Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
BMO InvestorLine vs Fidelity
Where BMO InvestorLine and Fidelity differ
| Compare |  BMO InvestorLine |  Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | CA$0 | $0 |
| Account fee | CA$0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | CA$0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, ForexCovers more |
| Margin rate | 8.75%Lower | 12.375% |
| Options contract fee | CA$0.90 | $0.65 |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | SEC, FINRA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.4% to 1.6% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $0 EFT, $10 wire | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
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Key differences
- Fidelity scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Founded is lower at Fidelity: 1946 vs 1988.
- Margin rate is lower at BMO InvestorLine: 8.75% vs 12.375%.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Futures, Forex.
- Support channels: only BMO InvestorLine offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Fidelity offers Community.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Fractional shares, Demo account, Crypto.
Our verdict on each
BMO InvestorLine
BMO InvestorLine suits Canadian investors who want a bank-backed broker without account or inactivity charges, trading stocks and ETFs commission free. What sets it apart is the pairing of a CAD 0 stock trade fee with a CAD 0 account fee, though currency conversion and options add cost.
Fidelity
Fidelity is a US brokerage that suits investors who want to hold and trade without a standing charge: its minimum deposit, account fee and inactivity fee all sit at $0, $0 and $0. Stock dealing is commission-free, with SIPC protection recorded as SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Score breakdown
| Area | BMO InvestorLine | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherCommission-free stock and ETF trades, no account fee and no inactivity fee, with options and margin priced separately at CAD 0.90 and 8.75%. | 9.1Site ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.6 | 9.8Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | BMO InvestorLine | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 43 of 490 | 37 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 13 of 103 | 9 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 6 of 22 | 5 of 22 |
| Low-fee brokers | 6 of 11 | 3 of 11 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | BMO InvestorLine | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 23292 |
Choosing between them
Pick BMO InvestorLine if margin rate matter most.
Pick Fidelity if offer and markets matter most.
What we checked
BMO InvestorLine
- finder.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- newsroom.bmo.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hellosafe.ca: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- stockwatch.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- wowa.ca: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Fidelity
- brokerage-review.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- editorialge.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fidelity.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BMO InvestorLine | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app, Options | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 1988 | 1946Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat | Phone, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | BMO InvestorLine | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, ESG, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BMO InvestorLine | Fidelity | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $10 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.4% to 1.6%at the median | Not confirmed | 0.4 |
| Margin rate | 8.75%below the median | 12.375%highest quarter | 8.79% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
BMO InvestorLine
Pros
- Stock and ETF trades cost CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0, so holding a portfolio costs nothing.
- The inactivity fee is CAD 0, so an untouched account is not charged.
- Support runs on phone and chat, giving a phone line and live chat.
Cons
- Margin borrowing is priced at 8.75%, so a leveraged position carries a borrowing cost.
- Options contracts carry a fee of CAD 0.90 each.
- Currency conversion is the hidden cost, at 0.4% to 1.6%, and deposits and withdrawals run $0 EFT, $10 wire.
Fidelity
Pros
- Costs sit at the floor: stock trade fee $0, account fee $0, inactivity fee $0 and minimum deposit $0
- The client entity is listed on the SIPC register as SIPC member 23292, with protection recorded at SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Account types cover retirement and shared holdings: ira, roth ira and joint
Cons
- Support runs on phone and community only, so that list carries no chat or email channel
- Options contracts cost $0.65 each, the main charge where stock dealing is free
- Margin borrowing is priced at 12.375%, a cost on top of the free equity dealing
Who each suits
BMO InvestorLine
Who it suits
- Investors who want a long term stock, ETF, bond and fund portfolio without a standing account charge.
- Traders who mainly trade Canadian equities and want phone and chat support for questions.
- Anyone already inside a bank relationship who values a long operating history.
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders who live in currencies other than the Canadian dollar and would feel the 0.4% to 1.6% on every conversion.
- Options buyers who place frequent contracts and would pay CAD 0.90 each time.
- Leveraged traders, because margin costs 8.75%.
Fidelity
Who it suits
- Retirement savers, since ira, roth ira and joint are all listed as account types
- Buyers investing small amounts, as fractional shares sit in fractional shares, demo account and mobile app
- Traders who want stocks, bonds, funds, options, futures and forex in one place, as stocks, etfs and options shows
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want CFDs, since stocks, etfs and options leaves them out and CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex
- Anyone who prefers a required opening deposit, since $0 sets none where Vantage asks $5
Country by country
| Country | BMO InvestorLine | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
BMO InvestorLine
How much does it cost to open and hold a BMO InvestorLine account?+
The account fee is CAD 0 and the inactivity fee is CAD 0, so there is no standing or dormant charge on the account. Stock and ETF trades themselves cost CAD 0. The costs that do appear are on currency conversion, options and margin.
What does it cost to trade a stock or an ETF?+
Stock and ETF trades are commission free, priced at CAD 0. The platform is listed as a commission-free model. Costs appear elsewhere: currency conversion at 0.4% to 1.6%, options at CAD 0.90 per contract, and margin at 8.75%.
Fidelity
What does it cost to trade stocks at Fidelity?+
Stock dealing is commission-free, with a stock trade fee of $0. The account fee is $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so there is no standing charge to hold the account. Options contracts are the exception, at $0.65 each.
Is there an inactivity fee if I stop trading?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged for sitting still. On the site it ranks 1 of 56 brands measured for that fee. With the account fee at $0, a dormant account carries no listed running cost.
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