{"id":"cmmxr9hz7020plh9e9urnb1bw","slug":"vanguard-vs-fidelity","title":"Vanguard vs Fidelity","shortAnswer":"Vanguard excels with the lowest expense ratios (0.03% average) and investor-owned structure, while Fidelity offers superior research tools, $0 trading commissions, and broader product offerings including fractional shares and robo-advisors. The choice depends on whether you prioritize rock-bottom costs or comprehensive features.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Average Expense Ratio (Index Funds)","winner":"a","entityAValue":"0.03%","entityBValue":"0.04%"},{"label":"Minimum Account Balance","winner":"tie","entityAValue":"$0","entityBValue":"$0"},{"label":"Stock Trading Commission","winner":"tie","entityAValue":"$0","entityBValue":"$0"},{"label":"Robo-Advisor Availability","winner":"b","entityAValue":"Vanguard Personal Advisor Services (minimum $50k)","entityBValue":"Go (fully automated, $0 minimum)"},{"label":"Research & Analysis Tools","winner":"b","entityAValue":"Basic (Morningstar integration)","entityBValue":"Advanced (proprietary tools, real-time data)"},{"label":"Customer Service Hours","winner":"b","entityAValue":"24/5 (Mon-Fri plus weekend)","entityBValue":"24/7 (all days)"},{"label":"Fractional Share Trading","winner":"tie","entityAValue":"Available (starting 2023)","entityBValue":"Available (no minimum)"}],"verdict":"Vanguard wins for cost-conscious long-term investors who want the absolute lowest fees and appreciate the investor-owned structure—ideal if you're building a buy-and-hold portfolio with minimal trading. Fidelity wins for active traders and research-driven investors who need robust tools, real-time data, and 24/7 support—better for those who value convenience and want to manage diversified portfolios with frequent rebalancing.","category":"finance","entities":[{"id":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","slug":"vanguard","name":"Vanguard","shortDesc":"Investor-owned financial services company specializing in low-cost index funds and passive investing.","imageUrl":null,"entityType":"company","position":0,"pros":["Industry-lowest average expense ratio of 0.03% on index funds","Investor-owned structure (no external shareholders) ensures alignment with client interests","Exceptional long-term track record with $8.1 trillion in AUM (as of 2024)","$0 stock and ETF trading commissions with no account minimums","Strong fixed-income and bond offerings with competitive rates"],"cons":["Limited robo-advisor features; Personal Advisor Services requires $50,000 minimum","Significantly fewer research tools compared to Fidelity; relies heavily on Morningstar"],"bestFor":"Long-term buy-and-hold investors prioritizing low costs, passive index funds, and alignment with investor interests over feature richness."},{"id":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","slug":"fidelity","name":"Fidelity","shortDesc":"Investment-centric financial services firm managing $11.8 trillion in assets with low-cost trading and retirement solutions.","imageUrl":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/4243_-_Venezia_-_Palazzo_ducale_-_Capitello_28_-_In_fidelitate_nullli_gero_-_Foto_Giovanni_Dall%27Orto%2C_30-Jul-2008.jpg/330px-4243_-_Venezia_-_Palazzo_ducale_-_Capitello_28_-_In_fidelitate_nullli_gero_-_Foto_Giovanni_Dall%27Orto%2C_30-Jul-2008.jpg","entityType":"company","position":1,"pros":["Advanced proprietary research tools including real-time portfolio analytics and sector screeners","Fidelity Go robo-advisor with $0 minimum and fully automated portfolio management","24/7 customer service support available all days of the week","Fractional share trading with no minimums or restrictions","Broader ecosystem: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, futures, crypto, and managed accounts"],"cons":["Slightly higher average expense ratios (0.04%) on index funds compared to Vanguard","Public company structure means potential conflicts between client interests and shareholder returns"],"bestFor":"Active traders, research-driven investors, and those seeking comprehensive tools, educational resources, and accessible robo-advisory services with minimal barriers to entry."