Firstrade vs Webull 2025
In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs Webull, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs Webull, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
When deciding between Firstrade and Webull for your investment needs, both platforms offer a broad range of options but cater to slightly different preferences. Firstrade receives a higher rating for its range of investments, with 4.5 stars compared to Webull's 4 stars, and ranks 6th out of 16 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. In contrast, Webull is ranked 12th. This suggests that Firstrade might be the preferable choice for investors seeking a more diverse array of traditional investment options, including mutual funds, which Webull does not offer.
Both Firstrade and Webull enable users to trade stocks, options, and engage in margin trading, making them suitable for active traders who want to trade more than just standard equities. Both platforms allow fractional shares trading and offer the ability to invest in over-the-counter (OTC) stocks, which can be beneficial for those interested in a diverse set of securities. However, neither Firstrade nor Webull provides forex or cryptocurrency trading, with neither platform offering any crypto coins.
For retirement planning, both brokers support traditional and Roth IRA accounts, making either an option for long-term financial planning. However, for investors looking to trade futures, Webull stands out as it offers futures trading while Firstrade does not. Neither platform offers advisor services, indicating that investors who prefer a hands-on approach or rely on external advice may find these platforms more aligned with their expectations.
Feature |
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares | Yes | Yes |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | No | Yes |
Crypto Trading | No | No |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 0 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025
When it comes to selecting the best online trading platform, Firstrade and Webull are two notable options. However, their offerings differ in key areas, which can sway a trader’s preference. Webull shines with its comprehensive offerings, including a Windows and Mac desktop application, paper trading, and several interactive charting features. In comparison, Firstrade lacks downloadable desktop platforms but provides a higher number of technical indicators for charting than Webull. Depending on an investor's needs, choosing between Firstrade and Webull will depend on the necessity for customizable and interactive toolsets.
Firstrade and Webull both offer browser-based trading platforms, yet Webull surpasses Firstrade with its advanced functionalities such as paper trading, the ability to adjust open orders directly on a stock chart, and custom chart additions like notes, historical trades, and corporate events. Webull also provides 19 drawing tools compared to Firstrade’s 8, making it attractive for those who value detailed, technical charting capabilities. Meanwhile, Firstrade offers a larger watchlist capacity of 50 columns over Webull’s 35, catering to those needing extensive stock monitoring.
Chart customization is another area where Webull emerges superior. Webull allows users to save multiple chart profiles and offers automated technical analysis and custom study creation, which Firstrade lacks. Firstrade, however, provides more customization fields when editing an SMA study for a stock chart, offering six over Webull’s two. Both platforms allow index overlays on charts, making this feature a tie. Overall, Webull is higher rated with four stars compared to Firstrade’s three for trading platforms and tools. According to StockBrokers.com, Webull is also ranked higher, coming in at seventh out of sixteen brokers, while Firstrade is positioned at eleventh.
Feature |
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Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes |
Paper Trading | No | Yes |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 50 | 35 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 52 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 19 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: 7 Best Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025
When it comes to educating beginner investors, both Firstrade and Webull offer a solid range of educational resources to help users get started. Firstrade provides education on stocks and options through accessible educational videos and webinars. However, it falls short when it comes to ETFs and mutual funds education. Additionally, Firstrade does not offer bonds education, paper trading, educational quizzes, or tools to track learning progress, which might limit a beginner's learning experience. With a 3.5-star rating and a 13th place ranking among 16 brokers, Firstrade offers a decent start for beginners, though there are areas for improvement.
Webull, on the other hand, offers a broader selection that includes education on stocks, ETFs, and options. This platform also features educational videos, webinars, and notable tools like paper trading and quizzes, allowing users to practice and test their knowledge. Furthermore, Webull allows users to track their learning progress, offering a more interactive and comprehensive learning environment. With a 4-star rating and 11th place ranking out of 16 brokers, Webull is a strong choice for those looking to enhance their investing skills and gain a deeper understanding of the market.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | No | Yes |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
Education (Bonds) | No | No |
Paper Trading | No | Yes |
Videos | Yes | Yes |
Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When it comes to choosing a stock trading app that best suits your needs, both Firstrade and Webull offer highly rated options, each with their unique advantages. Both apps are available for iPhone and Android devices, boasting key features like mobile options trading, streaming quotes, and customizable watch lists. However, Webull has an edge in its additional Apple Watch app and capabilities like after-hours charting and displaying stock comparisons on charts. In contrast, Firstrade allows for more technical studies with 81 options and the ability to customize watch list columns. For overall rankings, Webull secures the fifth position among 16 brokers, while Firstrade is ranked ninth, despite both having identical customer ratings of 4.5 stars out of five.
For investors who appreciate versatility in charting, Webull may appeal more with its after-hours charting and stock comparison features. It also caters to those who prefer trading on the go with its Apple Watch app and ability to view charts in landscape mode with various time frames. Firstrade, on the other hand, attracts users who prioritize a higher number of technical studies for in-depth analysis. Both platforms ensure users can receive stock alerts and trade after market hours, presenting them as solid options for active traders.
Ultimately, the choice between Firstrade and Webull will depend on what features hold the most value to each individual user. While both have been recognized for their stock trading app capabilities, it's these subtle differences and unique offerings that will make one a better fit for you over the other. Whichever you decide, both apps are highly regarded in the trading community for their comprehensive tools and user-friendly platforms.
Feature |
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|
---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch App | No | Yes |
Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes |
Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 56 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When choosing between Firstrade and Webull for online trading, potential investors will find both platforms offer cost-effective solutions without any minimum deposit requirement. Trades on stocks and options are commission-free, and both platforms eliminate IRA annual and closure fees, making them attractive for those looking for straightforward, budget-friendly trading options. However, it's important to note differences in extra charges; Webull offers lower rates for margin borrowing across all tiers as compared to Firstrade, making it slightly more favorable for those looking to trade on margin.
For those interested in specific fee structures, Firstrade and Webull match each other when it comes to regular stock and options trading, both offering $0 fees, which is an appealing aspect for cost-conscious traders. They also align with no fees for options contracts, options exercises, and assignments. However, a considerable distinction lies in their margin rate charges: Firstrade's rates start higher at 13.75% for balances below $25,000, compared to Webull's more competitive 9.24%. As balances increase, Firstrade's rates decrease slightly but remain above Webull's, with Firstrade charging 13.00% compared to Webull's 8.24% for balances between $50,000 and $99,999.
When considering account transfer fees, traders should be aware that both Firstrade and Webull charge for full account transfers at $75. However, Firstrade offers a slight advantage on partial account transfers with a lower fee of $55, compared to Webull's $75. This might be an influential factor for investors planning to move only a portion of their portfolios. Overall, while both platforms offer competitive, no-cost trading solutions, Webull might provide a marginally better experience for margin trading and account flexibility.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
When exploring online brokers for day trading, Firstrade and Webull each present unique advantages. A significant distinction lies in Webull’s offering of streaming time and sales for stocks, a feature absent from Firstrade. This allows Webull traders to benefit from real-time market insights, helping them make more informed decisions. Additionally, Webull provides tools like ladder trading and trading hotkeys, which are not available on Firstrade, granting traders faster trade execution and more nuanced control over their strategies.
Both platforms lack features like streaming live TV, direct market routing for stocks, as well as basic and advanced strategy backtesting. However, Webull offers level 2 quotes, which can be crucial for day traders looking to access deeper market data. In contrast, Firstrade does not offer this feature. Neither broker provides a short locator tool or order liquidity rebates, leaving room for traders to weigh other factors when choosing between these platforms. Overall, for day traders leaning towards data-driven and quick decision-making tools, Webull seems to offer more comprehensive capabilities.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes |
Streaming TV | No | No |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | No | No |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | Yes |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025
When evaluating the market research capabilities of Firstrade and Webull, it's clear that Firstrade offers a more comprehensive suite of tools and resources. Firstrade excels with its ability to provide research across a wide range of investment types, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. Moreover, Firstrade supports a deep dive into individual stocks and ETFs with downloadable PDF reports, a feature not available in Webull's offerings. In stark contrast, Webull lacks research for mutual funds and bonds, positions lower in rankings, and holds a 2.5-star rating compared to Firstrade's impressive 4.5-star score.
