Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Fidelity vs TradeStation, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Bottom line: Fidelity offers a wider mix of investments than TradeStation and earns a 5-star Range of Investments rating (ranked #2 of 14 by StockBrokers.com) versus TradeStation’s 4 stars (#6). Both cover core needs like stocks, options, OTC stocks, mutual funds, margin, and IRAs, but Fidelity adds fractional shares, forex, and a small lineup of crypto (3 coins), plus advisor services; TradeStation’s key edge is access to futures.
Tradable products: Fidelity and TradeStation both let you trade stocks (including OTC) and options, and both support mutual funds and margin. Fidelity supports fractional share trading, which can make it easier to buy into pricey stocks with small amounts; TradeStation does not. For global currencies and digital assets, Fidelity offers forex and crypto (3 coins), while TradeStation offers neither. If you need futures, TradeStation has them and Fidelity does not.
Accounts and guidance: Each broker provides Traditional and Roth IRAs. Fidelity also offers advisor services for investors who want professional help, while TradeStation is more do-it-yourself. In short, futures-focused traders may lean toward TradeStation, while investors seeking fractional shares, forex, crypto, and access to advice may find Fidelity the better fit.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 0 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Choosing between Fidelity and TradeStation for trading platforms and tools comes down to how deep you want to go. Both earn 4-star ratings, yet TradeStation is ranked slightly higher by StockBrokers.com (#3 vs Fidelity’s #4) thanks to broader chart and watchlist customization plus built-in paper trading. Fidelity counters with a native trading journal and a friendlier setup for investors who want capable tools without lots of custom coding.
Platform access is a draw: each broker offers downloadable desktop software for Windows and Mac, as well as a browser-based platform. Both let you adjust open orders directly on charts and save multiple chart layouts. The clearest workflow differences are simulation and journaling—TradeStation supports paper trading while Fidelity does not; Fidelity includes a trading journal while TradeStation does not. For organizing symbols, TradeStation provides many more watchlist columns (341 vs 92), which helps with detailed views and filtering, while Fidelity keeps lists simpler.
Charting is where TradeStation goes deeper. It supplies 294 technical indicators (Fidelity: 129) and 45 drawing tools (Fidelity: 38). Both brokers let you add notes to charts, show historical trades, display earnings, splits, and dividends, set custom date ranges, and surface automated chart patterns. Editing studies also differs: TradeStation offers 12 fields when tweaking a simple moving average and supports creating custom studies; Fidelity provides 5 fields for an SMA and does not offer custom studies. If you want extensive tinkering and testing, TradeStation has the edge; if you prefer strong charts without extra complexity, Fidelity fits well.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 92 | 341 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 129 | 294 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 38 | 45 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Fidelity vs. TradeStation for education: Fidelity clearly leads for beginner and investor learning. Fidelity is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranked #1 of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, while TradeStation earns 2 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. Both brokers provide stock and options education, plus on-demand videos and webinars. One standout difference: TradeStation includes paper trading to practice without risking money, which Fidelity does not offer.
Fidelity covers more topics—ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds in addition to stocks and options—and adds helpful tools like quizzes and the ability to track your learning progress. TradeStation does not offer ETF, mutual fund, or bond education, and it lacks quizzes and progress tracking. If you want the widest set of learning resources with a clear path to build skills, Fidelity is the better pick. If practicing trades in a simulator is your top priority, TradeStation has the edge there.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Fidelity vs TradeStation: For stock trading apps, Fidelity comes out ahead. It supports more devices, offers richer media and charting tools, and earns higher third‑party marks (4.5 stars and #3 of 14 on StockBrokers.com) than TradeStation (4 stars and #6). Both brokers cover the basics well, but Fidelity is the stronger pick if you want deeper on-the-go analysis and investor education.
Both Fidelity and TradeStation have iPhone and Android apps, plus streaming quotes, options trading on mobile, stock alerts, and flexible watch lists with customizable columns. Fidelity also has an Apple Watch app, while TradeStation does not. Fidelity supports mobile after‑hours stock trading; TradeStation’s mobile after‑hours availability isn’t clearly stated.
For charting and media, Fidelity widens the gap. Each broker offers after‑hours charting and multiple time frames, but Fidelity allows landscape charts (TradeStation does not), supports stock comparisons on charts (TradeStation does not), and supplies far more technical studies (128 vs 45). Fidelity also streams live TV and offers videos on demand, features TradeStation lacks. Combined with its higher star rating and ranking, Fidelity is the better choice for traders who want powerful mobile charting and in‑app learning tools.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 45 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
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|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Bottom line: Fidelity is likely cheaper overall for most people, thanks to $0 IRA fees, $0 account transfer (ACAT) fees, and no fees for options exercise or assignment. Both Fidelity and TradeStation have no minimum deposit and $0 stock trades. TradeStation does edge out Fidelity on per-contract options pricing at $0.60 vs $0.65 and is slightly cheaper on margin under $25,000, while Fidelity offers lower margin rates from $25,000 to $99,999.
Trading costs: both brokers charge $0 for stock trades. Options contracts cost $0.65 at Fidelity versus $0.60 at TradeStation. Options exercise and assignment are free at Fidelity; TradeStation charges $14.95 to exercise and $5.95 for assignment.
