Firstrade vs Kraken - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Firstrade vs Kraken

Compare Firstrade and Kraken side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Firstrade

Firstrade

Cost-conscious US stock, ETF and options traders

Firstrade is a US online broker with $0 online trades for stocks, ETFs, options and mutual funds, plus mobile…

VS
Kraken

Kraken

Crypto traders seeking regulated exchange

Kraken is a US-based crypto exchange founded in 2013, offering spot trading across 600+ assets, futures, marg…

Head-to-head comparison

Firstrade vs Kraken
Feature Firstrade Kraken
Minimum deposit $0 -
Stock trading fee $0 commission -
Regulators FINRA FinCEN, FCA, CBI, Wyoming Division of Banking, SEC, FINRA
Best for Cost-conscious US stock, ETF and options traders Crypto traders seeking regulated exchange
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
-
Bonds
-
Options
-
Futures
-
Funds
-
Margin
Investment Plans
-
Multi Currency
-

Pros & cons

Firstrade

Firstrade

Pros

  • $0 online trades for stocks, ETFs, options and mutual funds
  • $0 options contract, exercise and assignment fees
  • No deposit minimum and no inactivity fees
  • Overnight trading from 8 PM to 4 AM ET on 1,200+ securities
  • Options Wizard includes 40+ strategies and P&L simulations
  • ACATS transfer fee rebate up to $250 on qualifying transfers
  • Excess protection can raise coverage to $37.5 million per customer

Cons

  • Broker-assisted stock and ETF trades cost $19.95
  • Broker-assisted options cost $19.95+$0.50/contract
  • Mutual fund shares sold within 90 days can cost $19.95
  • Redemptions below $500 can incur a $19.95 fee
  • Primary Market CDs cost $30
  • Overnight trades must use limit orders only
  • ACH transfers require a U.S. financial institution
Kraken

Kraken

Pros

  • Regulated by FinCEN, FCA, and MiCA (Central Bank of Ireland)
  • 600+ tradable crypto assets
  • Spot trading starts at 0.25% maker / 0.40% taker, falling to 0.00% maker / 0.05% taker at the highest volume tier
  • No inactivity fee
  • Futures trading with 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker base fee
  • Staking available with no transaction fee to stake or unstake
  • Up to 10x leverage on spot margin (selected assets), up to 50x on perpetual futures
  • Tokenized US stocks and ETFs available via xStocks in eligible regions

Cons

  • No demo account
  • Crypto withdrawal fees are dynamic and can rise with network congestion
  • Margin rollover fees (0.01%-0.05% per 4 hours) accumulate quickly on open positions
  • xStocks (tokenized stocks) not available in all jurisdictions
  • Standard Kraken platform has higher fees than Kraken Pro
  • Fiat deposit and withdrawal fees vary by method and can be significant for bank wire
Firstrade

Firstrade

Firstrade is a US online broker with $0 online trades for stocks, ETFs, options and mutual funds, plus mobile apps and overnight stock and ETF trading.

Visit Firstrade Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Kraken

Kraken

Kraken is a US-based crypto exchange founded in 2013, offering spot trading across 600+ assets, futures, margin, staking, and tokenized equities via xStocks in eligible regions.

Visit Kraken Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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