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Firstrade vs Tradier 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

January 23, 2025

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.

Firstrade
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00
Tradier
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.35 info

Investment options

The comparison of Firstrade and Tradier reveals that both online brokers offer a diverse range of investment options, but each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Firstrade earns a higher rating of 4.5 stars, ranked as the 6th out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com, while Tradier follows with 4 stars and a ranking of 11th. This difference is largely attributed to Firstrade's provision of fractional shares and OTC stocks, which are not available through Tradier, making Firstrade a more versatile choice for investors seeking a broader variety of trading options.

Both Firstrade and Tradier provide stock, margin, mutual fund, and options trading, offering investors a solid foundation for building diversified portfolios. However, Firstrade stands out with the inclusion of fractional shares trading, which allows for more flexible investment strategies, and the ability to trade OTC stocks, appealing to those looking to explore less mainstream market opportunities.

Tradier, on the other hand, offers futures trading, an option not available with Firstrade, positioning it as a suitable platform for those interested in this specific market. Both brokers, however, do not offer forex or crypto trading, with neither providing advisor services. Additionally, they each offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts, ensuring investors can manage their retirement planning effectively. Overall, the choice between Firstrade and Tradier will largely depend on the specific investment needs and preferences of the individual investor.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes No
OTC Stocks info Yes No
Mutual Funds info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading info No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 0
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

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

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing Firstrade and Tradier for their trading platforms and tools, Firstrade slightly edges out Tradier with a 3-star rating, compared to Tradier's 2.5 stars. In the StockBrokers.com rankings, Firstrade is placed at 11th out of 18 brokers, while Tradier is ranked 14th. This assessment highlights Firstrade's marginal advantage due to its broader array of charting indicators and customization options, although both platforms have areas needing improvement.

Both Firstrade and Tradier do not offer Windows or Mac desktop downloadable trading platforms, relying instead on browser-based platforms. Firstrade provides a more feature-rich experience with 50 watch list fields compared to Tradier’s 3. While Tradier supports paper trading, a feature ideal for beginners honing their skills without financial risk, Firstrade does not offer this benefit. Neither platform allows traders to adjust open orders directly on stock charts or offers a trading journal, indicating a gap in real-time interactive features.

In terms of charting capabilities, Firstrade allows for 102 technical indicators and eight drawing tools, enhancing the analytical potential for traders compared to Tradier’s 95 indicators and zero drawing tools. However, Tradier offers note-taking on charts and displays historical trades, unlike Firstrade. Both brokers miss the mark on offering advanced customization such as automated technical analysis or saving multiple chart profiles, which traders often seek for a tailored trading experience.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No No info
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No info
Paper Trading info No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 95
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 0
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

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

Featured Offers


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Beginners and education

When evaluating online brokers for beginner and investor education capabilities, Firstrade and Tradier each have distinct offerings. Firstrade provides a solid foundation with stock and options education, plus an array of educational videos and webinars to guide new investors. Although it does not offer ETF, mutual funds, or bonds education, nor does it have paper trading capabilities or educational quizzes, its resources are robust enough to earn a 3.5-star rating and a #13 ranking out of 18 brokers for education by StockBrokers.com.

In contrast, Tradier presents limited educational resources for beginners. It does not offer educational content for stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, or bonds, nor does it have educational videos, webinars, or quizzes. However, Tradier does provide paper trading, which can be a useful tool for investors looking to gain practical experience without risking capital. Despite this feature, Tradier received a 0-star rating in education and ranks #16 out of 18 brokers in education according to StockBrokers.com. As a result, Firstrade stands out as the better option for those prioritizing comprehensive education and market understanding in their online brokerage choice.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Education (Stocks) info Yes No
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 No
Webinars info Yes No
Education 3.5/5 Stars 0/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

When comparing the stock trading app capabilities of Firstrade and Tradier, Firstrade emerges as the slightly stronger option. With a 4.5-star rating compared to Tradier's 4-star, Firstrade also holds a higher ranking by StockBrokers.com, positioned at #9 out of 18 brokers, while Tradier ranks at #14. Both platforms offer essential app functionalities on iPhone and Android, with features like mobile options trading and streaming quotes. However, Firstrade distinguishes itself by offering additional capabilities such as stock alerts, customizable watch list columns, and the ability to view charts in landscape mode.

Firstrade's app supports mobile after-hours stock trading and provides users with advanced charting options, offering 81 technical studies to enhance their trading experience. On the contrary, Tradier does not provide technical studies natively, which can be a limitation for traders relying on in-depth chart analysis. Both platforms, however, lack streaming live TV and videos on demand, ensuring that their focus remains on delivering key trading functionalities rather than media content.

While both apps have robust features for engaging with the stock market, Firstrade's enhanced charting tools and user-friendly customization options give it an edge over Tradier. For traders seeking a more feature-rich mobile trading experience, particularly those interested in technical analysis, Firstrade offers a more comprehensive platform. Tradier, though, remains a competitive choice for those looking for a solid app with essential trading capabilities.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
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 No
Charting - Technical Studies info 81 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

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 logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.35 info
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $9.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $9.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $30.00 info
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $60.00
Commissions & Fees N/A 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

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 logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
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

In a comparison of market research capabilities between Firstrade and Tradier, Firstrade emerges as the more comprehensive option. With a robust suite of services including research for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, Pink Sheets/OTCBB, and bonds, Firstrade distinctly outpaces Tradier, which offers research only for stocks and ETFs. Notably, Firstrade supports advanced research tools such as portfolio allocation analysis by asset class, social media sentiment data, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) research, areas where Tradier currently lacks. Rated 4.5 stars in market research against Tradier’s 1.5 stars and ranking #6 of 18 brokers as opposed to Tradier’s #15, Firstrade offers a more enriched research platform for investors.

Continuing with the comparison, downloadable PDF reports for in-depth insights significantly enhance Firstrade’s offering, with availability for stocks and ETFs, while Tradier does not support this feature. Additionally, Firstrade’s stock, ETF, mutual fund, and bond screeners provide investors with powerful tools for generating trade ideas, in contrast to Tradier’s absence of any such screeners. These capabilities illustrate Firstrade’s commitment to providing detailed, accessible, and versatile market research resources.

The appeal of Firstrade's research offerings is enhanced by its unique features that expand investor decision-making processes. With the ability to gauge portfolio allocation, leverage alternative data like social media sentiment, and explore ESG-focused investments, Firstrade presents investors with a multifaceted toolkit that Tradier does not match. These versatile research tools can empower investors to make better-informed decisions, underscoring Firstrade’s superior ranking in market research effectiveness.

Feature Firstrade logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
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

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 logoFirstrade
Tradier logoTradier
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 Tradier. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 81.8%, while Tradier finished with a score of 65.6%.

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 Tradier?

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 2025

Does Firstrade or Tradier offer IRAs?

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 2025

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Firstrade Tradier
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 0/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
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 info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $0.00 N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $0 $30 info
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.35 info
Futures (Per Contract) info (Not offered) $1.50 info
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $19.95 $10
Margin Rates Firstrade Tradier
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 13.75% 9.5%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 13.50% 9.5%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 13.00% 9.5%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 12.50% 9.5%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 12.50% 9.5%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 12.50% 9.5%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 12.50% 9.5%
Account Fees Firstrade Tradier
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $30.00 info
IRA Closure Fee info $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 info $0.00 $9.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $9.00
Investment Options Firstrade Tradier
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes No
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 No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 0
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 Yes
Roth IRAs info Yes Yes
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Firstrade Tradier
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 Tradier
Education (Stocks) info Yes No
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 No
Webinars info Yes No
Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Firstrade Tradier
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 No
Stock App Features Firstrade Tradier
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 No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes No
Stock App Charting Firstrade Tradier
Charting - After-Hours info No No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes No
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 Tradier
Active Trading Platform info TradeHawk
Desktop Trading Platform info No No info
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No info
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No Yes
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 50 3
Stock Chart Features Firstrade Tradier
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 102 95
Charting - Drawing Tools info 8 0
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Historical Trades info No Yes
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 No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 6 7
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Firstrade Tradier
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
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 Tradier
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 Tradier
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 No
Stock Research - ESG info Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes No
ETF Research Firstrade Tradier
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 No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes No
Mutual Fund Research Firstrade Tradier
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 Tradier
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 8
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 1
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 Tradier
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 Tradier
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 No
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes No
24/7 Support info No No
Overall Firstrade Tradier
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees N/A 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 0/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Firstrade Review Tradier Review
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