Firstrade
Kraken
VS
Compare
Firstrade
Capital at risk · T&Cs apply
Choosing between Firstrade and Kraken depends on your trading style, preferred markets, and budget. Firstrade is headquartered in New York, USA, while Kraken operates from San Francisco, USA. Firstrade has the longer track record, established in 1985, compared to Kraken which was founded in 2011. This in-depth comparison covers regulation, fees, platforms, markets, and overall ratings to help you decide which broker is the better fit in 2026.
Firstrade
Kraken
| Firstrade | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| BrokerRank Score | 3.4/5 ✓ | 3.4/5 |
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Spread from | 0 pips ✓ | 0.2 pips |
| Max Leverage | 1:2 | 1:5 ✓ |
| Regulation | SEC, CFTC | FCA, CFTC |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile |
Firstrade (3.4/5) and Kraken (3.4/5) are closely matched. Firstrade has lower spreads; the better pick depends on your priorities.
See full side-by-side comparison belowFirstrade
WinnerKraken
Firstrade
Lower feesKraken
Firstrade holds licences from SEC, CFTC. Kraken is regulated by FCA, CFTC.
Firstrade additionally covers Stocks, Indices. Kraken adds Crypto.
On spreads, Firstrade is more competitive with EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips, compared to 0.2 pips at Kraken.
Firstrade supports Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile. Kraken offers Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile. Both brokers are available on Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile.
Firstrade requires no minimum deposit, while Kraken sets no minimum deposit. This makes Firstrade accessible to traders with any budget.
BrokerRank scores Firstrade at 3.41/5 and Kraken at 3.37/5, based on 50+ data points covering regulation, fees, platforms, markets, and user experience. Firstrade leads overall with a marginal advantage.
Firstrade
3.4/5
Choose Firstrade if you want…
Kraken
3.4/5
Choose Kraken if you want…
Firstrade (3.4/5) and Kraken (3.4/5) are closely matched on our independent rating scale. The better choice depends on your priorities — fees, regulation, platforms, or available markets. See the full comparison above.
Firstrade offers spreads from 0 pips, while Kraken starts at 0.2 pips. Check the fees section above for a full breakdown.
Firstrade requires a minimum deposit of $0. Kraken requires $0.
Firstrade is regulated by SEC, CFTC, while Kraken holds licences from FCA, CFTC.
Firstrade supports Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile. Kraken supports Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile.
Yes, you can hold accounts at multiple brokers simultaneously. Many traders diversify across platforms to access different markets and tools.
Only 26% of Brokers Are Truly Fee-Free
BrokerRank Research — Hidden costs across 345 brokers
58% of Brokers Hold a Single Licence
BrokerRank Research — Regulation quality analysis
71% of Retail Traders Lose Money
BrokerRank Research — Loss rates across 50 EU brokers
76% of Brokers Use Proprietary Platforms
BrokerRank Research — MT4 vs MT5 vs proprietary
Trading involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Capital at risk. Full risk disclosure.