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Fidelity Investments Review
The best all-around brokerage — no account minimum, zero commissions, and research that rivals firms charging 10x more
Last reviewed: 2026-05-25 · By GBBR Editorial Team
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Rankings are never for sale.
Our Top Pick · Gold Tier
Fidelity Investments
Free plan available
The Bottom Line
Fidelity earns Gold as the best overall brokerage for most investors: zero trading commissions, no account minimum, fractional share investing from $1, and research tools that rival Goldman Sachs clients. The free cash management account earns a competitive yield. Fidelity manages $12+ trillion in assets for 43+ million accounts — it's not a startup trying to scale, it's the institution that's been quietly outcompeting everyone else for 30 years. The mobile app is excellent. Customer service is actually available by phone in under a minute. For investors who want a single platform to do everything — IRA, brokerage, 401k rollover, and cash management — Fidelity is the default right answer.
What is Fidelity Investments?
Fidelity Investments was founded in 1946 by Edward C. Johnson II in Boston, Massachusetts. It is privately held (rare for a firm this size) and manages over $12 trillion in assets. Fidelity pioneered many industry changes: zero-commission trades (2019), zero-expense-ratio index funds (ZERO funds), and fractional share investing. It serves 43+ million individual investors plus institutional clients. Fidelity's ZERO index funds (0% expense ratio) are the lowest-cost index funds available anywhere.
What does Fidelity Investments offer?
Fidelity offers taxable brokerage accounts, traditional and Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, 401(k) plans, 529 college savings, and a cash management account. Zero commissions on US stocks and ETFs. No account minimum for brokerage or IRA. Fractional shares from $1. ZERO index funds with 0% expense ratios (Total Market, International, Large Cap, Extended Market). Full-service research including third-party equity research from 20+ providers. Mobile app rated among the top in the category. Automatic dividend reinvestment (DRIP) and extended hours trading available.
Brokerage (no fee)
$0
/month
Fidelity Go (robo, free under $25K)
$0
/month
Fidelity Go (robo, $25K+)
$3
/month
Is Fidelity Investments worth the price?
Zero commissions, no account minimum, and 0% expense ratio index funds — the lowest-cost structure of any major full-service brokerage
Fidelity's ZERO Total Market Fund (0.00% expense ratio) vs. Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (0.03%) — Fidelity literally costs less, and there's no account minimum vs. Vanguard's $3,000 minimum for mutual funds
Best value in the brokerage categoryHow we scored it
Overall score: 91/100
$0 commissions on US stocks/ETFs, 0% expense ratio ZERO index funds, no account minimum — lowest cost structure of any major full-service brokerage
Stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, options, CDs, fractional shares from $1 — full asset class coverage plus proprietary ZERO index funds
Individual taxable, joint, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), 403(b), 529, HSA, trust accounts — the most complete account type coverage
Automatic investing, dividend reinvestment, tax-loss harvesting via Fidelity Managed FidFolios, robo-advisor via Fidelity Go ($0 for under $25K)
20+ third-party research providers, stock screeners, earnings calendars, Learning Center with 100s of courses, and Fidelity Viewpoints commentary
SIPC-insured up to $500K, FDIC coverage on cash management account, regulated by FINRA and SEC, 78-year operating history
Why Fidelity Investments is Gold Tier
Fidelity earns Gold for combining the pricing of a discount broker with the capabilities of a full-service firm. Zero commissions, 0% expense ratio index funds, excellent research, real customer service, and no account minimums are each table-stakes that competitors have matched — but Fidelity has had all of them together for years. The platform is mature, well-designed, and trusted by institutional and retail investors alike.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Zero commissions on US stocks and ETFs
- ✓ZERO index funds at 0.00% expense ratio — lowest available anywhere
- ✓No account minimum for brokerage or IRA
- ✓Fractional shares from $1
- ✓Customer service reachable by phone in under a minute
- ✓Fidelity Go robo-advisor free for accounts under $25K
Cons
- ✗No cryptocurrency trading (separate Fidelity Crypto for Bitcoin/Ethereum only)
- ✗Desktop platform has a learning curve vs. simpler apps like Robinhood
- ✗No no-annual-fee credit card with brokerage integration (unlike Schwab)
Ready to try Fidelity Investments? Free plan available — no credit card required.
Get Fidelity Investments →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fidelity Investments worth it in 2026?
Zero commissions, no account minimum, and 0% expense ratio index funds — the lowest-cost structure of any major full-service brokerage Overall verdict: Best value in the brokerage category.
What is Fidelity Investments best for?
Fidelity Investments is best for: Long-term investors who want the lowest-cost index funds available, IRA investors rolling over a 401(k) who want institutional-quality service, Anyone who wants a single platform for brokerage, IRA, and cash management.
Does Fidelity Investments have a free plan?
Yes — Fidelity Investments offers a free tier: No account minimum, no fees to open — zero-cost access to full brokerage platform.
Who should NOT use Fidelity Investments?
Fidelity Investments is not the right fit for: Active traders who need advanced options tools (tastytrade is better for options); Cryptocurrency investors who want a wide range of coins beyond BTC/ETH.
What are the best Fidelity Investments alternatives?
Top alternatives to Fidelity Investments include robinhood, betterment, schwab.
Fidelity earns Gold for combining the pricing of a discount broker with the capabilities of a full-service firm. Zero commissions, 0% expense ratio index funds, excellent research, real customer service, and no account minimums are each table-stakes that competitors have matched — but Fidelity has had all of them together for years. The platform is mature, well-designed, and trusted by institutional and retail investors alike.
Get Fidelity Investments →Free tier available — no credit card required
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