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Fidelity vs E*TRADE 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

In this head to head comparison of Fidelity vs E*TRADE, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Fidelity
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
E*TRADE
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4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65

Range of investments

Overall, Fidelity comes out ahead for investors who want the widest mix of account and investing choices, while E*TRADE still covers many of the basics well. Both online brokers offer stock trading, margin trading, OTC stocks, mutual funds, options trading, traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and advisor services, making either platform a solid fit for common long-term and self-directed investing needs. Fidelity also earns a stronger reputation for range of investments, with a 5-star rating and a #2 ranking out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com, compared with E*TRADE’s 4.5-star rating and #4 ranking.

When it comes to stock investing, Fidelity and E*TRADE both let customers trade individual stocks and use margin, and both support mutual funds and options for more flexible portfolio building. Fidelity adds fractional shares trading, which can be helpful for investors who want to start small or spread money across expensive stocks without buying full shares. E*TRADE does not offer fractional shares, which may matter to newer investors or those making smaller recurring investments.

Fidelity also stands out for its added market access, including forex trading and crypto trading, while E*TRADE does not offer either. Fidelity’s crypto lineup includes 5 coins, compared with none at E*TRADE. On the other hand, E*TRADE offers futures trading, which Fidelity does not. So if you want more ways to trade across different markets, Fidelity has the edge overall, while E*TRADE may appeal more to traders specifically looking for futures access.

Feature Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes No
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Futures Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 5 0
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026

Trading platforms and tools

Fidelity vs E*TRADE: both earn 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, with StockBrokers.com ranking Fidelity #4 and E*TRADE #6 out of 14 brokers. Fidelity tends to offer richer built-in data views and a trading journal, while E*TRADE stands out if you want paper trading and a few extra tweaks in certain studies. If you want the widest watch list fields plus slightly more indicators and drawing tools, choose Fidelity; if practicing with virtual trades matters most, choose E*TRADE.

Platform access is a tie: each delivers downloadable desktop platforms for Windows and Mac, along with a browser-based platform. On charts, both brokers let you adjust open orders directly on the chart, add notes, view historical trades and corporate events, set custom date ranges, use automated pattern recognition, and save multiple chart profiles. Neither supports creating custom studies. Fidelity includes 129 technical indicators and 38 drawing tools, compared with E*TRADE’s 121 indicators and 37 drawing tools; for SMA edits, E*TRADE offers eight customization fields versus five with Fidelity.

Tools and lists show clearer differences. Fidelity’s watch lists can display up to 92 columns, far more than E*TRADE’s 43, helping dedicated market trackers scan more data at once. Fidelity also includes a built-in trading journal, while E*TRADE does not. For hands-on practice, E*TRADE offers paper trading and Fidelity does not. In short, Fidelity leans toward deeper on-platform data tracking, and E*TRADE offers better simulation for testing strategies before using real money.

Feature Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields 92 43
Charting - Indicators / Studies 129 121
Charting - Drawing Tools 38 37
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026

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Beginners and education

Fidelity and E*TRADE both offer beginner-friendly investor education across key topics, including stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. Each platform provides educational videos and live webinars. The big differences show up in how you learn: E*TRADE includes paper trading so you can practice without risking real money, while Fidelity focuses on guided learning with interactive quizzes and tools to track your progress—features E*TRADE doesn’t offer.

For overall education quality, Fidelity earns 5 stars and is ranked #1 out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, while E*TRADE holds 4 stars and ranks #5. Pick Fidelity if you want structured lessons, quizzes, and the ability to track your learning. Choose E*TRADE if practicing strategies in a paper trading account is your priority.

Feature Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms & Apps for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

Fidelity vs E*TRADE stock trading apps: both earn 4.5 stars, but Fidelity holds a slight edge, ranking #3 vs E*TRADE’s #5 at StockBrokers.com. Fidelity stands out with video on demand and a larger set of chart studies, while both apps cover the core tools most investors need.

Platform support and trading tools: Both offer iPhone, Android, and Apple Watch apps; streaming quotes and live TV; options trading; stock alerts; and custom watchlists with adjustable columns. Fidelity also supports mobile after-hours trading, and it’s the only one of the two with videos on demand.

Charting and research on mobile: Both apps let you view charts in landscape, switch among multiple time frames, compare symbols, and see after-hours pricing on charts. Fidelity provides 128 technical studies versus E*TRADE’s 107, which may appeal to active traders who want more indicators.

Feature Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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 128 107
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026

Fees

When choosing between Fidelity and E*TRADE, potential investors should weigh the subtle distinctions in their fee structures. Both platforms require no minimum deposit and charge $0.00 for regular stock trades, positioning them favorably for new traders. They also share a $0.65 fee per options contract and nix IRA annual fees and closure fees, granting users a no-cost way to maintain or exit their retirement accounts. However, Fidelity has a slight edge regarding costs related to margin balances and account transfers. While Fidelity offers more competitive margin rates and free full account transfers, E*TRADE charges a $75 fee for full ACAT transfers.

Diving deeper into margin costs, Fidelity's rates are generally lower than E*TRADE's. For margin balances below $25,000, Fidelity charges 12.575%, slightly undercutting E*TRADE's 12.95%. This trend continues as balances increase; Fidelity charges 12.075% compared to E*TRADE's 12.7% for balances between $25,000 and $49,999, and 11.125% versus E*TRADE’s 12.2% for balances between $50,000 and $99,999. These lower rates can result in significant savings for those who frequently trade on margin.

Another area to consider is the cost associated with account transfers. Fidelity does not charge for either partial or full account transfers via ACAT, making it cost-effective to move entire portfolios into or out of their platform. In contrast, E*TRADE imposes a $75 fee for full account transfers. On a positive note for both platforms, neither charges for options exercise or assignment, meaning investors can engage in these activities without incurring additional costs.

Feature Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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

Day Trading

When it comes to day trading, both Fidelity and E*TRADE offer essential features that can cater to traders seeking dynamic and comprehensive market participation. Both platforms provide streaming time and sales data for stocks and real-time live TV, keeping traders updated with important market movements and news. Users can also take advantage of direct market routing, trading hotkeys for quick actions, and level 2 quotes, which offer deeper insights into market depth. However, neither Fidelity nor E*TRADE includes ladder trading in their arsenal, which some traders might consider a drawback.

In the realm of strategy backtesting, Fidelity holds a slight edge by offering basic backtesting capabilities, while E*TRADE does not support this feature. For traders interested in short selling, Fidelity provides a short locator tool to check the availability of shares to short in real-time, giving it an advantage over E*TRADE, which lacks this tool. However, both platforms do not offer order liquidity rebates, which is something traders may want to consider. Overall, Fidelity might appeal to those who prioritize strategy development and short selling tools, whereas E*TRADE still provides a competitive suite of features for day traders.

Feature Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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 No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms and Apps for 2026

Market Research

If market research is your priority, Fidelity edges E*TRADE in this comparison. Both brokers cover nearly everything traders and long-term investors look for, but Fidelity is rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 14 brokers for market research by StockBrokers.com, while E*TRADE earns 4.5 stars and ranks #3. In short: choose Fidelity for the top overall research package, or E*TRADE if mutual fund PDFs and one extra stock report matter most to you.

Fidelity and E*TRADE both provide wide research across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, Pink Sheets/OTC, and bonds. You can view portfolio allocation by asset class, tap ESG and social media sentiment insights, and use screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds to find ideas. Each platform also offers downloadable PDF reports for stocks and ETFs.

Key differences are small but notable: Fidelity offers 7 downloadable stock PDF reports, while E*TRADE offers 8. For mutual funds, E*TRADE supplies downloadable PDF reports and Fidelity does not. Outside of those report counts, their research lineups are very similar, so your pick may come down to whether you value Fidelity’s top rating and rank or E*TRADE’s extra PDFs.

