Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AvaTrade vs Firstrade
Where AvaTrade and Firstrade differ
| Compare | AvaTrade ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 | $0Lower |
| Inactivity fee | $50 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader | Web, iOS, Android, IPad |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | SIPC, FINRA |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Firstrade scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Firstrade: $0 vs $100.
- Inactivity fee is lower at Firstrade: $0 vs $50.
- Markets: only AvaTrade offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Funds.
- Platforms: only AvaTrade offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Features: only AvaTrade offers Copy trading.
- Features: only Firstrade offers Options, Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a commission-free CFD and forex broker for traders who want no deposit or withdrawal charges and free stock dealing, and who can start at a minimum deposit of $100. The catch is an inactivity fee of $50 on dormant accounts, so this suits active traders rather than occasional investors.
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 | AvaTrade | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Stock dealing costs $0 with no deposit or withdrawal fees, offset by an inactivity fee of $50. | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.6 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | AvaTrade | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | AvaTrade | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 34642 |
How they place
| Ranking | AvaTrade | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 89 of 471 | 47 of 471 |
| Options trading platforms | 31 of 103 | 11 of 103 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AvaTrade | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Copy trading | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1985 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AvaTrade | Firstrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $50highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0lowest quarter | $0.625 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
AvaTrade
Pros
- Stock dealing is free, with a stock trade fee of $0
- No deposit or withdrawal fees, so funding and getting money out cost nothing
- A demo account, a mobile app and copy trading are all offered
Cons
- Dormant accounts attract an inactivity fee of $50
- The minimum deposit of $100 is higher than the site median of €4.64
- Copy trading sits well below the site average of 9.6%
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
AvaTrade
Who it suits
- Traders who keep an account active and want free deposits and withdrawals
- Anyone who wants to trade forex, CFDs, options and crypto in one place
- Copy traders who want to follow other people's positions as well as run their own
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors who need a tax-sheltered investment account
- Anyone who would leave a balance sitting untouched for long periods
- CFI or Vantage suit people who want a lower starting deposit
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 | AvaTrade | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
AvaTrade
What does it cost to trade stocks at AvaTrade?+
Stock dealing carries a stock trade fee of $0, and pricing is commission-free, so there is no separate dealing commission layered on top. Other costs are thinner too: funding an account carries no deposit fee.
What is the smallest amount needed to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That sits above the site median of €4.64 and above the lower quartile of €0, so it is a higher starting bar than many brokers on the site.
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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