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Firstrade vs eToro 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

January 23, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs eToro, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, 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
eToro
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $50.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Investment options

When it comes to investment options, Firstrade surpasses eToro with a broader array of offerings. Firstrade earns a commendable 4.5-star rating, ranking 6th out of 18 brokers surveyed by StockBrokers.com, thanks to its comprehensive selection including stock trading, margin trading, fractional shares, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options trading, and IRAs. In contrast, eToro, with a 2.5-star rating and a 16th-place ranking, focuses primarily on stock and options trading, along with its notable crypto trading offering of 26 coins. However, it lacks in providing margin trading, mutual funds, and IRA accounts.

Firstrade is particularly appealing for investors seeking traditional investment vehicles such as mutual funds and IRAs, catering to both traditional and Roth accounts, while maintaining diversity with options in stock trading, margin accounts, fractional shares, and OTC stocks. Although it does not offer crypto trading, its breadth in other areas makes it a robust platform for a wide range of investment strategies.

On the other hand, eToro shines in the cryptocurrency realm, standing out with its provision of 26 different coins for crypto trading enthusiasts. However, it falls short for those interested in more traditional forms of investment like mutual funds and IRAs. While eToro does provide options trading similar to Firstrade, its limited scope outside of crypto may not suffice for investors seeking diverse investment services.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes No
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Mutual Funds info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 26
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

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

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing Firstrade and eToro's trading platforms and tools, Firstrade edges out eToro with a slightly higher rating of 3 stars compared to eToro's 2.5 stars. Firstrade ranks 11th among 18 brokers on StockBrokers.com for trading platforms and tools, surpassing eToro, which ranks at 12th. Both platforms do not offer desktop downloadable trading applications for Windows or Mac, but they do provide browser-based platforms. While eToro offers paper trading, Firstrade does not, which may be a consideration for those interested in practice trading.

Firstrade and eToro each provide different strengths in their platform features. Firstrade shines with a significantly higher number of technical indicators, offering 102, whereas eToro provides 46. Conversely, eToro excels in chart drawing tools, with 48 options compared to Firstrade's 8. Additionally, eToro allows for saving multiple chart profiles and adding notes to charts, which Firstrade does not support. Despite these differences, both platforms lack capabilities for features like adjusting open orders on stock charts, displaying historical trades, or showcasing corporate events.

Furthermore, Firstrade boasts a comprehensive watch list feature with 50 columns available, compared to eToro's 7. While neither platform offers trading journals or the ability to create custom studies, Firstrade allows a bit more customization for SMA studies with 6 fields as opposed to eToro's 5. Users looking for a platform with robust technical indicators and extensive watch list configurations might lean towards Firstrade, while those valuing chart profile management and tool variety might prefer eToro.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 46
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 48
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

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

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Beginners and education

When comparing Firstrade and eToro for beginner and investor education, both platforms offer some educational resources, but each has its strengths and weaknesses. Firstrade provides stock and options education, along with access to educational videos and webinars—a feature eToro lacks. However, Firstrade does not support education on ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds, nor does it offer paper trading or educational quizzes that could help solidify learning.

In contrast, eToro also offers stock education and delivers educational videos but does not provide options education or webinars. eToro stands out for its paper trading feature, which offers beginners a risk-free environment to practice trading strategies. While neither platform allows users to track their learning progress, Firstrade earns a higher educational rating of 3.5 stars compared to eToro's 2.5 stars, placing them as the #13 and #15 platforms, respectively, out of 18 brokers ranked by StockBrokers.com.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes No
Education 3.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

When comparing Firstrade and eToro, both stock trading apps stand out with their features and capabilities, each deserving the 4.5-star ratings they receive. However, Firstrade slightly edges out eToro in the rankings, securing the 9th position out of 18 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while eToro is ranked 11th. Firstrade's app offers notable features like customizable watch list columns and the ability to view charts in landscape mode, providing users with a more tailored and flexible experience. On the other hand, eToro excels in chart functionalities, offering a greater number of technical studies, after-hours charting, and the ability to display stock comparisons on charts.

Both Firstrade and eToro cater to iOS and Android users, ensuring accessibility across popular devices, but neither supports the Apple Watch. While they both offer mobile after-hours stock and options trading, Firstrade and eToro differ in terms of media offerings. eToro includes videos on demand, enhancing the educational depth available directly within the app. Both platforms provide streaming quotes and stock alerts, allowing users to stay up-to-date with market movements.

In terms of charting features, Firstrade and eToro allow users to view multiple time frames for charting, yet they differ as Firstrade supports 81 technical studies while eToro offers a slightly larger suite with 103. eToro also provides after-hours charting and stock comparison on charts, features not available with Firstrade's app. However, Firstrade offers a more customizable watch list experience, giving users an edge in organizing and tailoring their monitoring. Overall, the choice between Firstrade and eToro may come down to user preferences in charting and customization features versus media and educational content.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 103
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

For investors seeking a cost-effective online brokerage, both Firstrade and eToro present compelling options with their no-fee structures for regular stock trades and options contracts. Firstrade offers significant advantages with its $0 minimum deposit requirement, allowing investors to get started without any initial financial commitment, compared to eToro's $50 minimum. Also noteworthy is Firstrade's provision of free IRA management, which includes zero IRA annual and closure fees, while eToro does not offer IRA services. Both platforms ensure investors are not burdened with additional costs for options exercises and assignments.

Considering supplementary charges, Firstrade appears more advantageous with slightly lower transaction costs in certain contexts. Particularly, Firstrade maintains a marginally lower fee for partial account transfers (ACAT) at $55 compared to eToro's $75, with both brokerages imposing the same fee for full transfers. Investors could encounter substantial savings with Firstrade's transparent pricing for margin accounts. Although eToro does not offer margin services, Firstrade's tiered interest rates decrease progressively, beginning at 13.75% for balances below $25,000, down to 13.00% for balances between $50,000 and $99,999.

In essence, Firstrade serves as a cost-effective alternative for diverse investment needs with its fee-free trades, tax-advantaged accounts, and lower starting costs compared to eToro. While eToro matches Firstrade in free trading on a surface level, Firstrade's lack of minimum deposit requirements, along with lower account transfer fees and comprehensive margin services, provide a more inclusive environment for various investor profiles.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $50.00
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
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00
Commissions & Fees N/A N/A

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

When it comes to evaluating Firstrade and eToro for day trading, several distinctions become evident. Notably, eToro provides streaming time and sales data for stocks, a feature absent in Firstrade, potentially offering eToro users an edge in real-time market analysis. Despite this, neither platform supports streaming live TV, direct market routing for stocks, ladder trading, or the use of trading hotkeys for keyboard trade entry. This limits both platforms in terms of offering advanced tools and real-time insights often sought by day traders.

Additionally, both Firstrade and eToro fall short in providing enhanced market data and trading strategies. Neither platform offers level 2 quotes, basic or advanced strategy backtesting, or a short locator tool to check real-time stock availability for shorting. Furthermore, both brokers do not provide order liquidity rebates, which could be a drawback for traders looking for cost efficiencies. Overall, while eToro exhibits a slight advantage with its streaming stock data, both platforms have significant limitations for day traders seeking comprehensive tools and features.

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

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

When considering the market research capabilities of Firstrade and eToro, Firstrade surfaces as the more comprehensive option. Firstrade offers robust research across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, with downloadable PDF reports and insightful screeners to support informed investment decisions. Firstrade is also noted for its ability to analyze social media sentiment and ESG factors, offering a rounded research experience. In contrast, eToro provides stock and ETF research but lacks coverage in mutual funds, bonds, and screeners for trade ideas. StockBrokers.com rates Firstrade at 4.5 stars, ranking it sixth, while eToro receives 1.5 stars, placing it at the 14th spot.

Firstrade's strength lies in its extensive research capabilities, offering detailed insights across various asset classes, including coverage for pink sheets and OTCBB markets. Investors gain an edge through Firstrade's array of tools like portfolio allocation views and downloadable research reports for stocks and ETFs, although mutual fund reports are not provided. The ability to harness social media sentiment and ESG insights adds further layers of analysis, aiding in more dynamic decision-making.

eToro presents a more limited offering, mainly focusing on stocks and ETFs research without downloadable reports. Its lack of mutual fund or bond research and the absence of any screeners mean that investors may need to seek additional platforms for a full spectrum of analysis tools. While it does utilize social media sentiment and ESG research, the overall resource pool from eToro is relatively narrow compared to Firstrade. This difference highlights Firstrade as the preferred option for investors seeking a broader and more varied range of market research capabilities.

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

Banking

When evaluating the banking capabilities of online brokers Firstrade and eToro, Firstrade emerges with a more comprehensive offering. Firstrade provides checking accounts and debit cards, which eToro does not offer. Additionally, Firstrade offers Certificates of Deposit (CDs), further enhancing its banking services, whereas eToro lacks this feature. Both platforms do not offer savings accounts, credit cards, or mortgage loans, maintaining a limited scope in these areas. Overall, Firstrade presents more banking options, catering to users seeking integration with traditional banking features.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
eToro logoeToro
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info No No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Credit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
CDs info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 18 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Firstrade is better than eToro. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 81.8%, while eToro finished with a score of 66.1%.

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 eToro?

Firstrade does not offer cryptocurrency trading, while eToro provides access to trading with 26 different coins, making eToro a more suitable choice for investors interested in the crypto market.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Firstrade or eToro offer IRAs?

Firstrade offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual or closure fees, whereas eToro does not provide traditional or Roth IRA options.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Firstrade eToro
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A N/A
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars N/A
Education 3.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review eToro Review
Broker Screenshots Firstrade eToro
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 eToro
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $50.00
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) (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $19.95 $0
Margin Rates Firstrade eToro
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 13.75% Not offered
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 13.50% Not offered
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 13.00% Not offered
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 12.50% Not offered
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 12.50% Not offered
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 12.50% Not offered
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 12.50% Not offered
Account Fees Firstrade eToro
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $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 eToro
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes No
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 0
Futures Trading info No No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 26
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 No
Roth IRAs info Yes No
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Firstrade eToro
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes No
Order Type - After Hours info Yes No
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - OCO info Yes No
Order Type - OTO info Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners Firstrade eToro
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info No No
Education (Options) info Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Retirement Calculator info Yes No
Investor Dictionary info Yes No
Paper Trading info No Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes No
Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Firstrade eToro
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes No
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes Yes
Stock App Features Firstrade eToro
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No Yes
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 eToro
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 103
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No Yes
Trading Platforms Firstrade eToro
Active Trading Platform info N/A
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 7
Stock Chart Features Firstrade eToro
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 46
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 48
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info No No
Charting - Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info No No
Charting - Save Profiles info No Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations info 6 5
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Firstrade eToro
Streaming Time & Sales info No Yes
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info No No
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview Firstrade eToro
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes No
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Bonds info Yes No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes No
Stock Research Firstrade eToro
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 Yes
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes Yes
ETF Research Firstrade eToro
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes No
Mutual Fund Research Firstrade eToro
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info Yes No
Options Trading Firstrade eToro
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info No No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 8 0
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 4
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info No Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis info No No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks info No No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info No No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping info No No
Banking Firstrade eToro
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 eToro
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes No
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info No No
Overall Firstrade eToro
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A N/A
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review eToro Review
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