Fidelityvs
RobinhoodStock Broker Comparison
Fidelity and Robinhood face off in a clash between institutional-grade capability and streamlined, consumer-focused trading. The matchup tests fees, research, platform tools, and ease of use across global access.
Key Differences
- 1Exchanges: Fidelity provides access to 10 exchanges, Robinhood two.
- 2Research tools: Fidelity offers 20+ third-party providers; Robinhood's tools are thinner.
- 3Live support: Fidelity provides 24/5 live chat and phone support; Robinhood does not.
Who should choose Fidelity vs Robinhood?
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose Fidelity if you want advanced research tools, stock screening, and access to a wide network of exchanges; you benefit from 24/5 live chat plus phone support and a robust trading platform with deep fixed income insights.
Fidelity vs Robinhood: Side-by-Side Stock Broker Comparison
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 3.8/ 5 |
| Min deposit | N/A | N/A |
| Spreads from | N/A | N/A |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Deposit fee |
Fidelity vs Robinhood Stock Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
- Proprietary ZERO expense ratio index funds with no investment minimum
- Commission-free US stock and ETF trading
- Active Trader Pro platform with advanced equity and options tools
- Research from 20+ third-party providers including Morningstar and Zacks
- Best-in-class fixed income desk with competitive bond markups
- Excess SIPC coverage up to $1 billion per customer
Cons
Fidelity vs Robinhood: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
4
Fidelity
criteria wins
0
Robinhood
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Fidelity | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Pass | Pass |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Pass | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Pass | Pass |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
Fidelity vs Robinhood: Frequently Asked Questions
Fidelity rates 4.6/5 versus 3.8/5 for Robinhood. Fidelity edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Both Fidelity and Robinhood 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.
Minimum deposit and negative balance protection data are not confirmed for this pair. Both hold top-tier regulatory status, meaning client fund protections apply to both. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site.
Fidelity lists maximum leverage of 1:4, while Robinhood 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.
Fidelity supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, Active Trader Pro, while Robinhood supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Fidelity has exclusive access to Active Trader Pro.
Yes, you can open an account with Robinhood independently of your Fidelity account. There is no formal transfer process for open positions; you would need to close existing trades with Fidelity before funding and trading with Robinhood.
Yes, both Fidelity and Robinhood offer commission-free stock trading according to our data. Keep in mind that commission-free brokers may still charge spread costs, foreign exchange fees, or platform fees — always check the full fee schedule on each broker's website.
Yes, both Fidelity and Robinhood offer fractional share investing. This makes it easier to invest in high-priced stocks with smaller amounts of capital, which is particularly useful for long-term portfolio building. Check each broker for the specific stocks eligible for fractional purchases.
