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Firstrade vs tastytrade 2024

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

October 30, 2024

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

Firstrade
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00
tastytrade
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.50 info

Investment options

In the competitive landscape of online brokers, Firstrade slightly edges out tastytrade in terms of investment options. Both platforms provide robust stock, margin, fractional shares, and options trading services, ensuring versatile investment strategies for traders. However, Firstrade's offerings extend to include OTC stocks and mutual funds, which tastytrade does not support. Conversely, tastytrade diversifies its portfolio with futures and cryptocurrency trading, boasting four available coins, while Firstrade does not offer these markets. Consequently, Firstrade earns a higher investment options rating with 4.5 stars over tastytrade's 4 stars and ranks 6th out of 18 brokers compared to tastytrade's 11th position according to StockBrokers.com.

Both brokers cater to retirement planning with traditional and Roth IRA accounts, presenting standard avenues for long-term financial growth. Firstrade and tastytrade align in providing comprehensive options trading capabilities and robust platforms that support diverse trading within equities and beyond. Although neither offers advisor services, their tools and resources cater to autodidact investors seeking to independently manage portfolios.

Firstrade and tastytrade appeal to varied investor profiles, with Firstrade favoring those interested in traditional securities and mutual funds, while tastytrade attracts users keen on futures and cryptocurrencies. This distinction in offerings underscores the importance for investors to assess their trading priorities and preference for asset diversity when selecting the optimal brokerage platform to meet their unique investing needs. Traders should consider how these varied offerings could impact their investment strategies and long-term goals before making a brokerage choice.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes info
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Mutual Funds info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 4
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms & Brokers, 5 Best Futures Trading Platforms of 2024

Trading platforms and tools

When it comes to trading platforms and tools, tastytrade holds a competitive edge over Firstrade. Rated 4.5 stars out of 5 compared to Firstrade's 3.5 stars, tastytrade is ranked #6 by StockBrokers.com among 18 brokers, while Firstrade sits at #9. If you're seeking a robust desktop platform, tastytrade delivers with Windows and Mac downloadable versions, whereas Firstrade does not offer desktop software. Both brokers provide browser-based platforms, leveling the playing field for accessibility.

Diving deeper into the features, tastytrade shines with a broader array of technical indicators and drawing tools, offering 308 indicators and 31 drawing tools, compared to Firstrade's 102 indicators and 8 drawing tools. Tastytrade also excels with enhanced chart functionalities: you can adjust open orders directly on stock charts, add notes, show historical trades, corporate events, and save multiple chart profiles, none of which are options available with Firstrade. Additionally, tastytrade provides advanced customization options like creating custom studies for charts, while Firstrade lacks in this area.

Both brokers fall short in offering paper trading and a trading journal. However, when it comes to watchlist customization, Firstrade provides more fields, allowing 50 columns compared to tastytrade's 33. Although such nuances may influence a trader's choice, the comprehensive trading tools and platform versatility of tastytrade make it a stronger contender for those seeking advanced functionalities and charting capabilities.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 33
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 308
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 31
Platforms & Tools 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2024, Best Paper Trading Platforms of 2024

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Beginners and education

When evaluating the educational offerings of Firstrade and tastytrade for novice investors, both platforms provide stock education, but tastytrade stands out with its additional offering of ETF education. While neither broker offers education on mutual funds or bonds, both platforms cover options education. Firstrade supports investors with educational videos, making it ideal for visual learners, while tastytrade does not provide this feature but compensates with its comprehensive webinars shared by both brokers.

Despite Firstrade lacking paper trading and educational quizzes, its rating by StockBrokers.com is a respectable 3.5 stars, placing it at 12th out of 18 brokers in education. Meanwhile, tastytrade earns a higher educational rating of 4 stars and ranks 8th, underscoring its superior beginner educational resources. Although neither platform enables users to track their learning progress, tastytrade's emphasis on ETF education and higher educational ranking offer a slight edge for beginners seeking robust investment education.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 No
Videos info Yes No
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2024

Stock trading apps

When evaluating the stock trading app capabilities of Firstrade and tastytrade, both options showcase commendable features, yet there are notable differences to consider. Firstrade and tastytrade both offer a seamless mobile experience with iPhone and Android apps; however, neither provides an app for the Apple Watch. The notable distinction lies in functionalities such as stock alerts, which Firstrade supports, unlike tastytrade, and after-hours charting, where tastytrade takes the lead.

