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Webull vs Firstrade 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

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

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

Range of investments

Webull and Firstrade both give everyday investors access to a wide mix of account types and trading choices, including stocks, margin trading, fractional shares, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options, traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for range of investments, so each offers a solid selection for most common investing needs. The biggest difference is that Webull adds more advanced choices like forex, futures, and crypto trading, while Firstrade does not offer those products. If you want a broker with more markets under one roof, Webull has the edge; if you mainly want the basics with retirement accounts, Firstrade still covers a lot of ground.

Webull supports stock trading, margin trading, fractional share investing, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options trading, forex trading, futures trading, and crypto trading across 70 coins. Firstrade also supports stocks, margin, fractional shares, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options, and retirement accounts, but it does not offer forex, futures, or crypto. For investors comparing available investments inside a brokerage account, Webull is the broader platform overall because it includes more asset classes.

In StockBrokers.com’s range of investments ranking, Firstrade places higher than Webull, ranking #5 out of 14 brokers compared with Webull at #8. That higher ranking suggests Firstrade is competitive in how it structures its investment lineup, even though Webull offers more product types. For investors who want a simple broker with a strong set of standard investment options, Firstrade is a good fit, while Webull may appeal more to those looking for access to additional markets and crypto trading.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes Yes
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Futures Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 70 0
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

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

Trading platforms and tools

Overall, Webull comes out ahead of Firstrade for trading platforms and tools, especially if you want a more feature-rich experience for charting, order management, and practice trading. Webull earns a 3-star rating and ranks #9 out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com, while Firstrade lands at 1 star and #12 out of 14, making Webull the stronger pick for most active traders who want more built-in tools.

Webull offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser-based platform, while Firstrade only provides a web platform. Webull also includes paper trading, which is helpful for testing strategies without risking real money, while Firstrade does not. Neither broker offers a trading journal.

When it comes to charting and watch lists, Firstrade has more watch list fields and more technical indicators, with 50 columns and 102 indicators compared with Webull’s 35 columns and 60 indicators. But Webull has more drawing tools, lets users add notes to charts, view historical trades and corporate events on charts, adjust open orders right on the chart, save multiple chart profiles, and build custom studies. Firstrade does have a custom date range tool and more SMA customization fields, but overall Webull offers more hands-on trading and charting features.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Paper Trading Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields 35 50
Charting - Indicators / Studies 60 102
Charting - Drawing Tools 20 8
Advanced Trading 3/5 Stars 1/5 Stars

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

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Beginners and education

Webull and Firstrade both give beginners ways to learn the basics of investing, including stock and options education, plus educational videos and webinars. That said, Webull goes further with more learning tools for newer investors, offering ETF, mutual fund, and bond education, along with paper trading, quizzes, and progress tracking. Firstrade covers the core topics well, but its education section is more limited when it comes to extra practice and broader market topics.

In third-party ratings, Webull comes out ahead for investor education, earning 3 out of 5 stars and ranking #10 out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com. Firstrade is rated 2.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 14. For beginners who want more hands-on learning and a wider mix of educational content, Webull is the stronger choice, while Firstrade may be enough for investors who only need the basics.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) Yes No
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Education 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Trading Platforms for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

Webull comes out ahead overall for stock trading apps, thanks to its 4.5-star rating and #4 ranking out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com, compared with Firstrade’s 4-star rating and #8 ranking. Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, streaming quotes, stock alerts, mobile options trading, custom watch lists, after-hours charting, landscape chart views, multiple time frames, and stock comparison tools on charts. For traders who want the better-rated mobile app experience, Webull has the edge, while Firstrade still covers the main app features most investors look for.

Webull and Firstrade both make it easy to trade from a phone, but there are a few differences that may matter depending on how you invest. Webull offers an Apple Watch app, while Firstrade does not. Webull also supports mobile after-hours stock trading, and Firstrade’s support for this feature is not clearly listed here. On the other hand, Firstrade lets users customize watch list columns, which Webull does not.

