Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Capital.com vs Firstrade
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Capital.com |  Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £20 | $0 |
| Account fee | £0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds |
| Regulators | FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | SIPC, FINRA |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app, MT4, TradingView | Web, iOS, Android, IPad |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Firstrade scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Capital.com offers FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers SIPC, FINRA.
- Founded is lower at Firstrade: 1985 vs 2016.
- Capital.com is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Capital.com offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Options, Funds.
- Platforms: only Capital.com offers Web platform, Mobile app, MT4.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Support channels: only Capital.com offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Capital.com
Capital.com suits traders who want one account across shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds without a monthly or inactivity charge. UK clients sit under FCA regulation with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The minimum deposit of £20 is the only cost barrier, above CFI at $0.
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 | Capital.com | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Account fee of £0, stock trade fee of $0 and no inactivity charge, with free deposits and withdrawals. | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.6Higher |
What each covers
| Markets | Capital.com | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Capital.com | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 56 of 490 | 38 of 490 |
| Low-fee brokers | 7 of 11 | 4 of 11 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Capital.com | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | CySEC HE 354252 Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 984500C46B3B7B69Y904 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | FCA 793714 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 34642 |
What we checked
Capital.com
- capital.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investingreviews.co.uk: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexrev.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sashares.co.za: 2 facts, 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 | Capital.com | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | CAPITAL VAULT LTD | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | 1985Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital.com | Firstrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0lowest quarter | $0.59 |
Median across 81 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Capital.com
Pros
- No account fee at all, which puts it joint first on that measure in our data (£0).
- No inactivity charge, also joint first in our data, so an unused balance is not quietly billed (£0).
- Stock trades cost $0 under a commission-free model.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of £20 is far higher than CFI, which asks for $0.
- Support runs on chat and help centre, so there is no phone line for questions about a leveraged position.
- Retail accounts lose 65% of money, and the market is open around the clock.
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
Capital.com
Who it suits
- Traders who want shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds in one account
- UK residents who want FSCS protection alongside a CySEC regulated entity
- People who keep a balance and would otherwise pay inactivity fees
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you want a social platform with copy trading
- Vantage, if you would rather start from a smaller deposit of $5
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 | Capital.com | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Capital.com
What is the minimum deposit at Capital.com?+
The minimum deposit is £20 in the UK. That is higher than CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5. Clients who want a smaller opening balance may prefer a rival on that measure.
What does it cost to open and hold an account?+
There is no account fee, so the account costs £0. There is also no inactivity charge, at £0. Both rank the brand joint first on our data, so an unused balance is not billed.
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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