★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source checks: E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley checked July 17, 2026 · Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) checked July 16, 2026
Tool Comparison
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley vs Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)
Pick E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley instead if
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile · Desktop
- You care about downloadable tax reports, something Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) doesn't offer
Start here
Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile · Desktop
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about smart/direct routing, order book / level II, and news, things E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) simply does more: 9 categories to E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley's 6, including smart/direct routing, order book / level II, and news. E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
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Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)
- Broader coverage
- Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)9 vs 6 categories
- Global coverage
- Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)
- Asset coverage
- Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)Adds cryptos
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 4 limits: Options: contract fee: $0.65 per contract, Secondary Bonds and CDs: online fee: $1 per bond or CD +2 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
Integrations | — | Quicken and QuickBooks |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 6 | 9 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 3 signals: Latency: Streaming and Real-time, Granularity: Tick and EOD +1 more |
Capabilities | — | 3 signals: Multi-leg options, Greeks +1 more |
| Try it | Visit E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley | Visit Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) |
Where each one shines
What E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) each do best.What E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley does best
- Self-directed taxable, IRA, custodial, education, trust, estate, and eligible business accounts.
- E*TRADE and Power E*TRADE web, desktop, and mobile trading workflows.
- Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, and selected fractional listed securities.
- ACH, wire, check, direct-deposit, and brokerage-transfer funding methods.
- Default FDIC Bank Deposit Program sweep with tiered variable APY.
What Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) does best
- Direct access to a Fidelity brokerage account for U.S. stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, mutual funds, fractional shares, and eligible crypto rather than using a standalone market-data website.
- Trading access for online U.S. stocks and ETFs with no Fidelity commission, while checking the disclosed exceptions for regulatory charges, professional fees, and certain ETF purchase service fees.
- Trading access for options with a $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per contract, with eligibility, margin, and options-approval requirements where applicable.
- Fidelity Trader+ and Active Trader Pro when you need streaming quotes, Level II, time and sales, directed trading, real-time analytics, and trading signals.
- Place advanced conditional orders such as Contingent, Multi-Contingent, OCO, OTO, and OTOCO from Fidelity.com or Active Trader Pro.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC), side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC), side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual Funds | StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual FundsCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPAC |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | StreamingReal-time |
Data granularity | Not specified | TickEOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | Not specified | QuickenQuickBooks |
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVExcelPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Multi-leg optionsGreeksTax lots |
Vendor & support | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLCCountry: United StatesSupport: Phone | Fidelity Investments (FMR LLC) / Fidelity Brokerage Services LLCCountry: USFounded 1946Support: Chat and Phone |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 4/5Reliability 5/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Free“Brokerage Account” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)?
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
Should I choose E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley or Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)?
It depends on what you're after. Pick E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley if downloadable tax reports matter to you; go with Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) if you'd rather have smart/direct routing and order book / level II. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds. Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) adds cryptos on top.
Does E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley or Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) have real-time data?
Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Which covers international markets: E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley or Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)?
Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC) has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, and APAC), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley or Fidelity (Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC)?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.