Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Fidelity vs tastytrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Bottom line: Fidelity offers the broader overall range of investments and support, earning 5/5 stars for Range of Investments and ranking #2 of 14 at StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade scores 4/5 and ranks #9 of 14. Pick Fidelity if you want mutual funds, OTC stocks, and advisor services alongside core trading. Choose tastytrade if access to futures and a larger crypto menu matters most.
Both brokers let you trade stocks, options, forex, crypto, and use margin and fractional shares. Where they differ is depth: Fidelity supports mutual funds and OTC stocks, which tastytrade does not. For crypto, Fidelity offers 3 coins, while tastytrade lists 17. Futures trading is available at tastytrade but not at Fidelity.
Account types are investor-friendly at both firms, with Traditional and Roth IRAs available. Fidelity also provides advisor services for those who want guidance, whereas tastytrade does not. In short, Fidelity suits long-term investors and diversified portfolios, and tastytrade caters to active traders who value futures and a wider crypto selection.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 3 | 17 |
| Range of Investments |
|
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Fidelity and tastytrade both earn 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, with Fidelity ranked #4 and tastytrade #5 out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com. The short version: pick Fidelity if you want richer watchlists, built-in automated pattern detection, and a slightly higher ranking; pick tastytrade if you value a huge library of indicators and the ability to build your own studies. Both support desktop and web trading, and both skip paper trading.
Access is a tie: each offers a downloadable platform for Windows and Mac plus a browser-based platform. Neither offers paper (simulated) trading, but both include a trading journal. Fidelity stands out for watchlists, offering 92 columns versus tastytrade’s 33. Active traders can modify open orders right on the chart with either broker, and both let you save multiple chart profiles for quick layout switching.
Charting is where preferences diverge. Fidelity supplies 129 technical indicators and 38 drawing tools, while tastytrade packs in 308 indicators and 31 drawing tools. Both let you add notes to charts, display past trades, show corporate events, and set custom date ranges. Fidelity includes automated technical analysis for chart patterns; tastytrade does not. Study customization differs too: an SMA study has 5 fields on Fidelity versus 7 on tastytrade, and only tastytrade lets you create custom studies.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 92 | 33 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 129 | 308 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 38 | 31 |
| Advanced Trading |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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For beginner investors comparing Fidelity vs tastytrade education, both brokers cover stocks, ETFs, and options with clear lessons, videos, and webinars. Fidelity goes further with education on mutual funds and bonds, plus interactive quizzes to test your knowledge. Both platforms let you track your learning progress, but neither offers paper trading for practice trades.
When it comes to quality, Fidelity earns 5 out of 5 stars for education and ranks #1 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com. Tastytrade scores 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 14. If you want the widest range of topics, including mutual funds and bonds, and like using quizzes, Fidelity is the stronger choice. If you’re focused on options and want straightforward videos and webinars with progress tracking, tastytrade can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Bottom line: for most mobile stock traders, Fidelity’s app suite offers more to work with and earns higher marks. It’s rated 4.5/5 stars and ranks #3 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #12. Both provide iPhone and Android apps with fast streaming quotes, but Fidelity stands out with deeper charting tools, streaming live TV and videos on demand, plus Apple Watch support.
Access and core features are strong on both sides: Fidelity and tastytrade offer iPhone and Android apps, mobile options trading, streaming quotes, price alerts, custom watch lists, editable watch list columns, after-hours charting, landscape charts, and multiple time frames. Fidelity also supports an Apple Watch app and lets you trade after hours from mobile. tastytrade does not have an Apple Watch app, and its mobile after-hours trading availability isn’t clearly stated.
When it comes to research and charts, Fidelity pulls ahead. It streams live TV and offers videos on demand, while tastytrade does not. On charting, Fidelity supplies 128 technical studies and lets you add stock comparisons; tastytrade lists 0 studies and doesn’t support comparisons. If you want richer, in-app analysis and media, Fidelity is the stronger pick; if your priority is an options-focused experience, tastytrade can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 128 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
In comparing online brokers Fidelity and tastytrade, each brings unique advantages depending on your investing needs. Both platforms offer commission-free stock trades and have no minimum deposit requirements, making them accessible for all investors. However, tastytrade shines with its lower options contract fee of $0.50 compared to Fidelity's $0.65, and offers better rates for margin balances across multiple tiers. Conversely, Fidelity is more favorable for IRA-related and account transfer fees, with no charges for IRA closure or account transfers, while tastytrade incurs costs in these areas.
Fidelity and tastytrade both provide commission-free trading for regular stock trades and do not impose a minimum deposit, making them equal in terms of initial accessibility. For options trading, tastytrade takes the lead with a lower per-contract fee, appealing to options traders looking to minimize costs. Additionally, when considering margin balances, tastytrade provides lower interest rates at all tiers compared to Fidelity, making it a cost-effective choice for investors utilizing margin lending.