When it comes to charting inside the mobile app, Firstrade offers more technical studies, with 102 versus Webull’s 56. That can be helpful for traders who rely on more chart indicators when making decisions. Neither broker offers streaming live TV or videos on demand in the app, so the experience is more focused on trading tools than educational media.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Firstrade logoFirstrade
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App Yes No
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 56 102
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2026

Fees

Webull and Firstrade both keep many everyday investing costs at $0, which makes either platform a low-cost choice for opening an account, buying and selling stocks, and trading options. They also both charge $0 for IRA annual fees, IRA closure fees, options exercise fees, and options assignment fees. If you plan to use margin, Webull is the cheaper option across the balance ranges listed here, with a 8.74% rate compared with Firstrade’s 12.25% below $25,000, 12.00% between $25,000 and $49,999, and 11.50% between $50,000 and $99,999. Overall, Webull and Firstrade are tied on most core trading fees, but Webull has the edge on margin rates while Firstrade is slightly cheaper for a partial account transfer.

Both brokers have a $0 minimum deposit, so you can start with no upfront funding requirement. Stock trades are free at both Webull and Firstrade, and options contracts also cost $0 per contract on each platform. This means basic buy-and-sell investing costs the same whether you choose Webull or Firstrade.

When it comes to transfer fees, Firstrade charges $55 for a partial ACAT transfer, while Webull charges $75. For a full ACAT transfer, both brokers charge $75. If transfer costs matter to you, Firstrade has a small advantage for partial transfers, but otherwise the two brokers are very close on fees and charges.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Firstrade logoFirstrade
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 Stock Trading Platforms and Commission-Free Apps for 2026

Day Trading

For day trading, Webull offers more real-time tools than Firstrade. Webull includes streaming time and sales, Level 2 quotes, ladder trading, and keyboard hotkeys for faster order entry—features day traders use to read order flow and act quickly. Firstrade lacks these tools. Neither broker supports direct market routing, which may matter if you want finer control over order execution.

Both platforms are missing several advanced features: no streaming live TV, no basic or advanced strategy backtesting, no short locator for borrow availability, and no maker/taker rebates. If you need quick entries, depth of market views, and intraday insight, Webull is the stronger pick for day trading. If your focus is simple stock trades without active intraday needs, Firstrade may still fit.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Streaming Time & Sales Yes No
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms and Apps for 2026

Market Research

Overall, Firstrade comes out ahead on market research because it gives investors a wider set of tools and more in-depth help for exploring investments. Webull still covers the basics well, including research for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, OTC stocks, and bonds, but Firstrade adds more depth with portfolio allocation by asset class, ESG research, and downloadable PDF reports for stocks and ETFs. Firstrade also scores higher overall, with a 4-star market research rating and a #6 ranking out of 14 brokers, compared with Webull’s 3-star rating and #8 ranking.

Both Webull and Firstrade offer stock research, ETF research, mutual fund research, Pink Sheets/OTCBB research, and bond research. They also both include stock research based on social media sentiment and provide a stock screener for trade ideas. Where Webull falls behind is in a few key research areas, since it does not offer portfolio allocation by asset class, ESG research, ETF screeners, mutual fund screeners, or bond screeners. Firstrade includes all of those, which may make it easier for investors who want more ways to filter and study investment ideas.

When it comes to downloadable research reports, Firstrade has the edge again. It offers one downloadable PDF stock research report and downloadable PDF ETF reports, while Webull offers none for either. Neither broker provides downloadable PDF research reports for mutual funds, so that category is a tie. For investors who want a simple research experience with core market coverage, both brokers can work, but Firstrade is the better choice for anyone looking for more research tools and more detailed analysis.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs No Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds No Yes
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Fixed Income No Yes
Research 3/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing Webull vs. Firstrade for banking features, Firstrade clearly offers more everyday banking options. Firstrade provides a checking account, a debit card for spending, and certificates of deposit (CDs) for earning interest, while Webull does not offer checking, debit cards, or CDs. Both brokers lack savings accounts, credit cards, and mortgage loans. If you want basic banking tools alongside your brokerage account, Firstrade is the better fit, whereas Webull focuses solely on investing without built-in banking services.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Firstrade logoFirstrade
Checking Accounts No Yes
Savings Accounts No No
Debit Cards No Yes
Credit Cards No No
Mortgage Loans No No
Brokerage CDs No Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Accounts with Checking: Top Bank Brokers

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Webull is better than Firstrade. Webull finished with an overall score of 69.9%, while Firstrade finished with a score of 67.8%.

