Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Firstrade vs Markets.com
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Firstrade |  Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $100 |
| Inactivity fee | $0Lower | $10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting |
| Regulators | SIPC, FINRA | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, ASIC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers | no deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, IPad | Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4, MT5 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.6% |
| Options contract fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers SIPC, FINRA.
- Regulators: only Markets.com offers CySEC, FCA, FSCA.
- Markets.com is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Firstrade: $0 vs $100.
- Inactivity fee is lower at Firstrade: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Options, Funds.
- Markets: only Markets.com offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Platforms: only Markets.com offers Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4.
- Support channels: only Markets.com 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.
Markets.com
Markets.com suits retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting under a single account with no commission charged on share dealing. Stock trades carry fees of $0 and the account fee is $0, though the $100 minimum deposit and an inactivity charge of $10 are the figures to weigh.
Score breakdown
| Area | Firstrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. | 8.9Commission-free model: stock trades at fees of $0, account fee of $0, currency conversion of 0.6%. |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.7Higher |
| Trust | 9.6 | 9.9Higher |
What it costs in practice
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
Firstrade
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Markets.com
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Both come to the same total.
Excludes currency conversion fee (not stated by Firstrade). Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Firstrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| South Africa | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 481853 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 34642 | Not confirmed |
Choosing between them
Pick Firstrade if cost, minimum deposit, and inactivity fee matter most.
Pick Markets.com if offer and trust matter most.
What we checked
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
Markets.com
- markets.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingfinder.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wecomparebrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- commodity.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- investingreviews.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Firstrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 490 | 40 of 490 |
| Brokers for beginners | 13 of 88 | 14 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Firstrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional shares | Mobile app, Copy trading, Demo account, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced, Day tradersCovers more | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC | Finalto Financial Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1985 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Firstrade | Markets.com | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $100above 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 | $10above the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4%above the median | 70.375% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.6%above the median | 0.4% |
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.
Markets.com
Pros
- Stock trades carry fees of $0 on a commission-free model, so placing a share trade is not chargeable
- The account fee is $0, which ranks Markets.com at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees, so moving money on and off the account stays cheap
Cons
- An inactivity charge of $10 catches dormant balances, placing Markets.com at 35 of 56 brands on that measure
- The minimum deposit of $100 is heavy, ranking at 148 of 213 brands, so a smaller opening balance rules it out
- A currency conversion fee of 0.6% sits on top of the commission-free model, so currency trades cost more than the share trades priced at $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.
Markets.com
Who it suits
- Retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting inside a single account
- Investors who trade often enough to clear the $100 minimum and steer clear of the $10 inactivity charge
- UK residents who want the account run by Finalto Financial Services Limited under the FCA
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone opening with a small balance, since the $100 minimum deposit compares with a site median of €4.64 while CFI takes $0 and Vantage takes $5
- Long term holders of an idle balance, because an inactivity charge of $10 applies
- Traders who mainly want forex and the lowest way in, since CFI and Vantage set minimum deposits at $0 and $5
Country by country
| Country | Firstrade | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Markets.com
Does Markets.com charge commission on shares?+
The pricing model is commission-free, and stock trades carry fees of $0 on the trade itself. Currency conversion of 0.6% and an inactivity charge of $10 sit outside that figure, so regular traders should build both into the running cost.
Is there a monthly or annual account fee?+
Fees run $0 on the account, which ranks Markets.com at 1 out of 138 brands on that measure. Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees as well, so funding the account and taking money back out stay clear of extra charges.
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