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Plus500 vs Firstrade: 2023 Comparison

Franklin Carneiro da Silva| Updated March 9th, 2023

Are you confused about whether to choose Plus500 vs Firstrade as a broker for your investing needs?

In this side-by-side comparison, we analyse Plus500 vs Firstrade to help you understand how these apps compare on some of the most common features and make a better-informed decision about the best broker for you.

Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of each broker, as well as a comparison table that features the different fees charged, the financial instruments supported, the regulation, and more. Keep reading!

Plus500 vs Firstrade: 2023 Comparison 1
Visit Plus500Asset 3

82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Ideal for
Commission-free CFDs trading and low spreads

Plus500 is an online broker offering a wide range of financial products, including real shares and CFDs on forex, indices, shares, commodities, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.

There are two distinct account types: Plus500 CFD, which only focuses on CFD products; Plus500 Invest, where you can trade stocks (real shares).

The web platform you will use is the WebTrader, Plus500’s proprietary platform, offering a stable trading experience and easy access from multiple devices.

Ideal for
US investors looking for US options only

Firstrade is a traditional company founded in 1985 that recently changed its strategy to become a commission-free online trading platform for stocks, ETFs and options.

The broker is considered safe, with a long track record that survived a few crises and top-tier regulators’ supervision.

The main drawbacks are its limited products offering (no European ETFs, stocks,…) and the fact that it only offers fractional shares on reinvested dividends.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Easy-to-use and responsive platform
  • Low spreads
  • No dealing commissions
  • Demo Account
  • Top-tier regulators

Cons

  • No ETF offering
  • Inactivity fee ($10 per month after no login activity in 3 months)
  • High overnight funding fees
  • Very little research and education provided

Pros

  • Commission-free stock, ETF, mutual fund and options trading
  • Good research and educational content
  • No inactivity fees
  • No minimum deposit

Cons

  • You can trade only on US markets
  • No 24/7 customer support
  • No demo account
  • No fractional shares
Plus500 vs Firstrade: 2023 Comparison 3
Plus500 vs Firstrade: 2023 Comparison 4
  •  
  • General Information
  • Founded in
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum
  • Interest on unninvested cash (annually)
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Commodities
  • Fees
  • US stocks
  • EU stocks
  • ETFs
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Custody Fee
  • Inactivity Fee
  • Withdrawal Fee
  • Connectivity Fee
  • Currency Conversion Fee
  • Security
  • Regulators
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)
  • Plus500Asset 3

    82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

  • General Information
  • Founded in2008
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum$100
  • Interest on unninvested cash (annually)0%
  • Products
  • Stocks*On "Plus500 Invest" only.
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs*On Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Stocks, Commodities, ETFs, Options and Indices
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex*Through CFDs only
  • Cryptocurrencies*Through CFDs only
  • Commodities*Through CFDs only
  • Fees
  • US stocks$0.006 per share
  • EU stocksIt varies according to each country stock exchange
  • ETFsNot Applicable
  • CryptocurrenciesNot Applicable**0.30% spread on Bitcoin CFD - it varies according to each crypto (Availability subject to regulations and spreads subject to change).
  • Custody Fee$0
  • Inactivity Fee$10/month**After 3 months of login inactivity.
  • Withdrawal Fee$0
  • Connectivity Fee$0
  • Currency Conversion FeeUp to 0.70%
  • Security
  • RegulatorsFCA, CySEC, FSCA, FMA and ASIC.
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)

    Up to £85,000 for clients under Plus500UK Ltd.

  • FirstradeAsset 3
  • General Information
  • Founded in1985
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum$1
  • Interest on unninvested cash (annually)0%
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Commodities
  • Fees
  • US stocks$0
  • EU stocksNot Applicable
  • ETFs$0
  • Cryptocurrencies1%**Spread on either side of a crypto trade.
  • Custody Fee$0
  • Inactivity Fee$0
  • Withdrawal Fee0$ for ACH**Wire transfers cost $30-35 (depends on your residency).
  • Connectivity Fee0$
  • Currency Conversion FeeNo available information
  • Security
  • RegulatorsFCA and FINRA.
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)Up to $500,000 **Including international clients.
Franklin Carneiro da Silva
Co-Founder & Fintech Analyst

Franklin is a CFA Level III Candidate with 3 years of experience in Wealth Management as a Fund Research Analyst and the Host of the "Edge Over Hedge" YouTube Channel.

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