Webull has evolved past its origins as a low-cost disruptor, solidifying its position as a sophisticated hub for active market participants. It offers a great mobile experience and a fantastic paper trading platform that offers a perfect sandbox to test strategies without risking capital. With AI-powered summaries that slice through market noise and industry-leading paper trading tools for testing strategies, Webull presents a compelling choice for traders.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Webull or Firstrade?

Webull offers crypto trading with access to 70 coins, making it a strong choice for investors who want a broad selection of digital assets. Firstrade does not offer crypto trading, so it may be better suited to traders focused on traditional securities rather than cryptocurrencies.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does Webull or Firstrade offer IRAs?

Webull vs Firstrade: both brokers offer traditional and Roth IRAs with $0 annual fees and $0 IRA closure fees, providing a no-fee retirement account experience. With identical IRA costs, your choice comes down to platform tools and user preference rather than fees.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Webull Firstrade
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 3/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 3/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Customer Service 3/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Webull Review Firstrade Review
Broker Screenshots Webull Firstrade
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Webull Firstrade
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $0.000 $0.000
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $14.95 $0
Options (Per Contract) $0.00 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) $1.25 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee N/A $19.95
Margin Rates Webull Firstrade
Margin Rate Under $25,000 8.74% 12.25%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 8.74% 12.00%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 8.74% 11.50%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 8.74% 11.00%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 8.74% 10.75%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 8.74% 8.85%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 8.74% 8.25%
Account Fees Webull Firstrade
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $75.00 $55.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $75.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Webull Firstrade
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 Yes No
Forex Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 70 0
Fixed Income (Treasurys) Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) No Yes
Traditional IRAs Yes Yes
Roth IRAs Yes Yes
Advisor Services No No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order Types Webull Firstrade
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 No Yes
Beginners Webull Firstrade
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) Yes No
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator No Yes
Investor Dictionary Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Progress Tracking Yes No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes Yes No
Stock Trading Apps Webull Firstrade
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App Yes No
Trading - Stocks Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options Yes Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes Yes Yes
Stock App Features Webull Firstrade
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 No Yes
Stock App Charting Webull Firstrade
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes Yes
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 56 102
Charting - Study Customizations Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes Yes
Trading Platforms Webull Firstrade
Active Trading Platform N/A N/A
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Trade Journal No No
Watchlists - Total Fields 35 50
Stock Chart Features Webull Firstrade
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 60 102
Charting - Drawing Tools 20 8
Charting - Notes Yes No
Charting - Historical Trades Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range No Yes
Charting - Custom Time Bars No No
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Save Profiles Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations 2 6
Charting - Custom Studies Yes No
Day Trading Webull Firstrade
Streaming Time & Sales Yes No
Streaming TV No No
Direct Market Routing - Equities No No
Ladder Trading Yes No
Trade Hot Keys Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research Overview Webull Firstrade
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs No Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds No Yes
Screener - Fixed Income No Yes
Portfolio Asset Allocation No Yes
Stock Research Webull Firstrade
Stock Research - PDF Reports 0 1
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders Yes Yes
Stock Research - Social Yes Yes
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG No Yes
Stock Research - SEC Filings Yes Yes
ETF Research Webull Firstrade
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 No Yes
ETFs - Ratings Yes Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap No Yes
ETFs - PDF Reports No Yes
Mutual Fund Research Webull Firstrade
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective No Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart No Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis No Yes
Mutual Funds - Prospectus No Yes
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings No Yes
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown No Yes
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation No Yes
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation No Yes
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation No Yes
Mutual Funds - StyleMap No Yes
Options Trading Webull Firstrade
Option Chains - Total Greeks 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Banking Webull Firstrade
Bank (Member FDIC) No No
Checking Accounts No Yes
Savings Accounts No No
Credit Cards No No
Debit Cards No Yes
Mortgage Loans No No
Customer Service Webull Firstrade
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes Yes
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) No Yes
24/7 Support No Yes
Overall Webull Firstrade
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 3/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 3/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
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Review Webull Review Firstrade Review
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