TradingCritique

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Fidelity vs Interactive Brokers

Broker Name

Fidelity

Fidelity

VS
Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers

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Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

STP broker

Market maker

Years of Existence / Established Year

1946

1993

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

51.4 million

3.12M


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

SEC, MSRB, FINRA

SEC, FINRA, NYSE, FCA, FINMA, CFTC, MAS, SFC, CBI, IIROC, JFSA, MiFiD

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Best Online Broker for Beginning Investors 2024, Rated #1 for Overall Broker 2024, Best Online Broker 2023

Best Online Broker for Advanced Traders in 2024, Professional Trading 2024, #1 Best Online Broker in 2023, Best for Advanced Traders, Best Online Broker in 2024, Best Stock Broker for International Trading

Security Measures

FDIC , SIPC

SIPC

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes* Restriction for some clients

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

No

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

10000+ mutual funds including fixed income, CDs, Annuities, life insurance, long-term Care Planning, 529 Plans IRAs, Health Savings Account

150 Markets including Forecast and event contracts, Spot currencies,US spot Gold, Hedge funds

Currency Pairs

No

Yes

Commodities

No

No

Indices

No

No

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

Yes

CFDs

No

No

ETFs

Yes

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Yes

Options

Yes

Yes

Futures

No

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Yes

Fractional Shares

Yes

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

No

Precious Metals

No

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

No

Equities

Yes

No


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

No

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

No

No

Copy Trading

No

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Trading dashboard, Fidelity mobile, Active Trader Pro

IBKR global Trader, Client Portal, Desktop, Mobile, Trader workstation, APIs, Forecast Trader, IMPACT

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Fidelity® Cash Management Account., The Fidelity Account, Individual Retirement Account (IRA), 529 College Savings Account., Fidelity HSA, Custodial Account (UGMA/UTMA)

Individual, Joint, Trust, IRA and UGMA/UTMA Accounts, Non-Professional Advisor Accounts, Family Office Accounts, Small Business Accounts, Advisor Accounts, Money Manager Accounts, Broker & FCM Accounts, Proprietary Trading Group Accounts, Hedge Fund & Mutual Fund Accounts, Compliance Officers, Administrators, Institutional Hedge Fund Investors

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

No

Yes

Minimum Deposit

$0

$0

Leverage Available

No

10:1 to 50:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on assets class

EUR 5,000,000

Commission (per account type)

$0

$0

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners and experienced traders

Beginner to advanced traders


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

ATM/debit card, Deposits eligible for FDIC insurance, Cash Manager, Fidelity Mobile, Bill Pay, Check writing, Automatic investments, Automatic withdrawals, Direct deposit, Electronic funds transfer (EFT), e-wallets

ACH transfer, Link a new bank account, Bank wire, Transfer from wise balance, Scan a check , Mail a check, SEPA

Withdrawal Methods

Electronic funds transfer (EFT), Bank wire, Paper check, Paper bill varies by account types

ACH, Check, Direct debit, Transfer to wise balance, Canadian ETF transfer, SEPA

Other E-Wallets Supported

Venmo or PayPal

No


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

No

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Research and Tools, Investment Education, Webinars and Online Courses, Market News and Insights, Retirement and Planning Tools

Traders' Academy (Online Courses), IBKR Webinars, Market Insights and Analysis, Trader's University (Video Tutorials), IBKR Quant Blog (Quantitative Trading), Customer Education (Trading Guides)


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Commission for U.S stocks, ETFs, Options- $0, Mutual funds- $49.95, Crypto spread- 1.0 pip, Margin liquidation -$32.95 per liquidation, Stock certificate transfer and ship $10 Per Certificate

IBKR Lite: Commission-free U.S. stocks, ETFs, and specific mutual funds, IBKR Pro: $0.005 per share, minimum $1 per trade

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

NA

Fixed spread

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

$0.65/ Contract fee

$0.65/contract

Futures Contract Fees

NA

$0.85

Markup Fees on Spread

NA

$1.50

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

NA

Maximum Leverage

No

50:1


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$0

$0

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

NA

NA

Advisory Fees

NA

It depends up on the account type

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

NA

over $10 million free

Statement or Document Fee

NA

NA

Account Opening Fee

$0

$0

Account Maintenance Fee

$0

$0

Deposit Fee

$0

$0

Currency Conversion Fee

$50/ per trade

$0.03

Withdrawal Fee

Wire transfer-$3

$10 outgoing wire transfer fee


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

No

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Yes


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Premarket session -7:00 a.m. to 9:28 a.m. ET.

9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday Overnight trading hours: 8:00 PM ET - 3:50 AM ET, Sunday through Friday


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Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. ET , Monday- Friday

24/7

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Phone: 800-343-0860, 800-835-5095, Live chat, Login for personalized help, FAQs

Phone: 1 (888) 919-0022, E-mail: [email protected], Live chat

Support Languages

2

33


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Boston, MA

Greenwich, Connecticut

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.
Fidelity stands out for its zero-commission trading model, appealing to cost-conscious investors. In contrast, Interactive Brokers offers more comprehensive services with slightly higher fees, especially for advanced tools and asset classes.
Creating an account with Fidelity is generally faster and more user-friendly, often taking just a few minutes, while Interactive Brokers requires more detailed steps and identity verification, which may suit more cautious investors.
Fidelity excels in real-time trade execution with minimal latency, whereas Interactive Brokers complements its execution with strong analytical modules and educational support within the platform.
Advanced users will enjoy Fidelity capabilities, but Interactive Brokers remains a favorite for its streamlined and beginner-centric approach.