Firstrade vs Tradier 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.
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.
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
|
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 |
Range of Investments |
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025
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
|
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 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025
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
|
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 2025
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
|
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 2025
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 | N/A |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
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 2025
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
|
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 2025
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.
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
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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0 of 5Overall Rating | Firstrade | Tradier | |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | |||
Commissions & Fees | N/A | ||
Range of Investments | |||
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 | N/A | ||
Range of Investments | |||
Platforms & Tools | |||
Mobile Trading Apps | |||
Research | |||
Education | |||
Ease Of Use | |||
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Firstrade Review | Tradier Review |