Is Fidelity good for beginners?

Yes, Fidelity is one of the best brokerages for first-time investors . You can open an account in minutes, there are no account minimums or monthly fees, and it offers a ton of learning tools to help you build confidence as you go.

Does Fidelity charge any fees?

Fidelity has no account minimums and zero commissions for U.S. stock, ETF, and options trades. However, certain mutual funds and third-party services may come with fees, so it's always good to double-check before investing.

Can I invest in crypto with Fidelity?

Yes, but the options are limited to just a few cryptocurrencies. If you're looking to trade a wide range of altcoins, you'll need to use a dedicated crypto exchange.

Yes. Fidelity is one of the most reputable brokers in the world with decades of experience. Accounts are protected by SIPC insurance (up to $500,000, including $250,000 in cash), and it uses strong encryption and two-factor authentication to keep your data secure.

Fidelity Review 2025: What I Love (and Don't) After 10+ Years

I've personally used Fidelity for over 10 years, and today, I manage 11 separate accounts on its platform. That includes everything from IRAs and HSAs to brokerage and custodial accounts for my kids and nephews.

Fidelity is my go-to brokerage recommendation for nearly everyone I talk to -- from beginner investors to folks managing a big portfolio. It also just won Best Overall Stock Broker in the 2026 Motley Fool Money Awards.

Here's my honest take on Fidelity, a review of its features, and what I love most about it.

2026 Award Winner

Fidelity

Our Rating:

5.0/5

Bottom Line

Fidelity makes investing easy with $0 commission trades, powerful tools, and 24/7 support. Trade stocks, ETFs, options, and even crypto -- all in one place. Get expert insights, automate your investing, and potentially earn more on uninvested cash.

Fees:

$0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETFs*. No account fees****.

Account Minimum:

$0****

Learn More for Fidelity

On Fidelity's Secure Website.

How we rate stock brokers

At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.

Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.

How we rate stock brokers

At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.

Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.

What I like about Fidelity

There are a ton of reasons why I stick with Fidelity over other brokerage firms. Here are the biggest wins that keep me coming back.

No account fees, and no minimums

Account fees are a pet peeve of mine. So I only bank and invest with places that don't charge any. Fidelity offers no account minimums and no monthly maintenance fees. Better yet, many of its transaction fees for trading ETFs and funds are waived too.

This is extremely important for beginner investors. You don't want to be hit with sneaky fees that take away from the wealth pile you're trying to build.

Zero expense ratio index funds

Fidelity recently introduced zero expense ratio index mutual funds. A big chunk of my long-term investments are parked in FZROX, which is Fidelity's Total Market Index Fund that charges a 0% expense ratio.

That means every single dollar I invest is working for me. Nothing is getting skimmed off the top.

Here's a screenshot of the funds it offers with 0% expense ratio (these also have no minimums to invest!)

Image source: Fidelity.com

Amazing customer service (even on weekends)

I don't have time to call financial companies during the week, so I love that Fidelity's support lines are open on Saturdays and Sundays. Its reps have walked me through some pretty complex stuff -- like rolling over a 401(k) or transferring assets from brokerage to brokerage.

Fidelity's remote support is excellent, but it also has physical investor centers if you ever need in-person help or want to work with an advisor. I've visited a few over the years, but most of my questions get handled right over the phone.

Tons of account options

Fidelity offers nearly every type of account you'll ever need. So if you're like me with a handful of different finance buckets and goals, you can manage everything within the same dashboard.

Here are some of the most common accounts Fidelity supports:

Individual and joint brokerage accounts
Roth and traditional IRAs
Custodial brokerage accounts for minors
529 college savings plans
Health savings accounts (HSAs)
Business retirement plans (like SEP IRAs and solo 401(k)s)
High-yield savings and cash management accounts
Life insurance and annuities

Whether you're investing for the next 40 years or managing money for multiple family members, Fidelity is built to handle it and make it feel simple.

Trusted by millions (and trillions)

Fidelity is one of the largest brokerage firms in the world, managing trillions of dollars in assets. That kind of scale doesn't happen without trust and lengthy experience.

The company takes security seriously, with robust protections in place to keep your accounts safe. When you're investing your hard-earned money, it helps to know it's with a firm that's big, stable, and built to last.

Ready to start investing? Apply for a Fidelity account today.

Downsides to consider

Nobody's perfect. And Fidelity has a few limitations that could be deal breakers for certain folks.

Not ideal for day traders

If you're into trading options, stocks, bonds, options, or crypto (I'm not, and I don't recommend it), Fidelity may feel a bit vanilla. The trading tools are solid, but not as specialized or super-advanced as other trading platforms.

Limited crypto options

Fidelity lets you trade some cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin through a separate Fidelity Crypto account.

That's more than a lot of traditional brokerages offer -- but if you're deep into crypto and want access to dozens of altcoins, this probably isn't gonna cut it. These best crypto exchanges and apps might be a better fit.

Alternatives to Consider

We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.

Broker	Best For	Commissions	Learn More
4.5/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.	Managing your finances under one roof	$0 for stocks, $0 for options contracts	Learn More for SoFi Active Investing On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.
4.5/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.	Low-cost investing with a full-featured platform	$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.	Learn More for Charles Schwab On Charles Schwab's Secure Website.
5.0/5 Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor.	Full-service investing at every experience level	$0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETFs. No account fees***.	Learn More for Fidelity On Fidelity's Secure Website.

Who is Fidelity good for?

Like I mentioned earlier, I personally recommend opening a Fidelity account to anyone and everyone. But here are a few specific types of people that are a perfect match:

Beginner investors
Families opening custodial or college savings accounts
Retirement-focused investors (Roth, traditional, SEP IRAs)
People rolling over old 401(k)s
Anyone who prefers hands-off, passive investing
Folks who value great customer support and flexibility

If you're looking for a trusted partner for the long haul, not just a trendy trading app, Fidelity is a great brokerage to work with.

Final thoughts

After more than a decade using Fidelity, it's still the brokerage I trust the most. I manage everything from retirement accounts to custodial investments for my kids -- all from one clean, easy-to-use platform.

Fidelity makes long-term investing feel simple and stress-free. It's a perfect broker for anyone who wants reliable service, broad account flexibility, and low-cost investing that just works behind the scenes.

Ready to get started? Open a Fidelity account today and take the first step toward your financial goals.

Sources
- https://www.fidelity.com/

FAQs

Yes, Fidelity is one of the best brokerages for first-time investors. You can open an account in minutes, there are no account minimums or monthly fees, and it offers a ton of learning tools to help you build confidence as you go.
Fidelity has no account minimums and zero commissions for U.S. stock, ETF, and options trades. However, certain mutual funds and third-party services may come with fees, so it's always good to double-check before investing.
Yes, but the options are limited to just a few cryptocurrencies. If you're looking to trade a wide range of altcoins, you'll need to use a dedicated crypto exchange.
Yes. Fidelity is one of the most reputable brokers in the world with decades of experience. Accounts are protected by SIPC insurance (up to $500,000, including $250,000 in cash), and it uses strong encryption and two-factor authentication to keep your data secure.

This device is too small