Fidelity vs. J.P. Morgan: Key Points
• Self-directed trading accounts can be opened at J.P. Morgan Investing, Charles Schwab, and Fidelity Investments.
• Fidelity and Schwab offer managed accounts, and J.P. Morgan also offers advisor-led
investment services through its broader wealth-management business.
• Advanced software will be found at Fidelity and Schwab.
J.P. Morgan Investing vs. Fidelity and Schwab Introduction
Are you looking for a financial firm to help manage your money and grow your investment portfolio? If so, you really should check out Schwab, Fidelity, and J.P. Morgan Investing. Here’s the rundown on these three powerhouses:
Services
Category #1: Cost
| Broker Fees |
Stock/ETF
Commission |
Mutual Fund
Commission |
Options
Commission |
Maintenance
Fee |
Annual IRA
Fee |
|
Charles Schwab
|
$0
|
$49.95 ($0 to sell)
|
$0.65 per contract
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
Fidelity
|
$0
|
$49.95
|
$0.65 per contract
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
Chase
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0.65 per contract
|
$0
|
$0
|
Assets and Accounts
Self-managed traders at Charles Schwab can invest in these financial vehicles:
- Equities (including OTC, penny, and foreign stocks)
- Option contracts
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
- Closed-end funds
- Mutual funds
- Forex
- Futures
- Bonds and other fixed-income securities
Fidelity doesn’t offer trading in futures contracts or forex, but it keeps everything else on Schwab’s list and adds crypto trading. J.P. Morgan Investing doesn’t offer cryptocurrencies, futures, forex, or direct trading in foreign stocks. It does offer stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and fixed-income products, but it has more limitations than Schwab and Fidelity.
Then there is investment advice. Schwab and Fidelity both offer managed accounts. Although
there is no robo service inside J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, the firm’s broader
J.P. Morgan wealth business does offer advisor-led investment services. Fidelity and Schwab both have robo accounts.
Taxable and tax-deferred accounts are available at all three firms in this contest. Fidelity and Schwab have broad account lineups, while J.P. Morgan also offers education-planning services such as 529 plans through its advisor channel.
Winner: Pretty close between Fidelity and Schwab
Cash Management
Investing is only the beginning at all three financial firms. Bank products of various kinds can either be opened or linked at all three broker-dealers.
J.P. Morgan Investing’s parent company owns Chase Bank, and any deposit account opened at this banking unit can be linked to a securities account. There are some useful perks like debit cards and checkbooks, although some bank accounts can have fees, and fee-free withdrawals are generally limited to Chase ATMs unless you qualify for an account with broader benefits.
Such fees can be avoided at Schwab Bank, which offers a Visa debit card and checkbook with its checking account that has no recurring fees. The card comes with unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide. It has no foreign transaction fees, too.
Fidelity reimburses ATM fees worldwide in its Cash Management Account. Another service, called Bloom, doesn’t focus on ATM-fee refunds but does deliver other benefits, like cash-back features and saving tools.
Money market mutual funds are available at all three firms, although yields vary by fund and
change over time.
Winner: Schwab
Margin
Brokerage accounts at all three firms can be enabled for margin trading. Despite its margin service, J.P. Morgan Investing does not permit the short sale of stocks and ETFs. And mutual funds, bonds, and options cannot be traded at all in a margin account.
As for the price, Schwab charges 11.825% to 10.125%. Fidelity customers pay 11.825% to 7.825%. Traders at J.P. Morgan Investing pay 11.5% to 6.5%.
Winner: Tie between Fidelity and Schwab
Mobile Apps
Fidelity has two apps: a main app and a Bloom app. Trading tools, charting, and market research will be found on the main app. Charts have 8 technical studies and 5 plot styles. Option chains have 12 pre-installed spreads, and it’s possible to create custom orders.
Schwab also has two major app experiences. But its second app isn’t a cash-management app.
It’s the thinkorswim trading app. It delivers charting with hundreds of technical studies.
The order ticket has lots of advanced features.
J.P. Morgan Investing uses the Chase Bank app, so there are many personal-finance features. Trading is on the slim side with basic tools.
Winner: Schwab
Websites
thinkorswim makes another appearance at Schwab, this time as a browser-based platform. While it does not mirror every desktop feature, some advanced tools, such as Level II quotes, remain available.
Fidelity doesn’t have a separate browser platform in the same mold as thinkorswim, although the site itself has some really good trading tools. These include a pro-level trading ticket with conditional, OCO, and bracket orders. Charts have lots of drawing tools and display choices.
The J.P. Morgan Investing site has charting tools, too, although a graph cannot be displayed the full width of the monitor. It lags behind Fidelity’s and Schwab’s sites in sheer trading power. For example, there are no advanced option tools.
Winner: Schwab
Desktop Programs
Fidelity and Schwab customers can upgrade to desktop trading free of charge. Schwab uses thinkorswim again, and Fidelity has Active Trader Pro. Both are very advanced with many tools.
Winner: Schwab
Extra Services
Extended Hours: Available at Fidelity and Schwab.
Recurring Mutual Fund Purchases: All three broker-dealers offer systematic mutual-fund purchases.
Dividend Reinvestment Plans: DRIP service can be turned on for stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs at any brokerage firm in this competition.
Fully-Paid Stock Lending: Fidelity and Schwab customers can earn extra income by loaning out their shares.
Fractional Shares: Schwab clients can buy slices of S&P 500 stocks in whole-dollar amounts starting at $5. Fidelity delivers fractional-share trading in thousands of U.S. stocks and ETFs, starting at $1. J.P. Morgan Investing also offers fractional shares in eligible S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 stocks and ETFs starting at $5.
Initial Public Offerings: Available inside a brokerage account at either Fidelity or Schwab.
IRA Lineups: Retirement accounts with tax breaks can be opened at all three firms in this contest. Only J.P. Morgan Investing charges a termination fee.
Winner: Fidelity and Schwab
Promotions
Charles Schwab: $0 commissions + ACAT rebate + satisfaction guarantee at Charles Schwab.
Chase:
Get $0 stock commissions at J.P. Morgan.
Fidelity: Currently, no promotions.
Our Recommendations
Mutual Funds: The largest number of mutual funds will be found at Fidelity. Schwab has more
no-transaction-fee funds.
Long-Term Investors & Retirement Savers: Fidelity or Schwab.
Active Stock Trading: Schwab with thinkorswim in desktop mode.
Small Accounts: Schwab has a $5,000 minimum for its robo service, so that may be out of reach for some smaller investors. Fidelity has no minimum to open Fidelity Go, although the account starts investing once it reaches $10. Brokerage accounts have no minimums at any of the three.
Beginning Investors: A managed account with Fidelity, Schwab, or J.P. Morgan’s advisor-led service could work, depending on the level of guidance needed.
Fidelity vs J.P. Morgan Judgment
Charles Schwab has an advantage overall over Fidelity, and both have a large lead over J.P. Morgan
Investing.
Open Charles Schwab Account
Visit Schwab Website
Open Fidelity Account
Visit Fidelity Website
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Updated on 3/21/2026.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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