Margin and account fees: for margin under $25,000, TradeStation is a hair lower at 12.5% vs Fidelity’s 12.575%. From $25,000 to $49,999, Fidelity is lower at 12.075% vs TradeStation’s 12.5%, and from $50,000 to $99,999, Fidelity is 11.125% vs TradeStation’s 11.5%. Fidelity charges $0 for IRA annual and closure fees, while TradeStation charges $35 annually and $50 to close. For transfers, Fidelity is $0 for both partial and full ACATs; TradeStation is $125 for either. Both require $0 to open an account.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.60 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $14.95 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.95 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $35.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $50.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
When evaluating Fidelity and TradeStation for day trading, each platform presents distinctive advantages. Fidelity provides streaming time and sales data, streaming live TV, and direct market routing, which can be beneficial for real-time decision-making. Its level 2 quotes also cater to those wanting insight into market depth. Fidelity provides essential tools for backtesting basic strategies and offers a short locator tool to help traders view the real-time availability of shares available for shorting. However, it falls short in certain aspects such as advanced strategy backtesting, ladder trading, and order liquidity rebates.
TradeStation, on the other hand, offers streaming time and sales for stocks like Fidelity and includes direct market routing and level 2 quotes, enhancing its appeal for those interested in in-depth market analysis. It stands out with features that Fidelity lacks, such as ladder trading, advanced strategy backtesting, and order liquidity rebates, which can be crucial for more sophisticated trading approaches. Although it does not provide streaming live TV, TradeStation supports trading hotkeys for quick trade entry, and offers a short locator tool, making it a formidable choice for active day traders seeking a comprehensive toolset.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | Yes |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes |
| Short Locator | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Fidelity beats TradeStation for market research. Rated 5 stars and ranked #1 of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, Fidelity delivers broader coverage and more tools than TradeStation, which scores 2.5 stars and ranks #11. If you want wide-ranging research, screeners, and downloadable reports across more investment types, Fidelity is the better fit. TradeStation covers the basics for stocks and ETFs and can show portfolio allocation by asset class, but it falls short on mutual fund and bond research and lacks several premium extras.
Coverage and screeners: Both brokers offer stock and ETF research, OTC/pink sheet research, and an asset allocation view. Only Fidelity adds mutual fund and bond research. For trade ideas, both include stock and ETF screeners; Fidelity also provides mutual fund and bond screeners, while TradeStation does not.
Depth and extras: Fidelity supplies seven downloadable PDF reports for stocks and also offers PDF reports for ETFs (neither broker has mutual fund PDFs). Fidelity includes social media sentiment tools and ESG research, features TradeStation does not provide. TradeStation offers no downloadable stock or ETF reports, which limits its research library compared with Fidelity.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Research |
|
|
When it comes to banking capabilities, Fidelity and TradeStation offer different features for those interested in more than just trading. Fidelity provides advantages like access to debit cards and credit cards, making it convenient for users looking to manage daily expenses or earn rewards. It also offers mortgage loans and certificates of deposit (CDs), adding more financial tools for planning big purchases or saving for the future. In contrast, TradeStation does not offer these banking features, as it focuses more on its trading platform without providing debit cards, credit cards, mortgage loans, or CDs. Both Fidelity and TradeStation do not offer checking or savings accounts, so users seeking traditional banking services might need to look at other institutions. Ultimately, while both platforms are solid choices for trading, Fidelity might be more appealing for users seeking additional banking features alongside their brokerage services.
| Feature |
Fidelity
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 TradeStation. Fidelity finished with an overall score of 92.5%, while TradeStation finished with a score of 68.4%.
Fidelity is a value-driven online broker offering $0 trades, industry-leading research, excellent trading tools and an easy-to-use mobile app.
Fidelity offers cryptocurrency trading with access to three different coins, whereas TradeStation does not provide crypto trading options at all.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both Fidelity and TradeStation offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts, but Fidelity stands out with $0.00 annual and closure fees, compared to TradeStation's $35.00 annual and $50.00 closure fees, making it a more cost-effective choice for IRA investors.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
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| Broker Screenshots | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
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| Trading Fees | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.00 | $0.01 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | $14.95 | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.60 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | $1.50 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $32.95 | $25 |
| Margin Rates | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.575% | 12.5% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.075% | 12.5% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.125% | 11.5% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.075% | 11.5% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 10.825% | 12.0% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 8.500% | 7.5% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.250% | 7.5% |
| Account Fees | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $35.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $50.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $125.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $0.00 | $125.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $14.95 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.95 |
| Investment Options | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 0 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | No | |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | Yes | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 128 | 45 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Active Trader Pro | TradeStation 10 | |
| 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 | 341 |
| Stock Chart Features | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 129 | 294 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 38 | 45 | |
| 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 | 5 | 12 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | Yes |
| Day Trading | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | Yes | |
| Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | Yes | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes | |
| Short Locator | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | Yes |
| Research Overview | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 7 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Fidelity | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TradeStation | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Fidelity Review | TradeStation Review |
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