Fidelity vs E*TRADE 2025
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.
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.
When comparing online brokers Fidelity and E*TRADE, both offer comprehensive investment options, but Fidelity takes a slight edge in terms of variety and depth. While both brokers provide essential services like stock trading, margin trading, and mutual funds, Fidelity distinguishes itself with its broader range of fractional shares and crypto trading availability, offering trades in three cryptocurrencies. E*TRADE, on the other hand, offers futures trading, which Fidelity does not. This slight difference in offerings reflects in their rankings and ratings, with Fidelity rated 5 stars for its range of investments and ranked third by StockBrokers.com, just one spot ahead of E*TRADE.
Both Fidelity and E*TRADE provide essential features such as stock and options trading, margin accounts, and the inclusion of OTC stocks. Investors looking for IRA options will find both brokers accommodating, as they each support traditional and Roth IRA accounts. Moreover, both companies offer advisor services, catering to investors who may seek guidance in managing their portfolios. However, those interested in fractional shares or exploring cryptocurrency will find Fidelity more appealing, while E*TRADE's advantage in futures trading may attract more experienced traders.
Ultimately, the choice between Fidelity and E*TRADE will depend on your specific investment interests and goals. Fidelity's higher rating in investment range, alongside its standing rank, suggests a well-rounded offering with an enhanced focus on flexible and innovative trading options, like crypto. E*TRADE continues to be a strong competitor, particularly for those who wish to delve into futures trading. Both platforms provide strong foundations for investors, making them solid choices based on individual investing needs.
Feature |
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | Yes | |
Crypto Trading | Yes | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 3 | 0 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
Fidelity and E*TRADE both offer impressive trading platforms, but Fidelity edges out with a slightly higher ranking and rating according to StockBrokers.com, earning 4.5 stars and taking the 4th spot out of 14 brokers. E*TRADE is not far behind with a 4-star rating and the 5th position. While both platforms cater to a wide range of investor needs with numerous features, the final choice depends on the specific tools and functionalities that each investor prioritizes.
For those who prefer downloadable desktop platforms, Fidelity offers support for both Windows and Mac users, while E*TRADE's offerings remain unspecified in this context. Both brokers provide browser-based platforms, but when it comes to practicing trading without risk, E*TRADE stands out with its paper trading feature, an option not available with Fidelity. For extensive watch list customization, Fidelity offers more columns, providing 92 fields compared to E*TRADE's 43, which might appeal to investors who prefer in-depth watch list capabilities.
Charting tools are also a critical component for traders, and both Fidelity and E*TRADE offer a strong array of features, including the ability to adjust open orders directly on charts, view corporate events, and save multiple chart profiles. Fidelity has a slight advantage in technical indicators and drawing tools, providing 129 indicators and 38 drawing tools, compared to E*TRADE's 121 and 37, respectively. Additionally, Fidelity supports trading journals and offers the ability to add notes to charts, which could be beneficial for users who value detailed record-keeping.
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Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | |
Paper Trading | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 92 | 43 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 129 | 121 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 38 | 37 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
Fidelity and E*TRADE both provide comprehensive educational resources for individuals new to investing. Fidelity offers a well-rounded learning experience with resources on stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. They enhance users' experience with educational videos, webinars, and quizzes, providing the ability to track learning progress, which is an added benefit for those who like to monitor their development. Fidelity is rated five stars for education by StockBrokers.com and holds the impressive position of second out of 14 brokers.
E*TRADE also delivers a strong educational offering, covering stock, ETF, options, mutual fund, and bond education. It provides engaging content through educational videos and webinars. E*TRADE offers paper trading, which allows beginners to practice without financial risk, but it doesn’t include the tracking of learning progress like Fidelity does. Rated five stars for its educational services, E*TRADE ranks fourth among 14 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. This comparison shows that both platforms excel in investor education while offering different tools to support their users’ learning journeys.