For mobile trading, both Firstrade and tastytrade ensure accessibility to options trading and provide the ability to view charts in landscape mode and accommodate multiple time frames for chart analysis. A significant advantage for Firstrade users is the inclusion of 81 technical studies for charting, a feature not available on the tastytrade app. Furthermore, while both platforms support custom watch lists and column customization, only Firstrade offers mobile after-hours stock trading, a crucial feature for active traders.

In terms of ratings and rankings according to StockBrokers.com, Firstrade sits confidently at the #6 position among 18 brokers, while tastytrade is ranked at #10, despite both receiving an equal rating of 4.5 stars. These standings hint at Firstrade's slightly enhanced offerings in stock trading apps, particularly for users valuing comprehensive technical charting and mobility in trading features. Nevertheless, both apps have their unique strengths, making them competitive choices depending on traders' specific needs and preferences.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes No
Charting - After-Hours info No Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2024

Fees

When comparing Firstrade and tastytrade, investors will notice that while both platforms offer commission-free stock trades and require no minimum deposit, there are notable differences in fees and charges. Firstrade stands out for its non-existent fees on options contracts, options exercise, and assignment, making it a cost-effective choice for options traders. In contrast, tastytrade imposes a $0.50 charge per options contract, with an additional $5.00 for options exercise and assignment fees. However, tastytrade offers more competitive margin rates, especially for balances below $100,000, leading to potential savings on borrowing costs.

For clients considering account transfers, Firstrade charges $55.00 for partial transfers and $75.00 for full transfers, mirroring the tastytrade's full transfer fee but offering a more affordable partial transfer option. Both brokers offer fee-free IRA accounts, though tastytrade imposes a $60.00 charge for IRA closures, unlike Firstrade, which provides this service for free.

Ultimately, the choice between Firstrade and tastytrade could hinge on specific trading habits and financial activity. Investors keen on low-cost options trading will appreciate Firstrade's zero fees, while those leveraging margin accounts may lean towards tastytrade for its lower interest rates. Additionally, considerations for IRA closures and account transfers might steer traders towards Firstrade for its more forgiving fee structure in these areas.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.00 $0.50 info
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $5.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $5.00
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $60.00
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Free Stock Trading of 2024

Day Trading

When comparing Firstrade and tastytrade for day trading, both platforms present distinctive features that cater to different trader needs. Firstrade does not offer streaming time and sales for stocks, direct market routing, ladder trading, trading hotkeys, or Level 2 quotes, which may limit its appeal to day traders looking for advanced tools. However, tastytrade also lacks streaming time and sales for stocks, direct market routing, trading hotkeys, and Level 2 quotes. Despite these similarities, tastytrade stands out with streaming live TV and ladder trading capabilities, providing a more dynamic trading experience.

While neither Firstrade nor tastytrade support basic or advanced strategy backtesting, tastytrade compensates with its short locator tool, helping traders view real-time availability of shares available to short. Both platforms do not offer order liquidity (maker/taker) rebates. Ultimately, the choice between Firstrade and tastytrade for day trading hinges on individual preferences and the importance of features such as live TV streaming and specialized trading tools. The availability of a short locator tool further distinguishes tastytrade for traders focused on short selling opportunities.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No Yes
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 Yes

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2024

Market Research

In comparing Firstrade and tastytrade for market research capabilities, Firstrade emerges as a more comprehensive option, particularly for investors seeking a broad array of research tools and insights. With a market research rating of 4.5 stars from StockBrokers.com and a ranking of #6 among 18 brokers, Firstrade clearly surpasses tastytrade, which holds a 2.5-star rating and a #13 ranking. Both platforms offer research for stocks and ETFs, but Firstrade provides a more extensive selection, including mutual funds, pink sheets/OTCBB, bonds, and ESG research, which tastytrade lacks.

