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JP Morgan Chase vs Fidelity in 2026
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Fidelity vs. J.P. Morgan: Key Points
• Self-directed trading accounts can be opened at J.P. Morgan Investing, Charles Schwab, and Fidelity Investments.
• Only Schwab and Fidelity offer managed accounts.
• 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 you manage money and build your investment portfolio? If so, you should take a close look at Schwab, Fidelity, and J.P. Morgan Investing. Here’s the rundown on these three big-name firms:
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-directed traders at Charles Schwab can invest in these types of securities:
- 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 does not offer futures or forex, but it keeps everything else on Schwab’s list and adds crypto trading. J.P. Morgan Investing does not offer crypto, futures, forex, penny stocks, or foreign securities. It does offer everything else on Schwab’s list.
Next is investment advice. Schwab and Fidelity both offer managed accounts. While J.P. Morgan Investing does not have an advisory program, its sister company, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, does offer traditional full-service accounts. Only Fidelity and Schwab offer robo accounts.
Taxable and tax-advantaged accounts are available at all three firms. Fidelity and Schwab, but not J.P. Morgan Investing, offer some more specialized account types like trusts and 529 plans.
Winner: Pretty close between Fidelity and Schwab
Cash Management
Investing is only part of what these three firms provide. Banking products can be opened or linked at all three broker-dealers.
J.P. Morgan Investing is tied to Chase Bank, and any Chase deposit account will automatically link to a brokerage account. Useful perks include debit cards and checkbooks, although some bank accounts can have fees. Fee-free ATM withdrawals are generally limited to Chase ATMs (except for Sapphire accounts, which cost $25 per month).
Schwab Bank avoids many of these costs. Its checking account includes a Visa debit card and a checkbook with no recurring fees. The debit card comes with unlimited ATM fee refunds worldwide and no forex fees.
Fidelity reimburses ATM fees across the United States on one of its hybrid brokerage-bank accounts. Another program, Bloom, does not reimburse ATM fees but offers many other benefits, such as cash back and saving rewards.
Money market mutual funds yielding around 3.35% APY are available at all three firms.
Winner: Schwab
Margin
Brokerage accounts at all three firms can be enabled for margin trading. However, J.P. Morgan Investing does not allow short selling of stocks and ETFs. Also, mutual funds, bonds, and options cannot be traded in a margin account at J.P. Morgan Investing.
In terms of cost, 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: its main app and the Bloom app. The main app includes trading tools, charts, and market research. Charts include 8 technical studies and 5 chart styles. Option chains include 12 built-in spreads, and custom orders can be created.
Schwab also has two apps. Its second app is not focused on cash management. It is a high-powered trading app called thinkorswim. It offers charts with more than 400 technical studies, although candlestick is the only chart style. The order ticket includes many advanced tools.
J.P. Morgan Investing uses the Chase Bank app, which includes many personal-finance features. Trading tools are limited and mostly basic.
Winner: Schwab
Websites
thinkorswim appears again on Schwab’s website as a browser-based trading platform. Many technical studies are missing compared to the desktop version, although some advanced features, such as Level II quotes, are still included.
Fidelity does not offer a separate browser-based platform, but its website has strong trading tools. These include an advanced trade ticket with conditional, OCO, and bracket orders. Charts include many drawing tools and display options.
The J.P. Morgan Investing website includes some charting, too, but charts cannot be expanded to fill the full width of the screen. Overall, it falls behind Fidelity and Schwab in trading strength. For example, there are no options tools.
Winner: Schwab
Desktop Programs
Fidelity and Schwab both offer desktop trading platforms at no extra cost. Schwab uses thinkorswim, and Fidelity offers Active Trader Pro. Both platforms are very advanced and include many tools.
Winner: Schwab
Extra Services
Extended Hours: Available at Fidelity and Schwab.
Recurring Mutual Fund Purchases: All three broker-dealers offer automatic mutual-fund purchases.
Dividend Reinvestment Plans: DRIP can be enabled for stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs at all three brokerage firms.
Fully-Paid Stock Lending: Fidelity and Schwab customers can earn extra income by lending out their shares.
Fractional Shares: Schwab clients can trade S&P 500 stocks in whole dollars. Fidelity offers fractional-share trading in all stocks and ETFs.
Initial Public Offerings: Available inside a brokerage account at Fidelity or Schwab.
IRA Lineups: Tax-advantaged retirement accounts can be opened at all three firms. Only J.P. Morgan Investing charges an account closing 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: Fidelity offers the largest selection of mutual funds. Schwab offers more commission-free funds.
Long-Term Investors & Retirement Savers: Fidelity or Schwab.
Active Stock Trading: Schwab with thinkorswim in desktop mode.
Small Accounts: Schwab requires $5k to start a robo account, so that option is not available for small balances. Fidelity has no minimum for its automated service. Standard brokerage accounts have no minimums at any of the three firms.
Beginning Investors: A managed account at any firm in this comparison.
Fidelity vs JP Morgan Judgment
Overall, Charles Schwab has an edge over Fidelity, and both are far ahead of J.P. Morgan Investing.
Open Charles Schwab Account
Visit Schwab Website
Open Fidelity Account
Visit Fidelity Website
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Updated on 1/5/2026.
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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