Fidelity charges $0 commission on every ETF trade and offers one of the largest ETF selections of any US broker. If you want the absolute lowest costs, Fidelity’s own ZERO index funds charge a 0.00% expense ratio — something no competitor matches at this scale. Here is how to buy ETFs at Fidelity and which funds to consider for a low-cost portfolio in 2026.
ETF Costs at Fidelity
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Online ETF commission | $0 |
| Fidelity ETF expense ratios | 0.00%–0.84% |
| iShares/Vanguard ETFs | Expense ratio applies; $0 commission |
| Account maintenance fee | $0 |
| Minimum to open account | $0 |
Fidelity’s $0 commission applies to all exchange-traded funds, including competitor funds from Vanguard, BlackRock iShares, and State Street SPDR. You pay only the fund’s internal expense ratio, which is deducted proportionally from fund assets — not charged to your account directly.
Fidelity’s Own ETF and Index Fund Family
Fidelity operates two overlapping low-cost families:
Fidelity ETFs (exchange-traded, buy in whole shares)
| Ticker | Fund | Expense Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| FXAIX | Fidelity 500 Index Fund (mutual fund version) | 0.015% |
| FSKAX | Fidelity Total Market Index Fund | 0.015% |
| FTIHX | Fidelity Total International Index Fund | 0.06% |
| FZROX | Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund | 0.00% |
| FZILX | Fidelity ZERO International Index Fund | 0.00% |
Fidelity ZERO Funds (mutual funds, any dollar amount)
The ZERO funds — FZROX, FZILX, FZESX, and FZIPX — are mutual funds with a 0.00% expense ratio. They are only available at Fidelity (you cannot transfer them in-kind to another broker). Despite being mutual funds, they function like broad index ETFs for long-term investors:
- FZROX covers the entire US stock market (similar to VTI or ITOT)
- FZILX covers international developed and emerging markets (similar to VXUS)
- FZESX covers mid- and small-cap US stocks
- FZIPX covers small- and mid-cap international stocks
Because these are mutual funds, you can invest any dollar amount — solving the fractional share problem ETF investors face.
Popular Third-Party ETFs Available at Fidelity
Fidelity provides access to all major ETF families. These are among the most popular with Fidelity customers:
| ETF | Category | Expense Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| VOO | S&P 500 (Vanguard) | 0.03% |
| VTI | Total US Market (Vanguard) | 0.03% |
| QQQ | Nasdaq-100 (Invesco) | 0.20% |
| SPY | S&P 500 (SPDR) | 0.0945% |
| IVV | S&P 500 (iShares) | 0.03% |
| ITOT | Total US Market (iShares) | 0.03% |
| AGG | US Aggregate Bond (iShares) | 0.03% |
| BND | Total Bond Market (Vanguard) | 0.03% |
| SCHD | Dividend Equity (Schwab) | 0.06% |
| VYM | High Dividend Yield (Vanguard) | 0.06% |
How to Buy an ETF at Fidelity — Step by Step
- Log in to Fidelity.com or the Fidelity mobile app
- Click “Trade” from the top navigation (or the trade button in the app)
- Select “ETFs” or enter the ticker symbol directly in the search bar
- Enter the ticker (e.g., VTI, QQQ, or any other ETF)
- Choose order type — Market (executes at current price), Limit (executes at your price or better), or Stop
- Enter quantity in whole shares (fractional ETF shares are not supported — only Stocks by the Slice for S&P 500 stocks)
- Select account — taxable brokerage, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, etc.
- Review and submit
Orders placed during market hours (9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET) execute in real time. Orders placed after hours become queued limit or market orders that execute at the next open.
Building a Simple ETF Portfolio at Fidelity
A two- or three-fund ETF portfolio covers nearly all major asset classes:
Two-fund portfolio (US-focused):
- 90% FSKAX (Fidelity Total Market) or FZROX (zero cost)
- 10% AGG or BND (US bonds)
Three-fund portfolio (global diversification):
- 60% VTI or FSKAX (US total market)
- 30% VXUS or FTIHX (international)
- 10% BND or AGG (bonds)
For a 30-year-old investing $500/month, this approach historically captured more than 90% of global market returns at a cost of less than $3 per year in fees on $30,000 invested (assuming a 0.01% blended expense ratio).
ETF Screener at Fidelity
Fidelity’s ETF screener lets you filter by:
- Asset class — equity, fixed income, commodity, currency, alternative
- Geography — US, international, emerging markets
- Sector — technology, healthcare, energy, financials, etc.
- Expense ratio — filter for funds under 0.10%, 0.20%, etc.
- ESG criteria — environmental, social, governance ratings
- Performance — 1-year, 3-year, 5-year returns
- Morningstar rating — 1–5 stars with analyst reports for major ETFs
Fidelity also integrates Morningstar, CFRA, and Argus research reports directly into the ETF detail pages, giving you analyst buy/sell ratings and fundamental analysis at no extra cost.
ETFs in Fidelity IRAs
All Fidelity IRA types support ETF trading at $0 commission:
| IRA Type | ETF Trading | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roth IRA | Yes | Growth is tax-free |
| Traditional IRA | Yes | Tax-deferred growth |
| Rollover IRA | Yes | From 401(k) |
| SEP IRA | Yes | For self-employed |
| SIMPLE IRA | Yes | Employer-sponsored |
DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan) is available for ETFs in both taxable and IRA accounts. Fidelity automatically reinvests dividends in whole shares for ETFs; remainders go to your cash balance.
Fidelity vs. Competitors for ETF Investing
| Feature | Fidelity | Vanguard | Schwab |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETF commission | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Proprietary zero-cost fund | ZERO funds (0.00%) | VOO/VTI (0.03%) | Schwab ETFs (~0.03%) |
| ETF screener | Yes (robust) | Basic | Yes (Stock Hacker) |
| Fractional ETF shares | No (whole shares only) | No | No |
| DRIP on ETFs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IRA ETF trading | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Fidelity’s ZERO funds give it a unique edge for cost-sensitive investors who do not need to transfer funds to another broker. For investors who may eventually move assets, Vanguard’s VOO (0.03% ER) and iShares IVV (0.03% ER) are equally cheap and fully portable.
Key Takeaways
- Fidelity charges $0 commission on all ETF trades with no account minimums
- FZROX and FZILX are the lowest-cost index funds available anywhere — but are only transferable as cash, not in-kind
- The Fidelity ETF screener integrates Morningstar and CFRA ratings for free
- ETFs in Fidelity IRAs grow tax-advantaged with DRIP available
- For whole-dollar investing in index strategies, Fidelity ZERO mutual funds solve the fractional-share limitation
For a comparison with Schwab’s ETF platform, see our Fidelity vs. Schwab comparison. To understand how Fidelity’s stock screener works for equity research, see our Fidelity stock screener guide.
The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy