Tool Comparison
Firstrade vs Scalable Capital
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- You want options.
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- You want wealth management.
Pick Firstrade if
Firstrade
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You want options.
Pick Scalable Capital if
Scalable Capital
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You want wealth management.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Firstrade and Scalable Capital 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. Firstrade includes options, and Scalable Capital includes wealth management.
What readers say
Firstrade
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Scalable Capital
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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.
What Scalable Capital does best
- Stock and ETF trading through supported European venues, with FREE and PRIME+ plans using different fee rules and order-size assumptions.
- Free savings plans, including small recurring investments where supported.
- PRIME+ charges €0 for eligible European Investor Exchange orders of at least €250; Xetra and gettex orders cost €1.99 on both plans.
- Supported stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, derivatives, and crypto ETPs from a web or mobile brokerage workflow.
- Scalable Wealth runs automated ETF-based portfolios, with management fees that step down at higher account sizes.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| 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 | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 5 limits: FREE: european investor exchange order from250 eur: 0.99, FREE: prime etf purchase on eix from250 eur: 0 +3 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
Integrations | — | Scalable CLI and Scalable MCP |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 5 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East | Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | Timezone: Europe/Berlin |
Security | — | Status page |
| Try it | Visit Firstrade | Visit Scalable Capital |
Standout features
The best features of Firstrade and Scalable Capital.ShowHide
Standout features
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.
What Scalable Capital does best
- Stock and ETF trading through supported European venues, with FREE and PRIME+ plans using different fee rules and order-size assumptions.
- Free savings plans, including small recurring investments where supported.
- PRIME+ charges €0 for eligible European Investor Exchange orders of at least €250; Xetra and gettex orders cost €1.99 on both plans.
- Supported stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, derivatives, and crypto ETPs from a web or mobile brokerage workflow.
- Scalable Wealth runs automated ETF-based portfolios, with management fees that step down at higher account sizes.
All details
Every attribute we track for Firstrade and Scalable Capital.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsBonds | StocksETFsMutual FundsBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle East | Europe |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | 6 countriesExchanges: XETR, XMUN, and European Investor ExchangeIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | Not specified | Scalable CLIScalable MCP |
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status page |
Vendor & support | Firstrade Securities Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Phone and Email | Scalable Capital GmbHCountry: GermanyFounded 2014Support: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Freeeuropean investor exchange order from250 eur: 0.99 · prime etf purchase on eix from250 eur: 0 · +1 more |
| Entry paid plan | — | €4.99/mo“PRIME+ Broker”european investor exchange order from250 eur: 0 · xetra and gettex order eur: 1.99 |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Firstrade and Scalable Capital?
Firstrade leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Scalable Capital puts more weight on brokerage, wealth management, and portfolio. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Firstrade and Scalable Capital 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 Firstrade or Scalable Capital?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Firstrade if options matter to you; go with Scalable Capital if you'd rather have wealth management. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Firstrade and Scalable Capital cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. Firstrade also handles options.
Can I export data from Firstrade and Scalable Capital?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with Firstrade or Scalable Capital?
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.