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Interactive Brokers vs Fidelity for US stocks
Both give you real share ownership, so the decision comes down to cost, country eligibility and platform.
Pick Interactive Brokers if real share ownership from almost any country. Pick Fidelity if retirement accounts.
The default answer for a non-US investor who wants to actually own US shares rather than a derivative of them.
Visit Interactive BrokersStrongest on the long-term-investor side: research, cash management and low-cost index funds.
Visit FidelitySide by side
| Interactive Brokers | Fidelity | |
|---|---|---|
| What you hold | The share | The share |
| US stock access | Full US listed market (NYSE, Nasdaq, AMEX) plus 150+ global markets | Full US listed market |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Published pricing | IBKR Lite offers $0 commission on US listed stocks and ETFs for eligible clients; IBKR Pro is tiered/fixed per-share pricing. | $0 commission on online US stock and ETF trades. |
| Platforms | Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Client Portal, API | Fidelity.com, Active Trader Pro, Fidelity Mobile |
| Extended hours | Pre-market and after-hours routing available | Extended-hours trading supported |
| Regulation | SEC SIPC member, FCA 208159, CBI C423427 | SEC SIPC member |
| Founded | 1978 | 1946 |
Where each one wins
Interactive Brokers
- Real share ownership from almost any country
- Multi-currency accounts
- Options, futures and international listings in one account
- The desktop platform is dense and unforgiving for first-timers
- Data subscriptions are billed separately
Fidelity
- Retirement accounts
- Buy-and-hold investors
- Fractional investing in dollar amounts
- Primarily a US-resident offering
Frequently asked questions
Interactive Brokers or Fidelity — which is better for US stocks?
Both give you real share ownership, so the decision comes down to cost, country eligibility and platform. Interactive Brokers: real share ownership from almost any country. Fidelity: retirement accounts.
Which is cheaper?
Interactive Brokers: IBKR Lite offers $0 commission on US listed stocks and ETFs for eligible clients; IBKR Pro is tiered/fixed per-share pricing. Fidelity: $0 commission on online US stock and ETF trades. Both figures are restated from each broker's own pricing page; for small non-USD accounts, currency conversion usually costs more than commission does.
Which is better regulated?
Interactive Brokers is authorised by SEC, FCA, CBI; Fidelity by SEC. What matters is which entity holds your account, since that determines your compensation scheme and leverage limits.
Reviewed August 2026. Figures restated from each broker's published pages.