Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Firstrade vs XTB
Firstrade vs XTB: the differences
| Compare |  Firstrade |  XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | €0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | €0 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | €10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SIPC, FINRA | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF |
| 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 | Free deposits; free withdrawals above 100 EUR/USD |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, IPad | XStation 5, XStation Mobile |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Options contract fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
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Key differences
- Firstrade scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Firstrade offers SIPC, FINRA.
- Regulators: only XTB offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF.
- Founded is lower at Firstrade: 1985 vs 2002.
- XTB is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only Firstrade offers Options, Funds.
- Markets: only XTB offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Firstrade offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Platforms: only XTB offers XStation 5, XStation Mobile.
- Support channels: only Firstrade offers Help centre.
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.
XTB
XTB suits retail traders who want to hold stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto under one Cyprus-based account without a monthly charge. The account fee is €0, deposits cost nothing, and CySEC, FCA and KNF authorisations sit behind a legal entity founded in 2002.
Score breakdown
| Area | Firstrade | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts $0; transfers run Free for bank transfers, $25 for wire transfers. | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.6 | 9.6 |
What each covers
| Markets | Firstrade | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | Firstrade | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 259400HM2TR4U3LF5D43 |
| Poland | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 34642 | Not confirmed |
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
XTB
- xtb.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hello-brokers.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- linkedin.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Firstrade | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 490 | 3 of 490 |
| Brokers for beginners | 13 of 88 | 1 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Firstrade | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Options, Mobile app, Fractional shares | Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced, Day tradersCovers more | Beginners |
| Legal entity | FIRSTRADE SECURITIES INC | XTB Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | Cyprus |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 2002 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Firstrade | XTB | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77%highest quarter | 70.375% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.4% |
| Options contract fee | $0lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
Median across 38 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.
XTB
Pros
- Account fee of €0 on the standard account, and stock trades cost €0.
- Minimum deposit of €0, so the account opens without a funding floor.
- Regulated by CySEC, the FCA and KNF across Cyprus, the UK and Poland.
Cons
- An inactivity fee of €10 applies, unlike eToro, which has no such charge.
- Forex and CFD trading is not cost free: fx trading costs 0.5%.
- CFDs carry a high proportion of losing retail accounts, and XTB's own figure is 77%.
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.
XTB
Who it suits
- Retail traders in the UK and Europe who want stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto in one account
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before committing money
- Cost conscious traders who will not hold a balance large enough to trigger the inactivity fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, if a small minimum deposit of $5 suits a smaller starting balance better
- CFI, for traders who want forex and CFDs without paying an fx charge of 0.5%
- Anyone who plans to hold an idle balance for a long period, given the inactivity fee of €10
Country by country
| Country | Firstrade | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
XTB
What does XTB charge to open and hold an account?+
The account fee is €0, so there is no monthly or annual cost to keeping the account open. A stock trade costs €0 on the same account. The only recurring charge to watch is an inactivity fee of €10 for traders whose balance sits idle.
Is there a minimum deposit at XTB?+
The minimum deposit is €0, which means the account can be opened and funded with a small amount. It is a lower floor than the $5 asked by Vantage, so it suits a trader testing the platform before scaling up.
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