Firstrade vs Swyftx: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Firstrade and Swyftx This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on September 1, 2025

Firstrade

Swyftx

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Latin America

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

United States

Europe

Latin America

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

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Firstrade is ideal if:

Perfect if you value simplicity and self-led growth — Firstrade shines for investors who want a straightforward platform enhanced by rich educational content and intuitive tools like Options Wizard and FirstradeGPT.
Great for cost-conscious traders focused on the US market — It delivers commission-free trading across stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds, ideal if you prioritize low ongoing costs and trade U.S. securities.
Not ideal if you need advanced or global asset access — The platform doesn’t offer futures, forex, crypto, IPOs, or international markets, so it's not suited for highly diversified or exotic investment strategies.

Swyftx is ideal if:

Great for beginners and casual traders — Swyftx’s intuitive interface, demo mode, and educational incentives (like Learn & Earn) make it easy to get started with confidence.
Well-suited for Australian and New Zealand users — Built specifically for local fiat (AUD/NZD) usage and regulatory environments, offering seamless deposits and tax tools.
Less ideal for advanced traders — Lacks margin, futures, and derivatives options that experienced or professional traders often require.

Firstrade isn’t ideal if:

If you seek automated or advisor-led services — Firstrade doesn’t provide AI-driven trading automation, robo-advice, or personalized financial planning options.
If you need access to non-U.S. or exotic markets — It excludes futures, forex, international equities, and advanced asset classes, limiting your global exposure opportunities.
If you prioritize sleek navigation and advanced macroscopic insights — The platform’s layout can feel cluttered, with limited portfolio tracking and broader market analytics visible at a glance.

Swyftx isn’t ideal if:

You need advanced or professional trading tools — Swyftx lacks margin, futures, derivatives, copy-trading, and staking features.
You trade niche, low-liquidity assets — Some rare tokens may show limited functionality or suffer from low liquidity, leading to higher slippage.
You’re outside Australia/New Zealand — Availability is currently restricted to those regions, so international users won’t have access.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Firstrade does not operate on a crypto exchange-style maker/taker fee model since it primarily offers commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds; there are no volume-based discounts tied to a native token.

Swyftx employs a unified spot fee structure—maker and taker are the same—and those rates decrease automatically with higher 30-day AUD trading volumes, starting from a standard tier and improving with volume tiers.

Futures/Derivatives

Firstrade does not support trading in futures, options on crypto, or any leveraged derivative contracts, so there are no maker/taker or funding fees in this category.

Futures, margin, and derivatives trading are not available on Swyftx, so there are no maker/taker or funding costs to consider.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

As Firstrade does not currently offer direct spot cryptocurrency trading, there are no applicable spreads for BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT pairs within its platform.

While Swyftx doesn’t list exact spread figures in long-term terms, publicly reported estimates suggest moderately tight spreads for major pairs, suitable for straightforward spot trades without deep order-book advantages.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Deposits and withdrawals are processed via ACH, wire transfers, and check requests; ACH is typically free and fast (1–2 business days), while wires may have a fee and take 1–3 days depending on the bank.

Users in Australia and New Zealand can deposit using bank transfer, PayID, card (via Stripe or Banxa), with zero platform fees for AUD transfers—though third-party or card premium spreads may apply—while NZD withdrawals incur a flat local fee; processing times are standard regionally.

On-chain Withdrawals

Since Firstrade does not facilitate direct on-chain crypto transfers, there are no blockchain network withdrawal fees for BTC, ETH, TRX, or other tokens.

Crypto withdrawals incur only the blockchain’s network fee, which is dynamic and set by the network (not Swyftx), and varies per asset and congestion levels across BTC, ETH, TRX networks, etc.

Hidden Costs

The main extra cost to be aware of is currency conversion for non-USD accounts; Firstrade does not charge inactivity or expedited account verification fees.

Swyftx does not charge inactivity fees; users may face third-party conversion or card provider spreads, and while there’s no express KYC charge, any expedited services would depend on external verification services.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

This action cannot be performed directly on Firstrade, as it does not provide native crypto purchasing; acquiring BTC would require an external platform, where costs would depend on that provider’s commission, spread, and withdrawal fee structure.

If you were to buy roughly the equivalent of €500 worth of BTC via AUD (via conversion), the total cost would comprise the spot trading fee (based on your tier), any AUD conversion or card spread, and then the network fee when withdrawing on-chain—all combined into a seamless composite cost, without separate hidden charges.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Firstrade offers trading in approximately 38–41 cryptocurrencies, focusing on spot pairs only—there’s no full order book with crypto-to-crypto pairings, just single-asset buys priced in USD on their platform.

