Full-service brokerage offering diverse investments, trading tools, and financial advisory services.
Active investors, traders, and those seeking comprehensive financial services with diverse options
Client-owned investment company specializing in low-cost index funds and long-term wealth building.
Long-term buy-and-hold investors prioritizing low costs and passive index-based strategies
Fidelity is a full-service brokerage offering diverse investment products and active management options, while Vanguard specializes in low-cost index funds and is structured as a client-owned mutual holding company. Vanguard typically offers lower fees, whereas Fidelity provides more comprehensive services and trading tools.
Both Fidelity and Vanguard are industry-leading investment platforms with excellent reputations and robust offerings. Vanguard is ideal for cost-conscious, long-term investors seeking passive index investing, while Fidelity suits those wanting diverse investment options, active management, and comprehensive financial services. Your choice depends on investment philosophy and desired service level.
Choose Fidelity if
Active investors, traders, and those seeking comprehensive financial services with diverse options
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| Metric | Fidelity | Vanguard | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets Under Management(USD) | $12 Trillion+ | $8 Trillion+ | +50% |
| Commission on Stock Trades(USD) | Free | — | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | None | — | — |
| Funded Customers(millions) | ~12-15 (estimated) |
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Choose Vanguard if
Long-term buy-and-hold investors prioritizing low costs and passive index-based strategies
| — |
| — |
| Total Platform Assets(billions USD) | $11,900+ (AUM) | — | — |
| Retirement Account Types(count) | Comprehensive (Traditional, Roth, SEP, Solo 401k) | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.6/5 (iOS) | — | — |
| Mutual Fund Selection(count) | Extensive (3,500+) | — | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — | — |
| Minimum Initial Investment(USD) | $0 | $0 | — |
| Average Mutual Fund Expense Ratio(%) | 0.45% | 0.08% | +463% |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD) | $0 | $0 | — |
| Assets Under Management(Trillion USD) | $12.9T | $8.4T | +54% |
| Number of ETFs Available(count) | 2,100+ | 420+ | +400% |
| IRA Contribution Limit (2026)(USD) | $7,000 | $7,000 | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | — |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD per trade) | Free | Free | — |
| ETF Expense Ratio (Average)(%) | 0.05% | 0.05% | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | $0 | — |
| Account Types Offered(count) | 30+ | 30+ | — |
| Mutual Funds Available(count) | 9,200+ | 9,200+ | — |
| Customer Service Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated May 2026.
Fidelity
Public corporation
Vanguard
Client-owned mutual holding company🏆
Fidelity
0.45%
Vanguard
0.08%🏆
Fidelity
Active & passive management mix
Vanguard
Primarily passive index-based
Fidelity
$0 for most accounts
Vanguard
$0 for most accounts
Fidelity
9,000+🏆
Vanguard
400+
Fidelity
Go Advisor available
Vanguard
Personal Advisor Services
Fidelity
$12.9 trillion🏆
Vanguard
$8.4 trillion
Fidelity
4.7/5 stars🏆
Vanguard
4.6/5 stars
Vanguard has significantly lower fees with an average mutual fund expense ratio of 0.08%, compared to Fidelity's 0.45%. For long-term investors, this difference compounds substantially over decades. However, Fidelity offers zero commission trading like Vanguard.
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| Attribute | Fidelity | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Assets Under Management(USD) | $12 Trillion+ | $8 Trillion+ |
| Funded Customers(millions) | ~12-15 (estimated) | — |
| Total Platform Assets(billions USD) | $11,900+ (AUM) | — |
| Average Expense Ratio | ~0.10% (0% on Zero funds) | ~0.08% |
| Commission on Stock Trades(USD) | Free | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | None | — |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD per trade) | Free | — |
| ETF Expense Ratio (Average)(%) | 0.05% | — |
| Cryptocurrency Products(count) | Growing with stablecoin FIDD | — |
| Retirement Account Types(count) | Comprehensive (Traditional, Roth, SEP, Solo 401k) | — |
| International Trading(availability) | Comprehensive global access | — |
| Options Trading(availability) | Available | — |
| Mutual Fund Selection(count) | Extensive (3,500+) | — |
| Research Tools Quality(tier) | Professional-grade, free for most | — |
| Research Tools Depth | Extensive library | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.6/5 (iOS) | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.5/5 | — |
| Professional Advisory Available(boolean) | Yes (fee-based and robo) | — |
| Account Types Available | Trading, banking, planning, wealth mgmt | — |
| Commission on Stock Trading | Free | — |
| 2025 Revenue(billion USD) | Market leader (private) | — |
| Cryptocurrency Support | Limited | — |
| AI/Digital Planning Tools | Advanced (Monarch Money, Fiscal.ai) | — |
| Mobile App Experience | Strong but complex | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — |
| Minimum Initial Investment(USD) | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — |
| Average Mutual Fund Expense Ratio(%) | 0.45% | 0.08% |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD) | $0 | $0 |
| Assets Under Management(Trillion USD) | $12.9T | $8.4T |
| Number of ETFs Available(count) | 2,100+ | 420+ |
| Account Types Offered(count) | 30+ | — |
| Mutual Funds Available(count) | 9,200+ | — |
| IRA Contribution Limit (2026)(USD) | $7,000 | $7,000 |
| Research Tools Quality(rating) | Very Good (Vanguard Advisor) | — |
| Robo-Advisor Available(yes/no) | Yes (Vanguard Personal Advisor) | — |
| Investor Alignment Model(structure) | Client-owned (mutual structure) | — |
| New Accounts Opened (Feb 2026)(thousands) | 17 new funds launched | — |
| Fee-Only Advisory Services(availability) | Vanguard Advisors (premium support) | — |
| Customer Service Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.8/5 | — |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes