Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Fidelity, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
When you stack Charles Schwab vs Fidelity, both cover most investors’ needs, but they diverge at the edges. Fidelity earns a slight overall edge due to crypto access (three coins) and a 5-star Range of Investments rating from StockBrokers.com (#2 of 14). Schwab is close behind at 4.5 stars and #3, and it stands out if you want futures trading. In short: pick Schwab for futures, pick Fidelity for crypto, and consider either for a broad, everyday investing toolkit with IRAs and advisor support.
Both brokers offer stock trading, margin trading, fractional shares, over-the-counter (OTC) stocks, mutual funds, options trading, and forex trading. The biggest product differences are futures and crypto: Charles Schwab supports futures trading while Fidelity does not, and Fidelity supports crypto trading (three coins) while Schwab does not.
For account types and guidance, each firm offers Traditional IRA and Roth IRA accounts, plus access to advisor services. That means you can open retirement accounts at either broker and get professional help if you want it, while choosing between Schwab’s futures capability or Fidelity’s crypto access based on your goals.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Fidelity
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 3 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: Charles Schwab edges Fidelity for traders who want the deepest platform features and customization. Schwab earns 4.5 stars and is ranked #1 of 14 by StockBrokers.com, thanks to extensive chart studies, huge watchlist flexibility, paper trading, and custom study creation. Fidelity is a close contender—rated 4 stars and ranked #4—with great charts and more drawing tools, making it a friendly choice for investors who value simplicity with strong essentials.
Both brokers cover all access points: downloadable desktop platforms for Windows and Mac plus a browser-based platform. Each supports a trading journal and lets you manage orders right on the chart. Charting features overlap widely: add notes, view your past trades, display earnings/splits/dividends, set custom date ranges, see automated chart patterns, and save multiple chart profiles.
Key differences: Schwab offers paper trading; Fidelity does not. Watchlists favor Schwab (580 columns vs 92). Chart indicators are far wider on Schwab (374 vs 129), while Fidelity supplies more drawing tools (38 vs 24). Editing a simple moving average is far more flexible on Schwab (35 customization fields vs 5). Schwab also lets you build custom studies; Fidelity does not. For deep research and testing, Schwab stands out; for straightforward charting with extra drawing tools, Fidelity fits well.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Fidelity
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 92 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 129 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 24 | 38 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Charles Schwab and Fidelity both shine for beginner and experienced investors who want clear, thorough education. Each broker covers stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds, and they both provide educational videos, live webinars, quizzes, and tools to track your learning progress. Both earn 5 out of 5 stars for education, with StockBrokers.com ranking Fidelity #1 and Schwab #2 out of 14 brokers.
The standout difference is practice. Charles Schwab offers paper trading so you can try strategies without risking real money; Fidelity does not. If you want the highest-ranked education library, Fidelity is a strong choice. If you prefer hands-on learning with simulated trades, Schwab may fit better. Either way, beginners will find step-by-step lessons and helpful ways to measure progress.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Fidelity
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Bottom line: In the Charles Schwab vs. Fidelity stock trading app comparison, Charles Schwab comes out ahead. Schwab earns 5 stars and the #1 ranking out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com, while Fidelity holds 4.5 stars and ranks #3. Both are strong choices, but Schwab’s deeper charting and confirmed mobile after-hours trading make it the safer pick for active investors who want more analysis tools on the go.
Both Charles Schwab and Fidelity offer full-featured mobile trading on iPhone, Android, and Apple Watch. You can place options trades, get streaming quotes and live TV, watch videos on demand, set stock alerts, and build custom watchlists with adjustable columns. Schwab supports mobile after-hours trading; Fidelity’s support for mobile after-hours trading isn’t confirmed in the information provided.
Charting is a key difference. Each app delivers after-hours charting, landscape mode, multiple time frames, and the ability to compare symbols on the same chart. However, Schwab supplies a larger set of technical studies (indicators)—373 versus Fidelity’s 128—giving chart-focused investors more ways to analyze price action and momentum.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Fidelity
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 373 | 128 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
When it comes to choosing between Charles Schwab and Fidelity for online brokerage services, both offer compelling features, especially regarding account fees and charges. They share several attractive qualities, such as $0 minimum deposit requirements and $0 commission fees on regular stock trades. Their fees for trading options contracts are also identical, with each broker charging $0.65 per contract. However, subtle differences, such as margin rates and account transfer fees, might tip the scale depending on your specific trading needs and preferences.
Both Charles Schwab and Fidelity provide free IRA accounts with no annual or closure fees, making them appealing choices for retirement savings. Meanwhile, their options trading is affordably priced, with a $0 charge on options exercise and assignment fees from both brokers. In terms of margin rates, the costs for borrowing on margin at both brokers are fairly similar across different balance tiers, albeit with slightly lower percentages favoring Fidelity by a fraction.
