Fidelity vs Robinhood 2026: Is It Time to Upgrade?
Robinhood gets you started. Fidelity takes you further. Both are commission-free, but the similarities end there. If you've outgrown Robinhood or are wondering whether to switch, here's the honest comparison.
Fidelity is the safest, most complete choice for retirement and long-term investing. If you're building a 401k, IRA, or long-term portfolio, there's no better platform. For active options trading, supplement with Tastytrade.
Open Fidelity Account →
Robinhood is the right starting point for new investors — nothing else is as easy to use. But active traders will quickly outgrow its limited tools. Think of it as the gateway drug: start here, graduate to Tastytrade or Webull.
Get Free Stock on Robinhood →Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Fidelity | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| Commissions | $0.65/contract | Free |
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Options Trading | — | — |
| Free to Close Options | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Paper Trading | — | — |
| Account Types | Individual, IRA, Roth IRA | Individual, IRA, Roth IRA |
| Regulated | FINRA / SIPC | FINRA / SIPC |
Fidelity — Full Review
Fidelity manages over $12 trillion in assets and has operated continuously since 1946 — the institutional trust is unparalleled in the retail brokerage space. The ZERO fund lineup (FZROX, FZILX, FZRPX, FZESX) offers genuinely zero-expense-ratio index funds with no investment minimums — a category Fidelity invented. Research access includes full Morningstar reports, S&P Capital IQ, and CFRA — research that typically costs $99-200/year at other brokers. The retirement planning tools are the most comprehensive available for retail investors, with Monte Carlo simulations and Social Security optimization. The platform's reliability record is exceptional — Fidelity has never had a major outage during market volatility events that have taken down Robinhood and others.
Robinhood — Full Review
Robinhood's 2013 launch fundamentally changed the brokerage industry — within 18 months of launch, every major broker had dropped commissions to zero. Today Robinhood has expanded significantly: Robinhood Gold offers 4.9% APY on uninvested cash (one of the highest rates available), retirement accounts (IRA and Roth IRA), and extended trading hours. The 24-Hour Market feature offers trading on 900+ stocks around the clock on weekdays. Cash Card provides a debit card linked to your brokerage account with round-up investing. Despite the 2021 GameStop trading restrictions that damaged the brand, Robinhood remains the most widely-used trading app among Americans under 40.
The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Fidelity if you're serious about long-term wealth building, want a retirement account with zero-expense-ratio funds, or need research and tools that Robinhood simply doesn't offer.
Open Fidelity Account →Choose Robinhood if you want the fastest, simplest mobile experience for stock and crypto trading and don't yet need the depth Fidelity provides.
Get Free Stock on Robinhood →