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Firstrade vs tastytrade 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

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.

Firstrade
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00
tastytrade
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.50 info

Range of investments

Firstrade and tastytrade both give investors access to stock trading, margin trading, fractional shares, options, traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs. Each broker also earns 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, so both are solid choices for everyday investing accounts. If you want the simplest takeaway, Firstrade stands out for offering a wider mix of account investments overall, while tastytrade still delivers a strong lineup for traders who want a broad set of tools in one place.

When it comes to investment options, Firstrade has an edge in a few key areas. It offers OTC stocks and mutual funds, while tastytrade does not. Firstrade, however, does not support forex, futures, or crypto trading. For investors focused on traditional stocks and funds, Firstrade may feel more complete.

tastytrade is built more for active traders who want access to forex, futures, and crypto, in addition to stocks, margin, fractional shares, and options. It supports crypto trading with 26 coins, while Firstrade does not offer crypto at all. Neither broker offers advisor services, so the main difference comes down to the types of investments you want to trade inside your account.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 26
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

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

Trading platforms and tools

For trading platforms and tools, tastytrade is the stronger choice overall compared with Firstrade. tastytrade offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser-based platform, while Firstrade is limited to web access. tastytrade also earns a higher platform score, ranking No. 5 out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com and receiving 4 out of 5 stars, compared with Firstrade’s No. 12 ranking and 1-star rating.

On the platform features that matter for active traders, tastytrade gives users more ways to manage and analyze trades. It includes a trading journal, the ability to adjust open orders directly on charts, and chart notes, historical trade markers, corporate event overlays, and saved chart profiles. Firstrade, by comparison, does not offer these tools. Firstrade does stand out in a few areas, such as offering 50 watch list columns versus tastytrade’s 33, plus automated technical analysis on charts, which tastytrade does not provide.

Charting is another area where tastytrade has the edge. It offers 308 technical indicators and 31 drawing tools, compared with Firstrade’s 102 indicators and 8 drawing tools. Both brokers let you set custom date ranges, but tastytrade goes further with more chart customization, including custom studies and slightly more SMA settings. Neither broker offers paper trading, so traders looking to practice with simulated money will need to look elsewhere.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 1/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Accounts and Online Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps and Simulators for 2026

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Beginners and education

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 logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 2.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Trading Platforms and Brokerage Accounts for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

Firstrade and tastytrade both give mobile traders a solid app experience, with iPhone and Android apps, streaming quotes, stock alerts, custom watch lists, mobile options trading, and after-hours charting. Each also supports landscape chart viewing and multiple time frames, and both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for stock trading apps. The main difference is that Firstrade has the edge for charting tools, while tastytrade’s app covers the basics well but offers fewer chart features. Overall, Firstrade is the better pick for active mobile stock traders who want deeper chart analysis, while tastytrade may appeal to users who want a simpler app with the same core trading features.

Firstrade and tastytrade both support stock trading on iPhone and Android, but neither offers an Apple Watch app, streaming live TV, or videos on demand. They also both let users trade options from mobile, follow after-hours moves, and set up stock alerts. For everyday trading needs, the two apps are closely matched, so most users will find the experience familiar on either platform.

Where Firstrade stands out is in charting. Its mobile app includes 102 technical studies and allows stock comparisons on charts, while tastytrade does not offer technical studies or stock comparison tools in its mobile charts. Firstrade also ranks higher for stock trading apps overall, placing #8 out of 14 brokers compared with tastytrade’s #12 ranking. If chart depth matters to you, Firstrade has the stronger mobile app.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App No No
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 102 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2026

Fees

Firstrade is the cheaper pick for many common account charges, especially if you want no-cost stock and options trading with no minimum deposit. Both Firstrade and tastytrade charge $0 minimum to open an account and $0 for regular stock trades, but Firstrade stands out with $0 per options contract, $0 options exercise fees, and $0 options assignment fees. It also charges $0 for IRA annual fees and IRA closure fees, while tastytrade charges a $60 IRA closure fee. If you want the lowest overall fees and fewer extra charges, Firstrade has the edge.

On margin rates, tastytrade is lower across the balance tiers shown. For balances below $25,000, tastytrade charges 11% versus Firstrade’s 12.25%; for balances from $25,000 to $49,999, tastytrade charges 10.5% versus 12.00% at Firstrade; and for balances from $50,000 to $99,999, tastytrade charges 10% versus 11.50% at Firstrade. So, if you expect to borrow on margin, tastytrade may cost less in interest.

When it comes to transfer fees, the picture is mixed. Firstrade charges less for a partial ACAT transfer at $55 compared with tastytrade’s $75, while both brokers charge $75 for a full ACAT transfer. Overall, Firstrade is better for traders who want the lowest trading and account-related fees, while tastytrade may be the better fit for those who plan to use margin more often.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 Stock Trading Platforms and Commission-Free Apps for 2026

Day Trading

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 logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 and Apps for 2026

Market Research

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 logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 4/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

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 logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 Brokers with 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 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.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Firstrade or tastytrade?

When comparing Firstrade vs. tastytrade for crypto trading, tastytrade clearly has the advantage by offering access to 26 coins, while Firstrade does not offer crypto trading at all. If cryptocurrency access is important, tastytrade is the better choice in this category.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does Firstrade or tastytrade offer IRAs?

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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Firstrade tastytrade
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 4/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Education 2.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 2.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review tastytrade Review
Broker Screenshots Firstrade tastytrade
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Firstrade tastytrade
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $0.000 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 12.25% 11%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12.00% 10.5%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 11.50% 10%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 11.00% 9.5%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 10.75% 9%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 8.85% 8.5%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 8.25% 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 26
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 Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes Yes
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 102 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 Yes 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 Yes No
Overall Firstrade tastytrade
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 1/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 2.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease of Use 2.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review tastytrade Review
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