Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Fidelity vs TradeZero
What sets them apart
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, ForexCovers more | Stocks, Options |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | AFM |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Margin rate | 12.375% | 9%Lower |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | $0.59Lower |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | $15 wire transfer out |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile, TZ1, TradingView |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Inactivity fee ($0).
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 8.9.
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SEC, FINRA, SIPC.
- Regulators: only TradeZero offers AFM.
- Founded is lower at Fidelity: 1946 vs 2015.
- Margin rate is lower at TradeZero: 9% vs 12.375%.
- Options contract fee is lower at TradeZero: $0.59 vs $0.65.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers ETFs, Bonds, Funds.
- Support channels: only Fidelity offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only TradeZero offers Chat, Help centre.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Fractional shares, Crypto, 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.
TradeZero
TradeZero suits traders who want stocks and options on a single account without a per-trade commission, and the demo account gives beginners a place to practise. Options cost $0.59 a contract, and the account works through desktop, mobile and charting tools.
Score breakdown
| Area | Fidelity | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Site ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 9.1Stock trades cost $0, ranking first of 161 brands on that fee, and the inactivity fee ranks first of 56. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.6 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Fidelity | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 23292 | Not confirmed |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Fidelity | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Choosing between them
Pick Fidelity if offer and markets matter most.
Pick TradeZero if margin rate and options contract fee matter most.
Where these facts come from
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
TradeZero
- tradezero.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Fidelity | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 46 of 471 | 169 of 471 |
| Options trading platforms | 10 of 103 | 58 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 5 of 22 | 18 of 22 |
| Brokers for beginners | 12 of 88 | 44 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fidelity | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Experienced, Beginners, Day tradersCovers more |
| Legal entity | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC | TradeZero Europe B.V. |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1946Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Phone, Community | Chat, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Fidelity | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fidelity | TradeZero | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 12.375%highest quarter | 9%above the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | $0.59below the median | $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
TradeZero
Pros
- Regulated in the Netherlands by AFM, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Margin positions run at a rate of 9%.
- A demo account and a mobile app are included, so the platform can be learned before funding.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only.
- A wire transfer out of the account costs $15 wire transfer out.
- The market range is stocks and options, so forex, crypto and metals are not covered.
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
TradeZero
Who it suits
- Traders buying stocks and options who do not want a per-trade commission.
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before putting money in.
- Day traders who work across several platforms rather than a single terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after forex, crypto or futures, where eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Traders who want metals and CFDs beside stocks, which Vantage covers with forex, cfds and stocks.
Current offers
TradeZero
Current offer
Bonus
Welcome Offer WELCOME250: 250
with a $250+ deposit during sign-up
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Fidelity | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
TradeZero
What does TradeZero charge to trade stocks and options?+
Stock trades cost $0 per trade, and options cost $0.59 a contract. The pricing model is described as commission-free and low-fee, so the per-order cost is the main thing to compare. The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
The account is provided by TradeZero Europe B.V., which is licensed by AFM in the Netherlands. Investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so money above that figure sits outside the scheme. Keeping larger balances elsewhere limits what is at stake.
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