Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FBS vs SoFi
FBS vs SoFi: the differences
| Compare |  FBS |  SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | SIPC, FDIC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0), Inactivity fee ($0).
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Key differences
- SoFi scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only FBS offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only SoFi offers SIPC, FDIC.
- Founded is lower at FBS: 2009 vs 2011.
- Minimum deposit is lower at SoFi: $0 vs $5.
- Markets: only FBS offers Forex, CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only SoFi offers Options, Crypto.
- Features: only FBS offers Demo account.
- Features: only SoFi offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
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.
SoFi
SoFi suits retirement savers in the US, with a stock trade fee of $0, an account fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The named licences are US registrations, so readers outside the US should check the account types and terms first.
Score breakdown
| Area | FBS | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3 | 9.5HigherRanks 1 of 161 on stock trade fee, 1 of 138 on account fee, 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 8.8 | 9.2Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | FBS | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Availability and regulation
| Country | FBS | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 68389 FDIC FDIC cert 26881 |
The bill, worked out
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
FBS
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
SoFi
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Both come to the same total.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | FBS | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 101 of 490 | 71 of 490 |
| Low-fee brokers | 10 of 11 | 8 of 11 |
| Brokers for beginners | 33 of 88 | 26 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FBS | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Tradestone Limited | SOFI SECURITIES LLC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | FBS | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FBS | SoFi | 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.
SoFi
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 on a commission free model, so cost does not decide which shares you can hold.
- The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so extra accounts and balances left untouched are not billed.
- The minimum deposit is $0 where Vantage asks $5, so a small amount can start an account.
Cons
- The account types listed are ira, roth ira and joint, retirement and joint accounts, and a general taxable account is not among them.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and options, while eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs and futures are out of reach here.
- The group sits in US and its registrations are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881, with no UK or EU regulator named.
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.
SoFi
Who it suits
- Beginners, which the audience fact lists as beginners, who want to start small with a $0 minimum deposit.
- Retirement savers who want an IRA, a Roth IRA or a joint account at $0 in account fees.
- Fractional share buyers who want crypto and equities in the same app, as the feature list crypto, fractional shares and mobile app shows.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and SoFi lists stocks, etfs and options.
- Investors who want a broader spread of instruments than shares, ETFs, options and crypto, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who need a UK or EU regulated provider, because the licences named are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881.
Country by country
| Country | FBS | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
SoFi
What does it cost to open and hold a SoFi account?+
The published minimum deposit is $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so opening and holding an account adds no charge on the listed terms. Those are account level figures, which is the first thing to check before you choose a wrapper or leave a balance untouched.
What does a stock trade cost?+
A stock trade costs $0 and the pricing model is commission free, so commission does not decide which shares you can hold. Other brands on the site charge a stock trade fee as high as €17.54, and the account fee of $0 and inactivity fee of $0 add nothing on top.