Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Fidelity vs Robinhood
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Fidelity |  Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, Forex | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Crypto |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Margin rate | 12.375% | 3.95%Lower |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | $0Lower |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | $100 outgoing transfer |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 10X |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0), Inactivity fee ($0), Account types (IRA, Roth IRA, Joint).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Fidelity scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SEC, FINRA.
- Regulators: only Robinhood offers Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL.
- Founded is lower at Fidelity: 1946 vs 2013.
- Robinhood is licensed in 1 more country.
- Margin rate is lower at Robinhood: 3.95% vs 12.375%.
- Options contract fee is lower at Robinhood: $0 vs $0.65.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Bonds, Funds, Forex.
- Markets: only Robinhood offers Crypto.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Demo account.
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.
Robinhood
Robinhood suits first-time investors and small, regular investors who want nothing charged for holding or trading. It is the cheapest way in on our data, with a minimum deposit of $0, no account fee and no inactivity charge, under the Bank of Lithuania and SIPC.
Score breakdown
| Area | Fidelity | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| 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 $0, the account fee is $0 and inactivity is $0. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.3 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Fidelity | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Fidelity | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
What it costs in practice
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
Fidelity
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Robinhood
$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.
How they place
| Ranking | Fidelity | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 37 of 490 | 13 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 8 of 85 | 1 of 85 |
| Options trading platforms | 9 of 103 | 1 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 10 of 83 | 3 of 83 |
| Margin trading brokers | 5 of 22 | 2 of 22 |
| Low-fee brokers | 3 of 11 | 1 of 11 |
| Brokers for beginners | 12 of 88 | 6 of 88 |
| IRA providers | 6 of 43 | 1 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fidelity | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Futures, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC | Robinhood Europe UAB |
| Headquarters | United States | Lithuania |
| Founded | 1946Lower | 2013 |
| Support channels | Phone, Community | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Fidelity | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fidelity | Robinhood | 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 | 12.375%highest quarter | 3.95%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | $0lowest 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
Robinhood
Pros
- Nothing to pay to open or hold an account, with an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0
- Trading a share costs $0, so a small first order is not eaten by commission
- You can start with a deposit of $0, lower than most brands on our data
Cons
- Leverage is available at 10X, which magnifies losses as well as gains
- Outgoing transfers carry a charge of $100 outgoing transfer
- Margin borrowing is priced at a margin rate of 3.95%, so interest adds to your cost
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
Robinhood
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a first account with a small deposit
- Day-traders working in options, futures and crypto on mobile
- Retirement investors using an IRA, Roth IRA or joint account
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage if a flat minimum deposit of $5 suits you better
- CFI if you want forex and CFDs alongside shares, since its markets cover stocks, etfs and forex
- eToro if social copy trading matters more than options and futures
Country by country
| Country | Fidelity | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
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.
Robinhood
What does it cost to trade shares on Robinhood?+
Trading a share costs $0, and an options contract costs $0. There is also an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0, so nothing is taken for simply holding the account open. Borrowing on margin is charged at a margin rate of 3.95%, which is the main running cost if you use leverage.
Is there a minimum deposit to open a Robinhood account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so you can open an account and place a small first order without funding a large balance. It is worth comparing that with the deposits other brands ask for before you commit, since the figure varies widely across the market. Outgoing transfers are charged at $100 outgoing transfer, so factor that in if you plan to move money out early.
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