Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Dodl vs Firstrade
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Dodl |  Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | 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 | Dodl app | Web, iOS, Android, IPad |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Interest on cash | 3.8% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Firstrade scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Dodl offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers SIPC, FINRA.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Options.
- Platforms: only Dodl offers Dodl app.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Account types: only Dodl offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only Firstrade offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Support channels: only Dodl offers Email, Chat.
- Support channels: only Firstrade offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
Dodl
Dodl is an AJ Bell app aimed at UK beginners who want to sidestep dealing costs entirely. Stock trades cost £0 and cash earns 3.8%, so the saving comes from the fee-free model rather than from a richer market list.
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 | Dodl | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9 | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. |
| Offer | 9.2Stock trade fee of £0 across isa, sipp and lisa, plus free deposits and withdrawals, undercuts priced platforms. | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.6Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Dodl | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 176 of 471 | 47 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 35 of 86 | 10 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 47 of 88 | 13 of 88 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Dodl | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Dodl | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
Dodl
- dodl.co.uk: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.dodl.co.uk: 3 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 | Dodl | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners, Experienced, Day tradersCovers more |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1985 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Dodl | Firstrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0lowest quarter | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 3.8%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Dodl
Pros
- Stock trades cost £0, the lowest stock trade fee recorded in this comparison
- free deposits and withdrawals means moving money in and out adds nothing to a portfolio
- Cash held with the account earns interest of 3.8% while you save for a purchase
Cons
- Cash interest of 3.8% is a variable rate, so the return on uninvested money can move
- Dealing runs on Dodl app only, which suits casual investors less well than a desktop platform
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line for urgent account problems
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
Dodl
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a first stocks, ETFs and funds portfolio
- Investors who want dealing fees at £0 and want to keep cash earning 3.8%
- Savers setting aside money in an ISA, SIPP or LISA before investing
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need a desktop dealing platform, because dealing sits on Dodl app
- Anyone wanting phone support, since help runs on email, chat and help centre
- Investors who trade often in foreign currency, where 0.75% charges apply
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 | Dodl | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Dodl
What does it cost to buy shares at Dodl?+
A stock trade costs £0, which is the figure that stands out on this platform. The pricing model is commission-free rather than low-fee, so dealing is designed to cost nothing. Money in and out is also free deposits and withdrawals, so a transfer adds nothing extra. The one charge to watch is 0.75% on currency conversion when you buy shares priced outside sterling.
Is my money protected at Dodl?+
Dodl is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and eligible balances are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000. That protection is a stated limit on a claim to the firm, not a promise that investments cannot fall in value. The company operating the app is AJ Bell, so the account sits with an established UK provider rather than an offshore entity.
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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