}],"attributes":[{"id":"cmmxr9j6v0211lh9eqle5l916","slug":"average-expense-ratio","name":"Average Expense Ratio","unit":"%","category":"Costs","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"~0.08%","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"~0.10% (0% on Zero funds)","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c79g00ofbr0u6y53h890","slug":"research-tools-quality","name":"Research Tools Quality","unit":"rating","category":"Tools & Education","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"Very Good (Vanguard Advisor)","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c82h00olbr0u0doqw641","slug":"mobile-app-rating","name":"Mobile App Rating","unit":"stars out of 5","category":"Technology","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"4.5/5","valueNumber":4.5,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c8xa00orbr0ui61b1pgf","slug":"robo-advisor-available","name":"Robo-Advisor Available","unit":"yes/no","category":"Automated Investing","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":null,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"Yes (Vanguard Personal Advisor)","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c9ot00oxbr0u9s23opkh","slug":"investor-alignment-model","name":"Investor Alignment Model","unit":"structure","category":"Company Structure","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":null,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"Client-owned (mutual structure)","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5cahx00p3br0u0uk7r07t","slug":"new-accounts-opened-feb-2026","name":"New Accounts Opened (Feb 2026)","unit":"thousands","category":"Growth","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"17 new funds launched","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5cbf600p9br0uj9j50b0j","slug":"fee-only-advisory-services","name":"Fee-Only Advisory Services","unit":"availability","category":"Advisory Services","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":null,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"Vanguard Advisors (premium support)","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c2el00nfbr0utxx2o0xz","slug":"stock-trading-commission","name":"Stock Trading Commission","unit":"USD per trade","category":"Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"Free","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c37r00nlbr0uxi1vx1ab","slug":"etf-expense-ratio-average","name":"ETF Expense Ratio (Average)","unit":"%","category":"Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"0.05%","valueNumber":0.05,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c40y00nrbr0uurpkye2f","slug":"minimum-account-balance","name":"Minimum Account Balance","unit":"USD","category":"Account Requirements","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c4u300nxbr0uz2mx259r","slug":"account-types-offered","name":"Account Types Offered","unit":"count","category":"Product Offerings","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"30+","valueNumber":30,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c5n400o3br0u3bnihzdu","slug":"mutual-funds-available","name":"Mutual Funds Available","unit":"count","category":"Product Offerings","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"9,200+","valueNumber":9200,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf5c6g800o9br0uuha3qfa3","slug":"customer-service-rating","name":"Customer Service Rating","unit":"stars out of 5","category":"Service Quality","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"4.8/5","valueNumber":4.8,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmpi6y9nm00gfachdwg9kxb3b","slug":"minimum-initial-investment","name":"Minimum Initial Investment","unit":"USD","category":"Account Requirements","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmpi6yavc00glachdnyhtac31","slug":"average-mutual-fund-expense-ratio","name":"Average Mutual Fund Expense Ratio","unit":"%","category":"Costs & Fees","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"0.08%","valueNumber":0.08,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"0.45%","valueNumber":0.45,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false}]},{"id":"cmpi6ybod00grachdiq1o0917","slug":"stock-trading-commission","name":"Stock Trading Commission","unit":"USD","category":"Costs & Fees","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmpi6ychg00gxachdpxw3njub","slug":"assets-under-management","name":"Assets Under Management","unit":"Trillion USD","category":"Scale & Stability","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$8.4T","valueNumber":8.4,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$12.9T","valueNumber":12.9,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmpi6ydan00h3achdh4vcnfoj","slug":"number-of-etfs-available","name":"Number of ETFs Available","unit":"count","category":"Product Offerings","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"420+","valueNumber":420,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"2,100+","valueNumber":2100,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmpi6yeik00h9achdkax3hd41","slug":"ira-contribution-limit-2026","name":"IRA Contribution Limit (2026)","unit":"USD","category":"Account Features","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$7,000","valueNumber":7000,"valueBoolean":null},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$7,000","valueNumber":7000,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqekk00o01604kk24gf997cs","slug":"stock-trading-commission","name":"Stock