Firstrade review

Firstrade is the low-cost specialist on this list. It charges $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and options, and unlike most brokers it also charges $0 options contract fees and $0 exercise and assignment fees, so an options-heavy account pays only regulatory pass-through fees. Mutual funds, including load and no-load funds, trade free across a list of more than 11,000 funds. Trading hours are long: extended sessions run from 7am to 8pm ET on weekdays, and overnight sessions run from 8pm to 4am ET, Sunday to Friday, at $0 commission. OptionsWizard adds options analytics, and research comes from Morningstar, OptionsPlay, Briefing.com and Zacks. Account types are individual and joint brokerage plus traditional, Roth and rollover IRAs, with no minimums or inactivity fees. The trade-offs are a simpler platform than thinkorswim or TWS, $19.95 broker-assisted trades and support limited to phone and email on weekday hours.

Who it is for

Cost-focused options traders who do not need advanced charting.

Price

$0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, options and mutual funds; $0 options contract and exercise fees.

Options Commission $0 Contract Fee $0 Exercise and Assignment Fees $0
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• $0 commissions and $0 contract fees on options
• $0 options exercise and assignment fees
• Extended hours from 7am to 8pm and overnight sessions from 8pm to 4am ET
• OptionsWizard options analytics tool
• Research from Morningstar, OptionsPlay, Briefing.com and Zacks

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No minimums and no inactivity fees
• Strength: Over 11,000 mutual funds, including load funds free
• Strength: Individual, joint, traditional, Roth and rollover IRA accounts
• Weakness: Broker-assisted trades cost $19.95
• Weakness: Mutual fund redemptions under $500 can incur a $19.95 fee
• Weakness: Support is by phone and email on weekday hours

Key facts

• Stock and ETF commission: $0
• Options: $0 commission, $0 contract fee
• Exercise and assignment: $0
• Overnight trading: 8pm to 4am ET, Sunday to Friday
• Broker-assisted trade: $19.95

Where it ranks

Firstrade is No. 7 in our Best Stock Trading Apps verdict.