Fidelity Investments vs E*TRADE Review

The StockBrokers.com 2017 Brokerage Review compares E*TRADE vs Fidelity Investments. Compare E*TRADE and Fidelity Investments trade commissions, fees and overall broker ratings by using the table below. Is E*TRADE or Fidelity Investments a better online broker?

Looking at both brokers, first we will take a look at the commission rates for both placing regular stock and options trades. E*TRADE charges $6.95 per stock trade which is $2.00 more than Fidelity Investments which charges clients $4.95 per trade. For options trading, E*TRADE has a base fee of $6.95, and Fidelity Investments a base fee of $4.95. Contracts are pricier at E*TRADE, costing $0.75 versus $0.65 at Fidelity Investments, a difference of $0.10 per contract. It should be noted that not every broker uses a flat rate stock trade fee structure, so it is important to read the full commission notes (head over to any online brokerage review page, then navigate to the "Commission Notes" section).

Alongside trade commissions, being able to trade the way you want is a must. Fidelity Investments offers clients Stock Trading, Options Trading and Mutual Funds while E*TRADE offers Stock Trading, Options Trading, Mutual Funds and Futures Trading. When it comes to mutual funds, Fidelity Investments boasts an offering of 13204 compared to E*TRADE's 8652 available funds. Commission free ETFs can also be a nice plus, with E*TRADE having the upper hand thanks to its 133 available ETFs compared to Fidelity Investments's offering of 91.

Last but not least, by breaking down important features that each broker offers, we can really help to separate the two brokers. Fidelity Investments makes virtual trading available to clients, while E*TRADE does not. For mobile trading, Both E*TRADE and Fidelity Investments offer clients access to an iPhone App, iPad App and Android App. Furthermore, some investors like to bank online, and multiple brokerages provide these services to clients. Checking Accounts and Debit Cards are offered by E*TRADE while Fidelity Investments offers Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards and Credit Cards. On the whole, when it comes to tools, research, and trading on the go, E*TRADE posted awards for Best in Class - Research and Best in Class - Mobile Trading in 2014, while Fidelity Investments found itself with Best in Class - Platforms & Tools, Best in Class - Research and Best in Class - Mobile Trading.

Overall, Fidelity Investments takes the upper hand with 4.50 stars over E*TRADE's 4.00 stars.