Feature Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking services of online brokers Fidelity and E*TRADE, it's clear that E*TRADE provides a broader range of traditional banking options. E*TRADE users can benefit from both checking and savings accounts, which are not available through Fidelity. Both brokerages offer debit and credit cards, giving customers convenient access to their funds and additional purchasing power. Additionally, if you're planning to take out a mortgage, both Fidelity and E*TRADE have you covered with their mortgage loan offerings. For those looking to invest in certificates of deposit, both platforms offer competitive CDs to help grow your savings. Overall, E*TRADE's banking capabilities may appeal more to those seeking comprehensive banking and investment services under one roof, while Fidelity focuses more on investment tools complemented by basic financial products.

Feature Fidelity logoFidelity
E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Checking Accounts No Yes
Savings Accounts No Yes
Debit Cards Yes Yes
Credit Cards Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans Yes Yes
Brokerage CDs Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Fidelity is better than E*TRADE. Fidelity finished with an overall score of 92.5%, while E*TRADE finished with a score of 86.0%.

Fidelity is a value-driven online broker offering $0 trades, industry-leading research, excellent trading tools and an easy-to-use mobile app.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Fidelity or E*TRADE?

Fidelity offers crypto trading with access to 5 coins, while E*TRADE does not currently offer crypto trading. For investors looking to buy and sell digital assets through an online broker, Fidelity has the advantage over E*TRADE in cryptocurrency availability.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026

Does Fidelity or E*TRADE offer IRAs?

Both Fidelity and E*TRADE offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees or closure fees, making them cost-effective choices for investors seeking flexible retirement savings options.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026

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Compare

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Overall Rating Fidelity E*TRADE
Overall 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Fidelity Review E*TRADE Review
Broker Screenshots Fidelity E*TRADE
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Fidelity E*TRADE
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $0.00 $6.95
Mutual Fund Trade Fee Varies $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.65
Futures (Per Contract) (Not offered) $1.50
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $32.95 $25
Margin Rates Fidelity E*TRADE
Margin Rate Under $25,000 12.575% 12.95%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12.075% 12.7%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 11.125% 12.2%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 11.075% 11.7%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 10.825% 11.2%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 8.500% Varies
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 8.250% Varies
Account Fees Fidelity E*TRADE
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) $0.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Fidelity E*TRADE
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) Yes No
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 4
Futures Trading No Yes
Forex Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading Yes No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 5 0
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) 25 0
Order Types Fidelity E*TRADE
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 Fidelity E*TRADE
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 No Yes
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Progress Tracking Yes No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes Yes No
Stock Trading Apps Fidelity E*TRADE
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 Fidelity E*TRADE
Mobile Research - Market Movers Yes Yes
Stream Live TV Yes Yes
Videos on Demand Yes No
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 Fidelity E*TRADE
Charting - After-Hours Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes Yes
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 128 107
Charting - Study Customizations Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes Yes
Trading Platforms Fidelity E*TRADE
Active Trading Platform Active Trader Pro Power E*TRADE
Desktop Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes Yes
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Trade Journal Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields 92 43
Stock Chart Features Fidelity E*TRADE
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies 129 121
Charting - Drawing Tools 38 37
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 No
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Save Profiles Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations 5 8
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day Trading Fidelity E*TRADE
Streaming Time & Sales Yes Yes
Streaming TV Yes Yes
Direct Market Routing - Equities Yes Yes
Ladder Trading No No
Trade Hot Keys Yes Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator Yes No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research Overview Fidelity E*TRADE
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 Fidelity E*TRADE
Stock Research - PDF Reports 7 8
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 Fidelity E*TRADE
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 Fidelity E*TRADE
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 Fidelity E*TRADE
Option Chains - Total Greeks 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Banking Fidelity E*TRADE
Bank (Member FDIC) No Yes
Checking Accounts No Yes
Savings Accounts No Yes
Credit Cards Yes Yes
Debit Cards Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans Yes Yes
Customer Service Fidelity E*TRADE
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes Yes
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) Yes No
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support Yes Yes
Overall Fidelity E*TRADE
Overall 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Fidelity Review E*TRADE Review
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