Firstrade vs Tradier 2024
In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs Tradier, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs Tradier, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
When comparing the investment options available at Firstrade and Tradier, investors may find Firstrade slightly superior due to its broader range of choices. Firstrade is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 for investment options and is ranked #6 out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com. Tradier, on the other hand, receives a rating of 4 stars and is ranked #13. Both platforms offer essential services like stock trading, margin trading, and options trading, but Firstrade distinguishes itself by offering fractional shares and OTC stocks, which Tradier does not provide.
Firstrade offers a robust selection of investment options, including stock trading, margin trading, fractional shares, OTC stocks, mutual funds, and options trading. However, it lacks certain advanced trading options like futures and cryptocurrency, offering no crypto coins. It complements these investment offerings with both Traditional and Roth IRA accounts, making it an excellent choice for diverse investment portfolios.
Conversely, Tradier provides a solid lineup with stock trading, margin trading, mutual funds, options trading, and futures trading. Its notable absence of fractional shares and OTC stocks is a key difference compared to Firstrade. Like its competitor, Tradier does not offer forex or cryptocurrency trading. Both platforms eschew advisor services, focusing instead on empowering self-directed investors. The inclusion of Traditional and Roth IRA accounts ensures that Tradier caters to retirement-focused investors as well.
Feature |
Firstrade
|
Tradier
|
---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares | Yes | No |
OTC Stocks | Yes | No |
Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | No | Yes |
Crypto Trading | No | No |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 0 |
Investment Options |
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2024, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2024
In comparing Firstrade and Tradier, a balanced verdict emerges for their trading platforms and tools, as both receive a 3.5 out of 5-star rating. StockBrokers.com ranks Firstrade slightly higher at #9 compared to Tradier at #10 out of 18 brokers, indicating a subtle advantage for Firstrade in this area. The overall assessment reveals that while both brokers offer similar functionality, each presents unique features that may cater to different trading preferences.
Firstrade excels in providing a robust range of 50 watch list columns and offers 102 technical indicators for charting, which is slightly more than Tradier’s 95 indicators. Firstrade users can enjoy 8 drawing tools for their charting efforts, while Tradier does not offer any. Additionally, Firstrade supports index overlays, a feature lacking in Tradier’s platform.
On the other hand, Tradier distinguishes itself by including a browser-based platform with paper trading capabilities, unlike Firstrade. Tradier also allows traders to add notes to their charts and display historical trades, enhancing the chart analysis experience. Although neither platform offers downloadable desktop applications or supports custom date ranges, Tradier provides one more customization field in its SMA study compared to Firstrade. Both brokers have similar limitations concerning advanced chart customization options, displaying corporate events, and automated technical analysis.
Feature |
Firstrade
|
Tradier
|
---|---|---|
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
Paper Trading | No | Yes |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 50 | 3 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 95 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 |
Platforms & Tools |
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2024, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2024
When comparing Firstrade and Tradier in terms of beginner and investor education, Firstrade stands out as the superior option. Firstrade provides an extensive stock education and options education, supplemented with educational videos and webinars. Despite not offering education on ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds, Firstrade still manages a solid 3.5-star rating for its educational resources, ranking 12th out of 18 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. On the other hand, Tradier lacks educational offerings in stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, and doesn't provide educational videos or webinars, resulting in a lower 2-star rating and a 17th place ranking.
While Tradier does offer a single advantage with its paper trading feature, designed for practice without real financial risk, it does not compensate for the overall lack of educational content. Both Firstrade and Tradier fall short in offering features like educational quizzes or learning progress tracking, but Firstrade's engagement through diverse educational media makes it a more appealing choice for investors seeking knowledge enhancement. Ultimately, for beginners prioritizing a comprehensive educational experience, Firstrade clearly demonstrates a more robust offering in driving investor education compared to Tradier.
Feature |
Firstrade
|
Tradier
|
---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | No |
Education (ETFs) | No | No |
Education (Options) | Yes | No |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
Education (Bonds) | No | No |
Paper Trading | No | Yes |
Videos | Yes | No |
Webinars | Yes | No |
Education |
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2024
In the comparison of Firstrade and Tradier's stock trading app capabilities, Firstrade emerges as the more robust option, excelling in several key areas crucial for savvy traders. With a higher user rating of 4.5 stars and an impressive 6th place ranking among 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com, Firstrade's app outshines Tradier, which scores 4 stars and ranks 15th. Noteworthy features include mobile after-hours stock trading, comprehensive mobile options trading, and the ability to customize watch list columns—features that are either absent or limited in Tradier’s offerings. For traders seeking a well-rounded and highly rated mobile trading experience, Firstrade clearly holds the edge.
Both Firstrade and Tradier provide iPhone and Android apps, empowering users to trade seamlessly using their preferred mobile device. However, neither platform extends its offering to Apple Watch users, nor do they provide streaming live TV or videos on demand. In terms of market insight tools, Firstrade again leads with the provision of stock alerts, a feature lacking in Tradier. Additionally, Firstrade allows users to view charts in landscape mode and access multiple time frames, which enhances mobile chart analysis—a limitation observed in Tradier’s app.
