Fidelity vs Schwab 2026: Features, Fees & Service
Fidelity Investments
Comprehensive financial services provider with extensive investment products, research, and active management solutions.
Active traders, options traders, advanced investors seeking maximum fund selection and proprietary research tools.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryFidelity offers more investment options (30,000+ mutual funds) and lower account minimums ($0), while Schwab excels in customer service ratings (4.8/5 vs 4.5/5) and has lower average expense ratios for ETFs (0.08% vs 0.12%). Both are industry leaders with $11+ trillion in assets under administration.
Read full verdictChoose Fidelity if you want maximum investment flexibility, lower trading costs (especially for options), and access to more proprietary research and retirement planning tools. Choose Schwab if you prioritize superior customer service, lower expense ratios on ETFs, and a streamlined, user-friendly platform designed for simplicity.
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Choose Fidelity Investments if
Active traders, options traders, advanced investors seeking maximum fund selection and proprietary research tools.
Choose Charles Schwab if
Best pickBeginner to intermediate investors, buy-and-hold investors, those prioritizing ease of use and customer service.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Mutual Fund Selection:✓ Fidelity Investments wins(30,000+ vs 20,000+)
- Minimum Account Balance:$0 vs $0
- Average ETF Expense Ratio:✓ Charles Schwab wins(0.08% vs 0.12%)
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Charles Schwab vs Robinhood
Key Facts & Figures
17 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Fidelity Investments | Charles Schwab | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | $0 | |
| Average ETF Expense Ratio(%) | 0.12% | 0.08% | |
| Customer Service Rating (J.D. Power 2024)(Score (out of 5)) | 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 | |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD per trade) | $0 | $0 | |
| Assets Under Administration(USD Trillions) | $11.3+ trillion | $7.6 trillion | |
| Market Capitalization(USD trillions) | $12.39 billion | — | — |
| Average Mutual Fund Expense Ratio(%) | 0.35% | 0.40% | |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.7/5 | 4.8/5 | |
| Mobile App Rating (2024)(Stars (out of 5)) | 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 | |
| Robo-Advisor Fee(%) | 0.35% | — | — |
| FDIC Insurance per Account Type(USD) | $1,900,000 | — | — |
| Minimum for Robo-Advisor Service(USD) | $25,000 | — | — |
| Founded Year(year) | 1946 | — | — |
| Physical Branch Locations(count) | 200+ | — | — |
| Average Investment Advisory Fee(%) | 0.35% | — | — |
| Minimum Account Balance for Premium Tier(USD) | $0 | — | — |
| Monthly Checking Account Fee (standard)(USD) | $0 | — | — |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- 30,000+(winner)Mutual Fund Selection20,000+
- $0Minimum Account Balance$0
- 0.12%Average ETF Expense Ratio0.08%(winner)
- 4.5/5Customer Service Rating (J.D. Power)4.8/5(winner)
- $0Stock Trading Commission$0
- $0 (with $0 balance requirement)(winner)Options Trading Commission$0.65 per contract
- $11.8 trillion(winner)Assets Under Administration$7.6 trillion
- Mutual Fund Selection
Fidelity Investments
30,000+(winner)
Charles Schwab
20,000+
- Minimum Account Balance
Fidelity Investments
$0
Charles Schwab
$0
- Average ETF Expense Ratio
Fidelity Investments
0.12%
Charles Schwab
0.08%(winner)
- Customer Service Rating (J.D. Power)
Fidelity Investments
4.5/5
Charles Schwab
4.8/5(winner)
- Stock Trading Commission
Fidelity Investments
$0
Charles Schwab
$0
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Fidelity Investments | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum for Robo-Advisor Service(USD) | $25,000 | — |
| Minimum Account Balance for Premium Tier(USD) | $0 | — |
| Average ETF Expense Ratio(%) | 0.12% | 0.08%(winner) |
| Average Mutual Fund Expense Ratio(%) | 0.35%(winner) | 0.40% |
| Average Investment Advisory Fee(%) | 0.35% | — |
| Monthly Checking Account Fee (standard)(USD) | $0 | — |
| Customer Service Rating (J.D. Power 2024)(Score (out of 5)) | 4.5/5 | 4.8/5(winner) |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD per trade) | $0 | $0 |
| Assets Under Administration(USD Trillions) | $11.3+ trillion(winner) | $7.6 trillion |
