Charles Schwab
Fidelity
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Overview
Charles Schwab was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in United States, while Fidelity was established in 2008 and is based in USA. Charles Schwab holds licences including Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while Fidelity is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Charles Schwab serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Fidelity has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $25 at Charles Schwab and $100 at Fidelity.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $100 |
| Regulation | Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) |
| Founded | 2010 | 2008 |
| Country | United States | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Charles Schwab and Fidelity, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Fidelity has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $25 at Charles Schwab). Charles Schwab charges withdrawal fees while Fidelity does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Overall, Charles Schwab scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Charles Schwab offers MT4, 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. Charles Schwab edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Android,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,Mac | 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 Charles Schwab and Fidelity compare. Fidelity runs regular live webinars; Charles Schwab does not. Both provide video tutorials. Fidelity publishes daily market commentary; Charles Schwab does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Fidelity maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Fidelity scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | No |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Charles Schwab 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 | Charles Schwab | 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 Charles Schwab 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 | Charles Schwab | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |