Charles Schwab vs Fidelity: Which Broker Suits You?
Charles Schwab scores 4.6 and Fidelity 4.6 out of 5 on our published methodology. Charles Schwab leads on Platform & Tools; Fidelity leads on Costs & Fees, and they tie on Regulation & Trust, Asset Range and Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the US.
Level on overall score
Charles Schwab
4.6/5
Best for: Full-service US investing
Read the full Charles Schwab review →Level on overall score
Fidelity
4.6/5
Best for: Low-cost US retirement investing
Read the full Fidelity review →Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| Charles Schwab | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options and a very large no-transaction-fee fund list | Stocks, ETFs, options and funds, including zero expense-ratio index funds |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | SEC, FINRA, SIPC |
| Stands out for | thinkorswim's professional tooling alongside full-service support | Zero-fee index funds and unusually deep retirement planning tools |
| Watch out for | Low interest paid on uninvested cash; limited crypto access | Less suited to active derivatives trading than some rivals |
| Accepts clients in | The US | The US |
Is Charles Schwab cheaper than Fidelity?
On our Costs & Fees score, Fidelity rates 5/5 against Charles Schwab’s 4/5, so it is generally the cheaper of the two for the costs we assess: commissions, spreads, currency conversion and account fees. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, Charles Schwab or Fidelity?
Charles Schwab is regulated by SEC, FINRA, SIPC; Fidelity by SEC, FINRA, SIPC. Both score 5/5 on our Regulation & Trust measure. Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, Charles Schwab scores 4/5 and Fidelity 4/5. Neither has a clear edge for a first account.
Who each one tends to suit
Charles Schwab
- Tends to suit
- Full-service US investing
- Stands out for
- thinkorswim's professional tooling alongside full-service support
- Watch out for
- Low interest paid on uninvested cash; limited crypto access
Fidelity
- Tends to suit
- Low-cost US retirement investing
- Stands out for
- Zero-fee index funds and unusually deep retirement planning tools
- Watch out for
- Less suited to active derivatives trading than some rivals
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.