Betterment
Fidelity
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Overview
Betterment was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while Fidelity was established in 2008 and is based in USA. Betterment holds licences including Unregulated, while Fidelity is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Betterment serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Fidelity has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Betterment and $100 at Fidelity.
| Feature | Betterment | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Regulation | Unregulated | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) |
| Founded | 2008 | 2008 |
| Country | USA | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Betterment and Fidelity, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Betterment has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $100 at Fidelity). Betterment charges withdrawal fees while Fidelity does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Fidelity applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Betterment does not. Overall, Betterment scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Betterment | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Betterment offers MT5, cTrader, while Fidelity supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Betterment | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Mac,iPhone,iPad,WEB,Desktop | iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 8 device, Website, Trader Pro |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Betterment and Fidelity compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Betterment | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Betterment accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Fidelity supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Betterment | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Betterment and Fidelity offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Betterment | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |