★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
DEGIRO vs Firstrade
Start here
DEGIRO
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about advanced order types, smart/direct routing, and news, things Firstrade doesn't offer
Pick Firstrade instead if
Firstrade
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You care about options, something DEGIRO doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
DEGIRO and Firstrade cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. DEGIRO simply does more: 8 categories to Firstrade's 5, including advanced order types, smart/direct routing, and news. Firstrade counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
DEGIRO
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Firstrade
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- DEGIRO
- Broader coverage
- DEGIRO8 vs 5 categories
- Asset coverage
- DEGIROAdds futures and other
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders and Pro Retail | — |
Categories covered | 8 | 5 |
Regions | Europe, North America | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Streaming, Real-time, and 15-min Delayed | — |
Capabilities | Multi-leg options | — |
| Try it | Visit DEGIRO | Visit Firstrade |
Where each one shines
What DEGIRO and Firstrade each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What DEGIRO and Firstrade each do best.What DEGIRO does best
- Web platform and mobile app with access to shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, options, futures, warrants, and leveraged products where local account settings allow.
- More than 45 markets across 30 countries; venue and product availability depends on the local DEGIRO country site and account profile.
- Order types include market, limit, stop loss, stop limit, day, good-till-cancelled, and trailing stops where the exchange supports them.
- Orders route direct to market on some venues and through the Morgan Stanley Smart Order Router on others, depending on product and market.
- Portfolio views, favourites lists, streaming or real-time quotes where available, market news, market overviews, and an economic calendar.
What Firstrade does best
- Online stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and listed options with $0 stated commission.
- Selected stock and ETF fractions using dollar or share orders during market hours.
- U.S. individual, joint, custodial, education, IRA, entity, and club registrations.
- International individual and eligible joint brokerage for 27 named countries and regions.
- Treasuries, agencies, municipals, bonds, and CDs using net-yield or disclosed transaction pricing.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for DEGIRO and Firstrade, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for DEGIRO and Firstrade, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFuturesOther | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro Retail | Not specified |
Regions | EuropeNorth America | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle East |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | StreamingReal-time15-min Delayed | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | CSVExcelPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Multi-leg options | Not specified |
Vendor & support | flatexDEGIRO Bank SE (DEGIRO brand)Country: GermanySupport: Email and Phone | Firstrade Securities Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Phone and Email |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between DEGIRO and Firstrade?
DEGIRO leans toward brokerage, advanced order types, and smart/direct routing, while Firstrade puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do DEGIRO and Firstrade cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
Should I choose DEGIRO or Firstrade?
It depends on what you're after. Pick DEGIRO if advanced order types and smart/direct routing matter to you; go with Firstrade if you'd rather have options. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do DEGIRO and Firstrade cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, bonds, and mutual funds. DEGIRO also handles futures and other.
Does DEGIRO or Firstrade have real-time data?
DEGIRO offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Firstrade runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Can I export data from DEGIRO and Firstrade?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with DEGIRO or Firstrade?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.