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Firstrade vs Webull 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

July 03, 2025

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.

Firstrade
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00
Webull
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Range of investments

When comparing Firstrade and Webull, Firstrade emerges as the more comprehensive choice for investors looking for variety in their investment options. Firstrade offers a broader range of investment possibilities, including mutual funds, which Webull does not provide. While both platforms provide stock trading, margin trading, fractional shares, options trading, and traditional and Roth IRA accounts, Firstrade's inclusion of OTC stocks and mutual funds gives it a slight edge in versatility. In contrast, Webull offers futures trading, a feature absent in Firstrade, catering to those interested in this specific investment path. Despite having similar offerings in several areas, Firstrade holds a higher rating for its range of investments, boasting 4.5 stars compared to Webull's 4 stars and ranks better in the StockBrokers.com comparison.

Both Firstrade and Webull allow users to trade stocks and engage in margin and options trading. They also provide the flexibility of fractional shares and support for both traditional and Roth IRA accounts, making them suitable for a range of investment strategies. However, while Webull includes futures trading in its lineup, both platforms lack offerings in forex and cryptocurrency trading, with neither supporting crypto coins. This limitation is an important factor for investors prioritizing diversified assets that include digital currencies.

In terms of user support such as advisor services, both Firstrade and Webull are equally matched as neither provides this additional layer of guidance. Therefore, investors preferring hands-on support might need to look elsewhere. Ultimately, Firstrade and Webull each offer unique advantages tailored to different investor needs. Firstrade's offering is broader, but Webull provides a distinctive option with futures trading, making the choice between the two dependent on specific investment interests and priorities.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Webull logoWebull
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds info Yes No
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: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market

Trading platforms and tools

When choosing between Firstrade and Webull for trading platforms and tools, Webull comes out ahead with more comprehensive features. It offers a downloadable trading platform for both Windows and Mac users, which Firstrade does not. Additionally, Webull provides paper trading and a more interactive charting experience with features like stock chart order adjustments, chart notes, and historical trade displays, none of which are available with Firstrade. While Firstrade has more fields for watch lists and more technical indicators, Webull’s added functionalities such as automated technical analysis and saving multiple chart profiles, give it an edge in usability and versatility.

Both platforms provide browser-based trading, allowing traders to access information without the need for additional software. Firstrade takes the lead with 102 technical indicators compared to Webull's 52, and it offers 50 fields for watch lists whereas Webull provides 35. On the flip side, Webull stands out for its rich charting capabilities, boasting 19 drawing tools against Firstrade's 8, and exclusive features like the ability to add notes and display corporate events directly on charts. Moreover, Webull supports custom studies and automated technical analysis, which add significant value to its trading experience.

In summary, while Firstrade offers a sound set of tools, Webull's broader array of features and customization options result in a superior user experience, earning it a higher user rating of 4 out of 5 stars compared to Firstrade’s 3-star rating. According to StockBrokers.com, Webull ranks 7th out of 14 brokers for its trading platforms and tools, while Firstrade is positioned at 11th. For traders keen on interactive and feature-rich trading platforms, Webull is a more suitable choice.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Webull logoWebull
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 35
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 52
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 19
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

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

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Beginners and education

Firstrade and Webull are popular online brokers that cater to beginners seeking investment education, but their offerings vary. Firstrade provides educational resources on stocks, options, and offers webinars and videos, yet falls short in areas like ETF and bonds education, and lacks features such as paper trading. Webull, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive educational experience. Alongside resources on stocks and options, Webull covers ETFs and includes paper trading, quizzes, and progress tracking, enhancing the learning experience for novice investors.

When evaluated on their educational services, Webull generally edges out Firstrade, boasting a 4 out of 5-star rating compared to Firstrade's 3.5 stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings by StockBrokers.com, where Webull stands at 10th out of 14 brokers, while Firstrade is placed 12th. The fuller educational suite provided by Webull makes it a more appealing option for beginners aiming to build their investing confidence through a wider range of learning tools.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Webull logoWebull
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

Both Firstrade and Webull offer impressive stock trading apps. They are highly rated at 4.5 stars each, showcasing their strong performance and popularity among users. However, Webull edges out Firstrade a bit in rankings, holding the 5th spot among 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, compared to Firstrade's 9th position. This slight difference suggests Webull may have a slight edge in user experience according to industry experts, but the offerings of both platforms ensure traders have robust tools at their disposal.

