Fidelity charges $0 for stock and ETF trades, $0 for its own ZERO index funds, and $0 for outgoing account transfers. The main fees to know are the $49.95 non-NTF mutual fund transaction fee, the 0.35% annual fee on Fidelity Go above $25,000, and a $10 outgoing domestic wire fee. For most long-term investors using stocks, ETFs, or Fidelity’s own funds, the real annual cost at Fidelity is zero.
Fidelity Fee Schedule at a Glance
| Fee type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stock trades | $0 |
| ETF trades | $0 |
| Options base commission | $0 |
| Options per-contract fee | $0.65 |
| Fidelity ZERO funds (FZROX, FZILX, etc.) | $0 |
| NTF mutual funds | $0 |
| Non-NTF mutual funds | $49.95 per transaction |
| Fidelity Go (under $25,000) | $0 |
| Fidelity Go (over $25,000) | 0.35% per year |
| Account minimum | $0 |
| Annual maintenance fee | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 |
| ACAT-out (full account transfer) | $0 |
| Outgoing domestic wire | $10.00 |
| Outgoing international wire | Varies |
| Broker-assisted trade | $32.95 per trade |
Trading Commissions
Stocks and ETFs: $0
All listed US stocks and ETFs trade commission-free at Fidelity. There is no account minimum, no minimum trade size, and no per-share fee. Fidelity also supports fractional shares — you can buy as little as $1 worth of any stock — which makes it one of the most accessible brokerages for new investors with smaller balances.
Broker-assisted trades cost $32.95. Calling a Fidelity representative to place a trade adds a surcharge. Use fidelity.com or the mobile app to avoid it.
Options: $0 + $0.65 per Contract
Options trades carry no base commission at Fidelity. The per-contract fee is $0.65, matching Schwab, Merrill Edge, and E*TRADE.
Example: You buy 12 call contracts at $0.65 per contract. Total fee: $7.80.
Active options traders placing 30+ contracts per month should compare Fidelity’s flat $0.65 against brokerages with volume discounts.
Fidelity ZERO Index Funds: 0.00% Expense Ratio
Fidelity’s four ZERO index funds charge no expense ratio — not just zero commission, but literally 0.00% annual operating expense:
| Fund | Index tracked | Expense ratio |
|---|---|---|
| FZROX | Fidelity US Total Marketable Bond Index | 0.00% |
| FZILX | Fidelity Global ex US Index | 0.00% |
| FZIPX | Fidelity Extended Market Index | 0.00% |
| FXNAX | Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index | 0.025% (not ZERO) |
The key limitation: ZERO funds are proprietary Fidelity funds and cannot be transferred to another brokerage in-kind. If you move your account to Schwab or Vanguard, you must sell ZERO fund holdings first (a taxable event in non-IRA accounts). See the Fidelity ZERO funds guide for a full analysis.
NTF Mutual Funds: $0
Fidelity’s NTF list includes thousands of third-party mutual funds that trade for free. This includes funds from Vanguard, American Funds, T. Rowe Price, and others.
Non-NTF Mutual Funds: $49.95
Funds not on the NTF list cost $49.95 per transaction — one of the higher non-NTF fees among major brokerages (Merrill Edge charges $19.95, E*TRADE charges $19.99). If you plan to actively trade non-NTF funds, Merrill Edge is cheaper per transaction.
Fidelity Go Fee: 0.35% Above $25,000
Fidelity Go is Fidelity’s robo-advisor. Fees are tiered by balance:
| Balance | Annual Fidelity Go fee |
|---|---|
| $0–$24,999 | $0 (completely free) |
| $25,000+ | 0.35% per year |
Worked example: Rachel has $40,000 in Fidelity Go. Her annual fee is $40,000 × 0.35% = $140.
Fidelity Go invests exclusively in Fidelity Flex mutual funds with 0.00% expense ratios. Your total all-in cost is 0.35% above $25,000 — lower than Merrill Guided Investing (0.45%) and E*TRADE Core Portfolios (0.30%). See the Fidelity Go guide for a full comparison.
Account Transfer Fee: $0
Fidelity charges nothing for outgoing ACAT transfers. This puts Fidelity alongside Schwab as a no-penalty brokerage to leave — unlike Merrill Edge ($49.95) or E*TRADE ($75). Fidelity frequently reimburses incoming transfer fees from other brokerages. Check fidelity.com or call 800-343-3548 for current reimbursement promotions.
Wire Transfer Fees
| Wire type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Outgoing domestic wire | $10.00 |
| Incoming domestic wire | $0 |
| ACH transfer | $0 |
Fidelity’s $10 outgoing wire fee is the lowest among major brokerages (Schwab and Merrill Edge both charge $25). Free ACH transfers work for most funding needs; the wire fee only applies when same-day settlement is required.
Margin Rates
Fidelity’s margin rates are competitive and tiered by debit balance. They generally track near the federal funds rate plus a spread that decreases as your balance grows. Visit fidelity.com for current rates, which change with the Federal Reserve’s target rate.
What Fidelity Doesn’t Charge
- No account minimum
- No annual maintenance fee
- No inactivity fee
- No ACAT-out fee — transfer away for free
- No dividend reinvestment fee — DRIP is free
- No fractional share fee — buy from $1
Fidelity vs Competitor Fees
| Fee | Fidelity | Schwab | Merrill Edge | E*TRADE | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock/ETF trades | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Options/contract | $0.65 | $0.65 | $0.65 | $0.65 | $0.65 |
| Non-NTF mutual fund | $49.95 | $49.95 | $19.95 | $19.99 | $0–$20 |
| Robo-advisor fee | 0.35% (>$25K) | $0 | 0.45% | 0.30% | N/A |
| ACAT-out | $0 | $0 | $49.95 | $75.00 | $0 |
| Outgoing wire | $10 | $25 | $25 | $25 | $25 |
Fidelity’s $10 outgoing wire fee and $0 ACAT-out are the most investor-friendly cost elements in this comparison. Its Fidelity Go fee (0.35%) is competitive but not the cheapest robo-advisor option.
The Real Cost of Investing at Fidelity
A long-term ETF or stock investor at Fidelity pays $0 per year in fees. The fees that can bite:
- $49.95 mutual fund fee — if you buy actively managed non-NTF funds frequently
- 0.35% Fidelity Go fee — on balances above $25,000 using the robo-advisor
- $10 wire fee — only if you use wires rather than free ACH
Worked example: James holds $120,000 at Fidelity: $80,000 in FZROX and $40,000 in Fidelity Go. Annual costs: $0 on FZROX (0.00% expense ratio) + $140 on Fidelity Go (0.35% × $40,000) = $140 total. With no annual fee and no ACAT-out fee, Fidelity is one of the lowest-cost full-service brokerages available.
See the full Fidelity review and compare all options at the best brokerage accounts 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