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Firstrade vs Swissquote

Firstrade or Swissquote – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare Firstrade and Swissquote in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Firstrade vs Swissquote Comparison Table 2026
Firstrade	Swissquote

4	4
Firstrade is ranked #41 among UK brokers.	Swissquote is ranked #20 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
In 2025, Firstrade Invest 3.0 will introduce an enhanced platform featuring a streamlined interface and quicker order entry, catering to active traders in areas such as watchlists and options chains. 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
Customer support still needs work following testing, though 24/7 assistance has been introduced Firstrade prioritises stocks over forex, restricting opportunities for portfolio diversification. Over 90% of the options assessed lack a demo trading account. 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, Fixed	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Bonds, Options, Futures, ETFs, Crypto (location dependent)
Demo Account
No	Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0	$1,000
Payment Methods
ACH Transfer Cheque Wire Transfer	Credit Card Debit Card Mastercard Visa Wire Transfer
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
4.7	4.5
Android App Rating
4.2	3.4
Margin Trading
Yes	Yes
Margin Rate
8% – 12%
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

Firstrade	Swissquote
Review	Review
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