Trading Commission","unit":"USD per trade","category":"Investing Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqmo3l9q00knd71wlxv738zu","slug":"robo-advisor-minimum-balance","name":"Robo-Advisor Minimum Balance","unit":"USD","category":"Features","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$50,000","valueNumber":50000,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmmxr9ioc020vlh9egi9j1mda","slug":"assets-under-management","name":"Assets Under Management","unit":"trillion USD","category":"Scale & Strength","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$8.1 trillion","valueNumber":8.1,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$11.8 trillion","valueNumber":11.8,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmqmo3lah00kzd71wk8kuzj1c","slug":"number-of-mutual-funds","name":"Number of Mutual Funds","unit":"count","category":"Products","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"430+","valueNumber":430,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"3,500+","valueNumber":3500,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmnf25qhb00cl2s3jznxoy6zg","slug":"customer-service-availability","name":"Customer Service Availability","unit":"hours per week","category":"Support","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"120 (24/5)","valueNumber":120,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"168 (24/7)","valueNumber":168,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmqmo3lba00lbd71wrq6qtufi","slug":"etf-universe-access","name":"ETF Universe Access","unit":"count","category":"Products","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"1,500+","valueNumber":1500,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"2,000+","valueNumber":2000,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmqmo3lbo00lhd71wxfg3t9p8","slug":"account-opening-requirement","name":"Account Opening Requirement","unit":"USD","category":"Access","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqoqkp0500ot3w9atolyzvj6","slug":"assets-under-management-aum-","name":"Assets Under Management (AUM)","unit":"Trillion USD","category":"Scale & Size","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$8.5 trillion","valueNumber":8.5,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2btux00sn2s3j25fn7811","slug":"minimum-account-balance","name":"Minimum Account Balance","unit":"USD","category":"Accessibility","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$3,000","valueNumber":3000,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"None","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmqoqkxrv00p53w9ac60e6en5","slug":"average-index-fund-expense-ratio","name":"Average Index Fund Expense Ratio","unit":"%","category":"Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"0.03%","valueNumber":0.03,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqoqkxs400pb3w9ah83vdv9f","slug":"robo-advisor-management-fee","name":"Robo-Advisor Management Fee","unit":"%","category":"Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"Not offered","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqoqkxsc00ph3w9aljsyufw1","slug":"stock-etf-commission","name":"Stock & ETF Commission","unit":"USD per trade","category":"Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqoqkxso00pn3w9arx78nkz5","slug":"number-of-index-funds-available","name":"Number of Index Funds Available","unit":"count","category":"Selection","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"425+","valueNumber":425,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqoqkxt700pt3w9aipx2a8xn","slug":"client-satisfaction-rating-2024-","name":"Client Satisfaction Rating (2024)","unit":"out of 5","category":"Customer Service","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"4.6 stars","valueNumber":4.6,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqoqkxtg00pz3w9a8dn5mcsk","slug":"personal-advisor-service-minimum","name":"Personal Advisor Service Minimum","unit":"USD","category":"Advisory Services","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$50,000","valueNumber":50000,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqmo3l8x00kbd71wdvxji4bq","slug":"average-expense-ratio-index-funds-","name":"Average Expense Ratio (Index Funds)","unit":"%","category":"Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"0.08%","valueNumber":0.08,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"0.25%","valueNumber":0.25,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false}]},{"id":"cmrd7dyfb00crmbmo6grveaz7","slug":"average-expense-ratio-active-funds-","name":"Average Expense Ratio (Active