When it comes to app availability, both Firstrade and Webull provide iPhone and Android apps, ensuring compatibility with major devices. While Webull also offers an app for the Apple Watch, Firstrade does not. Both platforms allow for mobile after-hours and options trading, ensuring flexibility for users trading outside standard market hours. Both apps feature streaming quotes, stock alerts, and the ability to create custom watch lists, but Firstrade has the edge in chart customization, allowing users to modify watch list columns, a feature not available with Webull. In contrast, Webull offers after-hours charting and the ability to display stock comparisons on charts, features absent in Firstrade.

In terms of charting capabilities, Firstrade provides a more extensive range of technical studies, offering 81 compared to Webull's 56. Both apps support viewing charts in landscape mode and allow users to view multiple time frames. Despite Webull's additional charting features such as after-hours charting, Firstrade’s broader selection of technical studies can benefit traders who rely heavily on technical analysis. Both platforms lack streaming live TV and video-on-demand services, focusing instead on core trading functionalities.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Webull logoWebull
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 56
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When choosing between Firstrade and Webull for online trading, potential investors will find both platforms offer cost-effective solutions without any minimum deposit requirement. Trades on stocks and options are commission-free, and both platforms eliminate IRA annual and closure fees, making them attractive for those looking for straightforward, budget-friendly trading options. However, it's important to note differences in extra charges; Webull offers lower rates for margin borrowing across all tiers as compared to Firstrade, making it slightly more favorable for those looking to trade on margin.

For those interested in specific fee structures, Firstrade and Webull match each other when it comes to regular stock and options trading, both offering $0 fees, which is an appealing aspect for cost-conscious traders. They also align with no fees for options contracts, options exercises, and assignments. However, a considerable distinction lies in their margin rate charges: Firstrade's rates start higher at 13.75% for balances below $25,000, compared to Webull's more competitive 9.24%. As balances increase, Firstrade's rates decrease slightly but remain above Webull's, with Firstrade charging 13.00% compared to Webull's 8.24% for balances between $50,000 and $99,999.

When considering account transfer fees, traders should be aware that both Firstrade and Webull charge for full account transfers at $75. However, Firstrade offers a slight advantage on partial account transfers with a lower fee of $55, compared to Webull's $75. This might be an influential factor for investors planning to move only a portion of their portfolios. Overall, while both platforms offer competitive, no-cost trading solutions, Webull might provide a marginally better experience for margin trading and account flexibility.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Webull logoWebull
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $0.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

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 logoFirstrade
Webull logoWebull
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No Yes
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 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 logoFirstrade
Webull logoWebull
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
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 2.5/5 Stars

Banking

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 logoFirstrade
Webull logoWebull
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 Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025

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 Webull. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 81.8%, while Webull finished with a score of 81.0%.

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 Webull?

When comparing online brokers, Firstrade and Webull both do not offer crypto trading, with each providing zero cryptocurrencies for trading.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Firstrade or Webull offer IRAs?

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

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Firstrade Webull
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review Webull Review
Broker Screenshots Firstrade Webull
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 Webull
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 N/A
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) info (Not offered) $1.25 info
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $19.95 N/A
Margin Rates Firstrade Webull
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 13.75% 9.24%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 13.50% 8.74%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 13.00% 8.24%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 12.50% 7.74%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 12.50% 7.74%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 12.50% 6.74%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 12.50% 6.24% info
Account Fees Firstrade Webull
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $55.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Firstrade Webull
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
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 Webull
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 Yes
Order Type - OCO info Yes Yes
Order Type - OTO info Yes Yes
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners Firstrade Webull
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
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 Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info No Yes
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No Yes
Stock Trading Apps Firstrade Webull
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No Yes
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 Yes
Stock App Features Firstrade Webull
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes No
Stock App Charting Firstrade Webull
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes Yes
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 56
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No Yes
Trading Platforms Firstrade Webull
Active Trading Platform info N/A N/A
Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No Yes
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 35
Stock Chart Features Firstrade Webull
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 52
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 19
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info No Yes
Charting - Corporate Events info No Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range info No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info No Yes
Charting - Save Profiles info No Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 6 2
Charting - Custom Studies info No Yes
Day Trading Firstrade Webull
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info No Yes
Trade Hotkeys info No Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No Yes
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 Webull
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
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 Webull
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 1 0
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info Yes Yes
Stock Research - Social info Yes Yes
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes Yes
ETF Research Firstrade Webull
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes Yes
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes No
Mutual Fund Research Firstrade Webull
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 Yes
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 Webull
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Streaming info No No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 8 23
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info No Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis info No Yes
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks info No Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info No No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Grouping info No No
Banking Firstrade Webull
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 Webull
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 Webull
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review Webull Review
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