Swyftx offers over 440 cryptocurrencies across a wide variety of trading pairs, including all major BTC, ETH, and AUD combinations—so top-20 volume pairs are fully covered while smaller altcoins also enjoy strong representation.

Product Range

Firstrade supports only spot cryptocurrency trading; it does not support margin, perpetuals, futures, options, ETFs on crypto, staking, lending, copy trading, grid bot tools, or automated DCA programs.

The platform focuses exclusively on spot trading and provides features like crypto bundles and auto-invest (akin to DCA), but it does not support margin, futures, options, ETFs, staking/earn, loans, copy-trading, or grid bots.

Liquidity

Firstrade does not disclose actual 24-hour volume or order book depth data for crypto; trading occurs via their internal system with instant settlement but without traditional exchange-level liquidity metrics.

Swyftx delivers solid liquidity on popular BTC and ETH pairs via a broker model; while exact 24-hour figures and depth aren’t disclosed, spreads are reported as tight and competitive for seamless basic spot execution.

Tools

Their crypto offering includes basic order types, real-time quotes, charts, and research features, but lacks advanced tools such as stop/OCO orders, advanced charting, native TradingView integration, alerts, or API/WS access for crypto.

Swyftx offers limit, stop, and recurring (trigger) orders, full TradingView charting, auto-invest capabilities, market alerts, and an API for automated access—yet no native trading bots or OCO functionalities are noted.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Crypto trading is available only to users in the United States; there are no crypto markets or services offered outside U.S. jurisdictions.

As of now, Swyftx is available only in Australia and New Zealand, and it does not offer any advanced derivatives, lending, or leveraged products to users in any region.

Innovation

Firstrade has not rolled out innovation tools like launchpad/launchpool, nor any flexible vs blocked crypto-earned programs—its crypto offerings remain simple and limited to direct spot purchases.

The platform stands out with its auto-invest (simplified DCA), crypto bundles, self-managed super fund (SMSF) support, demo mode, and educational rewards—but it does not currently offer launchpads, flexible vs locked earn programs, or similar promotional yield features.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

The crypto service is delivered through Firstrade Crypto LLC, a U.S.-based subsidiary operating under parent company Firstrade Securities Inc., founded in 1985 and headquartered in Flushing, New York.

Swyftx Pty Ltd, established mid-2010s, headquartered in Milton, Brisbane, Australia.

Licenses/Registration

Firstrade Securities operates as a registered broker-dealer under FINRA and the SEC; crypto trading itself is facilitated by Apex Crypto LLC, acting under regulatory standards but without explicit VASP or MiCA licensing.

Fully registered with local AML/CTF authorities in Australia and New Zealand, subject to regular audit under respective national frameworks.

Custody

Cryptocurrency custody is handled by Apex Crypto LLC as a third-party provider—not held on Firstrade’s own infrastructure. There’s no publicly shared proof of reserves, audit reports, or stated cold-storage percentages.

Assets are split between hot and cold storage under Swyftx’s custodial control; they operate with a full 1

Insurance & Protection Funds

While traditional account assets benefit from SIPC and possibly FDIC protections, crypto holdings are not covered under these programs and have no dedicated insurance or extra custodian protection.

No publicly listed third-party insurance or protection fund is offered by Swyftx at this time.

Incident History

Firstrade hasn’t suffered publicized hacks or major suspensions tied to its crypto platform; however, it recently received FINRA censure and a fine for misleading communications about crypto offerings via an affiliate.

There are no reported hacks, major service suspensions, fund freezes, or regulatory fines recorded for the platform to date.

Risk Controls

Firstrade enforces strong security measures including multi-factor authentication, SSL encryption, firewalls, fraud detection systems, phishing education, and a secure security center, but doesn’t highlight features like API permissions or sub-accounts for crypto.

Robust safeguards include optional two-factor authentication, biometric login, breached-password detection, least-privilege internal architecture, anti-phishing guidance, and wallet whitelisting processes for withdrawals.

Transparency

There’s no public monthly reporting or wallet audit data available for crypto holdings. Users rely on Firstrade’s Online Protection Guarantee for unauthorized trades, yet there’s no SLA or public wallet addresses disclosed.

Swyftx maintains ISO 27001 certification for information security management, employs ongoing third-party audits, and enforces a 1/1 asset model—but does not publish user-specific monthly reserve reports or transparent SLAs publicly.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Firstrade supports fiat deposits via ACH, wire transfer, check, and transfers from other brokerages; ACH from U.S. bank accounts is fee-free and takes a couple of business days, wires are faster but involve sending-bank fees, and check deposits vary by type and processing, with some available immediately.

