Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Fidelity vs tastytrade
Fidelity vs tastytrade: the differences
| Compare |  Fidelity |  tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, Forex | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Options, Futures, Crypto |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, SIPCCovers more | SIPC |
| Options contract fee | $0.65Lower | $1 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more | IRA, Joint |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | 12.375% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Mobile, Desktop, Web |
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 SEC, FINRA.
- Options contract fee is lower at Fidelity: $0.65 vs $1.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only tastytrade offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Fidelity offers Roth IRA.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Fractional shares, Demo account, Options.
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.
tastytrade
tastytrade suits traders who want options, futures and crypto in the same account as shares and ETFs, and it suits anyone starting small. The minimum deposit is $0, share dealing costs $0 a trade, and options cost $1 a contract, so the bill grows only if you trade derivatives.
Score breakdown
| Area | Fidelity | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Site ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 9.1The commission free model keeps equity dealing cheap, but the options contract fee of $1 is the line heavy option traders watch. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.6 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Fidelity | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 46 of 471 | 150 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 9 of 86 | 32 of 86 |
| Forex brokers | 17 of 147 | 65 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 15 of 145 | 63 of 145 |
| Options trading platforms | 10 of 103 | 53 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 12 of 82 | 38 of 82 |
| IRA providers | 6 of 43 | 23 of 43 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Fidelity | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Fidelity | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Fidelity | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 23292 | SIPC SIPC member 69649 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Also worth a look
Robinhood has options contract fee at $0, against $0.65 for Fidelity and $1 for tastytrade.
Robinhood reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Fidelity | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC | TASTYTRADE INC |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1946 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Community | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Fidelity | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fidelity | tastytrade | 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 | Not confirmed | $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 | $1highest quarter | $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
tastytrade
Pros
- Share dealing costs $0 a trade, and the account opens from $0.
- All of stocks, etfs and forex sit under the same account.
- Protection is recorded as SIPC up to USD 500,000, with membership logged as SIPC member 69649.
Cons
- Options cost $1 a contract, so regular contract buyers pay more than occasional ones.
- The recorded account types under ira and joint are an IRA and a joint account.
- In the stock comparison, 72.03% of retail accounts lose money.
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
tastytrade
Who it suits
- Traders who want options and futures in the same account as shares and ETFs.
- Anyone starting small, since the minimum deposit is $0.
- People saving into an IRA who also want crypto and forex nearby.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro if you want CFDs listed alongside the core markets: stocks, etfs and forex.
- CFI if you want the shorter list in stocks, etfs and forex, which ends at crypto.
- Vantage if you would rather start above the floor, since its minimum deposit is $5.
Country by country
| Country | Fidelity | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
tastytrade
Is there a minimum deposit to open a tastytrade account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened and funded with whatever you want to start on. Share dealing then costs $0 a trade, which keeps the running cost close to the opening balance.
What does an options contract cost?+
Options are charged per contract at $1. If you buy options often, that fee becomes the main line you track, while share dealing stays at $0. Traders who touch options now and then will feel it far less than regular contract buyers.
Other options to compare
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