Company Profile
Company Profile
Review summary
| Firstrade Review Summary | |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Registered Country/Region | United States |
| Regulation | No regulation |
| Market Instruments | U.S. Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds |
| Demo Account | ❌ |
| Trading Platform | Firstrade Web Platform, Mobile App (iOS & Android), OptionsWizard Tool |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Customer Support | Phone (US Toll-Free): 1-888-889-2818 |
| Phone (Taiwan Toll-Free): 00801-856-958 | |
| Phone (China Toll-Free): 400-685-8589 | |
| Phone (International): +1-718-888-2158 | |
| Email: service@firstrade.com / support@firstrade.com | |
| WeChat: Firstrade-1985 (Mon–Fri 8:00–18:00 EST) | |
| Fax: +1-718-961-3919 | |
Firstrade Information
Firstrade, founded in 1985 and headquartered in the United States, is an online brokerage platform that provides commission-free trading for stocks, options, ETFs, and mutual funds. While it offers user-friendly platforms and tax-advantaged IRAs to both new and experienced investors, it is not regulated by any major financial institution in the United States.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| $0 commission on stocks, ETFs, options, and funds | No regulation |
| No account inactivity fees or deposit minimums | No Islamic accounts |
| Free tools like OptionsWizard | Limited to U.S. markets |
Is Firstrade Legit?
Firstrade is an unregulated broker. Though registered in the United States, it lacks any formal regulatory license from major U.S. financial agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
WHOIS domain data shows the official domain firstrade.com was first registered December 28, 1997. Last updated on October 28, 2024, it will expire December 27, 2029. The domain is now in “client transfer prohibited” status, which indicates it cannot be moved to another registrar without permission.
What Can I Trade on Firstrade?
Firstrade offers a commission-free trading platform for a range of investment products, including U.S. stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds. Investors can build and diversify their portfolios without incurring standard trading fees.
| Trading Instruments | Supported |
| U.S. Stocks | ✔ |
| ETFs | ✔ |
| Options | ✔ |
| Mutual Funds | ✔ |
| Forex | ❌ |
| Commodities | ❌ |
| Indices | ❌ |
| Cryptocurrencies | ❌ |
| Bonds | ❌ |
Account Type
There are two major types of live accounts that Firstrade offers, one for investing and one for retirement. It does not have a demo account or an Islamic account that does not allow swaps. These accounts are great for both new and experienced users who want to get tax breaks while investing in U.S. markets.
| Account Type | Feature | Suitable for |
| Investment Account | Individual or joint account to invest in stocks, ETFs, options, and more. | General investors |
| Retirement Account (IRA) | Traditional, Roth, or Rollover IRA for tax-advantaged retirement savings. | Long-term retirement savers |
Firstrade Fees
With fees far lower than industry norms, Firstrade is among the most affordable brokers for U.S. stock and options traders. With no minimum deposit or inactivity charge, it provides commission-free trading on mutual funds, options, ETFs, and stocks.
Trading Fees
| Trading Product | Commission | Contract Fees | Notes |
| Stocks | ❌ | – | No commission at all |
| ETFs | ❌ | – | |
| Options | ❌ | ❌ | No per-contract fees |
| Mutual Funds | ❌ | – | Includes load & no-load funds |
| Bonds & CDs | Net yield basis | – | CDs: $30 for primary market |
Non-Trading Fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Account Maintenance | ❌ |
| Inactivity Fee | ❌ |
| Electronic Billing/Transfers | ❌ |
| U.S. Wire Transfer | $25 |
| International Wire Transfer | $25 |
| Overnight Check (U.S. only) | $50 |
| ACAT Account Transfer (Full) | $75 |
| ACAT Partial Transfer | $55 |
| Third-Party Payment Notification | $20 |
| Foreign Stock Trading/Transfer | $75 |
| Retirement Account Setup/Closure | ❌ |
| ADR Fee | $0.01–$0.05 per share |
Trading Platform
| Trading Platform | Supported | Available Devices |
| Firstrade Web Platform | ✔ | PC, Mac (Web browser) |
| Firstrade Mobile App | ✔ | iOS, Android |
| OptionsWizard Tool | ✔ | Web, integrated with main app |
Deposit and Withdrawal
Firstrade charges no fees for normal withdrawals or deposits. Certain services, such overseas transfers or quick check delivery, meanwhile, do cost money. There is no minimum deposit need, so novices may simply begin investing.
| Payment Method | Minimum Amount | Deposit Fee | Withdrawal Fee | Processing Time |
| ACH Transfer (Bank Linking) | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | 1–3 business days |
| Wire Transfer (Domestic) | $0 | ❌ | $25 | 1–2 business days |
| Wire Transfer (International) | $0 | ❌ | $25 | 3–5 business days |
| Check by Mail (U.S. only) | $0 | – | $0 (standard), $50 (expedited) | Standard or overnight delivery |
| Internal Account Transfer | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | 1 business day |
