Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Firstrade vs IG
Where Firstrade and IG differ
| Compare |  Firstrade |  IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread betting |
| Regulators | SIPC, FINRA | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, IPad | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69% |
| Options contract fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers FINRA.
- Regulators: only IG offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- IG is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Funds.
- Markets: only IG offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Features: only Firstrade offers Options.
Our verdict on each
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.
IG
IG suits traders who want shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting under a single roof, with an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5% on uninvested balances. Share dealing runs commission-free, while the retail loss rate is 69%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Firstrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. | 9.3 |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 9.5 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Firstrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 34642 | SIPC SIPC member 71021 |
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 |
Where these facts come from
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
IG
- ig.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Firstrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 490 | 39 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 10 of 103 | 11 of 103 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Firstrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC | IG Europe GmbH |
| Headquarters | United States | Germany |
| Founded | 1985 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Firstrade | IG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 69%below the median | 70.375% |
| Options contract fee | $0lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
IG
Pros
- Markets list stocks, etfs and forex, so shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting sit together.
- Regulated by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, with client protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Platform choice runs Mobile trading, L2 Dealer and ProRealTime.
Cons
- Retail accounts that lose money come to 69%.
- The commission-free model in commission free applies to share dealing, and it does not extend to trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options or futures.
- Accounts sit with IG Europe GmbH in Germany, so compensation stops at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Who each suits
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.
IG
Who it suits
- Traders who want stocks, etfs and forex reachable from the same account rather than several platforms.
- Share buyers who want dealing on a commission-free basis, since commission free covers their trades.
- EU clients who weight regulation and compensation, given Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a platform built around share dealing and crypto alone should compare CFI, whose stocks, etfs and forex is a shorter, simpler list.
- Investors priced in dollars rather than euros should weigh eToro, where the stock trade fee is $0.
- Anyone weighing only the account charge should know Vantage lists $0, so IG's €0 is not the only way to hold an account cheaply.
Country by country
| Country | Firstrade | IG |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
IG
What does it cost to trade shares with IG?+
Share dealing runs on a commission-free model, with a stock trade fee of £0 and an account fee of €0. Those are the two figures that matter for holding and trading, and both sit at the floor of the site tables. Trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options and futures are quoted apart from share dealing.
Who regulates IG and is my money protected?+
The regulators are Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, and the licences listed are MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 and SIPC member 71021. Client protection in the EU is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so a claim against the firm is covered only up to that ceiling. Any balance above the cap is your own exposure.
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