Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Fidelity vs Stash
Fidelity vs Stash: the differences
| Compare |  Fidelity |  Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Account fee | $0Lower | $144 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, ForexCovers more | Stocks, ETFs |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, SIPCCovers more | SEC, FINRA |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | 12.375% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web, iOS, Android |
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 9.0.
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SIPC.
- Founded is lower at Fidelity: 1946 vs 2015.
- Account fee is lower at Fidelity: $0 vs $144.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Options, Bonds, Funds.
- Account types: only Fidelity offers Joint.
- Support channels: only Fidelity offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only Stash offers Help centre.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Demo account, Crypto, Options.
- Audience: only Fidelity offers Experienced.
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.
Stash
Stash suits US beginners who want a retirement pot built from a phone rather than a wide market. Trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is free, but the account fee of $144 a year is the price of that simplicity.
Score breakdown
| Area | Fidelity | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Site ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 9.1A free minimum deposit and $0 trades rank 1 of 213 and 1 of 161, but the $144 account fee is the weight. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.0 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Fidelity | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Fidelity | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | No |
Cost in a real example
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
Fidelity
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Stash
$144
48 × $0 + 1 × $144
Fidelity costs $144 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Fidelity | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 23292 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Fidelity | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 46 of 471 | 148 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 9 of 86 | 31 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 12 of 88 | 38 of 88 |
| Robo-advisors | 13 of 151 | 57 of 151 |
| IRA providers | 6 of 43 | 22 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fidelity | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, ExperiencedCovers more | Beginners |
| Legal entity | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC | Stash Investments LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1946Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Phone, Community | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Fidelity | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | $108 to $144 |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $5 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, CryptoCovers more | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fidelity | Stash | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $144highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | 12.375%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
Median across 134 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
Stash
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so small orders carry no per-trade charge.
- The portfolio option is an etf portfolio alongside ira and roth ira accounts, which keeps retirement saving in one place.
- Access runs through Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares spread small contributions across holdings.
Cons
- The account fee of $144 a year leaves Stash at 134 of 138 brands on that measure, while eToro lists $0.
- Support runs on help centre only, so questions about a retirement account are left to articles.
- Trading is limited to stocks and etfs with an etf portfolio, so there is no forex, crypto or CFD route.
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
Stash
Who it suits
- US beginners who want a retirement account, a phone app and a small starting amount rather than a wide market.
- Long-term savers content to hold stocks and etfs and an etf portfolio without picking markets themselves.
- Readers who weigh regulation first, since Stash is registered with SEC and FINRA in the US.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want forex, crypto or CFDs, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone put off by a yearly charge, as eToro lists $0 for its account.
- Readers who prefer a provider with a published entry figure, such as Vantage at $5, rather than a free minimum deposit.
Current offers
Stash
Current offer
Free trial
Try Stash for 7 days: 7-day trial
new Stash Plan subscriptions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Fidelity | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Stash
How much does Stash cost to run?+
Running the plan costs a management fee of $108 to $144 a year, and the account fee is $144. Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so the charge sits with the subscription rather than the order. The site median account fee is €0, so Stash sits at the dear end of the table.
How much do I need to start?+
The minimum deposit is free, and the minimum investment is $5, so an account can be opened at a size that suits a monthly habit rather than a lump sum. Stash ranks 1 of 213 brands on this measure, against a site median of €4.64.
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