For those who value detailed technical analysis on the go, Firstrade supports an impressive 81 technical studies, markedly surpassing Tradier, which offers none. Both platforms, however, fall short when it comes to the ability to display stock comparisons on charts. Ultimately, while both apps accommodate essential trading functions, Firstrade distinguishes itself through its superior charting capabilities and customizable features, offering traders a more sophisticated and flexible mobile trading environment.
Feature |
Firstrade
|
Tradier
|
---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch App | No | No |
Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
Charting - After-Hours | No | No |
Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 0 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2024
When choosing between Firstrade and Tradier, investors will find notable differences in account fees and charges that could influence their decision. While both brokers offer commission-free stock trades and require no minimum deposit, Firstrade holds the advantage in options contract pricing with zero fees compared to Tradier’s $0.35 per contract. Firstrade also excels with no charges for IRA annual or closure fees, whereas Tradier imposes respective fees of $30 and $60. Additionally, Firstrade offers competitive options exercise and assignment fees at no cost, surpassing Tradier's $9 charge for these services.
Both Firstrade and Tradier charge identical fees for full account transfers (ACAT), each priced at $75, but for partial transfers, Firstrade slightly edges out with a lower fee of $55 compared to Tradier's $75. In terms of margin balances, Tradier offers significantly lower rates, with 9.5% across all tiers under $100,000, while Firstrade's rates begin at 13.75% for balances below $25,000, decreasing incrementally for higher balances but still remaining above Tradier’s consistent rate.
Overall, while both brokers provide a strong platform for commission-free trading, the specific fees associated with options trading and account management can have a substantial impact on cost efficiency. Firstrade appears more favorable for users particularly focused on options trading and long-term retirement account strategies due to its zero-cost structure in these areas. On the other hand, investors prioritizing lower margin rates may lean towards Tradier, benefiting from its notably cheaper rates in that category. Ultimately, the choice between Firstrade and Tradier will depend on individual trading priorities and financial needs.
Feature |
Firstrade
|
Tradier
|
---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.35 |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $9.00 |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $9.00 |
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $30.00 |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $60.00 |
Commissions & Fees |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2024
When examining Firstrade and Tradier as options for day trading, a closer look reveals striking similarities in their feature sets. Neither Firstrade nor Tradier offers streaming time and sales data for stocks, streaming live TV, or direct market routing for stocks, marking them as lacking in key functionalities for active day traders. Both platforms do not support ladder trading or provide trading hotkeys for keyboard trade entries, further limiting their appeal to those seeking quick and efficient trading processes.
Additionally, Firstrade and Tradier do not provide level 2 quotes or backtesting capabilities for basic or advanced strategies, which could be a disadvantage for traders seeking to analyze market depth or test their trading strategies. Neither platform offers a short locator tool for real-time availability of shares for shorting, nor do they provide order liquidity rebates, which could sway traders focused on short selling or liquidity incentives to search elsewhere. In summary, while both Firstrade and Tradier may offer basic trading services, their limited features may not fully meet the needs of committed day traders.
Feature |
Firstrade
|
Tradier
|
---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | No | No |
Streaming TV | No | No |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | No | No |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2024
In the realm of market research capabilities, Firstrade emerges as a more robust option compared to Tradier. Firstrade offers an extensive range of research tools, including stock, ETFs, bonds, and even Pink Sheets/OTCBB, whereas Tradier limits its research to just stocks and ETFs. Moreover, Firstrade provides insights using social media sentiment data and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research, which Tradier does not. In terms of overall performance, Firstrade holds a strong 4.5-star rating for market research, ranking 6th out of 18 brokers, whereas Tradier trails with a 2.5-star rating and a 16th-place ranking.
Firstrade distinguishes itself by offering comprehensive research capabilities, such as downloadable PDF reports for stocks and ETFs, and tools like stock, ETF, mutual fund, and bond screeners for developing trade ideas. Tradier, however, lacks these features entirely, providing neither downloadable reports nor screeners across these asset classes. Firstrade enhances its market research offerings further with the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature absent in Tradier's platform.
Overall, Firstrade provides a superior market research experience with its diverse range of research tools and impressive customization options, making it better suited for investors seeking in-depth analysis and varied investment insights. Tradier, while offering basic stock and ETF research, falls short in comparison, especially for those investors looking for comprehensive market research capabilities and advanced analytical tools. Firstrade's higher ratings and rankings solidify its status as a leading choice for traders prioritizing research in their investment strategies.
Feature |
Firstrade
|
Tradier
|
---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | No |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
Screener - Bonds | Yes | No |
Research |
In comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers Firstrade and Tradier, several distinctions emerge. Firstrade provides a more robust suite of banking services, offering checking accounts, debit cards, and certificates of deposit (CDs), making it an attractive option for users seeking basic banking conveniences alongside their trading activities. In contrast, Tradier does not offer checking accounts, debit cards, or CDs, narrowing its focus to investing rather than traditional banking services. Neither Firstrade nor Tradier offers savings accounts, credit cards, or mortgage loans, indicating a shared limited scope in these areas. If banking amenities such as checking accounts and debit cards are a priority, Firstrade stands out as the preferable choice over Tradier.
Feature |
Firstrade
|
Tradier
|
---|---|---|
Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
Savings Accounts | No | No |
Debit Cards | Yes | No |
Credit Cards | No | No |
Mortgage Loans | No | No |
CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2024
After opening live accounts and testing 18 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Firstrade is better than Tradier. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 87.7%, while Tradier finished with a score of 77.0%.
Firstrade scored well for penny stock trading in our 2024 Annual Awards, and is a great choice for Chinese-speaking investors. However, it lags behind the competition in certain areas, especially platforms, tools and education.
When comparing online brokers Firstrade and Tradier, neither platform offers crypto trading, with both providing zero coins for cryptocurrency transactions.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2024
Both Firstrade and Tradier offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts; however, Firstrade stands out with $0 annual and closure fees, compared to Tradier's $30 annual fee and $60 closure fee.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2024
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0 of 5Overall Rating | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | |||
Commissions & Fees | |||
Investment Options | |||
Platforms & Tools | |||
Mobile Trading Apps | |||
Research | |||
Customer Service | |||
Education | |||
Ease Of Use | |||
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Firstrade Review | Tradier Review |
Broker Screenshots | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.00 | N/A | |
Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $0 | $30 | |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.35 | |
Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | $1.50 | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $19.95 | $10 |
Margin Rates | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 13.75% | 9.5% | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 13.50% | 9.5% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 13.00% | 9.5% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 12.50% | 9.5% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 12.50% | 9.5% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 12.50% | 9.5% | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 12.50% | 9.5% |
Account Fees | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $30.00 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $60.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $55.00 | $75.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $75.00 | |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $9.00 | |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $9.00 |
Investment Options | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares | Yes | No | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
Futures Trading | No | Yes | |
Forex Trading | No | No | |
Crypto Trading | No | No | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 0 | |
Mutual Funds (No Load) | 15460 | 0 | |
Mutual Funds (Total) | 19666 | 0 | |
Bonds (US Treasury) | Yes | No | |
Bonds (Corporate) | Yes | No | |
Bonds (Municipal) | Yes | No | |
Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
Advisor Services | No | No | |
International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
Order Types | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | No | |
Order Type - OCO | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | Yes |
Beginners | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | No | |
Education (ETFs) | No | No | |
Education (Options) | Yes | No | |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
Education (Bonds) | No | No | |
Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary | Yes | No | |
Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
Videos | Yes | No | |
Webinars | Yes | No | |
Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
Progress Tracking | No | No | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
Stock Trading Apps | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple Watch App | No | 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 | No |
Stock App Features | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | No | No | |
Videos on Demand | No | No | |
Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | No |
Stock App Charting | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - After-Hours | No | No | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 0 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | No | No |
Trading Platforms | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Active Trading Platform | TradeHawk | ||
Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No | |
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
Trade Journal | No | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 50 | 3 |
Stock Chart Features | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | No | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 95 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 | |
Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No | |
Charting - Historical Trades | No | Yes | |
Charting - Corporate Events | No | No | |
Charting - Custom Date Range | No | No | |
Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
Charting - Automated Analysis | No | No | |
Charting - Save Profiles | No | No | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
Charting - Study Customizations | 6 | 7 | |
Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
Day Trading | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | No | No | |
Streaming TV | No | No | |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | No | No | |
Ladder Trading | No | No | |
Trade Hotkeys | No | No | |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
Short Locator | No | No | |
Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
Research Overview | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | No | |
Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Screener - Bonds | Yes | No | |
Misc - Portfolio Allocation | Yes | No |
Stock Research | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 1 | 0 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - News | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
ETF Research | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
ETFs - Strategy Overview | Yes | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets | Yes | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
Mutual Fund Research | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Option Chains - Basic View | Yes | Yes | |
Option Chains - Strategy View | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Streaming | No | No | |
Option Chains - Total Columns | 8 | 8 | |
Option Chains - Greeks | 5 | 1 | |
Option Chains - Quick Analysis | No | Yes | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | No | |
Option Probability Analysis | No | No | |
Option Probability Analysis Adv | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Greeks | No | No | |
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | No | No | |
Option Positions - Adv Analysis | No | No | |
Option Positions - Rolling | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Grouping | No | No |
Banking | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
Savings Accounts | No | No | |
Credit Cards | No | No | |
Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
Mortgage Loans | No | No |
Customer Service | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | Yes | No | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
24/7 Support | No | No |
Overall | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | |||
Commissions & Fees | |||
Investment Options | |||
Platforms & Tools | |||
Mobile Trading Apps | |||
Research | |||
Education | |||
Ease Of Use | |||
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Firstrade Review | Tradier Review |