Firstrade vs Swissquote

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

Firstrade vs Swissquote Comparison Table 2025
Firstrade Swissquote
rating empty
rating full
4
rating empty
rating full
4
Firstrade is ranked #50 among UK brokers. Swissquote is ranked #53 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
Firstrade, based in the US, operates as a discount broker-dealer and is authorised by the SEC. The firm is a member of both FINRA and SIPC. Firstrade Securities stands out as a leading online brokerage, offering enticing welcome bonuses, robust tools and apps, and commission-free trading. Opening a new account is straightforward and efficient. Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a prominent Swiss bank and broker, providing online trading opportunities for an impressive portfolio of three million products, including forex, CFDs, futures, options, and bonds. Renowned for its reliability, Swissquote has earned a solid reputation through pioneering trading solutions. It was the first bank to introduce cryptocurrency trading in 2017, and has since expanded its offerings to include fractional shares and the Invest Easy service.
Pros
  • Improved trading conditions now include overnight trading and the option to purchase fractional shares.
  • Among the initial brokers to integrate AI-driven analysis via FirstradeGPT.
  • Ideal broker for cost-aware traders, offering competitive low fees on OTC trades.
  • A reputable US-regulated broker and SIPC member
  • Swissquote is highly reputable due to its status as a bank, its presence on the Swiss stock exchange, and its authorisations from credible regulators such as FINMA in Switzerland, FCA in the UK, and CSSF in Luxembourg.
  • Swissquote is designed for rapid trading strategies, including scalping and high-frequency approaches. With an average execution speed of 9ms and a 98% fill ratio, it also supports FIX API.
  • Swissquote offers robust platforms for traders, including MetaTrader 4/5 and its proprietary CFXD (formerly Advanced Trader). During testing, these platforms stood out with their adaptable layouts, advanced charting tools, and comprehensive technical indicators.
  • Swissquote offers sophisticated research tools such as Autochartist for technical analysis and real-time news from Dow Jones. The firm's exclusive Market Talk videos and Morning News provide daily expert insights, catering to active traders.
Cons
  • Firstrade prioritises stocks over forex, restricting opportunities for portfolio diversification.
  • Over 90% of the options assessed lack a demo trading account.
  • Customer support requires improvement after testing revealed the absence of 24/7 assistance.
  • Deposits and withdrawals via Visa credit or debit cards are not available.
  • Swissquote focuses on serving professional and high-net-worth clients, requiring substantial initial deposits, such as $1,000 for Standard accounts. This approach is less favourable for smaller traders who prefer brokers offering higher leverage and no deposit requirements.
  • Analysis indicates that Swissquote's charges are relatively high. Forex spreads on Standard accounts begin at 1.3 pips, whereas brokers such as Pepperstone or IC Markets offer starting spreads of 0.0 pips. Additionally, transaction fees for non-Swiss stocks and ETFs could accumulate significantly for active traders.
  • Unlike brokers like eToro that offer social trading capabilities, Swissquote does not provide tools for community interaction or replicating successful traders. This absence can reduce its attractiveness to those who prioritise peer-to-peer learning.
Awards
  • Best for ETF & Active Investor Commission & Fees - 2019
  • Top Innovative Companies 2025 – Statista
  • ETF Online Broker of the Year 2024 – Swiss ETF Awards
  • World’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2024 – Statista
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Bonds, Options, Futures, ETFs, Crypto (location dependent)
Demo Account
No Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $1,000
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
$1 0.01 Lots
Regulator
SEC, FINRA FCA, FINMA, CSSF, DFSA, SFC, MAS, MFSA, CySEC, FSCA
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App
The Swissquote app, honed over time, seamlessly merges banking with trading, offering swift access to a top-tier selection of over three million instruments, such as stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It surpasses the majority of trading apps we've reviewed, delivering a complete financial app with dynamic charts and distinctive features.
iOS App Rating
rating empty
rating full
4.7
rating empty
rating full
4.5
Android App Rating
rating empty
rating full
4.2
rating empty
rating full
3.4
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
4.50%
MetaTrader 4
No Yes
MetaTrader 5
No Yes
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
No No
Autochartist
No Yes
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
Yes Yes
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No Yes
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No Yes
Robo Advisor
No Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No Yes
Market Maker
Yes Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader and FIX API solutions
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
Trade Signals
Integrated in CFXD
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
Yes No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0 $0
Islamic Account
No Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • TRY
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • CHF
  • HKD
  • SGD
  • PLN
  • AED
  • SAR
  • HUF
  • THB
  • QAR
  • MXN
Commodities
  • Oil
  • Gasoline
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Natural Gas
  • Copper
  • Cocoa
  • Sugar
  • Soybeans
  • Coffee
  • Precious Metals
CFD
Swissquote has become a reliable CFD broker, offering trading opportunities across a broad range of global markets with rapid execution. The broker provides the intuitive CFXD platform as well as MetaTrader, and delivers insights from respected third-party sources such as Autochartist and Trading Central.
Leverage
1:30
FTSE Spread
0.9
GBPUSD Spread<
1.7
Oil Spread
0.03
Stocks Spread
$0 per trade N/A
Forex
Swissquote provides attractive terms for active forex traders, offering over 80 currency pairs. It ensures rapid execution speeds averaging 9ms and grants access to the popular MT4 platform.
Assets
80+
GBPUSD Spread
1.7
EURUSD Spread
1.3
EURGBP Spread
1.5
Cryptocurrency
Engage in trading across a wide range of top cryptocurrencies with minimal fees and all-day access. Traders can begin speculating on popular tokens such as Bitcoin with as little as £1. Additionally, clients can purchase cryptocurrencies instantly through a few simple steps. Swissquote has become a top cryptocurrency provider, now offering more than 30 digital tokens. It has also launched its own SQX exchange, offers crypto staking, and provides custodian services for professional traders. This all comes from a highly trusted and well-regulated brand in the crypto industry.
Spread
Variable 71 BTC (Prime Account)
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
  • USDT
  • USDC
  • XRP
  • SOL
  • AVAX
  • ATOM
  • ENS
  • ONDO
  • ICP
  • NEAR
  • IMC
  • RNDR
  • GRT
  • LDO
  • ALGO
  • DOT
  • ADA
  • XTZ
  • APE
  • LINK
  • POL
  • GALA
  • SAND
  • AXS
  • MANA
  • DOGE
  • UNI
  • FIL
  • MKR
  • CHZ
  • AAVE
  • COMP
  • XLM
  • ENJ
  • BCH
  • LTC
  • ZRX
  • BNT
  • EOS
  • AUDIO
  • ETC
  • HBAR
Crypto Lending
No Yes
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No Yes
Auto Market Maker
No No
Firstrade Swissquote
Review
Review
More Comparisons
Firstrade
vs

 Swissquote
vs