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Firstrade vs Tradier 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

January 23, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs Tradier, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Firstrade
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00
Tradier
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.35 info

Range of investments

Firstrade and Tradier both present compelling options for investors, each with their own strengths. Firstrade stands out for offering a wider range of investment options, including fractional shares and OTC stocks, which Tradier does not provide. This enhancement in investment versatility has earned Firstrade a 4.5-star rating for its range, placing it in the sixth position among 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Tradier, although lacking some of Firstrade's options, still offers a solid selection with stock, options, mutual funds, and futures trading opportunities, securing a 4-star rating and an 11th-place ranking.

Both Firstrade and Tradier offer stock trading, margin trading, mutual funds, options trading, and traditional as well as Roth IRA accounts. This makes them viable choices for a wide array of investors. However, neither platform provides forex or crypto trading, so those interested in these markets may need to look elsewhere for alternatives. Additionally, while both brokers offer mutual funds, these offerings are complemented by Firstrade's availability of OTC stocks and fractional shares, catering to investors who wish to diversify their portfolios further.

For those inclined towards futures trading, Tradier has the edge over Firstrade, which does not offer this option. Yet, for fans of fractional shares investment or those interested in OTC stocks, Firstrade provides an additional layer of flexibility. While neither platform offers advisor services, their commitment to traditional investment methods and IRA account options ensures that individual investors can effectively manage their portfolios without additional guidance. Overall, the choice between Firstrade and Tradier ultimately hinges on the specific needs and trading preferences of the investor.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes No
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading info No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 0
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing Firstrade and Tradier for their trading platforms and tools, Firstrade slightly edges out with a rating of 3 stars versus Tradier’s 2.5 stars. Ranked #11 out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com, Firstrade demonstrates a more competitive standing compared to Tradier's #14 ranking. Both brokers do not offer downloadable desktop platforms for Windows or Mac; instead, they provide browser-based platforms. However, Firstrade gains some advantage by offering more technical indicators and drawing tools for charting.

For traders who value the richness of data in their watch lists, Firstrade offers a significant advantage with 50 customizable columns, while Tradier falls behind with just 3. Both platforms lack features like the ability to adjust open orders directly on stock charts and also do not support chart pattern analysis or the creation of custom studies. Furthermore, neither supports saving multiple chart profiles nor setting custom date ranges for charts.

Tradier does offer unique benefits such as paper trading and the ability to add notes to charts, which can be appealing to certain traders. It also supports showing historical trades on charts, a feature Firstrade does not provide. Both platforms show limitations in customization, as seen with the editing capabilities of SMA studies, where Tradier offers one extra field. Despite these offerings, Firstrade's broader scope of technical indicators and drawing tools might make it more appealing for traders focused on technical analysis.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No No info
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No info
Paper Trading info No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 95
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 0
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025

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Beginners and education

When comparing Firstrade and Tradier in terms of education for beginner investors, Firstrade shows a better commitment. Firstrade provides educational resources on stock and options trading and includes helpful tools like educational videos and webinars to aid learning. However, it doesn't offer content on ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, or paper trading. Despite the lack of resources in some areas, Firstrade stands out with a reasonable 3.5-star rating for education and ranks 13th out of 18 brokers on StockBrokers.com.

On the other hand, Tradier appears to lack in the education department. It doesn't offer educational materials for stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, or bonds. However, Tradier does provide paper trading, giving beginners a chance to practice trading without financial risk. Despite this, Tradier doesn’t support educational videos, webinars, or quizzes and has no system to track learning progress. With these limitations, Tradier's education offering garners no stars and is ranked 16th out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Education (Stocks) info Yes No
Education (ETFs) info No No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes No
Webinars info Yes No
Education 3.5/5 Stars 0/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

In the realm of stock trading apps, Firstrade and Tradier both bring valuable features to the table, yet Firstrade seems to have a slight edge. With a higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to Tradier's 4-star rating, Firstrade is recognized for its robust mobile trading capabilities, offering its users a more comprehensive experience according to its ranking of 9th out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com. Tradier, though ranked 14th, still manages to deliver reliable services to those looking for a solid trading platform.