Funds)","unit":"%","category":"Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"0.56%","valueNumber":0.56,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"0.67%","valueNumber":0.67,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false}]},{"id":"cmrd7dyfk00cxmbmozdexpp7t","slug":"robo-advisor-annual-fee","name":"Robo-Advisor Annual Fee","unit":"%","category":"Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"0.30%","valueNumber":0.3,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"0.35%","valueNumber":0.35,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false}]},{"id":"cmrd7dyfr00d3mbmoehz1hgpf","slug":"total-mutual-funds-available","name":"Total Mutual Funds Available","unit":"count","category":"Product Selection","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"400+","valueNumber":400,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"5,000+","valueNumber":5000,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmrd7dyg000d9mbmo3205x5pf","slug":"global-assets-under-management","name":"Global Assets Under Management","unit":"trillion USD","category":"Scale","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$8.2 trillion","valueNumber":8.2,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$12.9 trillion","valueNumber":12.9,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmrd7dyg700dfmbmot5w9y44o","slug":"stock-etf-trading-commission","name":"Stock/ETF Trading Commission","unit":"USD","category":"Trading Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmrd7dygf00dlmbmonsidzdcl","slug":"account-types-offered","name":"Account Types Offered","unit":"count","category":"Account Options","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"3 (Brokerage, IRA, 401k)","valueNumber":3,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":false},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"8+ (includes HSA, 529, Taxable)","valueNumber":8,"valueBoolean":null,"winner":true}]},{"id":"cmrd7dygn00drmbmog1ffmbu6","slug":"minimum-initial-investment","name":"Minimum Initial Investment","unit":"USD","category":"Accessibility","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hq6020mlh9evopkap6x","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null},{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2bt1q00sh2s3j5uom4dg2","slug":"commission-on-stock-trades","name":"Commission on Stock Trades","unit":"USD","category":"Costs","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Free","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2bunz00st2s3jdupsdbqv","slug":"funded-customers","name":"Funded Customers","unit":"millions","category":"Scale","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"~12-15 (estimated)","valueNumber":13,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2bvh700sz2s3jsurhza11","slug":"total-platform-assets","name":"Total Platform Assets","unit":"billions USD","category":"Scale","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$11,900+ (AUM)","valueNumber":11900,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2bwaa00t52s3j0e5umc5g","slug":"cryptocurrency-products","name":"Cryptocurrency Products","unit":"count","category":"Offerings","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":null,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Growing with stablecoin FIDD","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2bx3f00tb2s3j5xjgqqei","slug":"retirement-account-types","name":"Retirement Account Types","unit":"count","category":"Offerings","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Comprehensive (Traditional, Roth, SEP, Solo 401k)","valueNumber":6,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2bxwg00th2s3jc7epjsff","slug":"research-tools-quality","name":"Research Tools Quality","unit":"tier","category":"Tools","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Professional-grade, free for most","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2bypr00tn2s3jedlli8o8","slug":"mobile-app-rating","name":"Mobile App Rating","unit":"stars out of 5","category":"Technology","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"4.7 stars","valueNumber":4.7,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2bziq00tt2s3jffmtn0j9","slug":"professional-advisory-available","name":"Professional Advisory Available","unit":"boolean","category":"Services","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":null,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Yes (fee-based and robo)","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2c0bv00tz2s3jk32io0iv","slug":"international-trading","name":"International Trading","unit":"availability","category":"Offerings","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":null,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Comprehensive global access","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2c14z00u52s3jkf2aeyxj","slug":"options-trading","name":"Options