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Fidelity review

Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Fidelity suits US investors who want a broad brokerage without a monthly charge, and its stock trade fee and minimum deposit both sit at $0 and $0. The catch is the wider set of charges around the edges, and support that runs on phone and community.

Key facts

Best for
Self-directed investors who trade stocks and ETFs on a commission-free model.
Minimum deposit
$0↗
Stock trade fee
$0↗
Account fee
$0↗
Inactivity fee
$0↗
Markets
Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, Forex↗
Regulators
SEC, FINRA, SIPC↗
Investor protection
SIPC up to USD 500,000↗
Margin rate
12.375%↗
Options contract fee
$0.65↗
Account types
IRA, Roth-IRA, Joint↗
Legal entity
FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC↗
Headquarters
United States↗
Founded
1946↗
Support channels
Phone, Community↗
Features
Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, Futures
Pricing model
Commission-free
Audience
Beginners, Experienced traders
Official website
fidelity.com

Robo-advisors

Portfolio types
ETF, ESG, Crypto↗

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 7 sources

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaLinkedInX

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0
  • Minimum deposit is $0, so accounts open at any size
  • Regulated in the US by SEC, FINRA and SIPC
  • Options contracts carry a fee of $0.65

Cons

  • Options trades are charged $0.65 per contract
  • Support runs on phone and community only
  • Margin borrowing starts at 12.375%, so leverage carries its own cost
Fidelity

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Scored 9.5 / 10 by SumCue.

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Who it suits

  • Beginners opening a first account with a small deposit
  • Experienced traders who want a wide market list in one place
  • Retirement savers using the available retirement account types

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone wanting a broker with no product charges, since options cost $0.65
  • Support-first users, as help runs on phone and community
  • People who borrow on margin, where the rate starts at 12.375%

Fees and FX

Trading US stocks costs $0 and there is no minimum deposit, so the entry point is $0. The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, which leaves plenty of room before a small balance is charged anything. Options are the main exception, at $0.65 per contract. Borrowing on margin is priced at 12.375%, so the cost of a leveraged position sits well above a cash trade.

How Fidelity compares

Where Fidelity is available

Available
United States
Licence in United States
SEC, checked September 26, 2026
Licence in United States
FINRA, checked September 26, 2026
Licence in United States
SIPC (SIPC member 23292), checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to trade stocks at Fidelity?+

Trading stocks costs $0 per trade, on a commission-free model. The account fee is also $0, so there is nothing to pay for holding an account open. Options and margin are the exceptions, and both are priced separately.

Is there a minimum deposit to open an account?+

The minimum deposit is $0, so there is no floor to meet before you can start. Small sums can go in from the beginning. Account types include a retirement account, a Roth retirement account and a joint account.

How is my money protected?+

Fidelity is regulated in the US by SEC, FINRA and SIPC. Investor protection runs through SIPC, and the stated cover is SIPC up to USD 500,000. The brokerage entity is registered with the scheme under SIPC member 23292.

What can I actually trade?+

The market list covers stocks, etfs and options, plus features such as fractional shares, a mobile app, crypto, options and futures. That breadth suits someone who wants shares and funds in one place. For a narrower contract-led focus, CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex instead.

Which account types are available?+

Available account types include a retirement account, a Roth retirement account and a joint account. The brokerage is run as FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC. Portfolio types offered include etf, esg and crypto.

What happens if I borrow on margin?+

Margin borrowing is priced at 12.375%, which is the borrowing cost rather than a trading commission. It applies only if the account is used on credit. Cash trades stay at $0.

How do I get help if something goes wrong?+

Support runs on phone and community, so phone and a community are the available routes. A dedicated advice line is not listed. The company is based in the United States and was founded in 1946.

Is Fidelity a good fit for a first investment account?+

It suits beginners because the minimum deposit is $0 and the account fee is $0. Audience facts also list experienced traders, so the same platform serves either group. Fractional shares are among the features listed, which helps with small starting amounts.

Sources

Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Retail accounts that lose money.

Fidelity

Fidelity

Self-directed investors who trade stocks and ETFs on a commission-free model.

9.5/10See alternatives