Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Fidelity vs Lime Financial
Where Fidelity and Lime Financial differ
| Compare |  Fidelity |  Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $30,000 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, ForexCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | FINRA, NFA |
| Margin rate | 12.375%Lower | 12.5% |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, CorporateCovers more |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile, Lime Direct, Sterling, CQG, TakeProfit |
Same on both: 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 9.1.
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SEC, SIPC.
- Regulators: only Lime Financial offers NFA.
- Founded is lower at Fidelity: 1946 vs 2000.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Fidelity: $0 vs $30,000.
- Margin rate is lower at Fidelity: 12.375% vs 12.5%.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Bonds, Funds, Forex.
- Account types: only Lime Financial offers Corporate.
- Support channels: only Fidelity offers Community.
- Support channels: only Lime Financial offers Email, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
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.
Lime Financial
Lime Financial suits experienced traders and active day traders who want options and futures on a commission-free basis. Stock trades cost $0 and the account is regulated by FINRA and NFA with SIPC protection, but the account starts at $30,000, so the entry point is the trade-off.
Score breakdown
| Area | Fidelity | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherSite ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 8.5Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, but opening requires $30,000, well past the €4.64 site median. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.4 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Fidelity | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 37 of 490 | 109 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 8 of 85 | 23 of 85 |
| Options trading platforms | 9 of 103 | 41 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 10 of 83 | 28 of 83 |
| Margin trading brokers | 5 of 22 | 14 of 22 |
| IRA providers | 6 of 43 | 17 of 43 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Fidelity | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 23292 | FINRA 11826 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Fidelity | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Fidelity | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
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
Lime Financial
- lime.co: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fidelity | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more | Options, Futures, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC | Lime Trading Corp. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1946Lower | 2000 |
| Support channels | Phone, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Fidelity | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fidelity | Lime Financial | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $30,000highest quarter | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | 12.375%highest quarter | 12.5%highest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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
Lime Financial
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 on a commission-free model, so no per-trade charge
- Options and futures are available alongside stocks, etfs and options
- Regulated by FINRA and NFA, with investor protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $30,000 puts Lime Financial beyond most starter accounts, ranking 210 of 213 on this measure
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre with no live chat listed
Who each suits
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
Lime Financial
Who it suits
- Experienced traders who want commission-free options and futures
- Day traders working across Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web and Lime Trader Mobile
- US accounts holders wanting SIPC protection
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners building a first portfolio, who should look at CFI with a $0 entry point
- Small savers, who should compare Vantage at $5
- Readers wanting forex, CFDs or crypto, which sit outside stocks, etfs and options
Country by country
| Country | Fidelity | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Lime Financial
What does it cost to trade stocks at Lime Financial?+
Stock trades cost $0, and the account runs on a commission-free model. There is no per-trade charge for equities. The catch is the entry requirement: a minimum deposit of $30,000 to open the account.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $30,000. That is a high bar for a first account, ranking 210 of 213 brands on this comparison. Readers with a smaller starting balance would be better served elsewhere.
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