Fidelity vs Robinhood

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Fidelity

Large US brokerage for stocks, funds, retirement accounts and trading, with web, mobile and desktop platforms.

Free plan + paid

Visit Fidelity Fidelity profile

Robinhood

US investing app for commission-free stocks, ETFs, options and crypto.

Free plan + paid

Visit Robinhood Robinhood profile

The short answer

Fidelity suits US investors who want retirement accounts, mutual funds, bonds and deep research in one place, with 24/7 support and investor centres. Robinhood suits beginners and active traders who want a simple app for stocks, options, futures and crypto, with an optional $5 a month Gold subscription. Both charge $0 commission on online US stock and ETF trades.

Fidelity or Robinhood: our take

On basic trading costs the two are close: Fidelity charges $0 commission on online US stock, ETF and option trades, with a $0.65 per contract options fee, and Robinhood also charges no commission on stock and ETF trades and lets you start with $1 through fractional shares. The difference is breadth. Fidelity covers stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, retirement and workplace 401(k) accounts, cash management and crypto, and runs its own index funds with a zero expense ratio. Robinhood focuses on stocks, ETFs, options, futures, crypto and prediction markets, with IRAs and a managed-portfolio service but fewer account types and less research than a full-service broker.

The business models differ. Fidelity has a $0 account minimum on retail brokerage accounts and earns more from funds, advice and paid wealth management. Robinhood's basic account is free, and it makes money partly from payment for order flow and interest. Its Gold plan costs $5 a month, with a 30-day free trial, and adds a 3% IRA match, a higher rate on uninvested cash, bigger instant deposits and research data. Robinhood's brokerage is an SIPC member, but crypto holdings are not SIPC or FDIC protected.

For tools and support, Fidelity offers web, mobile and the Fidelity Trader+ desktop platform for Windows and Mac, 24/7 phone and chat support and walk-in investor centres across the US, though its site and app are dense. Robinhood is simpler, running on iOS, Android and the web, with Robinhood Legend in the browser for more advanced charting. Both are mainly for US customers.

Pick Fidelity if you want long-term retirement saving, index funds, bonds and human support under one roof. Pick Robinhood if you mostly trade stocks, options or crypto from your phone and value a clean interface, and consider Gold if the IRA match and cash rate outweigh the monthly fee.

Choose Fidelity if…

US investors who want retirement and trading accounts in one place with strong research
You need Windows and macOS, which Robinhood doesn't list
No commission on online US stock, ETF and options trades
Zero-expense-ratio index mutual funds

Choose Robinhood if…

US beginners and active traders who want stocks, options and crypto in one simple app
No commissions on stock and ETF trades, with fractional shares
Stocks, options, futures and crypto in one account

What is Fidelity?

Fidelity Investments is one of the largest US brokerages and fund managers. A Fidelity account covers stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds and CDs, plus retirement accounts, workplace 401(k) plans, cash management and crypto. Online US stock, ETF and options trades carry no commission, retail brokerage accounts have no minimum or account fee, and Fidelity runs its own index mutual funds with a zero expense ratio. Beginners can buy fractional shares and use the mobile app; active traders get Fidelity Trader+, its desktop and web platform with advanced charts and order types. Phone and chat support is available around the clock, and there are walk-in investor centres across the US. Paid wealth management and financial advisers sit on top for people who want help. It is generally aimed at US residents and suits investors who want one place for retirement savings and taxable investing, with deeper research than app-first brokers, at the cost of a busier interface.

What is Robinhood?

Robinhood is a US brokerage app that helped make commission-free stock trading the norm. From one account you can buy stocks and ETFs (including fractional shares from $1), trade options and futures, buy and transfer crypto, and use prediction markets. Robinhood Legend is a browser-based desktop platform with more advanced charting for active traders, and there are IRAs, a managed-portfolio service and a cash card. The basic brokerage account is free; Robinhood Gold is a monthly subscription that adds a higher rate on uninvested cash, an IRA contribution match, bigger instant deposits and research data. The company makes money partly from payment for order flow and interest. Stock and fund accounts are SIPC members, while crypto holdings are not SIPC or FDIC protected. It runs on iOS, Android and the web, mainly for US customers.

Side by side

Attribute	Fidelity	Robinhood
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS	Web, iOS, Android
Best for	US investors who want retirement and trading accounts in one place with strong research	US beginners and active traders who want stocks, options and crypto in one simple app
Status	Active	Active