Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Firstrade vs InvestEngine
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Firstrade |  InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | £100 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Account fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, FundsCovers more | ETFs |
| Regulators | SIPC, FINRA | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers | Free |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, IPadCovers more | Web, iOS, Android |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | ISA, SIPP, Corporate |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 0% |
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Key differences
- Firstrade scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers SIPC, FINRA.
- Regulators: only InvestEngine offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Founded is lower at Firstrade: 1985 vs 2019.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Stocks, Options, Funds.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers IPad.
- Account types: only Firstrade offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Account types: only InvestEngine offers ISA, SIPP, Corporate.
- Support channels: only Firstrade offers Phone.
- Support channels: only InvestEngine offers Email.
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.
InvestEngine
InvestEngine suits beginners who want their money spread across ETFs without picking shares themselves. Costs stay thin: an account fee of £0, a stock trade fee of £0 and a single portfolio management charge of 0.25%, with deposits and withdrawals free.
Score breakdown
| Area | Firstrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. | 9.0 |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 8.4 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Firstrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Firstrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes |
| SIPP | No | Yes |
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Firstrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 47 of 471 | 195 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 10 of 86 | 42 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 13 of 88 | 57 of 88 |
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
InvestEngine
- investengine.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- blog.investengine.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.investengine.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Firstrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced, Day tradersCovers more | Beginners |
| Legal entity | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC | InvestEngine (UK) Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 2019 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Firstrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Firstrade | InvestEngine | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | $0lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 0%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 43 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.
InvestEngine
Pros
- An account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 leave almost nothing to pay for holding or trading.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000, with the platform regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- The platform list covers Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares make small regular buys work.
Cons
- Shares are not among its markets (etfs), so the range stays on funds rather than a general dealing list.
- Support runs on email and help centre, with no phone number for urgent account questions.
- Cash waiting to be invested earns 0%.
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.
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a curated portfolio and can start from a minimum investment of £1.
- ISA and SIPP holders in the UK who would rather not pay an account fee.
- Investors who only need help by email and are happy to stay inside a single asset class.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for anyone who wants to open with a minimum deposit of $0 rather than £100.
- Vantage, for anyone who wants a smaller entry point, since its minimum deposit is $5.
- eToro, for traders who want share dealing, because shares are not among its markets (etfs).
Country by country
| Country | Firstrade | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| 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.
InvestEngine
What does it cost to hold an InvestEngine account?+
The account fee is £0 and a stock trade costs £0, so buying and holding leaves most of the pot intact. The only ongoing charge is the portfolio management fee of 0.25%, which is taken on the portfolio rather than per trade. Cash left uninvested earns 0%.
Is my money protected if the platform fails?+
The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator named on the licence, and the platform states investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The account is run by InvestEngine (UK) Limited, a UK company, so UK rules and the protection scheme both apply to the account.
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