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Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
Paper Trading | Yes | |
Videos | Yes | Yes |
Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
Fidelity and E*TRADE both offer top-tier stock trading apps, each receiving a commendable five-star rating. When ranked among 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, Fidelity secured the third spot, with E*TRADE closely following at fourth. Both platforms provide comprehensive mobile accessibility with apps available for iPhone, Android, and Apple Watch, supporting a range of features that cater to today's tech-savvy traders.
For active traders, both Fidelity and E*TRADE support essential functionalities like mobile options trading, streaming quotes, and live TV. They also provide stock alerts and allow users to create and customize watch lists. Unique to Fidelity’s app is the ability to stream videos on demand, which E*TRADE does not offer. When it comes to charting, Fidelity gives users an edge with 119 technical studies compared to E*TRADE's 107, which might appeal to more analytically inclined investors.
Detailed market analysis is at your fingertips with both Fidelity and E*TRADE offering versatile charting tools, including after-hours charting, landscape mode views, and the ability to see multiple time frames. Both apps allow stock comparisons within charts, providing traders with a dynamic and enriched trading experience. Ultimately, whether you choose Fidelity or E*TRADE, you're assured a high-quality mobile trading platform designed to meet a wide array of investor needs.
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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 | 119 | 107 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
Both Fidelity and E*TRADE offer competitive pricing structures, making them attractive choices for investors looking for affordable online brokerage options. They both require no minimum deposit and provide commission-free stock trades, ensuring accessible entry points for traders. However, when comparing margin rates, Fidelity generally offers lower rates than E*TRADE, particularly for balances below $50,000. Additionally, while neither charges fees for IRA accounts or closures, full account transfers are cost-free with Fidelity, whereas E*TRADE imposes a $75 fee.
Fidelity and E*TRADE are aligned in terms of options trading, with both brokers charging $0.65 per contract. They also offer risk-free IRA management, as both platforms waive annual and closure fees for IRA accounts. However, the distinction arises with account transfer fees, where Fidelity maintains a no-cost approach for both partial and full transfers, contrasting with E*TRADE’s $75 charge for full account transfers.
Regarding margin accounts, Fidelity emerges as the more cost-effective option with rates starting at 13.075% for balances below $25,000 and gradually decreasing as the balance increases. Comparatively, E*TRADE's rates are slightly higher across similar tiers, starting at 14.2% for lower balances. Furthermore, both Fidelity and E*TRADE charge no fees for options exercises and assignments, reinforcing the cost-effectiveness of trading options on these platforms. However, Fidelity's overall lower margin rates and no-fee policy for full account transfers may give it an edge for budget-conscious investors.
Feature |
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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 2025
When it comes to day trading, both Fidelity and E*TRADE present a range of features tailored to active traders. Both platforms provide streaming time and sales for stocks, allowing traders to stay updated with real-time data. They also support streaming live TV, keeping users informed with market insights and news. Direct market routing is available with both brokers, giving traders the flexibility to manage their trades efficiently. Additionally, Fidelity and E*TRADE both support trading hotkeys for keyboard trade entry and offer Level 2 quotes, which are crucial for making informed trading decisions. However, while both platforms support basic strategy backtesting, only Fidelity extends a tool for viewing the real-time availability of shares available for shorting.
While both brokers excel in several key areas, there are some notable differences. For instance, neither platform supports ladder trading, and both fall short by not offering advanced strategy backtesting or order liquidity/maker-taker rebates. These limitations may influence more experienced day traders looking for advanced functionalities. Ultimately, traders should consider these features alongside their personal trading needs and preferences when deciding between Fidelity and E*TRADE for their day trading activities. With their unique offerings, both platforms cater well to the needs of most day traders, while leaving certain advanced needs unfulfilled.
Feature |
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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 | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | ||
Short Locator | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025
When it comes to market research capabilities, both Fidelity and E*TRADE shine as comprehensive platforms for investors, each receiving a perfect five-star rating in this area. However, E*TRADE slightly edges out Fidelity in StockBrokers.com's rankings, taking the #2 spot among 14 brokers, while Fidelity is ranked #3. This makes E*TRADE a marginal favorite for those who prioritize broker rankings in choosing their research resources.
Both brokers offer extensive research features, covering a wide range of security types including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, pink sheets/OTCBB, and bonds. Additionally, they each provide an array of tools to help investors make informed decisions, such as the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class and leverage stock screeners for trade ideas. Investors interested in the latest trends can take advantage of social media sentiment data provided by both platforms.
Despite their similarities, minor distinctions do exist. Fidelity offers a slight edge in the number of downloadable PDF research reports for stocks with 11, compared to E*TRADE's eight. Conversely, E*TRADE offers downloadable reports for mutual funds, a feature not available from Fidelity. Both provide downloadable reports for ETFs, ensuring investors have access to vital information across these types of securities. Additionally, Fidelity offers ESG research, an option not explicitly provided by E*TRADE, which may appeal to socially conscious investors.
Feature |
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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 |
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When comparing the banking capabilities of Fidelity and E*TRADE, both online brokers provide a range of financial products to suit various needs. Fidelity does not currently have standalone checking or savings accounts, whereas E*TRADE offers both options to its customers. For those looking for more everyday banking features, both Fidelity and E*TRADE supply debit and credit cards, providing more flexibility and convenience for transactions. When it comes to mortgage loans and Certificates of Deposit (CDs), both brokers also offer these services, enabling users to manage a broader array of financial commitments. Overall, E*TRADE might appeal more to individuals seeking traditional banking products combined with brokerage services, while Fidelity offers a comprehensive suite of investment-focused products.
Feature |
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Checking Accounts | Yes | |
Savings Accounts | Yes | |
Debit Cards | Yes | Yes |
Credit Cards | Yes | Yes |
Mortgage Loans | Yes | Yes |
Brokerage CDs | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025
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 96.2%, while E*TRADE finished with a score of 95.4%.
Fidelity is a value-driven online broker offering $0 trades, industry-leading research, excellent trading tools and an easy-to-use mobile app.
When comparing online brokers, Fidelity offers an advantage for cryptocurrency enthusiasts by providing trading options for three coins, while E*TRADE currently does not offer crypto trading.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
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 2025
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0 of 5Overall Rating | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Customer Service |
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Education |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Fidelity Review | E*TRADE Review |
Broker Screenshots | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Trading Fees | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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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 | |
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Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 13.075% | 14.2% | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.575% | 13.7% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.125% | 13.2% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.575% | 12.7% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 11.325% | 12.2% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 9.00% | Varies | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.75% | Varies |
Account Fees | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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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 | |
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | ||
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
Futures Trading | Yes | ||
Forex Trading | |||
Crypto Trading | Yes | ||
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 3 | 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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | ||
Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
Progress Tracking | Yes | ||
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes |
Stock Trading Apps | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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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 | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | Yes | Yes | |
Videos on Demand | Yes | ||
Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
Stock App Charting | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 119 | 107 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
Trading Platforms | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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Active Trading Platform | Active Trader Pro | Power E*TRADE | |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | ||
Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | ||
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | Yes | ||
Trade Journal | Yes | ||
Watch Lists - 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 | ||
Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Study Customizations | 5 | 8 | |
Charting - Custom Studies |
Day Trading | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes | |
Streaming TV | Yes | Yes | |
Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | Yes | |
Ladder Trading | |||
Trade Hot Keys | Yes | Yes | |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | ||
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | |||
Short Locator | Yes | ||
Order Liquidity Rebates |
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 | 11 | 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 | ||
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 | |
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Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
Banking | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | ||
Checking Accounts | Yes | ||
Savings Accounts | Yes | ||
Credit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
Debit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
Mortgage Loans | Yes | Yes |
Customer Service | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | Yes | ||
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
24/7 Support | Yes | Yes |
Overall | Fidelity | E*TRADE | |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Education |
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Ease of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Fidelity Review | E*TRADE Review |