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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
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) 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 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 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 (Fixed Income) 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

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 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, both stand out with their competitively low costs, particularly for those seeking a no-minimum deposit requirement. Both platforms offer commission-free stock trades and options contracts, making them equally appealing for traders looking to minimize costs. However, when considering margin traders, Webull holds an edge with lower interest rates across all tiers. Additionally, Firstrade incurs a smaller fee for partial account transfers compared to Webull, while both charge the same for full transfers. Overall, your decision may rest on evaluating whether margin rates or transfer fees align more closely with your trading priorities.

Firstrade and Webull cater to cost-conscious investors, maintaining a $0 minimum deposit and allowing commission-free trades for stocks and options contracts. Such features ensure you can start trading without initial financial hurdles. Furthermore, options enthusiasts will appreciate no exercise or assignment fees with either broker. For retirement-focused investors, both Firstrade and Webull provide IRA accounts without annual or closure fees, strengthening their appeal as a low-cost option.

Margin traders might find Webull more attractive due to lower interest rates. For balances below $25,000, Webull's rate stands at 9.24%, notably lower than Firstrade's 12.75%. As balances rise into the $25,000 to $49,999 range, the spread remains with Webull at 8.74% and Firstrade at 12.50%. This trend continues in higher tiers, where Webull's 8.24% rate for balances between $50,000 and $99,999 undercuts Firstrade's 12.00%. Meanwhile, Firstrade offers a cost advantage for partial Account Transfer (ACAT) fees at $55, compared to Webull's $75, though both maintain identical fees for full transfers. Ultimately, your choice between these brokers may depend on which aspects are most important for your trading style and financial needs.

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 - Equities 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 - Fixed Income info Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income 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
Brokerage 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%.

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.

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
Broker 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 12.75% 9.24%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 12.50% 8.74%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 12.00% 8.24%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 11.50% 7.74%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 11.25% 7.74%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 9.35% 6.74%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 8.75% 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
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) 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
Fixed Income (Treasurys) info Yes No
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) info Yes No
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) 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 (Fixed Income) 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
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 Yes 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 - 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 Yes 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 - Equities info No No
Ladder Trading info No Yes
Trade Hot Keys 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 - Fixed Income info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income info Yes No
Portfolio Asset 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 - Investment Objective info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total 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 - Investment Objective 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 - Total Greeks info 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
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 (Prospective Customers) info Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective 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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