Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FBS vs Firstrade
Where FBS and Firstrade differ
| Compare |  FBS |  Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | SIPC, FINRA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Web, iOS, Android, IPad |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0), Inactivity fee ($0).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Firstrade scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only FBS offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers SIPC, FINRA.
- Founded is lower at Firstrade: 1985 vs 2009.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Firstrade: $0 vs $5.
- Markets: only FBS offers Forex, CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Options, Funds.
- Platforms: only FBS offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Support channels: only FBS offers Email.
Our verdict on each
FBS
Fbs Partners suits readers who want a plain, low cost picture from a firm regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: the account fee is $0 and the stock trade fee is $0. The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% and the retail loss rate of 66.43% are the figures to weigh before funding.
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 | FBS | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3 | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 8.8 | 9.6Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | FBS | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 101 of 490 | 38 of 490 |
| Low-fee brokers | 10 of 11 | 4 of 11 |
| Brokers for beginners | 33 of 88 | 13 of 88 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | FBS | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 34642 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FBS | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners, Experienced, Day tradersCovers more |
| Legal entity | Tradestone Limited | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2009 | 1985Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FBS | Firstrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43%below the median | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.6% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FBS
Pros
- An account regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses Tradestone Limited under 331/17, so the contract has a named entity behind it.
- The stock trade fee is $0 on a commission free model, so dealing in the shares and ETFs inside stocks, etfs and forex carries no ticket charge.
- The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained by account charges.
Cons
- The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% is the charge that lands on every forex and CFD trade, so currency traders feel it more than the flat fees suggest.
- The minimum deposit of $5 sits above CFI's $0, so readers who want the smallest opening balance have a lower floor elsewhere.
- The market list stocks, etfs and forex leaves out crypto and futures, which eToro covers in stocks, etfs and forex.
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
FBS
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a new trading account: the minimum deposit is $5 and the account fee is $0.
- Readers who hold shares and ETFs alongside forex: stocks, etfs and forex covers that mix on the same account.
- European readers who want a Cyprus regulated firm: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses the entity behind the brand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the smallest possible opening balance: CFI takes $0.
- Readers who need crypto or futures in the same account: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, and those lines sit outside stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want crypto added to a forex, CFD, stock, ETF and metals mix: Vantage covers forex, cfds and stocks.
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 | FBS | Firstrade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
FBS
What does it cost to run an account at Fbs Partners?+
The account fee is $0, the stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so nothing is charged for holding the account, dealing in shares or leaving a balance idle. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either. What remains on a forex or CFD trade is the spread, quoted at 0.5% on EUR/USD.
How much does the EUR/USD spread cost in practice?+
The EUR/USD spread is 0.5%. On a currency pair that spread is the dealer's charge for opening and closing, so it lands on every position rather than on a ticket line. The stock trade fee of $0 and the account fee of $0 sit alongside it, which makes the spread the number to size positions around.
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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