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The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.
Broker 1
Broker 2
| VS field |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Decision summary | ||
| Overall score | 82 | 91 |
| Trust score | 84 | 100 |
| Cost score | 82 | 89 |
| Platform score | 80 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 78 | 89 |
| Best for | Australian buy-and-hold investors · ETF dollar-cost-averaging investors · Investors wanting CHESS-sponsored ASX holdings | Evidence supports Fidelity as a U.S.-focused, highly regulated multi-asset broker for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds/CDs, options, cash management, managed portfolios, and sepa… |
| Watch out | Not designed for short-term/active traders · Country availability/restrictions are not disclosed as a concise country list · US and Micro products rely on third-party partners/cus… | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | Australian financial services are under Sanlam AFSL/Pearler AR structure; US clearing broker Alpaca is FINRA/SIPC member. Source | Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC. Source |
| License numbers | AR 1281540; Sanlam AFSL 337927; Openmarkets AFSL 246705; Cache Investment Management AFSL 514360; Cache RE Services AFSL 494886; super partners include AFSL 229757/500032/226319. Source | FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740. Source |
| Regulated entities | Pearler is AR 1281540 of Sanlam Private Wealth AFSL 337927; ASX products use Openmarkets AFSL 246705; US products use Alpaca Securities; Micro fund issued by Cache (RE Services) AFSL 494886. Source | Primary securities brokerage entities are Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (FBS) and National Financial Services LLC (NFS), each member NYSE/SIPC; advisory and crypto entities differ by product. Source |
| Negative balance protection | Not applicable / not disclosed for long-only shares/ETF investing; no negative balance protection guarantee found. Source | Not applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations. Source |
| Investor compensation | US securities clearing broker Alpaca is FINRA/SIPC member; ASX holdings are CHESS-sponsored/HIN-based; cash/trust and partner structures vary by product. Source | SIPC coverage up to $500,000/$250,000 cash plus Fidelity excess SIPC; FDIC sweep coverage may apply to eligible cash programs; important exclusions apply. Source |
| Restricted countries | Pearler says information is not an offer in jurisdictions where Pearler is not registered or able to market its services; no concise accepted/restricted-country list was found. Source | U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found. Source |
Costs & account conditions | ||
| Minimum deposit | ASX initial investments must be at least AUD 500; Micro starts from AUD 5. Source | $0 to open a retail brokerage account; Fidelity states no account minimum and ability to invest with as little as $1; exceptions apply by account/product. Source |
| Spread from | Not applicable: Pearler is a shares/ETF investing platform, not a forex/CFD spread broker. Source | Not applicable to Fidelity's core U.S. stock/ETF brokerage model; securities trade by exchange/market prices rather than quoted CFD/FX spreads. Source |
| Commission | AUD 6.50 per ASX or US buy/sell; prepay discount can reduce each buy/sell by AUD 1.00. Source | $0 online U.S. stock and ETF trades; $0 online options commission plus $0.65/contract; other product/service fees apply. Source |
| Maximum leverage | