Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Fennel vs Fidelity
Where Fennel and Fidelity differ
| Compare |  Fennel |  Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Account fee | $4.99 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, ForexCovers more |
| Regulators | FINRA, SIPC | SEC, FINRA, SIPCCovers more |
| Account types | IRA | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.375% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Platforms | Mobile app, Web | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Fidelity scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SEC.
- Account fee is lower at Fidelity: $0 vs $4.99.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Options, Bonds, Funds.
- Account types: only Fidelity offers Roth IRA, Joint.
- Support channels: only Fennel offers Email, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Fidelity offers Community.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Fractional shares, Demo account, Crypto.
Our verdict on each
Fennel
Fennel is a US retirement app built around an IRA, with stock trades at $0. It suits US investors saving for retirement from a phone, and not UK or European readers who want local markets or a cash savings option.
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 | Fennel | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Commission-free commission free trading and a $0 minimum deposit, against an account fee of $4.99 that is above the site median of €0. | 9.1Site ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.8Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Fennel | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 88 of 490 | 37 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 19 of 85 | 8 of 85 |
| IRA providers | 14 of 43 | 6 of 43 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Fennel | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | Fennel | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fennel | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 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 | FENNEL FINANCIALS LLC | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1946 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Phone, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Fennel | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, ESG, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fennel | Fidelity | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $4.99above the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.375%highest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.59 |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Fennel
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0, so entry costs sit at the floor of the market.
- A minimum deposit of $0 lets an account start from a small sum.
- Regulators listed are FINRA and SIPC, with investor protection at SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Cons
- The account types listed are ira, so there is no taxable brokerage account on offer.
- Markets stop at stocks and etfs, where CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- There is no live chat, since support runs on email, phone and help centre.
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
Fennel
Who it suits
- US investors opening or holding an IRA, since the account types are ira.
- Investors trading shares and exchange traded funds from a phone, since the platforms are mobile app and web.
- Readers starting with a small amount, since the minimum deposit is $0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for CFI users who want forex, contracts for difference or crypto, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Not for readers who would rather hold no account fee, as the eToro account fee is $0 against Fennel's $4.99.
- Not for Vantage users who want a stated starting level, since Vantage asks for $5 and Fennel asks for $0.
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 | Fennel | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Fennel
What does Fennel charge for trading and holding?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the pricing model is commission free. The account fee is $4.99, above the site median of €0, and the minimum deposit is $0. Trading costs therefore sit at the floor of the market while the account charge is higher than most brands listed here.
Is my money protected at Fennel?+
Regulators listed for Fennel are FINRA and SIPC, and the membership record shows SIPC member 70779. Investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The legal entity behind the brand is FENNEL FINANCIALS LLC, and the headquarters country is the US.
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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