Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Firstrade vs Wealthfront
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Firstrade |  Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | SIPC, FINRACovers more | SIPC |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers | Free instant withdrawals |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, IPad | Web, iOS app, Android app |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.55% |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000), Account types (IRA, Roth IRA, Joint).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Firstrade scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers FINRA.
- Founded is lower at Firstrade: 1985 vs 2011.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Firstrade: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Options.
- Markets: only Wealthfront offers Bonds.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers iOS, Android, IPad.
- Platforms: only Wealthfront offers iOS app, Android app.
- Support channels: only Wealthfront offers Email.
- Features: only Firstrade offers Demo account, 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.
Wealthfront
Wealthfront suits beginners who want their portfolio run for them, with a management fee of 0.25% on automated portfolios and a deposit starting at $1. Commission-free dealing at $0 and free instant withdrawals keep running costs low, though the managed minimum is higher than some rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | Firstrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. | 9.0Cash pays 3.55%, the account fee is $0 and the management fee of 0.25% sits below 0.4% for robo-advisors here. |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 9.1 |
The bill, worked out
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
Firstrade
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Wealthfront
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Both come to the same total.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Licences and countries
| Country | Firstrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 34642 | SIPC SIPC member 68534 |
Available in 1 country for both.
What each covers
| Markets | Firstrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Firstrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
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
Wealthfront
- wealthfront.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Firstrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 47 of 471 | 129 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 10 of 86 | 27 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 13 of 88 | 35 of 88 |
| IRA providers | 7 of 43 | 19 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Firstrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Firstrade | Wealthfront | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $1below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | $0lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.55%above the median | 3% |
Median across 134 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.
Wealthfront
Pros
- Trading is commission-free, with a stock trade fee of $0 on share dealing.
- The cash account fee is $0, and the management fee on automated portfolios is 0.25%.
- A minimum deposit of $1 and fractional shares make it easy to spread small amounts across stocks, etfs and bonds.
Cons
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, which narrows the options for anyone who wants live chat.
- Managed portfolios need $500 to open, well above the typical entry point across the brokers listed here (€25).
- Asset choice stops at stocks, etfs and bonds, so the product list suits long-term holders more than active traders.
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.
Wealthfront
Who it suits
- Beginners, since the audience is listed as beginners and the deposit and fee levels keep the entry small.
- US savers building retirement or shared accounts, with ira, roth ira and joint on offer.
- Long-term holders who want a robo portfolio alongside cash, reachable from Web, iOS app and Android app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs a lower floor for managed investing: Axos Invest starts at $100, against $500 here.
- Readers after a plan fee rather than a robo charge, since Vivid Standard charges 0.5% to 1.5%.
Current offers
Wealthfront
Current offer
Bonus
Cash Account APY Boost: up to 4.45% APY (3.55% base APY as of 09/18/2026)
APY Boost applies up to a $150,000 balance; 3.55% base APY as of 09/18/2026, provided by program banks and subject to change; funds held at program banks
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Firstrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
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.
Wealthfront
What does Wealthfront charge to manage my portfolio?+
The management fee is 0.25% on automated portfolios, while the cash account fee is $0. Stock trade fees are $0, so for most readers the robo charge is the only recurring cost to weigh against a rival's plan fee.
How much do I need to get started?+
The minimum deposit is $1, so an account can be opened with a small transfer, and instant withdrawals are free if plans change. An automated portfolio needs $500 to open, which is the figure most readers should compare with other robo-advisors.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Firstrade vs LANDE
- Firstrade vs Afranga
- Firstrade vs Nectaro
- Firstrade vs Interactive Brokers
- Firstrade vs Charles Schwab
- Firstrade vs Dodl
- Firstrade vs Trading 212
- Firstrade vs Public
- Firstrade vs tastytrade
- Firstrade vs eOption
- Firstrade vs TradeZero
- Firstrade vs InvestEngine
- Firstrade vs Plus500
- Firstrade vs Finhabits
- Firstrade vs tastyfx
- Firstrade vs Hfm Partners
- Firstrade vs Vantage
- Firstrade vs Avanza
- Firstrade vs EasyEquities
- Firstrade vs ActivTrades
- Firstrade vs XTB
- Wealthfront vs NAGA
- Firstrade vs eToro
- Wealthfront vs Bitpanda
- Firstrade vs Robinhood
- Firstrade vs willbe
- Firstrade vs S Broker
- Firstrade vs Kraken
- Wealthfront vs EBC Financial Group