How to Buy Stocks on Fidelity
Published Sept. 5, 2024
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Fidelity is a full-service brokerage and a top platform for buying and selling stocks. The firm provides commission-free stock and ETF trading, a host of brokerage accounts, and extensive research tools. Keep reading to learn how to buy stocks on Fidelity -- no experience required.
On Fidelity's Secure Website.
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.
$0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETFs*. No account fees****.
$0****
On Fidelity's Secure Website.
You can use Fidelity to buy almost any stock that's listed on U.S.-based exchanges, like the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, as well as over-the-counter markets. It also provides access to 25 foreign stock markets in non-retirement accounts, which is why Fidelity is among the top brokers for international trading. Follow these steps to start buying stocks on Fidelity.
Whether you're using Fidelity or another top-rated stock broker, you'll need to open an account before you can buy your first stock. There are several types of accounts you can open through Fidelity, but if you want to buy and sell individual stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), you'll want to open one of the following:
Once you've chosen the type of account you want, you can open a Fidelity account in just a few minutes. You'll need to provide your name, date of birth, address, email, Social Security number, and employment information to complete your account setup.
After you've opened your account, you might want to download the highly rated Fidelity mobile app, which gets an average rating of 4.8 stars in the App Store and 4.5 stars on the Google Play store. You can use it to manage your account, get real-time stock quotes and market updates, and access a plethora of research tools.
You'll need to deposit money before you can buy stock on Fidelity. Fidelity says the fastest way to transfer funds is through a bank transfer.
Most bank wires process the same business day if they're initiated by 4 p.m. EST, and the money will be available immediately. You could also set up an electronic funds transfer (EFT), but the transfer usually takes one to three days to process.
Fidelity doesn't have minimums to open an IRA or a standard brokerage account, which makes it easy to get started without much money. You can make your first trade with as little as $1 if you're buying fractional shares on Fidelity instead of full shares.
It's essential to do your homework before you buy stocks. Fortunately, Fidelity has several handy tools for researching stocks that are available on both Fidelity.com and the Fidelity app.
To research a stock or ETF, you can type its ticker into Fidelity's stock screener to access loads of information, including dividend and earnings history, investor sentiment, analyst ratings, who its top competitors are, and more.
To buy stocks on Fidelity, you'll enter the ticker symbol into the same field that you use to get stock quotes. For example, if you want to buy Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock, you'd enter AAPL. You'll need to input the following details:
After you've provided the necessary information, you'll get a preview of your order. If everything looks right, go ahead and place that order. Congratulations! You've just bought your first stocks on Fidelity.
Selling stocks on Fidelity is very similar to buying stocks on Fidelity. You'll need to provide the same info you do to buy stocks, only you'll choose "sell" instead of "buy."
With commission-free trading, a wide variety of investments and types of accounts, and no account minimums, Fidelity is a great brokerage choice for beginning investors. The platform makes it easy to buy, sell, and research stocks. As you gain experience, you can take advantage of Fidelity's more sophisticated research offerings.
But make sure buying stocks is appropriate for your financial situation before you rush to invest. Here are some questions to consider:
If you're in a solid position to invest, Fidelity is a smart choice for low-cost investing. Before you open an account, get a feel for Fidelity's platform and compare it with what other top brokers offer. Ultimately, the best choice for you boils down to what platform you're most comfortable using.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
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.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= 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. |
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.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= 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.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor |
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options |
Learn More for Robinhood
On Robinhood's Secure Website. |
Fidelity charges no commissions when you buy U.S. stocks and ETFs online.
To buy stocks on Fidelity, you'll need to open and fund your account. Then, enter the ticker of the stock you're buying. Specify the number or dollar value of shares you're buying and whether you're placing a market or limit order. You'll then receive a preview order. Once you've verified everything is correct, you'll place the order.
Yes, you can buy one share of stock on Fidelity. You can also buy less than one share using Fidelity Stocks by the Slice, which lets you buy fractional shares in about 7,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs. You can invest with as little as $1 and receive a fraction of the share that's proportional to the amount you invest.
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Fidelity disclosure
Investing involves risk, including risk of loss
* - $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at Fidelity.com/commissions. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.
**Fidelity Crypto® is offered by Fidelity Digital Assets®. Investing involves risk, including risk of total loss. Crypto as an asset class is highly volatile, can become illiquid at any time, and is for investors with a high risk tolerance. Crypto may also be more susceptible to market manipulation than securities. Crypto is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Investors in crypto do not benefit from the same regulatory protections applicable to registered securities. Fidelity Crypto® accounts and custody and trading of crypto in such accounts are provided by Fidelity Digital Asset Services, LLC, which is chartered as a limited purpose trust company by the New York State Department of Financial Services to engage in virtual currency business (NMLS ID 1773897). Brokerage services in support of securities trading are provided by Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (“FBS”), and related custody services are provided by National Financial Services LLC (“NFS”), each a registered broker-dealer and member NYSE and SIPC. Neither FBS nor NFS offer crypto as a direct investment nor provide trading or custody services for such assets. Fidelity Crypto and Fidelity Digital Assets are registered service marks of FMR LLC.
***Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.
****Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See Fidelity.com/commissions for further details.
Robinhood disclosure
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Securities are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. For more information see the Robinhood Crypto Risk Disclosure.
Trades of stocks, ETFs and options are commission-free at Robinhood Financial LLC. Other fees may apply. Please see Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule to learn more.
Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. Not all securities available through Robinhood are eligible for fractional share orders. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement.
Robinhood Gold is an account offering premium services available for a $5 monthly fee. Not all investors will be eligible to trade on Margin. Margin investing involves the risk of greater investment losses. Additional interest charges may apply depending on the amount of margin used. Bigger Instant Deposits are only available if your Instant Deposits status is in good standing.
Investing is risky. Bonus offers subject to terms and conditions, visit robinhood.com/hoodweek for more information. Margin is not suitable for all investors. Robinhood Gold is offered through Robinhood Gold LLC and is a subscription offering services for a fee. Brokerage services offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), a registered broker dealer.