E*TRADE vs Fidelity (2026)
E*TRADE and Fidelity both charge $0 for online stock and ETF trades and $0.65 per options contract, and E*TRADE drops to $0.50 for clients with 30 or more trades a quarter. Fidelity charges $0 to transfer out and keeps idle cash in a money market core position; E*TRADE pays 0.01% APY on swept cash under $500,000, charges $75 for a full transfer and adds futures.
By Wealthy Pot Editorial · Facts checked October 19, 2026
| Feature | E*TRADE | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Full-service | Full-service |
| Stock/ETF commission | $0 | $0 |
| Options per contract | $0.65/contract ($0.50 with 30+ trades a quarter) | $0.65/contract |
| 10-contract options trade, open + close | $13 ($312 a year at 2 a month) | $13 ($312 a year at 2 a month) |
| Rate on uninvested cash | 0.01% APY (Bank Deposit Program sweep) | 3.48% 7-day yield if you pick SPAXX (no default named) |
| Margin rate on $10,000 | 12.45% | 12.075% |
| Transfer out (full account) | $75 | $0 |
| Paid tier | None | None |
| Account minimum | $0 | $0 |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | IRA, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE, custodial, Coverdell | IRA, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE, solo 401(k), HSA, 529, youth |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Desktop | Web, iOS, Android, Desktop |
Options, cash and margin rows are our arithmetic from each broker's published commissions, default cash rate and margin rates (commissions only, before small regulatory and exchange fees). Rates change with the Federal Reserve's rate.
Key differences
The options price at E*TRADE depends on activity. Clients who execute at least 30 stock, ETF and options trades a quarter pay $0.50 a contract instead of $0.65. Hypothetically, 40 options trades a quarter at 5 contracts each is 200 contracts: 200 x $0.65 = $130 at Fidelity or at E*TRADE's standard rate, and 200 x $0.50 = $100 at E*TRADE's lower rate, $120 a year apart. Index options add fees at both, such as $0.54 on SPX at E*TRADE and $0.50 on SPX at Fidelity. Both take payment for order flow on options. Our options platform guide compares others.
E*TRADE offers futures at $1.50 a contract per side plus fees, and $0.75 on E-nano equity index futures; Fidelity's brokerage fee schedule lists no futures. E*TRADE runs an overnight session from 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM ET, Sunday to Thursday, for eligible securities, limit orders only. Fidelity offers online trading in 25 countries and 16 currencies in non-retirement accounts. Crypto sits outside the brokerage account at both: E*TRADE uses a zerohash account at 0.50% of the trade value, not SIPC or FDIC protected, and Fidelity Crypto charges up to 1% of the order. E*TRADE fractional shares are still rolling out from an S&P 100 group, with a $5 minimum.
Cash and exit fees separate them. E*TRADE sweeps idle cash into its Bank Deposit Program at 0.01% APY on balances up to $499,999 (October 19, 2026), while Fidelity's SPAXX core position had a 3.48% 7-day yield on September 30, 2026. Leaving costs $75 for a full transfer at E*TRADE and $0 at Fidelity. E*TRADE charges $2 per mailed paper statement unless an exemption applies. Fidelity lists over 10,000 funds through FundsNetwork and E*TRADE 6,000+, and neither says how many are no-transaction-fee. In September 2022 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, which carries E*TRADE accounts, agreed to a $35 million SEC penalty over customer data on disposed devices.
Where E*TRADE wins
- Options at $0.50 a contract with 30+ trades a quarter
- Futures at $1.50 a contract per side
- Overnight session for eligible securities, Sunday to Thursday
- Excess SIPC from Morgan Stanley: $1.9 million per client for cash
- Bank accounts at Morgan Stanley Private Bank in the same login
Where Fidelity wins
- $0 to transfer out, close an IRA or send a domestic wire
- Money market core positions in taxable accounts, with SPAXX at 3.48% (7-day yield, September 30, 2026)
- Fractional shares in NYSE and Nasdaq-listed stocks and ETFs from $1
- Online trading in 25 countries and 16 currencies
- Excess of SIPC coverage with a $1.9 million per-customer cash limit
Which should you choose?
Pick E*TRADE if
- You place 30 or more stock, ETF and options trades a quarter and want $0.50 a contract.
- You trade futures and want $1.50 a contract per side.
- You want to trade eligible stocks overnight, Sunday to Thursday.
- You want phone support that E*TRADE says is available 24 hours a day.
Pick Fidelity if
- You hold funds or ETFs for the long run and want $0 transfer-out, IRA closing and annual IRA fees.
- You want a money market fund as the core position for idle cash rather than a bank sweep.
- You want branches: Fidelity says it has 215 Investor Centers.
- You buy foreign shares on their home exchange in a taxable account (25 countries).
E*TRADE vs Fidelity: FAQ
Is E*TRADE cheaper than Fidelity for options?
Only for frequent traders. Both charge $0.65 a contract online; E*TRADE drops to $0.50 for clients with 30 or more stock, ETF and options trades a quarter. E*TRADE charges no contract fee to close short options at 10 cents or less, and Fidelity makes buy-to-close orders at $0.65 or less free. Exercise and assignment are $0 at both.
Which pays more on cash, E*TRADE or Fidelity?
On idle brokerage cash, Fidelity on the figures we have: its SPAXX core position had a 3.48% 7-day yield on September 30, 2026, while E*TRADE's Bank Deposit Program paid 0.01% APY on balances up to $499,999 on October 19, 2026. Morgan Stanley Private Bank Premium Savings, a separate bank account, advertised 4.25% for 6 months for new accounts. See our money market fund comparison.
Can I move from E*TRADE to Fidelity for free?
No. E*TRADE charges $75 for a full outgoing transfer and $25 for an outgoing wire. You start the transfer at Fidelity. If you later leave Fidelity, it charges $0 to transfer assets out or close an IRA.
Compare these against every option in our online brokers comparison.
We summarize each company's published terms and pricing, not user reviews or our own testing. Facts come from our full reviews of both brokers, each checked against the broker's own fee schedule, rate and disclosure pages on October 19, 2026 with every source listed. Some outbound links may be affiliate links. That never affects our comparisons. Nothing here is investment advice.