One area where Fidelity has an edge over Charles Schwab is in account transfer fees. While both brokers allow partial Account Transfers (ACAT) at no cost, Charles Schwab charges $50 for a full account transfer, whereas Fidelity offers it for free. Despite these minor discrepancies, Charles Schwab and Fidelity remain highly competitive choices, each with its strengths depending on individual client priorities.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Fidelity
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.65 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
When it comes to day trading capabilities, both Charles Schwab and Fidelity provide a range of features to support active traders. They each offer streaming time and sales data for stocks and streaming live TV, ensuring traders have access to real-time information and market analysis. Additionally, both brokers provide direct market routing, trading hotkeys, and level 2 quotes, allowing for fast and informed trade executions. For those interested in backtesting strategies, Charles Schwab offers both basic and advanced strategy backtesting, while Fidelity only provides basic backtesting options.
In terms of more specialized features, Charles Schwab stands out by offering ladder trading functionality, a feature not available with Fidelity. Both platforms include a short locator tool that helps traders find current real-time availability of shares to short, which can be a crucial tool for day traders. However, neither broker provides order liquidity rebates, such as maker/taker rebates. Overall, Charles Schwab's additional offerings, like ladder trading and advanced strategy backtesting, might appeal to traders looking for a more comprehensive day trading toolkit.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Fidelity
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | Yes |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No |
| Short Locator | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
For market research, Fidelity takes the top spot with a 5-star rating and a #1 ranking out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com, while Charles Schwab follows closely with 4.5 stars and the #2 ranking. Both brokers deliver extensive research coverage and investor-friendly tools, so the decision often comes down to personal preference rather than missing features.
Schwab and Fidelity each offer research across key asset classes: stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, Pink Sheets/OTCBB, and bonds. Both let you view portfolio allocation by asset class and include stock research that taps social media sentiment and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) insights. For finding trade ideas, each broker supplies screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds.
When it comes to downloadable reports, both brokers provide seven PDF research reports for stocks and offer PDF reports for ETFs. Neither offers downloadable PDF research reports for mutual funds. If you value a slight edge in ratings and industry rank, Fidelity leads; if you’re already with Schwab, you’re still getting a deep lineup of market research tools.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Fidelity
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking capabilities of Charles Schwab and Fidelity, several key offerings highlight their differences and similarities. Charles Schwab provides a wider range of banking services, offering both checking and savings accounts, while Fidelity does not offer these account types. However, both Schwab and Fidelity offer debit cards and credit cards, ensuring flexible payment options for their clients. Additionally, both financial institutions enable customers to invest in Certificates of Deposit (CDs), providing a reliable saving avenue. For those considering larger financial investments, both Schwab and Fidelity cater to mortgage loan needs, supporting long-term buying goals. Ultimately, Charles Schwab stands out for its more comprehensive banking services, particularly with the inclusion of checking and savings accounts.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Fidelity
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | Yes |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than Fidelity. Charles Schwab finished with an overall score of 93.3%, while Fidelity finished with a score of 92.5%.
For most investors, the search for a great broker ends with Charles Schwab. Retaining the #1 Overall ranking in 2026, Schwab continues to set the industry standard. The broker uniquely balances scale with sophistication, offering both simplified mobile tools and the professional-grade thinkorswim platform. From buying a first fractional share to managing a multimillion-dollar estate, Schwab provides a platform tailored to every need, serving as the definitive operating system for modern wealth.
Charles Schwab does not support crypto trading and offers zero cryptocurrencies, whereas Fidelity provides crypto trading with access to three different coins, making it a more suitable choice for investors interested in digital currencies.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both Charles Schwab and Fidelity provide traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees or closure fees, making them excellent choices for investors seeking cost-effective retirement solutions.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
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| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Fidelity Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Trading Fees | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $6.95 | $0.00 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | Varies | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.65 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $2.25 | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | $32.95 |
| Margin Rates | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.58% | 12.575% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.08% | 12.075% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.13% | 11.125% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.08% | 11.075% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 10.83% | 10.825% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 8.500% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 8.250% |
| Account Fees | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $50.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No | |
| Forex Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 3 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 12 | 25 |
| Order Types | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OCO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | Yes |
| Beginners | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | Yes | Yes | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Trading Apps | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Features | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos on Demand | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 373 | 128 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | thinkorswim | Active Trader Pro | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Journal | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 92 |
| Stock Chart Features | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 129 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 24 | 38 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 35 | 5 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | Yes | No |
| Day Trading | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | Yes | |
| Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | Yes | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No | |
| Short Locator | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 7 | 7 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | Yes |
| ETF Research | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Fund Research | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | Yes |
| Options Trading | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Service | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | Yes |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Fidelity Review |
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