Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Avanza vs Firstrade
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Avanza |  Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | SEK 1 | $0 |
| Account fee | SEK 0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Finansinspektionen | SIPC, FINRA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Avanza Platform, Avanza App | Web, iOS, Android, IPad |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
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Key differences
- Firstrade scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Avanza offers Finansinspektionen.
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers SIPC, FINRA.
- Founded is lower at Firstrade: 1985 vs 1999.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Options.
- Platforms: only Avanza offers Avanza Platform, Avanza App.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Features: only Firstrade offers Demo account, Options, Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Avanza offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Firstrade offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Avanza
Avanza suits Swedish and European beginners who want a regulated home for stocks, ETFs and funds without an account charge. Its account fee is SEK 0 and each stock trade costs SEK 1, with money covered by EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 and watched by Finansinspektionen.
Firstrade
Firstrade is a US commission-free broker for retail savers who want retirement accounts and low costs in the same place. Protection is listed as SIPC up to USD 500,000, the minimum deposit is $0, and the trade-off is a market list limited to US equities, funds and options.
Score breakdown
| Area | Avanza | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Account fee is SEK 0 and the stock trade fee is SEK 1 on a low-fees model, against a site account fee median of €0. | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.6Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Avanza | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 34642 |
Additional countries for Avanza: 1. Additional countries for Firstrade: 1.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Avanza | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 154 of 471 | 47 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 40 of 88 | 13 of 88 |
Sources behind this comparison
Avanza
- btw.media: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- reviews247news.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- ad-hoc-news.de: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- play.google.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Firstrade
- firstrade.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Avanza | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners, Experienced, Day tradersCovers more |
| Legal entity | Avanza Bank Holding AB | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | Sweden | United States |
| Founded | 1999 | 1985Lower |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Avanza | Firstrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $25 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0lowest quarter | $0.625 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Avanza
Pros
- No account charge: the account fee is SEK 0, and Avanza ranks at 1 of 138 brands on that measure.
- Stock trades cost SEK 1 on a low-fees model, below the site stock trade fee median of €0.
- Regulated in Sweden by Finansinspektionen, and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 covers eligible holdings.
Cons
- Coverage is limited to stocks, etfs and funds, so traders who want forex, CFDs or crypto must look elsewhere.
- The account sits with Avanza Bank Holding AB in Sweden, so money is in a Swedish account rather than a UK one.
- Regulator count is thin: Finansinspektionen is the only entry, which limits cross-border reassurance for readers in other markets.
Firstrade
Pros
- Regulated in the US by FINRA and SIPC, with protection stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000 and a membership record at SIPC member 34642.
- A traditional IRA, a Roth IRA and a joint account all sit in ira, roth ira and joint under the commission-free pricing in commission free, so retirement and shared accounts hold at the same cost.
- Fractional shares and a demo account sit in demo account, options and mobile app, which helps the beginners and day traders named in beginners, experienced and day traders start small.
Cons
- The market list in stocks, etfs and options covers stocks, ETFs, options and funds, a narrow range next to eToro at stocks, etfs and forex and CFI at stocks, etfs and forex.
- Live chat and email are not among the listed support channels (phone and help centre), which pair a phone line with a help centre.
- An ISA and a SIPP are not among the listed account types (ira, roth ira and joint), which cover a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA and a joint account.
Who each suits
Avanza
Who it suits
- Beginners building a first share and fund portfolio in Sweden
- Long-term holders who want EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 behind their holdings
- Investors who trade through the app and prefer one account charge of SEK 0
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, CFDs or crypto, since Avanza lists stocks, etfs and funds only
- Readers who want a UK-listed provider and the account type that goes with it
- Anyone who needs a wide spread of regulated entities beyond Finansinspektionen
Firstrade
Who it suits
- US savers who want commission-free stock and ETF trading inside a retirement account, since the list in ira, roth ira and joint covers an IRA and a Roth IRA.
- Investors who trade in small amounts, because fractional shares in demo account, options and mobile app work alongside a $0 entry point.
- Day traders in US equities, named in beginners, experienced and day traders with a mobile app among the platforms in Web, iOS and Android.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want forex, CFDs or crypto alongside equities: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex, while Firstrade stays within stocks, etfs and options.
- UK and European savers who need a tax wrapper, since ira, roth ira and joint names no ISA or SIPP. Vantage, which sets $5 as its entry point, is worth pricing alongside.
Country by country
| Country | Avanza | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Avanza
How much does Avanza cost to open and run an account?+
The account fee is SEK 0, so holding the account does not cost anything on its own. Each stock trade is SEK 1 on a low-fees model. That puts Avanza near the top of the site ranking for account fees at 1 of 138 brands.
What can I actually buy and sell on Avanza?+
The listed markets are stocks, etfs and funds. So the account is built for direct share dealing, ETF buying and fund investment rather than leveraged products. Readers who want forex, CFDs or crypto will need a different broker for those instruments.
Firstrade
What does it cost to trade stocks and options?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the options contract fee is $0, so nothing is charged per trade on either side. The pricing model listed is commission free, which matches that, and the same terms apply to stocks and options contracts. A reader comparing quotes will find the same line on both markets.
Are there account or inactivity fees?+
The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so an account can sit open and untouched without an annual charge or a dormant penalty. That suits a saver who funds a retirement account and does not trade every month, since holding a small balance costs nothing beyond the trades themselves.
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