Both Firstrade and Tradier offer iPhone and Android apps, making them accessible for mobile users. However, neither platform supports an Apple Watch app, and both lack streaming live TV and videos on demand. Firstrade provides additional advantages with features such as mobile after-hours stock trading, mobile options trading, streaming quotes, and stock alerts, which are missing from Tradier's offerings.

When it comes to user customization and charting capabilities, Firstrade offers greater flexibility. Users can create and customize watch lists and view charts in landscape mode across multiple time frames with a selection of 81 technical studies. In contrast, Tradier does not support customizable watch list columns or landscape charting mode, and it lacks technical studies in its mobile app. Despite these differences, both brokers enable users to track stocks effectively with streaming quotes and allow for multiple time frame charting, providing a competitive edge for mobile investors.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes No
Charting - After-Hours info No No
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

Firstrade and Tradier both offer competitive pricing structures, but they have distinct differences in various account fees and charges. The standout aspect of Firstrade is its zero-fee policy for regular stock trades, options contracts, and charges related to IRA management, such as annual and closure fees. Tradier, on the other hand, has competitive margin rates, especially for balances below $50,000, and charges $0.35 per options contract. Overall, your choice between these online brokers may depend on whether lower margin rates or zero-fee options trading and IRA costs are more beneficial to your investing strategy.

Both Firstrade and Tradier impress with their zero minimum deposit requirements and commission-free stock trading, making them accessible choices for new investors and seasoned traders alike. While Firstrade excels with its zero-cost approach to IRAs and options trading, Tradier's structure may suit active traders who seek favorable margin borrowing rates. Tradier maintains a consistent 9.5% rate on margin balances under $100,000, whereas Firstrade's rates begin at 13.75% and decrease slightly for larger balances.

Examining additional fees, Firstrade charges $55 for partial account transfers and $75 for full transfers, matching Tradier's full transfer fee but coming in cheaper for partial transfers. Additionally, for those involved heavily in options trading, Firstrade offers no charges for options exercise or assignment, a clear advantage over Tradier's $9 fee for each. As you weigh these two brokers, consider which cost structure aligns best with your trading habits and investment goals to make an informed decision.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.35 info
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $9.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $9.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $30.00 info
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $60.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

When comparing Firstrade and Tradier for day trading, both brokers offer similar features—or the lack thereof—for active traders looking for advanced tools. Neither Firstrade nor Tradier provide streaming time and sales data, streaming live TV, or direct market routing options. Essential tools for fast-paced trading, such as ladder trading, trading hotkeys, and level 2 quotes, are not available with either broker. This might be a consideration for traders who rely heavily on real-time data and quick execution capabilities.

For those interested in developing and testing trading strategies, both Firstrade and Tradier fall short as they do not offer basic or advanced backtesting capabilities. Additionally, neither platform provides a short locator tool, making it challenging for traders to assess the availability of shares to short. If rebates from order liquidity are a significant factor in your trading strategy, it's important to note that neither broker offers maker/taker rebates. Overall, those looking for comprehensive day trading functionalities may need to consider alternative platforms that provide more specialized tools and features.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

When comparing market research capabilities between Firstrade and Tradier, Firstrade clearly stands out. It offers comprehensive stock, ETFs, mutual funds, pink sheets/OTCBB, and bonds research, as well as advanced tools like stock and ETF screeners. Firstrade's ability to provide insights through social media sentiment data, ESG research, and portfolio allocation visibility further enhances its appeal and earns it a high rating of 4.5 stars. In contrast, Tradier lacks depth in several areas, most notably in mutual funds, bonds, pink sheets/OTCBB research, and advanced data analysis, contributing to its lower rating of 1.5 stars.

For those interested in stock research, both Firstrade and Tradier offer some foundational research options. However, Firstrade takes a step further with its inclusion of downloadable PDF reports for stocks and ETFs, which Tradier does not offer. Firstrade also supports a variety of research screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, aiding investors in identifying potential trade ideas. Tradier, unfortunately, misses out on providing these screeners, potentially limiting the depth of exploration investors can undertake.

