Fidelity vs Trading 212: Fees, Platforms and Offerings Compared

About Fidelity

Fidelity refers to a US stock broker offering commission-free ETFs and US stocks. Additionally, it offers various high-quality research tools like detailed fundamental charting and data, as well as trading ideas. The trading broker lets you place advanced order types and is extremely easy to use. You will be able to trade with international stocks along with US stocks.

About Trading 212

Trading 212 is a CFD broker offering zero-commission ETF and stock trading. The account opening process is quick, straightforward, and can be done online. With well-designed and easy-to-use mobile and web platforms, Trading 212 benefits beginner investors.

Fidelity vs. Trading 212: Services

Fidelity offers various trading products, from options to stocks, including international stocks. However, future and forex trading are not available.

• Stocks and ETFs: Fidelity supports stock and ETF trading in various financial markets in the US and international stock exchanges. You can trade stocks on US exchanges, including AMEX, OTC, NASDAQ, and NYSE. You will be able to settle trades in USD and local currencies.
• Funds: You can leverage a great selection of mutual funds. You will have access to Fidelity funds and other large providers like Vanguard and BlackRock.
• Bonds: You will come across an extensive range of bonds, including government and corporate bonds.
• Options: You will come across options from major US exchanges like CBOE.
• Fidelity Managed Accounts: Fidelity offers various managed account services that are useful for managing your investments.

Trading 212 focuses on CFDs, ETFs, and real stocks. Therefore, popular assets like bonds, options, futures, and mutual funds are missing. Despite the limitations, the product selection range of Trading 212 is extensive and includes the following:

• Stocks and ETFs: You can choose from a vast portfolio of around 11,000 instruments, including over 9000 stocks.
• Pies and auto-invest: You can leverage the Pie function on Trading 212 to create portfolios. Each pie can contain around 50 securities, and you can make multiple pies. If you set up auto-invest, you can add automatic investments to your pies.

Fidelity vs. Trading 212: Fees

Fidelity has low trading and non-trading fees. Moreover, there is no commission fees, deposit or withdrawal fee, or inactivity fee for US stock trading. However, traders find the fees and rates of some mutual funds to be high.

Trading 212 comes with no commission fees, deposit or withdrawal fees, or even inactivity fees. But traders find the fees for forex trading to be quite high.

Fidelity vs. Trading 212: Platform

The fidelity trading web platform is user-friendly and lets you place different types of orders. The two-step authentication ensures that you don't have to worry about security. Fidelity also has an in-house developed web trading platform available in English.

The Fidelity desktop trading platform is highly customizable and supports different order types. It comes with a free clear report. The in-house developed desktop platform from Fidelity is called Active Trader Pro and is primarily used by active and experienced traders and investors.

The Fidelity mobile trading space is quite well-designed and user-friendly. It is one of the best mobile trading platforms. You will come across an iOS as well as an Android app.

Trading 212 has one of the best web trading platforms with features like an easy search and a two-step login. The in-house developed Trading 212 web platform is available in different languages.

Trading 212 does not support trading experience on desktop platforms. But Trading 212 offers an iOS as well as an Android app.

Offerings

The offerings from Fidelity trading are as follows:

• Long and short stocks
• Penny stocks
• Mutual funds
• Bonds: municipal, corporate, CDs, treasury
• Forex trading
• Single and up to four leg options strategies
• Robo-advisory integrated into the mobile and website app
• International trading (25 countries and 16 currencies)
• Fractional shares
• Other securities, including IPOs, ETPs, foreign ORDs, foreign ADRs, and more

The different products available from Trading 212 are as follows:

• Trading 212 Invest: It is a general investment account with no fees or commissions. It is useful when you have used up your ISA allowance of £20,000.
• Trading 212 ISA: It is the same investment account but comes with a tax-free ISA wrapper. You will be able to invest up to £20,000 without paying taxes on the profits.
• Trading 212 CFD: Trading CFDs is quite risky. It lets you trade contracts according to stock movements. Your money is leveraged to ensure that you gain or lose more than what you are investing.

Security

Fidelity happens to be a regulated broker and is supervised by a top-tier financial regulator in the US. Fidelity trading is covered by investor protection, and it also provides negative balance protection in certain jurisdictions. The investor protection amount is up to $500,000 for securities and up to $250,000 for cash.

Trading 212 is a regulated broker supervised by top-tier financial regulators in the UK, Cyprus, and Bulgaria. Trading 212 also comes with investor protection in certain areas. The investor protection amount is £85,000 for clients under FCA and €20,000 for clients under CySEC or FSC Bulgaria.

None of the brokers have a banking background. Neither of them is listed on the stock exchange.

Other Features

• Research: Fidelity comes with different research tools with services like trading ideas, great screeners, and more. Trading 212 offers fundamental data along with different charting tools.
• Customer Service: Fidelity offers fast and relevant answers to customers. Trading 212 offers customers fast and relevant info at all times.
• Education: Fidelity offers traders high-quality educational resources like webinars, videos, and articles to gain market insights and build a robust investment strategy. Trading 212 offers various video tutorials and text resources for beginner traders to become aware of the forex market and more.

Fidelity vs. Trading 212: Which Is Better

Fidelity is a US broker regulated by top-tier authorities, including FINRA and SEC. It is primarily recommended for traders and investors looking for solid research as well as trading platforms.

Trading 212 happens to be a CFD broker regulated by the Cypriot CySEC, UK FCA, and Bulgarian FSC. It enables clients to invest in ETF trading and commission-free stock. It is primarily recommended for CFD traders and equity investors looking for easy-to-use trading platforms.

Fidelity is usually compared at par with Trading 212 in multiple aspects. But Trading 212 gains an edge in terms of customer service.

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