Tool Comparison
Firstrade vs SoFi Invest
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Pick Firstrade if
Firstrade
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Pick SoFi Invest if
SoFi Invest
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
Skip both if: These two cover the same ground; it really comes down to price and which interface you enjoy using.
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Our take
The bottom line
Firstrade and SoFi Invest cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
What readers say
Firstrade
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SoFi Invest
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Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- Firstrade
- Asset coverage
- FirstradeAdds bonds
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 SoFi Invest does best
- Online U.S. stock, ETF, and listed-options trading with $0 stated commissions.
- More than 4,000 eligible stock and ETF fractions starting at $5.
- Individual, joint, community-property, tenancy-by-entirety, and eligible IRA registrations.
- Mutual funds, interval funds and tender-offer funds with product-specific transaction costs.
- Recurring deposits, portfolio monitoring and watchlists in the SoFi app.
Side by side
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 | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 5 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East | North America |
| Try it | Visit Firstrade | Visit SoFi Invest |
Standout features
The best features of Firstrade and SoFi Invest.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 SoFi Invest does best
- Online U.S. stock, ETF, and listed-options trading with $0 stated commissions.
- More than 4,000 eligible stock and ETF fractions starting at $5.
- Individual, joint, community-property, tenancy-by-entirety, and eligible IRA registrations.
- Mutual funds, interval funds and tender-offer funds with product-specific transaction costs.
- Recurring deposits, portfolio monitoring and watchlists in the SoFi app.
All details
Every attribute we track for Firstrade and SoFi Invest.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsBonds | StocksETFsOptionsMutual Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle East | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | Firstrade Securities Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Phone and Email | SoFi Securities LLCCountry: United StatesSupport: Phone and Chat |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Firstrade and SoFi Invest?
Firstrade leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while SoFi Invest puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Firstrade and SoFi Invest 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.
Which is better for beginners: Firstrade or SoFi Invest?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
What asset classes do Firstrade and SoFi Invest cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds. Firstrade also handles bonds.
Which covers international markets: Firstrade or SoFi Invest?
Firstrade has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. SoFi Invest is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from Firstrade and SoFi Invest?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with Firstrade or SoFi Invest?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
Feedback
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