For investors concerned with fees related to IRA accounts and account transfers, Fidelity clearly stands out, charging no fees for either IRA closures or account transfers. In contrast, tastytrade charges $60 for IRA closures and $75 for account transfers, which could be a significant factor for those planning frequent account adjustments. Additionally, Fidelity offers zero fees for options exercise and assignment, whereas tastytrade charges $5 for each, adding extra costs for those involved in these activities. Overall, evaluating both platforms’ fees is essential to align them with your trading strategies and financial goals.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.50 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $60.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
For active day traders focused on stocks, Fidelity offers more of the real-time tools that matter: streaming time and sales, Level 2 quotes, direct market routing, and keyboard hotkeys for fast order entry. It also includes basic strategy backtesting, a short locate tool, and streaming live TV. The trade-offs: Fidelity does not have ladder trading or advanced strategy backtesting, and it doesn’t provide maker/taker rebates.
tastytrade shines if you want ladder trading and advanced strategy backtesting, and it also provides a short locate tool and streaming live TV. However, it lacks streaming time and sales, Level 2 quotes, direct market routing, and trading hotkeys, and it doesn’t offer maker/taker rebates. In short, pick Fidelity for quick stock order control and market depth, or choose tastytrade if ladder execution and deeper strategy testing are your priorities.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes |
| Short Locator | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: For market research, Fidelity clearly outpaces tastytrade. Fidelity earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade scores 2 stars and ranks #13. If you want the most complete mix of research tools, reports, and data, Fidelity is the better pick; if you only need basic stock and ETF ideas with simple screeners, tastytrade can cover the essentials.
Coverage and depth: Both brokers offer stock and ETF research and let you view your portfolio allocation by asset class. Fidelity goes further with research for mutual funds, bonds, and Pink Sheets/OTCBB, all missing at tastytrade. Fidelity also adds stock research using social media sentiment and ESG research that tastytrade does not provide. When it comes to downloadable reports, Fidelity supplies 7 PDF stock reports and PDFs for ETFs, whereas tastytrade provides none; neither broker offers mutual fund PDFs.
Idea generation: Each platform includes stock and ETF screeners, and both also offer a bond screener for trade ideas. Fidelity adds a mutual fund screener that tastytrade lacks. In practice, researchers who value many data sources and downloadable reports will feel at home on Fidelity, while self-directed traders who already know what they want to trade may find tastytrade’s lighter toolset sufficient.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking capabilities of Fidelity and tastytrade, there are notable differences to consider for those exploring online brokers. Neither Fidelity nor tastytrade offer traditional checking or savings accounts, which might be a drawback for users seeking comprehensive banking solutions. However, Fidelity provides some additional financial products, such as debit and credit cards, which tastytrade does not offer. This could be advantageous for clients who prefer managing their assets alongside rewards or convenience in purchases. Fidelity also extends its offerings with mortgage loans and certificates of deposit (CDs), whereas tastytrade does not provide these services. These distinctions highlight Fidelity as a more versatile option for those looking to integrate investment brokerage with certain banking needs.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
tastytrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
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 Fidelity is better than tastytrade. Fidelity finished with an overall score of 92.5%, while tastytrade finished with a score of 64.0%.
Fidelity is a value-driven online broker offering $0 trades, industry-leading research, excellent trading tools and an easy-to-use mobile app.
Both Fidelity and tastytrade provide crypto trading, but Fidelity offers 3 coins compared to tastytrade's 17, making tastytrade a more extensive option for cryptocurrency enthusiasts.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both Fidelity and tastytrade offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, providing accessible retirement saving options for investors. However, Fidelity stands out by not charging a closure fee for IRA accounts, unlike tastytrade, which imposes a $60.00 fee.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
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| Review | Fidelity Review | tastytrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
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| Trading Fees | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.00 | N/A | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.50 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | $1.00 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $32.95 | $0 |
| Margin Rates | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.575% | 11% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.075% | 10.5% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.125% | 10% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.075% | 9.5% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 10.825% | 9% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 8.500% | 8.5% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.250% | 8% |
| Account Fees | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $60.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $75.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $0.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Investment Options | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | No | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 3 | 17 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 25 | 0 |
| Order Types | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Order Type - OCO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | Yes |
| Beginners | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | Yes | Yes | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No | |
| 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 | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
| 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 | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 128 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Active Trader Pro | tastytrade | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Journal | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 92 | 33 |
| Stock Chart Features | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 129 | 308 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 38 | 31 | |
| 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 | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | Yes |
| Day Trading | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | Yes | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes | |
| Short Locator | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | No | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 7 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
| Checking Accounts | No | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | No |
| Overall | Fidelity | tastytrade | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Fidelity Review | tastytrade Review |
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