Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Fidelity vs Public
Fidelity vs Public: the differences
| Compare |  Fidelity |  Public |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, Forex | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, SIPCCovers more | FINRA, SEC |
| Margin rate | 12.375% | 4.2%Lower |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | $0.060 to $0.18Lower |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.3% |
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 9.4.
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SIPC.
- Margin rate is lower at Public: 4.2% vs 12.375%.
- Options contract fee is lower at Public: $0.060 to $0.18 vs $0.65.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Funds, Futures, Forex.
- Markets: only Public offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Fidelity offers Joint.
- Support channels: only Fidelity offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only Public offers Email, Help centre.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Demo account, Futures.
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.
Public
Public suits people building a retirement account who care most about what a trade costs and where the money sits. Stock trades are $0, the account opens from $0, and protection runs to SIPC up to USD 500,000 in the US.
Score breakdown
| Area | Fidelity | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Site ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.5 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Fidelity | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 23292 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Fidelity | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 37 of 490 | 49 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 8 of 85 | 14 of 85 |
| Options trading platforms | 9 of 103 | 15 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 5 of 22 | 7 of 22 |
| IRA providers | 6 of 43 | 11 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fidelity | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1946 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Community | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Fidelity | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fidelity | Public | 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 | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | 12.375%highest quarter | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $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
Public
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0, so a regular monthly purchase is not eaten by commission.
- The account opens from $0, which is below the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data.
- Cash parked in the high-yield account earns 3.3% while it waits to be invested.
Cons
- Options contracts add a fee of $0.06 to $0.18 each, on top of the premium you pay for the option itself.
- Margin borrowing runs at 4.2%, so borrowed positions carry an interest charge that keeps accruing.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line for questions about a transfer or a tax form.
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
Public
Who it suits
- You are saving for retirement in the US and want commission-free stock trades in one account
- You want to hold spare cash at a stated rate while you decide what to buy
- You are starting with small amounts and want fractional shares rather than whole shares
Who should look elsewhere
- You need forex, CFDs or futures, which CFI and eToro both list in stocks, etfs and forex and stocks, etfs and forex
- You want a UK ISA or SIPP wrapper, neither of which appears in ira and roth ira
- You want to talk to a broker on the phone, since support covers email and help centre
Current offers
Public
Current offer
Bonus
Transfer your portfolio. Earn an uncapped 1% match.: 1% match
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Fidelity | Public |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Public
Is Public really commission free for stock trades?+
Yes. A stock trade costs $0, so buying shares itself carries no charge. The costs sit elsewhere: options contracts cost $0.06 to $0.18 each, and margin borrowing runs at 4.2%. A simple monthly share purchase only pays the trade charge of $0.
What is the minimum deposit at Public?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened and funded from a very small amount. That is well under the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data, where the upper quartile sits at €87.70. No threshold has to be cleared before the first trade.
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