First Trade
td ameritrade
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Overview
First Trade was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while td ameritrade was established in 2016 and is based in Malta. First Trade holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while td ameritrade is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. First Trade serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; td ameritrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $5 at First Trade and $250 at td ameritrade.
| Feature | First Trade | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5 | $250 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F319 |
| Founded | 2008 | 2016 |
| Country | USA | Malta |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between First Trade and td ameritrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. td ameritrade has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $250 (vs $5 at First Trade). First Trade charges withdrawal fees while td ameritrade does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. First Trade charges deposit fees; td ameritrade does not. Overall, First Trade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | First Trade | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
First Trade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while td ameritrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | First Trade | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4,WEB | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how First Trade and td ameritrade compare. First Trade runs regular live webinars; td ameritrade does not. First Trade has a video library; td ameritrade does not. First Trade publishes daily market commentary; td ameritrade does not. First Trade integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); td ameritrade does not. First Trade maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. First Trade scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | First Trade | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. First Trade accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while td ameritrade supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). td ameritrade uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. td ameritrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | First Trade | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both First Trade and td ameritrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. First Trade supports 2 languages and td ameritrade supports 8, giving td ameritrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | First Trade | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |