Fidelity
fidelity.com
Large US broker with $0 online stock and ETF trades, $0.65 options contracts, no account fees and the free Fidelity Trader+ platform on all devices.
What it is
Fidelity is one of the largest US brokerages and covers nearly every account type a household needs: individual and joint brokerage accounts, traditional and Roth IRAs, HSAs, 529 plans and small business retirement plans. There are no account minimums or account fees, and US stocks and ETFs can be bought in fractional amounts from $1.
Online US stock and ETF trades cost nothing. Options have no base commission but carry a $0.65 per contract fee. Fidelity's own mutual funds trade free, as do new-issue bonds and US Treasuries, while secondary bonds cost $1 per bond. Transaction-fee funds from other companies cost $49.95 per purchase.
For active traders, Fidelity Trader+ is the current platform: a downloadable app for Windows and Mac with multi-monitor layouts, a web version, and an advanced mode inside the Fidelity mobile app. It offers more than 100 technical indicators, real-time Level II quotes, options chains with Greeks, multi-leg options orders and custom alerts, at no charge. The older Active Trader Pro remains available as a legacy desktop platform.
Margin is the main cost to check before trading on borrowed money: the rate on balances under $25,000 was 12.075% when reviewed, falling in tiers to 7.75% above $1 million.
Key features
- $0 stock and ETF trades
- No commission on online US stock and ETF trades, with fractional shares from $1.
- Options trading
- No base commission and $0.65 per contract, with multi-leg strategies and options chains showing Greeks in Trader+.
- Fidelity Trader+
- Free active-trading platform for Windows and Mac desktop, web and mobile, with 100+ indicators, Level II quotes and custom alerts.
- Research and screeners
- Research, screeners and watchlists across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, options and crypto.
- Account types
- Brokerage, IRA, Roth IRA, HSA, 529 and small business retirement accounts with no minimums to open.
- Mutual funds and bonds
- Fidelity funds, new-issue bonds and US Treasuries trade at $0; No Transaction Fee funds from other companies are free to buy.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks and ETFs (online) | $0 | US-listed stocks and ETFs |
| Options | $0.65 per contract | No base commission |
| Secondary bonds | $1 per bond | New issues and US Treasuries are $0 |
| Transaction-fee mutual funds | $49.95 per purchase | Fidelity funds and NTF funds are $0 to buy |
No account fees or minimums. Margin rates are tiered by balance, from 12.075% under $25,000 to 7.75% at $1 million and above (base rate 10.825% effective 9/18/2026). NTF funds sold within 60 days cost $49.95. Margin liquidation is $32.95 each.
Free option: Opening and holding an account is free, with no minimum; online US stock and ETF trades and the Trader+ platform cost nothing.
Checked September 25, 2026 on fidelity.com. Prices change; confirm on the provider's site before you subscribe.
Strengths
- $0 online stock and ETF trades with no account fees or minimums
- Covers retirement, HSA, 529 and taxable accounts in one place
- Free Trader+ platform on Windows, Mac, web and mobile with Level II and options Greeks
- Fractional shares from $1
- Broad in-house research and screeners across asset classes
Limitations
- Options carry a $0.65 per contract fee
- Margin rates are high on small balances: 12.075% under $25,000 when reviewed
- Transaction-fee mutual funds cost $49.95 per purchase
- Trader+ is newer and Active Trader Pro is now a legacy platform, so layouts and guides may refer to either
Good fit for
- Long-term investors who want every account type at one broker
- Casual to moderately active stock and options traders
- Investors using retirement, HSA and 529 accounts
Look elsewhere if
- High-volume options traders sensitive to per-contract fees
- Traders who borrow heavily on margin with small balances
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Fidelity questions
How much does Fidelity charge for options?
No base commission and $0.65 per contract for online options trades.
Does Fidelity have an account minimum?
No. There is no minimum to open an account and no account fees, and fractional shares start at $1.
What is Fidelity Trader+?
Fidelity's free active-trading platform, available as a Windows and Mac desktop app, on the web and as a mode in the mobile app. It replaces Active Trader Pro, which remains available as a legacy platform.
What are Fidelity's margin rates?
They are tiered by balance: 12.075% under $25,000 down to 7.75% at $1 million and above, based on a 10.825% base rate effective September 18, 2026.
Written from Fidelity's own website and documentation. All Trading Tools lists and compares tools; it does not recommend trades or give financial advice. Sources: fidelity.com, fidelity.com/trading/commissions-margin-rates, fidelity.com/trading/advanced-trading-tools/active-trader-pro/overview.