Vanguard vs. Fidelity: 2025 Comparison

If you’re on the hunt for a new brokerage account, the two biggest names in the field — Vanguard and Fidelity — might come to mind first.

You might be curious, as we were, about how these two stack up side by side. We’ve put Vanguard and Fidelity in a head-to-head battle to help you decide who should win your money.

There’s one thing to get clear right upfront. Both Vanguard and Fidelity are retirement powerhouses — their proprietary mutual funds line many 401(k)s, and Fidelity is a leading 401(k) record-keeper. (View our list of the best IRA accounts.)

But Fidelity also caters to active traders, with robust trading platforms and tools. Vanguard, not so much: The company doesn’t offer a trading platform. So some people may be able to quit this comparison right here: Are you an active stock or options trader? Fidelity is your answer.

» See our roundup of the best brokers for stock trading

The tension between these two starts for those investors who are looking to compare mutual funds, fees, account minimums and investment offerings. For that, read below.

Side note: Both Vanguard and Fidelity offer robo-advisor services, but we're focusing on their self-directed brokerage accounts here. To learn more about the robo-advisors, read our reviews of Fidelity Go and Vanguard Digital Advisor.

» Read our full review of Fidelity

» Read our full review of Vanguard