Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Schwab vs Fidelity
Where Charles Schwab and Fidelity differ
| Compare |  Charles Schwab |  Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, ForexCovers more |
| Regulators | SIPC | SEC, FINRA, SIPCCovers more |
| Margin rate | 12.075%Lower | 12.375% |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, CorporateCovers more | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Platforms | Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0), Inactivity fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000), Options contract fee ($0.65).
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Key differences
- Fidelity scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SEC, FINRA.
- Margin rate is lower at Charles Schwab: 12.075% vs 12.375%.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Forex.
- Account types: only Charles Schwab offers Corporate.
- Support channels: only Charles Schwab offers Chat, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Fidelity offers Community.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Crypto, Options, Futures.
Our verdict on each
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab suits investors who want a wide US market range at a low running cost, with $0 on stock trades and an account fee of $0. It is less suited to those who want forex, CFDs or crypto on the same account.
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 | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Stock trades cost $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0. Options contracts add $0.65. | 9.1Site ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.8Higher |
Cost in a real example
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
Charles Schwab
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Fidelity
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Both come to the same total.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 16514 | SIPC SIPC member 23292 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 129 of 490 | 37 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 27 of 85 | 8 of 85 |
| Options trading platforms | 50 of 103 | 9 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 33 of 83 | 10 of 83 |
| Margin trading brokers | 15 of 22 | 5 of 22 |
| Low-fee brokers | 11 of 11 | 3 of 11 |
| Robo-advisors | 51 of 153 | 12 of 153 |
| IRA providers | 20 of 43 | 6 of 43 |
Which one suits you
Pick Charles Schwab if margin rate and account types matter most.
Pick Fidelity if trust, markets, and regulators matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1946 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Phone, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $5,000 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash | ETF, ESG, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 12.075%highest quarter | 12.375%highest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | $0.65above the median | $0.59 |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Charles Schwab
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and there is an account fee of $0, so holding a balance costs nothing to keep open
- No inactivity charge either, with an inactivity fee of $0, so an unused account is not billed
- Markets run stocks, etfs and options, which covers shares, exchange traded funds, options, futures, bonds and funds in one place
Cons
- Options contracts carry a fee of $0.65 each, so a derivative trade costs more than the $0 charged on a stock trade
- The listed markets are stocks, etfs and options, and forex, contracts for difference and crypto are not among them
- Support runs on chat, phone and help centre, and email is not among those channels
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
Charles Schwab
Who it suits
- Investors buying US shares and exchange traded funds who care about what each trade costs
- Retirement savers who want tax-advantaged accounts next to a taxable account
- Fractional share investors building a position gradually with small monthly amounts
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting forex, contracts for difference or crypto, where eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex against Schwab's stocks, etfs and options
- Traders who want a per contract derivative fee waived, since options cost $0.65 here
- Investors starting a managed portfolio with less than the $5,000 the service asks for
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 | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Charles Schwab
How much does it cost to trade stocks at Charles Schwab?+
Stock trades cost $0, and there is no account charge on top, with the account fee at $0. Trading is commission free, so the cost of a buy or sell is not driven by a per trade ticket. Options are the exception, priced at $0.65 per contract.
Is there an inactivity fee if I leave my account empty?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so an unused brokerage account is not billed for sitting still. That keeps a dormant account free to hold, which matters if you fund once and add to it occasionally. The same applies to the account fee, which is $0.
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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