B
First Trade logo

First Trade

7.5/10
USAA logo

USAA

7.8/10
3/10RegulationWinner7/10
10/10FeesTied10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

First Trade was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while USAA was established in 2008 and is based in United States. First Trade holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while USAA is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. First Trade serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; USAA has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $5 at First Trade and $25 at USAA.

USAA wins this category
FeatureFirst TradeUSAA
Min. Deposit$5$25
RegulationSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
Founded20082008
CountryUSAUnited States
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between First Trade and USAA, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. USAA has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $25 (vs $5 at First Trade). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. First Trade charges deposit fees; USAA does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureFirst TradeUSAA
Min. Deposit$5$25
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesYes
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

First Trade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while USAA supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. USAA supports social and copy trading features, which First Trade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureFirst TradeUSAA
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4,WEBMT4 ,Android,iPhone,Mac

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how First Trade and USAA compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. First Trade scores higher overall in education and research.

First Trade wins this category
FeatureFirst TradeUSAA
Forex EducationYesNo
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesNo

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 USAA supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureFirst TradeUSAA
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

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 USAA offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureFirst TradeUSAA
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese