Charles Schwab vs Fidelity - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Charles Schwab vs Fidelity

Compare Charles Schwab and Fidelity side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab

Investors who want brokerage, trading, and advice options

Charles Schwab combines $0 online listed stock and ETF commissions with thinkorswim platforms, fractional S&P…

VS
Fidelity

Fidelity

Long-term investors and beginners

Fidelity is a US brokerage founded in 1946 offering stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, mutual funds, crypto, fract…

Head-to-head comparison

Charles Schwab vs Fidelity
Feature Charles Schwab Fidelity
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; US OTC equities $6.95 $0 commission per online US stock trade
Regulators SIPC, FDIC, CFTC, NFA SEC, FINRA, SIPC
Best for Investors who want brokerage, trading, and advice options Long-term investors and beginners
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Forex
-
Crypto
Bonds
Options
Futures
-
Funds
Fractional Shares
Ready Made Portfolios
Money Market Funds
Margin
Demo Account
-
Investment Plans
-

Pros & cons

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab

Pros

  • $0 online listed stock and ETF commissions reduce trading costs
  • $0 brokerage opening, maintenance, and account minimums
  • Stock Slices let clients buy S&P 500 fractional shares from $5
  • paperMoney offers simulated trading on thinkorswim platforms
  • Schwab Intelligent Portfolios has no advisory fee or commissions
  • Treasuries trade online for $0 commission
  • Investor Checking has no monthly service or foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Options carry a $0.65 per-contract fee
  • Broker-assisted stock and ETF trades add a $25 service charge
  • US OTC equities cost $6.95 online
  • Other mutual funds can cost up to $74.95 per purchase
  • Stock Slices are limited to S&P 500 companies
  • Day trading on thinkorswim requires margin approval and $25,000 equity
  • Futures and forex accounts are not protected by SIPC
  • Direct crypto cannot currently be traded in a Schwab brokerage account
Fidelity

Fidelity

Pros

  • No commission on US stock and ETF trades
  • No account minimum, no account fee, no inactivity fee
  • No withdrawal fee
  • Fractional shares available from $1
  • Extensive research and educational resources
  • Fidelity Go robo-advisor free under $25,000
  • Fidelity does not accept payment for order flow
  • Excess-of-SIPC coverage totalling $1 billion in aggregate

Cons

  • No futures trading
  • No forex or CFD trading
  • Crypto limited to five coins with a 1% spread
  • No paper trading or demo account
  • Margin rates higher than some specialist discount brokers
  • A small subset of ETFs carry a $100 service fee per purchase
Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab combines $0 online listed stock and ETF commissions with thinkorswim platforms, fractional S&P 500 Stock Slices, and automated portfolios.

Visit Charles Schwab Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Fidelity

Fidelity

Fidelity is a US brokerage founded in 1946 offering stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, mutual funds, crypto, fractional shares and the Fidelity Go robo-advisor with no account minimums.

Visit Fidelity Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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