Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Firstrade vs Trading 212
Where Firstrade and Trading 212 differ
| Compare |  Firstrade | Trading 212 ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | £1 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Account fee | $0 | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs |
| Regulators | SIPC, FINRA | Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, IPad | Trading 212 App, Web Platform |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | ISA, SIPP, Joint |
| Options contract fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Firstrade scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers SIPC, FINRA.
- Regulators: only Trading 212 offers Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Founded is lower at Firstrade: 1985 vs 2006.
- Trading 212 is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Options, Funds.
- Markets: only Trading 212 offers Forex, CFDs.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Platforms: only Trading 212 offers Trading 212 App, Web Platform.
- Account types: only Firstrade offers IRA, Roth IRA.
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.
Trading 212
Trading 212 suits UK and European beginners who want flat costs: a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of £0 and an ISA, SIPP and joint account. Forex and CFDs share the same menu, so the easy entry is the reason to look closer, not to trade heavily.
Score breakdown
| Area | Firstrade | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. | 9.3Charges sit at the floor: £0 on a trade, £0 on the account, £0 when idle. |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 9.2 |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 9.5 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Firstrade | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 21380045KC28948FNE32 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 34642 | Not confirmed |
What each covers
| Markets | Firstrade | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Firstrade | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes |
| SIPP | No | Yes |
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Firstrade | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 490 | 74 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 9 of 85 | 18 of 85 |
| Low-fee brokers | 4 of 11 | 9 of 11 |
| Brokers for beginners | 13 of 88 | 28 of 88 |
Sources behind this comparison
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
Trading 212
- en.wikipedia.org: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Firstrade | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional sharesCovers more | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced, Day tradersCovers more | Beginners |
| Legal entity | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC | Trading 212 Markets Ltd |
| Headquarters | United States | Cyprus |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 2006 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Firstrade | Trading 212 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Options contract fee | $0lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
Median across 33 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.
Trading 212
Pros
- Nothing to pay for holding or for going quiet: the account fee reads £0 and the inactivity fee reads £0.
- Trading shares costs £0, the same stock trade fee eToro lists at $0, so the trade price is not the reason to move.
- The entry of £1 sits under the $5 Vantage asks for, which matters for a first transfer.
Cons
- The market list pairs shares and ETFs with forex and CFDs in stocks, etfs and forex, so a platform aimed at beginners, beginners, also carries leveraged products.
- The fee sheet is the easy part: retail accounts lose money at 70.15% across the brokers compared, and a £0 trade cost does not remove that risk.
- The money side runs through Trading 212 Markets Ltd in Cyprus, registered with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission as MiCA CASP 21380045KC28948FNE32, so a UK saver is dealing with a Cyprus entity alongside the UK one.
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.
Trading 212
Who it suits
- Beginners and small regular investors who want a low bar to entry, since the minimum deposit is £1 and the app and demo account in fractional shares, demo account and mobile app support a cautious start.
- UK and European savers who care about holding cost, because the account fee of £0 and the inactivity fee of £0 leave the account free to sit and free to open.
- Savers who want a tax-wrapped and shared holding together, since isa, sipp and joint covers an ISA, a SIPP and a joint account under one provider.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for forex and CFD traders who want a deeper market list: Trading 212 stops at stocks, etfs and forex, while eToro and Vantage cover more of the leveraged side.
- Not for anyone who needs a no-cost opening: CFI takes a minimum deposit of $0 against the £1 asked here.
- Not for savers who want a bigger spread of wrappers: the account range is listed as isa, sipp and joint, which does not stretch to every tax-sheltered account type.
Country by country
| Country | Firstrade | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Trading 212
What is the minimum deposit to open a Trading 212 account?+
The published minimum deposit is £1, low enough to open and fund in one step. That entry sits under the €4.64 level seen across the brokers compared here, and under the $5 Vantage asks for, so a small first transfer is enough to get going.
Does Trading 212 charge for keeping an account open or leaving it idle?+
The account fee reads £0 and the inactivity fee reads £0, so neither holding the account nor letting it sit dormant is billed on the published sheet. The €10 inactivity level across the brokers compared sits well above that floor, which is where dormant-account charges usually show up.
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