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- E*TRADE and Fidelity are both well-established full-service online brokers with distinct strengths and offerings. Here's a comparison of these two brokers across various aspects:
E*TRADE and Fidelity are both well-established full-service online brokers with distinct strengths and offerings. Here's a comparison of these two brokers across various aspects:
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E*TRADE and Fidelity are both well-established full-service online brokers with distinct strengths and offerings. Here's a comparison of these two brokers across various aspects:
1. History and Overview:
E*TRADE, founded in 1982, was one of the first brokers to offer online trading services.
Fidelity, founded in 1946, entered the online trading scene in 1995.
2. Usability:
E*TRADE has two web-based platforms with dedicated mobile apps, catering to casual and active traders.
Fidelity also offers two platforms to accommodate different types of investors. Account opening is straightforward.
3. Trade Experience:
ETRADE offers the Power ETRADE platform, which is customizable and suitable for active traders. It supports conditional orders and backtesting.
Fidelity's web-based platform is user-friendly, while Active Trader Pro caters to more experienced traders.
4. Range of Offerings:
E*TRADE supports futures, futures options, and Bitcoin futures.
Fidelity offers access to Forex and numerous international exchanges.
5. Order Types:
E*TRADE supports a variety of order types, including conditional orders on multiple platforms.
Fidelity also provides conditional orders but lacks this feature on mobile.
6. Trading Technology:
E*TRADE uses advanced order routing and receives payment for order flow.
Fidelity employs smart order routing without accepting payment for order flow. Fidelity excels in execution speed and price improvement.
7. Costs:
Both brokers offer $0 commissions for online equity, ETF, and options trades.
E*TRADE charges lower broker-assisted trade fees but has higher margin rates.
E*TRADE offers futures trading for $1.50 per contract.
8. Research Amenities:
Both brokers provide robust research tools, screeners, calculators, and professional research. E*TRADE leads in news offerings.
9. Portfolio Analysis:
E*TRADE and Fidelity offer similar portfolio analysis tools, with Fidelity providing real-time internal rate of return (IRR) information.
10. Education:
ETRADE and Fidelity offer educational content and live webinars. ETRADE offers paper trading and a wider range of educational topics.
11. Customer Service:
Both brokers offer 24/7 phone support, in-person help at select locations, and email assistance.
12. Security:
Both E*TRADE and Fidelity have robust security measures, including biometric logins and two-factor authentication.
13. Account Types:
E*TRADE and Fidelity offer a wide range of account types, including retirement accounts, custodial accounts, and specialty accounts.
14. Verdict:
Fidelity is recommended for its low costs, access to international trading, and robust trading technology.
In conclusion, both brokers have their strengths and are suitable for different types of investors. E*TRADE is a solid choice for active traders, especially those interested in options, while Fidelity is more geared towards casual investors looking for low costs and international trading options. The choice between them depends on your specific investing needs and preferences.