Firstrade vs Robinhood

Firstrade or Robinhood – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Firstrade and Robinhood in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Firstrade vs Robinhood Comparison Table 2025
Firstrade Robinhood
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4
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0.9
Firstrade is ranked #71 among UK brokers. Robinhood is ranked #114 among UK brokers.
Review
Review
Firstrade is a US-headquartered discount broker-dealer with authorization from the SEC. The company is also a member of FINRA/SIPC. With welcome bonuses, powerful tools and apps, plus commission-free trading, Firstrade Securities is a popular and top-tier online brokerage. It is also quick and easy to open a new account.
We do not recommend trading with Robinhood. Their business practices have harmed traders and their "free" trading offer has been criticized for actually costing their traders millions of dollars.
Robinhood is a stock broker and financial services firm based in California. The broker offers commission-free stocks, cryptos and ETFs, plus other products such as cash cards and retirement accounts. Despite its robust regulation, Robinhood has been involved in numerous scandals and security breaches since 2020. We urge investors to exercise caution.
Pros
  • Enhanced stock trading environment with overnight trading and fractional shares added
  • One of the first brokers to add AI-powered analysis through FirstradeGPT
  • Excellent broker for budget-conscious traders with low OTC fees
  • Highly trusted US-regulated brokerage and SIPC member
  • Intuitive mobile trading app with 24/7 live support and in-app stock market news
  • Robinhood's 'Snacks' newsletter offers bite-sized financial news updates suitable for beginners
  • Interesting podcast hosted by the CEO and co-founder, covering topics such as blockchain and financial empowerment
  • Robinhood Cash Card offers weekly bonuses invested into stocks, as well as cashback on popular brands
Cons
  • Firstrade focuses on stocks at the expense of forex, limiting diversification opportunities
  • No demo/paper trading account found at over 90% of alternatives evaluated
  • Customer support still needs work following testing with no 24/7 assistance
  • Visa credit/debit card deposits and withdrawals are not accepted
  • Limited research and education tools compared to top-rated brokers like IG
  • Previous lawsuits and negative press surrounding the firm's controversial business practices
  • Despite the actual app showing quote data in real-time, data may be delayed by up to 20 minutes
  • Robinhood does not support advanced order types or options trades, while limit orders are collared up to 5%
  • Concerning history of security breaches
Awards
  • Best for ETF & Active Investor Commission & Fees - 2019
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed Stocks, ETFs, ADRs
Demo Account
No No
Minimum Deposit
$0 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
$1 $1
Regulator
SEC, FINRA FCA
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
iOS App Rating
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4.7
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Android App Rating
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4.2
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Margin Trading
Yes No
Margin Rate
4.50% 2.5%
MetaTrader 4
No No
MetaTrader 5
No No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
No No
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
Yes No
STP Account
No No
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No No
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
No No
Market Maker
Yes No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No No
Auto Trading
No
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
Yes No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0 $0
Islamic Account
No No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
Take positions on dozens of leading cryptocurrencies with low fees and 24/7 investing. Traders need just $1 to start speculating on popular tokens like Bitcoin. Clients can also buy cryptos instantly in a few straightforward steps. Access 18 crypto assets through the Robinhood app with no commission fees, including access to Bitcoin. On the negative side, the selection is not as wide as other brands and security is weak.
Spread
Variable 0%
Coins
  • ALGO
  • AVAX
  • BAT
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • ADA
  • LINK
  • ATOM
  • CRO
  • CRV
  • MANA
  • DOGE
  • ETH
  • ETC
  • FTM
  • LTC
  • LRC
  • MATIC
  • REN
  • SHIB
  • SOL
  • XLM
  • SUSHI
  • GRT
  • UNI
  • YFI
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • BCH
  • LTC
  • SOL
  • DOGE
  • BTG
  • OMG
  • XMR
  • QTUM
  • DASH
  • XRP
  • XLM
  • ZEC
  • NEO
  • LSK
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
Firstrade Robinhood
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