Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Fidelity International, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, Interactive Brokers offers better pricing than Fidelity International for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £15 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £127.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £36 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £108 or £180 per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £108 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £144 or £360 per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £360 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £270 or £990 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £0 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £1000 per year.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
Interactive Brokers and Fidelity International are two prominent online brokers that cater to a variety of investment needs. Both offer share trading and trading of ETFs, making them suitable for investors looking to diversify their portfolios with traditional stock market options. However, when it comes to trading crypto and engaging in spread betting, neither broker provides these options. One key difference is in CFD trading, which Interactive Brokers offers, while Fidelity International does not, potentially appealing more to those interested in derivatives trading. Additionally, Interactive Brokers provides trading in corporate and government bonds, offering a broader range of fixed-income securities compared to Fidelity International, which lacks these options.
For UK investors seeking a wider array of investment choices, Interactive Brokers holds a slight edge with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and is ranked 2nd out of 18 brokers. Despite this, Fidelity International still remains a strong option with a commendable 4.5-star rating and notable advisor services, which can be beneficial for those in need of professional guidance. Both brokers allow clients to invest in funds and investment trusts, accommodating those interested in pooled investments. Overall, while both platforms have their strengths, Interactive Brokers offers a slightly more comprehensive range of investment opportunities, especially for those focused on fixed-income and derivative securities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fidelity International
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
Both Interactive Brokers and Fidelity International provide essential trading tools for investors, with some notable differences. Interactive Brokers stands out with the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends on charts, a feature also available with Fidelity International. However, Interactive Brokers offers a significantly broader range of chart customization with 80 drawing tools and 96 technical indicators compared to Fidelity's 5 drawing tools and 21 indicators. Users can add notes directly on charts with Interactive Brokers, a feature not supported by Fidelity International. Both platforms equally support adding index and stock overlays to charts.
In terms of accessibility and notifications, both Interactive Brokers and Fidelity International offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates. However, neither platform offers real-time market data, which could be a limitation for traders needing instant information. Overall, Interactive Brokers provides a richer suite of tools for detailed chart analysis, making it potentially more appealing to active traders who require extensive customization options.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fidelity International
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 96 | 21 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 80 | 5 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing the retirement account offerings of Interactive Brokers and Fidelity International, both online brokers provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), making them accessible choices for those planning their financial future in the UK. These account types allow investors to save for retirement with tax-efficient benefits. While Interactive Brokers is renowned for its extensive global reach and sophisticated trading tools, Fidelity International is often praised for its robust customer service and educational resources, catering to a range of investor needs from beginners to experienced traders. Whether you're looking for advanced trading features or comprehensive support, both brokers offer versatile options for managing your retirement savings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Interactive Brokers and Fidelity International provide mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring on-the-go access to trading and financial management. In terms of app quality, Interactive Brokers stands out with a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, positioning it as the second-best among 18 brokers reviewed for mobile apps. On the other hand, Fidelity International garners a respectable 4-star rating but ranks lower at 13th place. This comparison highlights Interactive Brokers as the superior choice for users prioritizing top-rated mobile trading experiences.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing Interactive Brokers and Fidelity International on educational resources for beginner investors, both platforms offer client webinars, including on-demand sessions for convenience. They provide comprehensive educational content covering topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning. However, when rated by UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers receives a solid 4.5 stars while Fidelity International slightly edges ahead with a 5-star rating. Additionally, among 18 brokers, Interactive Brokers is ranked #12, whereas Fidelity International holds a more favorable position at #6, making it slightly more attractive for beginners seeking educational support.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fidelity International
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
Interactive Brokers and Fidelity International both offer extensive market research features for investors seeking to enhance their portfolio strategies. Users of Interactive Brokers and Fidelity International can access research reports for funds, gain insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, and explore research on shares, ETFs, and bonds. However, if you're interested in CFDs research, Interactive Brokers provides this feature, whereas Fidelity International does not. Both brokers are well-equipped to provide in-depth research insights, although those needing CFD insights may prefer Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Fidelity International
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Interactive Brokers or Fidelity International? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Brokers to be a better trading platform overall.
Interactive Brokers is a sophisticated trading platform aimed at confident and institutional-grade investors. For newer investors, Interactive Brokers is more intimidating, though it's worth exploring the platform to see if you could save money or access more investments compared to other brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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Fidelity International
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Both Interactive Brokers and Fidelity International do not offer crypto trading options for their users, making them comparable choices for investors who focus primarily on traditional asset classes.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Fidelity International | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Fidelity International Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Brokers | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £1000 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3 | £1.50 or £7.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3 | £1.50 or £7.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3 | £1.50 or £7.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £15 | £127.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £36 | £108 or £180 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 | £144 or £360 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £360 | £270 or £990 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £14.85 | £105 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £90 - £875 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £1,000 - £2,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £2,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3 | £7.50 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | £7.50 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Fidelity International | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Interactive Brokers | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 96 | 21 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 80 | 5 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Brokers | Fidelity International | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Fidelity International Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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