Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs Webull, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Bottom line: In the Firstrade vs Webull comparison, Firstrade is the better pick for broader long-term investing, earning a higher Range of Investments score (4.5/5, ranked #6 of 14 by StockBrokers.com) than Webull (4/5, ranked #11). Firstrade’s edge is access to mutual funds, while Webull shines for traders who want crypto (50 coins), forex, and futures. Both brokers offer stocks, options, margin, fractional shares, and OTC stocks, and both support Traditional and Roth IRAs; neither provides advisor services.
Investment options at a glance: Firstrade offers stock trading, options trading, margin, fractional shares, OTC stocks, and mutual funds. It does not offer crypto, forex, or futures. Webull offers stock trading, options trading, margin, fractional shares, OTC stocks, plus crypto trading (50 coins), forex, and futures, but it does not offer mutual funds.
Who each broker fits: Choose Firstrade if you want mutual funds alongside stocks and options for a simple, long-term portfolio in taxable accounts or IRAs. Choose Webull if you want to trade crypto, forex, or futures in the same app where you trade stocks and options. In either case, you can open Traditional or Roth IRAs, but you won’t find advisor services at either broker.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 50 |
| 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
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, Webull stands out over Firstrade by offering more advanced features and greater flexibility, earning a higher ranking in industry reviews. While both platforms provide a browser-based experience, Webull takes the lead with downloadable desktop applications for both Windows and Mac users, as well as paper trading capabilities. Webull's platform also allows for order adjustments directly on charts, showcasing its commitment to providing a versatile and user-friendly experience. Firstrade, though providing a higher number of technical indicators for charting, falls short in several aspects, such as having a more extensive array of drawing tools and the ability to add notes on charts. These differences are reflected in their ratings, with Webull achieving 4 out of 5 stars, compared to Firstrade's 3 stars.
Webull's trading platform offers investors a wide range of charting capabilities and customization options that enhance the trading experience. With 19 drawing tools and the ability to display corporate events, historical trades, and add notes, Webull gives users a comprehensive look at market trends and trading history. Additionally, it supports automated technical analysis and allows users to save multiple chart profiles, catering to investors who require a tailored approach. Firstrade, while providing 102 technical indicators, does not offer the same level of customization and lacks features such as a trading journal and the ability to customize date ranges on charts.
In terms of watch list customization, Firstrade takes a slight edge with 50 fields compared to Webull's 35. However, Webull compensates for this with its ability to create custom studies for charts, further enhancing the analytical tools available to traders. Both Firstrade and Webull display automated technical analysis on charts, enabling investors to recognize potential market patterns. However, Firstrade's limited ability to customize settings, such as the absence of saving multiple chart profiles, makes it less appealing for those who rely heavily on detailed technical analysis. Overall, Webull's versatile and comprehensive platform offers an enhanced trading experience compared to Firstrade.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 50 | 35 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 52 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 19 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade™.
A full-featured account for investing
Get up to $1K on new brokerage account*
Both Firstrade and Webull offer beginner-friendly investing education with lessons on stocks and options, along with educational videos and webinars. Webull goes further by also teaching ETFs and bonds, while Firstrade does not cover those topics. Neither broker provides education on mutual funds.
When it comes to learning tools, Webull includes paper trading, quizzes, and the ability to track your progress; Firstrade does not offer these features. Reflecting this, Webull earns 4 stars and ranks #10 out of 14 for education on StockBrokers.com, while Firstrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks #12. Choose Webull if you want a more interactive path with practice and feedback, or Firstrade if you prefer straightforward basics through videos and webinars.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When choosing between Firstrade and Webull for stock trading through mobile apps, both platforms have distinct offerings to consider. Each garners a similar user rating of 4.5 stars for their apps, ensuring high satisfaction with either option. However, Webull receives a higher overall ranking, at #5 compared to Firstrade’s #9, according to StockBrokers.com. This suggests Webull may offer a more comprehensive experience overall for traders, despite both having strengths and weaknesses to weigh.
Firstrade and Webull both provide iPhone and Android apps, though Webull extends its compatibility to the Apple Watch, an accessibility feature not offered by Firstrade. For those interested in after-hours trading, both platforms accommodate this on mobile, though only Webull offers after-hours charting. Users needing diverse technical studies might favor Firstrade, which boasts 81 studies compared to Webull’s 56, ensuring more advanced chart analysis capabilities. Additionally, Firstrade supports the customization of watch list columns, giving users a tailored experience that Webull lacks.
In terms of user interface and options, both apps allow for the creation of custom watch lists and viewing charts in landscape mode. They also enable stock comparisons and multiple time frames on charts, leveraging both platforms’ versatility for analysis. While neither offers streaming live TV or on-demand videos, the absence of these features may not impact traders focused on fundamental functionalities rather than multimedia content. Ultimately, both apps deliver solid stock trading capabilities, making the choice between them dependent on users' specific needs and priorities.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 56 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
Bottom line: In the Firstrade vs Webull fees comparison, both brokers keep trading and IRA costs at zero, but they differ on margin interest and partial account transfer pricing. Webull’s margin rate for balances under $100,000 is 8.74%, noticeably lower than Firstrade’s 12.75% under $25,000, 12.50% for $25,000–$49,999, and 12.00% for $50,000–$99,999. For transfers, a partial ACAT costs $55 at Firstrade and $75 at Webull, while a full ACAT is $75 at both.
Getting started and placing trades costs the same at both: $0 minimum deposit, $0 for regular stock trades, and $0 per options contract. Option exercise and assignment are also $0 at both firms, which keeps total options costs straightforward.
Retirement savers will see parity too: neither Firstrade nor Webull charges IRA annual fees or IRA closure fees. The main variable cost to watch is margin: Webull’s 8.74% rate applies to the listed tiers under $100,000, whereas Firstrade scales from 12.75% down to 12.00% as balances rise. If you plan to move only part of an account, Firstrade’s $55 partial ACAT can be cheaper; otherwise, most other core fees match.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
When exploring online brokers for day trading, Firstrade and Webull each present unique advantages. A significant distinction lies in Webull’s offering of streaming time and sales for stocks, a feature absent from Firstrade. This allows Webull traders to benefit from real-time market insights, helping them make more informed decisions. Additionally, Webull provides tools like ladder trading and trading hotkeys, which are not available on Firstrade, granting traders faster trade execution and more nuanced control over their strategies.
Both platforms lack features like streaming live TV, direct market routing for stocks, as well as basic and advanced strategy backtesting. However, Webull offers level 2 quotes, which can be crucial for day traders looking to access deeper market data. In contrast, Firstrade does not offer this feature. Neither broker provides a short locator tool or order liquidity rebates, leaving room for traders to weigh other factors when choosing between these platforms. Overall, for day traders leaning towards data-driven and quick decision-making tools, Webull seems to offer more comprehensive capabilities.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes |
| 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
When it comes to market research capabilities, Firstrade stands out more prominently than Webull. Firstrade receives a 4.5 out of 5-star rating, ranking 6th among 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, indicating broad approval for its comprehensive research offerings. In contrast, Webull receives a lower rating of 2.5 stars and ranks 9th, showcasing a more limited suite of research tools.
Firstrade offers an extensive range of research options, including reports for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, pink sheets/OTCBB, and bonds, thereby providing investors with comprehensive data for making informed decisions. Users can also access portfolio allocation views by asset class, ESG research, and downloadable PDF reports for both stocks and ETFs. Additionally, Firstrade incorporates social media sentiment analysis and a variety of screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds to aid in trade ideas.
Webull, however, offers a more limited set of research features, focusing primarily on stock and ETF research, lacking in options for mutual funds and bonds research. While Webull covers stock analysis using social media sentiment data, it does not provide ESG research or downloadable PDF reports for stocks and ETFs. Investors may find Webull's screeners for stocks less comprehensive, as it excludes ETFs and bonds screeners, potentially limiting investment exploration.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 online brokers Firstrade and Webull, a few differences stand out. Firstrade offers some banking conveniences, including checking accounts and debit cards, which Webull does not provide. This can be an advantage for users who prefer having access to basic banking features alongside their investment account. Additionally, Firstrade offers Certificates of Deposit (CDs), while Webull lacks this option. Both brokers do not provide savings accounts, credit cards, or mortgage loans, which suggests a focus on investment services over traditional banking offerings. Overall, Firstrade may be a better option for those wanting to combine brokerage services with limited banking functionalities.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Webull
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Webull. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 81.8%, while Webull finished with a score of 81.0%.
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 vs Webull: Firstrade does not offer crypto trading (0 coins), whereas Webull supports cryptocurrency trading with 50 coins.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Both Firstrade and Webull offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees or closure costs, providing cost-effective solutions for investors looking to manage their retirement savings.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Customer Service |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Firstrade Review | Webull Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Trading Fees | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | $1.25 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $19.95 | N/A |
| Margin Rates | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.75% | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.50% | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.00% | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.50% | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 11.25% | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 9.35% | 8.74% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.75% | 8.74% |
| Account Fees | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $55.00 | $75.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 50 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
| Beginners | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | No | Yes | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | Yes |
| Stock Trading Apps | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Stock App Charting | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 56 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | N/A | N/A | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 50 | 35 |
| Stock Chart Features | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 52 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 19 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | No | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 6 | 2 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | Yes |
| Day Trading | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Stock Research | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 1 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | Yes |
| ETF Research | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Overall | Firstrade | Webull | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Firstrade Review | Webull Review |
Charles Schwab
Interactive Brokers
Fidelity
E*TRADE
Merrill Edge
Webull
TradeStation
tastytrade
Finviz
Stock Rover
TrendSpider
Trade Ideas
TraderSync
TradingView
Tradervue