When considering additional resources, Firstrade enhances the user experience with features like portfolio allocation by asset class and unique research data such as ESG factors and social media sentiment. Tradier, on the other hand, does not offer these critical analysis tools, which could be a determining factor for investors seeking comprehensive market insights. Overall, for investors prioritizing extensive market research and analytic capabilities, Firstrade is the preferable choice, highlighting why it ranks #6 in market research according to StockBrokers.com, while Tradier sits at #15.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Bonds info Yes No
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers Firstrade and Tradier, Firstrade stands out by offering a few extra banking services. Firstrade provides its customers with checking accounts and debit cards, while Tradier does not offer these services. Additionally, Firstrade offers certificates of deposit (CDs), which are not available through Tradier. However, both Firstrade and Tradier do not offer savings accounts, credit cards, or mortgage loans. For users looking for more traditional banking features alongside their online brokerage services, Firstrade presents a slightly broader selection than Tradier.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info No No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Credit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
CDs info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 18 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Firstrade is better than Tradier. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 81.8%, while Tradier finished with a score of 65.6%.

Firstrade scored well for penny stock trading in our 2024 Annual Awards, and is a great choice for Chinese-speaking investors. However, it lags behind the competition in certain areas, especially platforms, tools and education.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Firstrade or Tradier?

When comparing online brokers Firstrade and Tradier, neither platform offers crypto trading, with both providing zero coins for cryptocurrency transactions.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Firstrade or Tradier offer IRAs?

Both Firstrade and Tradier offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts; however, Firstrade stands out with $0 annual and closure fees, compared to Tradier's $30 annual fee and $60 closure fee.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Firstrade Tradier
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 0/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review Tradier Review
Broker Screenshots Firstrade Tradier
Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand)
Research Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Firstrade Tradier
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $0.00 N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $0 $30 info
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.35 info
Futures (Per Contract) info (Not offered) $1.50 info
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $19.95 $10
Margin Rates Firstrade Tradier
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 13.75% 9.5%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 13.50% 9.5%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 13.00% 9.5%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 12.50% 9.5%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 12.50% 9.5%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 12.50% 9.5%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 12.50% 9.5%
Account Fees Firstrade Tradier
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $30.00 info
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $60.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $55.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $9.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $9.00
Investment Options Firstrade Tradier
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes No
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 4
Futures Trading info No Yes
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 0
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 15460 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 19666 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes No
Bonds (Corporate) info Yes No
Bonds (Municipal) info Yes No
Traditional IRAs info Yes Yes
Roth IRAs info Yes Yes
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Firstrade Tradier
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info Yes No
Order Type - OCO info Yes Yes
Order Type - OTO info Yes Yes
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes Yes
Beginners Firstrade Tradier
Education (Stocks) info Yes No
Education (ETFs) info No No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Retirement Calculator info Yes No
Investor Dictionary info Yes No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes No
Webinars info Yes No
Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Firstrade Tradier
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes No
Stock App Features Firstrade Tradier
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes No
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes No
Stock App Charting Firstrade Tradier
Charting - After-Hours info No No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 0
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No No
Trading Platforms Firstrade Tradier
Active Trading Platform info TradeHawk
Desktop Trading Platform info No No info
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No info
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 3
Stock Chart Features Firstrade Tradier
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 95
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 0
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Historical Trades info No Yes
Charting - Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info No No
Charting - Save Profiles info No No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 6 7
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Firstrade Tradier
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info No No
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview Firstrade Tradier
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes No
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Bonds info Yes No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes No
Stock Research Firstrade Tradier
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 1 0
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes No
Stock Research - Insiders info Yes No
Stock Research - Social info Yes No
Stock Research - News info Yes No
Stock Research - ESG info Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes No
ETF Research Firstrade Tradier
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes No
Mutual Fund Research Firstrade Tradier
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info Yes No
Options Trading Firstrade Tradier
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info No No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 8 8
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 1
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info No Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis info No No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks info No No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info No No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping info No No
Banking Firstrade Tradier
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service Firstrade Tradier
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes No
24/7 Support info No No
Overall Firstrade Tradier
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 0/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review Tradier Review
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