Both Firstrade and Webull offer stock and ETF research and support Pink Sheets/OTCBB research, ensuring investors are equipped to explore diverse market opportunities. They stand out in using social media sentiment data for stock research, aiding users in tapping into the buzz of online conversations. However, Firstrade pulls ahead with added benefits, such as the ability to analyze portfolio allocation by asset class and providing ESG research, valuable for socially conscious investors.
Examining tools for trade ideas reveals further differences; Firstrade offers screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, giving investors a significant edge in filtering the best investment choices. While Webull does cover stock screeners, its omission of ETF, mutual fund, and bond screeners marks a limitation in its market research offerings. For investors seeking a broad spectrum of detailed research capabilities, Firstrade presents itself as the superior choice.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
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 |
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When comparing the banking features of online brokers Firstrade and Webull, a few differences stand out. Firstrade offers some banking conveniences, including checking accounts and debit cards, which Webull does not provide. This can be an advantage for users who prefer having access to basic banking features alongside their investment account. Additionally, Firstrade offers Certificates of Deposit (CDs), while Webull lacks this option. Both brokers do not provide savings accounts, credit cards, or mortgage loans, which suggests a focus on investment services over traditional banking offerings. Overall, Firstrade may be a better option for those wanting to combine brokerage services with limited banking functionalities.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
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 16 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Firstrade is better than Webull. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 81.8%, while Webull finished with a score of 81.0%.
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 Webull both do not offer crypto trading, with each providing zero cryptocurrencies for trading.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Both Firstrade and Webull offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees or closure costs, providing cost-effective solutions for investors looking to manage their retirement savings.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
Select Brokers
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0 of 5Overall Rating | Firstrade | Webull | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Customer Service |
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Education |
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Ease Of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Firstrade Review | Webull Review |
Broker Screenshots | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | Webull | |
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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 | N/A | |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | $1.25 | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $19.95 | N/A |
Margin Rates | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 13.75% | 9.24% | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 13.50% | 8.74% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 13.00% | 8.24% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 12.50% | 7.74% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 12.50% | 7.74% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 12.50% | 6.74% | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 12.50% | 6.24% |
Account Fees | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $55.00 | $75.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $75.00 | |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Investment Options | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares | Yes | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
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 | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | Yes | |
Order Type - OCO | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
Beginners | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (ETFs) | No | Yes | |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
Education (Bonds) | No | No | |
Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
Progress Tracking | No | Yes | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | Yes |
Stock Trading Apps | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple Watch App | No | Yes | |
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 | Yes |
Stock App Features | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | No | No | |
Videos on Demand | No | No | |
Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | No |
Stock App Charting | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 56 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | No | Yes |
Trading Platforms | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Active Trading Platform | N/A | ||
Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes | |
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
Trade Journal | No | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 50 | 35 |
Stock Chart Features | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | Yes | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 52 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 19 | |
Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Historical Trades | No | Yes | |
Charting - Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
Charting - Custom Date Range | No | No | |
Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
Charting - Automated Analysis | No | Yes | |
Charting - Save Profiles | No | Yes | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
Charting - Study Customizations | 6 | 2 | |
Charting - Custom Studies | No | Yes |
Day Trading | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes | |
Streaming TV | No | No | |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | No | No | |
Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
Trade Hotkeys | No | Yes | |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | Yes | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
Short Locator | No | No | |
Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
Research Overview | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Screener - Bonds | Yes | No | |
Misc - Portfolio Allocation | Yes | No |
Stock Research | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 1 | 0 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Social | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | Yes |
ETF Research | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
ETFs - Strategy Overview | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Ratings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
Mutual Fund Research | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | Yes | |
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 | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
Option Chains - Basic View | Yes | Yes | |
Option Chains - Strategy View | Yes | Yes | |
Option Chains - Streaming | No | No | |
Option Chains - Total Columns | 8 | 23 | |
Option Chains - Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
Option Chains - Quick Analysis | No | Yes | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes | |
Option Probability Analysis | No | Yes | |
Option Probability Analysis Adv | Yes | Yes | |
Option Positions - Greeks | No | Yes | |
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | No | No | |
Option Positions - Adv Analysis | No | No | |
Option Positions - Rolling | Yes | Yes | |
Option Positions - Grouping | No | No |
Banking | Firstrade | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | Webull | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | Webull | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Education |
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Ease Of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Firstrade Review | Webull Review |