ActivTrades and Fidelity go head to head over cost, research, and market access. The axis of tension sits between commission models and long-term investing features.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose ActivTrades if you want 600+ share CFDs across global stocks and zero minimum deposit. You also gain supplemental private insurance up to GBP 1,000,000.
Choose if…
Choose Fidelity if you want commission-free US stock trading and zero-expense index funds. You also access Active Trader Pro and broad third-party research.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 3.7/ 5 | 4.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum | N/A |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Deposit fee | Free |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Pass |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Pass |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Fidelity rates 4.6/5 versus 3.7/5 for ActivTrades. Fidelity edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
ActivTrades starts from 0.5. Current spread data is not available for Fidelity. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
ActivTrades requires no minimum deposit required. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for Fidelity.
Both ActivTrades and Fidelity hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, ActivTrades provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
ActivTrades lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while Fidelity lists up to 1:4. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader, while Fidelity supports Active Trader Pro, Proprietary Web/Mobile. ActivTrades has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4 and ActivTrader. Fidelity has exclusive access to Active Trader Pro and Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Fidelity offers commission-free stock trading while ActivTrades does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
ActivTrades scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
Fidelity wins for low-cost trading with commission-free US stocks and zero-expense index funds.
Fidelity earns safety and regulation due to SEC/FINRA oversight and up to $1B excess SIPC.
Fidelity provides zero-expense funds and DRIP options for long-term investing.
Fidelity offers Active Trader Pro with advanced tools for active traders.
ActivTrades is appealing for beginners due to zero minimum deposit.
ActivTrades offers broader global stock CFDs across multiple exchanges.
| Free |
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferACHWire transferCheque |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferACHWire transferCheque |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free EFT; $10 wire transfer |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | Yes |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | Yes |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | SEC FINRA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | Active Trader Pro Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Fidelity is the editorial winner, as its higher scores across trust and regulation, fees and spreads, platforms and tools, and customer support outpace ActivTrades.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.7 / 5
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