Firstrade stands out with its ability to cater to diverse investor demands, offering downloadable PDF research reports for stocks and ETFs, which tastytrade does not provide. Furthermore, while both brokers offer portfolio allocation by asset class, Firstrade goes a step further by integrating social media sentiment data into its stock research, enriching the user experience with modern analytical tools. Investors looking to derive trade ideas can benefit from Firstrade’s screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, features that tastytrade does not offer.

For investors prioritizing in-depth market research capabilities, Firstrade offers a more robust suite of tools and resources. Its higher star rating and ranking by StockBrokers.com underline its commitment to providing investors with comprehensive research options, making it a preferred choice over tastytrade in this domain. Tastytrade, while suitable for basic stock and ETF research, may leave more research-intensive traders seeking additional resources and tools that Firstrade can offer.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 2.5/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking capabilities of Firstrade and tastytrade, Firstrade clearly offers more variety. Firstrade provides checking accounts and issues debit cards, whereas tastytrade offers neither. While both online brokers do not offer savings accounts, credit cards, or mortgage loans, Firstrade stands out by offering Certificates of Deposit (CDs), an option not available with tastytrade. This makes Firstrade a more comprehensive choice for those seeking additional banking services alongside their trading needs.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
tastytrade logotastytrade
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 Brokerages of 2024

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 tastytrade. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 87.7%, while tastytrade finished with a score of 84.9%.

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 tastytrade?

When comparing online brokers, Firstrade does not offer crypto trading services, while tastytrade provides options for trading 4 different cryptocurrencies, making it a suitable choice for investors interested in digital assets.

Dive deeper: Best Crypto Trading Platforms of 2024

Does Firstrade or tastytrade offer IRAs?

Firstrade and tastytrade both offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, but while Firstrade charges no closure fee when closing IRA accounts, tastytrade imposes a $60.00 closure fee.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts of 2024

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Firstrade tastytrade
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.0/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review tastytrade Review
Broker Screenshots Firstrade tastytrade
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 tastytrade
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $0.00 N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $0 N/A info
Options (Per Contract) $0.00 $0.50 info
Futures (Per Contract) (Not offered) $1.25
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $19.95 $0
Margin Rates Firstrade tastytrade
Margin Rate Under $25,000 13.75% 11%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 13.50% 10.5%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 13.00% 10%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 12.50% 9.5%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 12.50% 9%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 12.50% 8.5%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 12.50% 8%
Account Fees Firstrade tastytrade
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $60.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $55.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $5.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $5.00
Investment Options Firstrade tastytrade
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes info
OTC Stocks info Yes No
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 Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 4
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 15460 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 19666 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes No info
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 tastytrade
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 No
Order Type - OCO info Yes Yes
Order Type - OTO info Yes Yes
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes Yes
Beginners Firstrade tastytrade
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 No
Videos info Yes No
Webinars info Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Firstrade tastytrade
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 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 tastytrade
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes No
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 Yes
Stock App Charting Firstrade tastytrade
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 0
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No No
Trading Platforms Firstrade tastytrade
Active Trading Platform info tastytrade
Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No Yes
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 33
Stock Chart Features Firstrade tastytrade
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 308
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 31
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 No
Charting - Save Profiles info No Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 6 7
Charting - Custom Studies info No Yes
Day Trading Firstrade tastytrade
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No Yes
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info No Yes
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 Yes
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview Firstrade tastytrade
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 Yes
Stock Research Firstrade tastytrade
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 1 0
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes No
Stock Research - Insiders info Yes No
Stock Research - Social info Yes No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes No
ETF Research Firstrade tastytrade
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes No
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 Yes
ETFs - Ratings info Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes No
Mutual Fund Research Firstrade tastytrade
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 tastytrade
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Streaming info No Yes
Option Chains - Total Columns info 8 20
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 Yes
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No Yes
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Grouping info No Yes
Banking Firstrade tastytrade
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 tastytrade
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 Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info No No
Overall Firstrade tastytrade
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 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 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review tastytrade Review
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