B

Fidelity

6.4/10

Virtual Brokers

6.4/10
7/10RegulationTied7/10
6/10WinnerFees0/10
7/10PlatformsWinner9/10
6/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Fidelity was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while Virtual Brokers was established in 2008 and is based in Canada. Fidelity holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Virtual Brokers is regulated by The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) among others. Fidelity serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Virtual Brokers has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at Fidelity and $1000 at Virtual Brokers.

Tied
FeatureFidelityVirtual Brokers
Min. Deposit$100$1000
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF)
Founded20082008
CountryUSACanada
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Fidelity and Virtual Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Fidelity has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $1000 at Virtual Brokers). Virtual Brokers charges withdrawal fees while Fidelity does not, giving Fidelity an edge for frequent withdrawers. Fidelity applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Virtual Brokers does not. Virtual Brokers charges deposit fees; Fidelity does not. Overall, Fidelity scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Fidelity wins this category
FeatureFidelityVirtual Brokers
Min. Deposit$100$1000
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoYes
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

Fidelity offers MT5, cTrader, while Virtual Brokers supports MT4, 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. Virtual Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Virtual Brokers wins this category
FeatureFidelityVirtual Brokers
MT4NoYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsiPad, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 8 device, Website, Trader ProMT4,Desktop,iPhone/iOS

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Fidelity and Virtual Brokers 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. Virtual Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.

Virtual Brokers wins this category
FeatureFidelityVirtual Brokers
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Fidelity accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Virtual Brokers supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureFidelityVirtual Brokers
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Fidelity and Virtual Brokers 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.

Tied
FeatureFidelityVirtual Brokers
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese