers no PDFs for stocks or ETFs. Neither broker provides PDF reports for mutual funds.
For trade idea tools, both platforms include stock and ETF screeners, and both have a bond screener. Only Firstrade adds a mutual fund screener. If you want wider coverage and more research angles in one place, Firstrade fits better; tastytrade suits those who need the basics and plan to source deeper research elsewhere.
| 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 2026
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 67.8%, while tastytrade finished with a score of 64.0%.
Firstrade is a good choice for options traders and self-reliant investors due to its aggressive pricing model that completely eliminates per-contract fees on options. While it lacks asset classes like crypto and futures, it impresses with institutional-grade infrastructure, supporting complex account types like Trusts and Business IRAs and wide international accessibility.
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 2026
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 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Firstrade | tastytrade | |
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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | 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 | 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 | |
| Watchlists - 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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