Trading","unit":"availability","category":"Offerings","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":null,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Available","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmoe6kfof0047ooj6o8sh0qwa","slug":"commission-on-stock-trading","name":"Commission on Stock Trading","unit":null,"category":"Pricing","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Free","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmoe6kghi004dooj6z9r3dmq7","slug":"2025-revenue","name":"2025 Revenue","unit":"billion USD","category":"Business","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Market leader (private)","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmoe6khan004jooj6iz8zivhd","slug":"cryptocurrency-support","name":"Cryptocurrency Support","unit":null,"category":"Features","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Limited","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmoe6ki3q004pooj6nwtmzbn6","slug":"research-tools-depth","name":"Research Tools Depth","unit":null,"category":"Tools","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Extensive library","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmoe6kiww004vooj6k524yekt","slug":"account-types-available","name":"Account Types Available","unit":null,"category":"Services","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Trading, banking, planning, wealth mgmt","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmoe6kjq10051ooj6nikz9i6u","slug":"mobile-app-experience","name":"Mobile App Experience","unit":null,"category":"UX/UI","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Strong but complex","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmoe6kkj60057ooj6pi6eo8jr","slug":"ai-digital-planning-tools","name":"AI/Digital Planning Tools","unit":null,"category":"Features","dataType":"text","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"Advanced (Monarch Money, Fiscal.ai)","valueNumber":null,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmoe6klc9005dooj6zlq3detm","slug":"minimum-account-balance","name":"Minimum Account Balance","unit":"USD","category":"Accessibility","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmq8a2o6o002lapisqjzhzelc","slug":"checking-account-monthly-fee","name":"Checking Account Monthly Fee","unit":"USD","category":"Fees","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmq8a2o6g002hapis9tnfc2iz","slug":"high-yield-savings-apy","name":"High-Yield Savings APY","unit":"%","category":"Savings Products","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"4.55%","valueNumber":4.55,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmnf2c22e00ub2s3jtvupzoqr","slug":"mutual-fund-selection","name":"Mutual Fund Selection","unit":"funds","category":"Investment Options","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"9,000+","valueNumber":9000,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqra0kr1002hjg0ty96bj4zv","slug":"physical-locations","name":"Physical Locations","unit":"branches","category":"Accessibility","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"200+ locations","valueNumber":200,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmqra0krh002tjg0tsdjdt10n","slug":"account-minimum-requirement","name":"Account Minimum Requirement","unit":"USD","category":"Account Requirements","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0 for standard accounts","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmp0sl7s9000h11eumohfcji7","slug":"physical-branches","name":"Physical Branches","unit":"number","category":"Network","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"200+","valueNumber":200,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmrdfni810095km4cx6n9sua9","slug":"minimum-for-premium-checking-advisory","name":"Minimum for Premium Checking/Advisory","unit":"USD","category":"Account Requirements","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$50,000","valueNumber":50000,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmrdfni8g009hkm4ctfpt18b4","slug":"savings-account-apy-range","name":"Savings Account APY Range","unit":"percent","category":"Deposit Returns","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":true,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"0.42%-0.48%","valueNumber":0.48,"valueBoolean":null}]},{"id":"cmrdfni8o009nkm4cprtdgsub","slug":"robo-advisor-minimum","name":"Robo-Advisor Minimum","unit":"USD","category":"Advisory Services","dataType":"number","higherIsBetter":false,"values":[{"entityId":"cmmxr9hup020olh9eohfge7ty","valueText":"$0","valueNumber":0,"valueBoolean":null}]}],"faqs":[{"question":"Is Vanguard or Fidelity better for beginners?","answer":"Fidelity is generally better for beginners. Its platform is more intuitive, its customer service is more accessible (lower wait times, broader branch network), and its educational resources are excellent. Vanguard's strength is lowest-cost index investing, but its platform can feel clunky for new investors. Fidelity's ZERO index funds also let beginners start with 0.00% expense ratios. One caveat: Fidelity's ZERO funds are non-transferable if you ever want to switch brokerages — Fidelity's regular index ETFs (like FSKAX) avoid this lock-in."},{"question":"Are Fidelity ZERO funds actually free?","answer":"Fidelity ZERO funds (FZROX, FZILX, FZIPX, FZROX) have 0.00% expense ratios — no annual management fee. However, \"free\" has important caveats: (1) ZERO funds are proprietary Fidelity products — if you ever transfer your account to another broker, you must sell them first (unlike ETFs, which transfer in-kind). (2) They track proprietary Fidelity indexes, not standard S&P 500 or Russell indexes — performance tracking is very similar but not identical to mainstream indexes. For most long-term investors the lock-in risk is minor, but it is worth knowing."},{"question":"Does Vanguard or Fidelity have better index funds?","answer":"Both have excellent index fund lineups with comparable expense ratios. Vanguard's flagship ETFs (VOO, VTI, VXUS, BND) are industry standards at 0.03–0.05% expense ratios. Fidelity's equivalent ETFs (FXAIX, FSKAX, FZROX) are comparable and in some cases cheaper. The practical difference is minimal for most investors: at 0.03% vs 0.00%, the annual cost difference on a $100,000 portfolio is $30. Both are effectively free for passive index investors. The stronger differentiator is platform features, customer service, and account types — not fund expense ratios."},{"question":"Can I have accounts at both Vanguard and Fidelity?","answer":"Yes, and many investors do. A common approach: hold Vanguard ETFs at Fidelity (you can buy VOO, VTI, and all Vanguard ETFs commission-free at Fidelity) to get Fidelity's better platform while keeping Vanguard's fund quality. Or hold the bulk of retirement assets at Vanguard for its ownership structure advantages while using Fidelity for active trading, HSA, or 529 accounts where its features are superior. There is no penalty for using both."},{"question":"Which is safer, Vanguard or Fidelity?","answer":"Both are among the safest financial institutions in the world for brokerage accounts. Vanguard manages ~$10 trillion in assets; Fidelity manages ~$14 trillion. Both are SIPC-insured up to $500,000 per account ($250,000 cash). Both carry excess SIPC insurance through Lloyd's of London for additional protection. Neither has experienced a significant financial solvency issue. The main risk to investor assets at any brokerage is not broker failure (extremely rare and covered by SIPC) but market risk — your portfolio going down in value — which is not a broker-specific risk."}],"relatedComparisons":[{"slug":"schwab-vs-vanguard","title":"Schwab vs Vanguard","category":"finance"},{"slug":"bitcoin-vs-ethereum","title":"Bitcoin vs Ethereum","category":"economy"},{"slug":"us-economy-vs-china-economy","title":"US Economy vs China Economy","category":"economy"},{"slug":"stock-market-vs-real-estate","title":"Stock Market vs Real Estate","category":"economy"},{"slug":"bank-of-america-vs-chase","title":"Chase vs Bank of America","category":"finance"},{"slug":"credit-card-vs-debit-card","title":"Credit Card vs Debit Card","category":"finance"},{"slug":"acorns-vs-robinhood","title":"Acorns vs Robinhood","category":"finance"},{"slug":"t-mobile-vs-verizon","title":"T-Mobile vs Verizon","category":"finance"},{"slug":"robinhood-vs-webull","title":"Robinhood Markets, Inc. vs Webull Corporation","category":"finance"},{"slug":"us-vs-china-economic-growth","title":"United States Economy vs China Economy","category":"economy"},{"slug":"home-depot-vs-lowes","title":"Home Depot vs Lowe's","category":"companies"},{"slug":"burger-king-vs-mcdonald-s","title":"McDonald's vs Burger King","category":"companies"}],"relatedBlogPosts":[{"slug":"is-cash-app-safe","title":"Is Cash App Safe? Risks, Protections & Safety Tips (2026)","excerpt":"Cash App is generally safe — it uses 256-bit encryption, biometric authentication, and real-time fraud monitoring. But your Cash App balance is not FDIC-insured by default, and Cash App scams are widespread. This guide covers exactly what protections exist, what risks to watch for, and how to keep your account secure.","category":"finance"},{"slug":"does-walmart-cash-checks","title":"Does Walmart Cash Checks?","excerpt":"Yes — Walmart cashes checks at its MoneyCenter and Customer Service desks. Fees are $4 for checks up to $1,000 and $8 for checks between $1,000 and $5,000 ($7,500 during tax season). Walmart accepts payroll checks, government checks, tax refund checks, and more — but not personal checks from