Users in Australia can deposit via bank transfer (instant with Osko or 2–3 business days otherwise), PayID (usually instant), card through Stripe (instant) or Banxa (30–45 minutes). Bank transfers include no minimum, Stripe has a ~AUD 30 minimum, Banxa starts at ~AUD 91, and PayID has no set minimum; each channel’s limits vary, and timing and third-party provider fees apply.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

There’s no formal tiered KYC structure; account opening requires ID verification, and once verified, users can access full services—there are no intermediate “basic” or “advanced” levels with differing limits.

The platform uses a tiered verification system—Basic (Gold) for standard functionality and Diamond for higher limits—unlocking higher deposit and withdrawal caps when fully verified.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals are available via ACH, check, or wire—ACH (up to $50,000 per day) is free and takes 1–2 business days, checks may take up to two weeks depending on delivery, and wires cost a fee and take several days; crypto token withdrawals (e.g. ERC20/TRC20) are not supported.

Fiat withdrawals in AUD and NZD are via bank transfer, with minimums of AUD 4 or NZD 30, daily totals up to ~AUD/NZD 50,000 (increasable with advanced KYC), and processing times from minutes (Osko) up to 10 business days. Crypto withdrawals require network confirmation, have dynamic network fees, and Swyftx deducts only the blockchain fee—not extra platform charges.

Customer Support

Support is offered via email and U.S. phone during business hours, complemented by a Help Center with FAQs—there’s no 24/7 live chat, and response times and knowledge base depth are moderate and office-hour dependent.

Swyftx provides 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone, with access to a well-developed knowledge base and chatbot. Response times are typically fast, often within minutes for live chat.

Languages & Localization

The platform and mobile app support English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese; the interface displays USD values only, with no localized support for Spanish or Euro-based users—reflecting its U.S.-centric design.

The platform is optimized for English-speaking users in Australia and New Zealand, showing balances and fees in AUD/NZD—with local regulatory alignment and no native display options for other fiat currencies.

App Quality & Stability

The Firstrade app (iOS/Android) is well-rated, noted for intuitive navigation and sync across devices, though some users report occasional crashes; regular updates enhance features and UX, but no official crash-rate metrics are disclosed.

Swyftx’s app (iOS and Android) offers biometric security, TradingView charting, seamless trade functionality, and consistent updates; it holds high user ratings and is noted for a polished, stable experience.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Firstrade delivers a clean, beginner-friendly interface that helps new users get started quickly, though it doesn’t offer distinct “Lite” or “Pro” modes; advanced traders may find the layout functional but not deeply customizable.

Swyftx offers a highly intuitive interface with customizable dashboards on both app and web; though it doesn’t use explicit “Lite/Pro” modes, the layout adjusts seamlessly from beginner to more advanced users by adding/removing widgets and choosing preset layouts.

Performance

Firstrade offers solid performance under normal conditions, but during high-volatility events, users sometimes note slight delays in order execution; account verification remains swift even during surges, with KYC queues rarely causing major hold-ups.

Order execution on Swyftx is fast and stable, even during busy periods—while explicit latency or downtime figures aren’t disclosed, user reviews frequently highlight swift reactions and minimal disruptions under volatile market conditions.

Education

The platform provides a rich library of written and video educational resources for investing concepts, though it lacks a dedicated simulator or demo trading environment and does not yet offer educational content in Spanish.

Swyftx delivers a robust learning ecosystem with its “Swyftx Learn” portal featuring courses and quizzes, plus a fully functional demo mode with USD $10,000 in mock funds to practice trading—all tools aimed at reinforcing confidence before live trading.

Community

Firstrade does not operate official community channels like Discord or Telegram. It did run a referral program in the past, but that has been discontinued, and users must rely on formal help centers rather than peer-driven forums.

The exchange supports a referral program where both parties receive rewards after sign-up and KYC completion, while maintaining active presence across forums, Discord, Telegram, and social platforms to cultivate its community and engagement.

Integrations

Firstrade recently integrated advanced research tools from Trading Central, but doesn’t support direct TradingView charting, bot trading, or built-in tax/accounting integrations—users rely on manual methods or third-party tools.

Swyftx integrates TradingView for advanced charting, offers API access for automation, and includes tax-report tools; while it doesn’t directly support third-party bots, its ecosystem facilitates DCA setups and portfolio tracking.

Who Each One Is Best For

Firstrade shines with investors who value a reliable, easy-to-use platform with educational support and occasional advanced tools—ideal for self-directed U.S. investors prioritizing simplicity over complex trading setups.

Swyftx works best for beginner to intermediate traders in Australia and New Zealand who value simplicity, educational support, and local fiat integration—less ideal for advanced traders seeking derivatives, margin products, or global access.