| Market Capitalization(USD trillions) | $12.39 billion | — |
| Annual Revenue (2025-2026)(billion USD) | Not publicly itemized | — |
| Futures Trading Support | No | — |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes | — |
| Mutual Fund Offerings | Extensive proprietary family | — |
| Primary Service Model | Diversified financial services & asset management | — |
| Research & Market Data Tools | Comprehensive but less specialized | — |
| Mobile App Rating (2024)(Stars (out of 5)) | 4.6/5 | 4.7/5(winner) |
| Retirement Account Administration | Specialized institutional solutions | — |
| Mobile App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.7/5 | 4.8/5(winner) |
| Premium Research Tools Included | Morningstar Premium + FactSet | Morningstar Basic only |
| Robo-Advisor Fee(%) | 0.35% | — |
| FDIC Insurance per Account Type(USD) | $1,900,000 | — |
| Founded Year(year) | 1946 | — |
| Physical Branch Locations(count) | 200+ | — |
Fidelity InvestmentsPros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
Fidelity Investments
Pros
Cons
Charles Schwab
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions
Fidelity is significantly better for options traders because it offers commission-free options trading with no minimum balance requirement. Schwab charges $0.65 per contract, which adds up quickly for active traders. A trader executing 100 options contracts monthly pays $0 at Fidelity vs $65 at Schwab annually.
Charles Schwab has a slight edge for passive investors due to lower average ETF expense ratios (0.08% vs 0.12%). On a $100,000 portfolio, this 0.04% difference equals $40 annually. However, both offer commission-free ETF trading, and Fidelity's larger fund selection may offer more competitive options.
Schwab ranks higher in J.D. Power customer satisfaction (4.8/5 vs 4.5/5) and offers more accessible customer support through multiple channels. Fidelity provides comparable support but has a more complex interface, which some users find harder to navigate without assistance.
Charles Schwab is generally better for beginners due to its simpler, more intuitive platform, higher customer satisfaction ratings, and extensive educational resources through Schwab University. Fidelity's more comprehensive tools can be overwhelming initially, though it catches up on features as investors become more sophisticated.
Both Fidelity and Schwab offer limited cryptocurrency trading. Fidelity allows Bitcoin and Ethereum in retirement accounts (IRA). Schwab offers cryptocurrency trading through their digital assets platform but with restrictions. Neither is ideal for crypto-focused traders—specialized platforms like Kraken or Coinbase remain better options.
Fidelity's main drawbacks are a more complex interface and slightly higher costs on some passive products. Its average ETF expense ratio is 0.12% versus 0.08% at Schwab, and it scores lower in J.D. Power customer satisfaction at 4.5/5 compared with 4.8/5. The depth of its research and planning tools, while a strength for experienced investors, can overwhelm newer account holders.
The 4% rule is a general retirement withdrawal guideline, not a Schwab product or account feature: a retiree withdraws 4% of the portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjusts that dollar amount for inflation each year afterward. Schwab, like most large brokerages, references it in retirement education content and planning calculators. Fidelity publishes similar withdrawal-rate guidance through its own retirement planning tools.
Fidelity's 45% rule is a retirement planning guideline stating that savings and investments should replace roughly 45% of pre-retirement income, with Social Security expected to cover much of the remainder. It appears in Fidelity's retirement planning tools and research, an area where the firm's proprietary content is a noted strength. It is a planning benchmark rather than an account rule or trading restriction.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Wikipedia
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Fidelity Investments on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Comprehensive financial services provider with extensive investment products, research, and active management solutions.
- W
Charles Schwab on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Full-service brokerage offering commission-free trading, robo-advisor services, and financial advisory.
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