Client-owned investment company specializing in low-cost index funds and long-term wealth building.
Long-term buy-and-hold index investors
Full-service brokerage offering diverse investments, trading tools, and financial advisory services.
All-around investing and active traders
Vanguard pioneered low-cost index investing and manages $8T+ in assets with the world's lowest average expense ratios. Fidelity offers zero expense ratio index funds, better account features, a wider range of services, and superior trading platforms.
Both are excellent. Fidelity edges out for overall features and usability. Vanguard remains the gold standard for buy-and-hold index investors.
Choose Vanguard if
Long-term buy-and-hold index investors
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| Metric | Vanguard | Fidelity | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets Under Management(USD) | $8 Trillion+ | $12 Trillion+ | -33% |
| Mobile App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.5/5 | — | — |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD per trade) | Free | — | — |
| ETF Expense Ratio (Average)(%) |
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Choose Fidelity if
All-around investing and active traders
| 0.05% |
| — |
| — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — | — |
| Account Types Offered(count) | 30+ | — | — |
| Mutual Funds Available(count) | 9,200+ | — | — |
| Customer Service Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.8/5 | — | — |
| Minimum Initial Investment(USD) | $0 | $0 | — |
| Average Mutual Fund Expense Ratio(%) | 0.08% | 0.45% | -82% |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD) | $0 | $0 | — |
| Assets Under Management(Trillion USD) | $8.4T | $12.9T | -35% |
| Number of ETFs Available(count) | 420+ | 2,100+ | -80% |
| IRA Contribution Limit (2026)(USD) | $7,000 | $7,000 | — |
| Commission on Stock Trades(USD) | Free | Free | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | None | None | — |
| Funded Customers(millions) | ~12-15 (estimated) | ~12-15 (estimated) | — |
| Total Platform Assets(billions USD) | $11,900+ (AUM) | $11,900+ (AUM) | — |
| Retirement Account Types(count) | Comprehensive (Traditional, Roth, SEP, Solo 401k) | Comprehensive (Traditional, Roth, SEP, Solo 401k) | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.6/5 (iOS) | 4.6/5 (iOS) | — |
| Mutual Fund Selection(count) | Extensive (3,500+) | Extensive (3,500+) | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | $0 | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated May 2026.
Vanguard
$8T+
Fidelity
$12T+🏆
Vanguard
~0.03% (VOO)
Fidelity
0.00% (FZROX)🏆
Vanguard
Basic
Fidelity
Excellent (Active Trader Pro)🏆
Vanguard
No
Fidelity
Yes (FZROX, FZILX)🏆
Vanguard
Good
Fidelity
Better🏆
Both are excellent. Fidelity wins on features, trading, and zero-fee funds. Vanguard wins on the philosophical commitment to lowest costs and investor-owned structure.
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| Attribute | Vanguard | |
|---|---|---|
| Assets Under Management(USD) | $8 Trillion+ | $12 Trillion+ |
| Funded Customers(millions) | ~12-15 (estimated) | — |
| Total Platform Assets(billions USD) | $11,900+ (AUM) | — |
| Average Expense Ratio | ~0.08% | ~0.10% (0% on Zero funds) |
| Research Tools Quality(rating) | Very Good (Vanguard Advisor) | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.5/5 | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.6/5 (iOS) | — |
| Robo-Advisor Available(yes/no) | Yes (Vanguard Personal Advisor) | — |
| Investor Alignment Model(structure) | Client-owned (mutual structure) | — |
| New Accounts Opened (Feb 2026)(thousands) | 17 new funds launched | — |
| Fee-Only Advisory Services(availability) | Vanguard Advisors (premium support) | — |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD per trade) | Free | — |
| ETF Expense Ratio (Average)(%) | 0.05% | — |
| Commission on Stock Trades(USD) | Free | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | None | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — |
| Minimum Initial Investment(USD) | $0 | $0 |
| Account Types Offered(count) | 30+ | — |
| Mutual Funds Available(count) | 9,200+ | — |
| Number of ETFs Available(count) | 420+ | 2,100+ |
| Customer Service Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.8/5 | — |
| Average Mutual Fund Expense Ratio(%) | 0.08% | 0.45% |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD) | $0 | $0 |
| Assets Under Management(Trillion USD) | $8.4T | $12.9T |
| IRA Contribution Limit (2026)(USD) | $7,000 | $7,000 |
| Cryptocurrency Products(count) | Growing with stablecoin FIDD | — |
| Retirement Account Types(count) | Comprehensive (Traditional, Roth, SEP, Solo 401k) | — |
| International Trading(availability) | Comprehensive global access | — |
| Options Trading(availability) | Available | — |
| Mutual Fund Selection(count) | Extensive (3,500+) | — |
| Research Tools Quality(tier) | Professional-grade, free for most | — |
| Research Tools Depth | Extensive library | — |
| Professional Advisory Available(boolean) | Yes (fee-based and robo) | — |
| Account Types Available | Trading, banking, planning, wealth mgmt | — |
| Commission on Stock Trading | Free | — |
| 2025 Revenue(billion USD) | Market leader (private) | — |
| Cryptocurrency Support | Limited | — |
| AI/Digital Planning Tools | Advanced (Monarch Money, Fiscal.ai) | — |
| Mobile App Experience | Strong but complex | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes