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Brokerage Account Review⚡ Best for Options Cost

Firstrade Securities

Firstrade

Stock trades $0. Options traders, mutual fund investors, international investors, cost-conscious traders.

At a Glance

Stock Trades

$0

Options Trades

$0 (no per-contract fee)

Min. Deposit

$0

Research Tools

Intermediate

Fractional Shares

No

Crypto Trading

No

Rates & Fees

Stock Trades

$0

Options Trades

$0 (no per-contract fee)

Min. Deposit

$0

Account/Inactivity Fee

None

Full Transfer-Out Fee

$75 for a full account transfer

Key Features

$0 options commissions AND $0 per-contract fee — only major broker with truly zero options cost

11,000+ mutual funds available commission-free

Overnight trading (8pm–4am ET, Sun–Fri) at $0 commission

Extended hours 8am–8pm ET, plus overnight sessions

SIPC-insured up to $500K + additional $37.5M policy

Serving investors since 1985; strong support for international account holders

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Best total-cost options trading — $0 commission + $0 contract fee
  • Largest mutual fund selection among zero-commission brokers
  • Overnight trading available at no extra cost
  • Strong for international investors — Chinese-language support
  • OptionsWizard is a professional-grade analytics tool

Tradeoffs

  • No fractional shares
  • Platform less polished than Fidelity or Schwab
  • Research tools not as deep as top-tier brokers
  • No crypto trading

Best for: Options traders, mutual fund investors, international investors, cost-conscious traders

How to Apply

Decide which account type fits your goal — Firstrade offers Individual, Joint, Roth IRA, and more.

Have your Social Security number, employment information, and a funding source (bank account or transfer) ready.

Open the account directly on Firstrade's site or app; identity verification is required by federal law for all brokerages.

Fund the account with any amount — this broker has no minimum deposit requirement.

Review commission schedules and any account fees before placing your first trade.

How It Compares

Current product highlighted
ProductStock TradesOptions TradesMin. Deposit
Firstrade Securities$0$0 (no per-contract fee)$0
Fidelity Investments$0$0.65/contract$0
Charles Schwab$0$0.65/contract$0
E*TRADE$0$0.65/contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades/qtr)$0

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Firstrade charge fees to trade stocks?

Firstrade's stock trade commission is "$0." Options trades are priced at $0 (no per-contract fee), and other fees (like broker-assisted trades or account transfers) can still apply.

What's the minimum deposit for Firstrade?

Firstrade doesn't require a minimum deposit to open an account, so you can start with any amount.

Can I trade fractional shares and crypto with Firstrade?

Firstrade does not currently support fractional shares, and does not offer direct crypto trading.

Are there any ongoing or account-closing fees with Firstrade?

Account/inactivity fee: None. Fee to transfer your full account to another broker: $75 for a full account transfer. Transfer-out fees are common industry-wide and are charged by the broker you're leaving, not the one you're moving to.

How does Firstrade compare to other brokerages?

See the "How It Compares" table on this page for a few close alternatives side by side, or browse the full list of brokerage accounts to compare commissions, minimums, and platform features.

Other Brokerage Accounts

Fidelity Investments

Stock trades: $0

Charles Schwab

Stock trades: $0

E*TRADE

Stock trades: $0

Fees and features shown are illustrative as of 2026 and subject to change — always confirm current terms directly with the broker before opening an account.

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