individuals.","category":"finance"},{"slug":"can-you-deposit-cash-at-an-atm","title":"Can You Deposit Cash at an ATM? (Yes — Here's How)","excerpt":"Yes — most bank ATMs accept cash deposits, but ATMs from third-party networks (Allpoint, Cirrus, MoneyPass) typically do not. You can only deposit cash at an ATM owned by your own bank or credit union. Here's which banks allow it, how it works, and when deposits become available.","category":"finance"},{"slug":"does-home-depot-take-apple-pay","title":"Does Home Depot Take Apple Pay?","excerpt":"Yes — Home Depot accepts Apple Pay in all of its U.S. stores. You can tap to pay at any Home Depot checkout lane using an iPhone or Apple Watch. Apple Pay also works on the Home Depot website and mobile app. Here's exactly how to use it and what to know.","category":"finance"},{"slug":"is-rocket-money-safe","title":"Is Rocket Money Safe? (App Review + Security Guide for 2026)","excerpt":"Yes — Rocket Money is safe to use. It uses 256-bit bank-level encryption, read-only access to your accounts, and is backed by Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT). This guide covers exactly what data it accesses, how it protects your information, what it costs, and whether it's worth it.","category":"finance"}],"metadata":{"metaTitle":"Vanguard vs Fidelity 2026: Fees, Tools & Features","metaDescription":"Compare Vanguard (0.03% fees, investor-owned) vs Fidelity (advanced tools, 24/7 support). Which brokerage wins for your investing style?","publishedAt":"2025-06-01T00:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-18T09:00:24.297Z","isAutoGenerated":true,"isHumanReviewed":true,"viewCount":0,"status":"published"},"expertAnalysis":"Vanguard and Fidelity are the two largest US brokerage firms and the dominant options for passive investors building long-term portfolios. They've converged significantly on pricing in recent years — both now offer commission-free stock and ETF trades, and index fund expense ratios on both platforms are near zero. The meaningful differences in 2026 come down to ownership structure, fund selection, platform experience, and the edge cases that matter for specific investor types.\n\nVanguard manages approximately $10 trillion in assets as of 2026. Its structural differentiator is unique: Vanguard is owned by its own funds, which are in turn owned by fund shareholders — meaning there are no external stockholders extracting profits, and cost savings flow directly to investors via lower expense ratios. Vanguard's average expense ratio across all funds is approximately 0.08%, compared to the industry average of around 0.42%. The flagship funds — VTSAX (Total Stock Market, 0.04% ER), VFIAX (S&P 500, 0.04%), VBTLX (Total Bond Market, 0.05%) — are as cheap as any mutual funds available anywhere. This structural alignment of incentives is why Vanguard founder Jack Bogle's philosophy of low-cost indexing became the dominant investing paradigm. Vanguard's platform is functional but not designed for active traders — the interface is utilitarian, the tools are limited, and customer service wait times have historically been long. Recent platform improvements have reduced complaints, but Fidelity's platform is still rated higher in usability surveys.\n\nFidelity manages approximately $15 trillion in total customer assets as a privately held company. Fidelity's headline competitive weapon is its ZERO expense ratio funds: FZROX (Total Market), FZILX (International Index), FZESX (Extended Market), and FXNAX (US Bond Index) all carry 0.00% expense ratios with no investment minimum. These funds are available only through Fidelity accounts, creating a lock-in effect, but for investors committed to the platform they represent the cheapest index funds in existence. Fidelity's standard S&P 500 fund FXAIX carries a 0.015% expense ratio — still essentially zero but slightly above the ZERO funds. Fidelity also offers fractional shares for stocks and ETFs (Vanguard does not offer fractional ETF shares), a broader and more responsive research interface, faster customer service, approximately 200 physical investor centers, and the Fidelity app which consistently rates higher in App Store/Play Store reviews than Vanguard's.\n\nTax efficiency: Vanguard pioneered a patented dual-share class structure that historically made its mutual funds extremely tax-efficient by using ETF share classes to flush embedded capital gains. This patent expired in 2023, and competitors can now implement similar structures. Fidelity's index funds are also highly tax-efficient.\n\nFor most long-term passive investors, either platform is excellent. Choose Fidelity for the 0.00% ZERO funds, fractional share access, and superior platform usability. Choose Vanguard if you're committed to the investor-owned structure and hold existing Vanguard funds."}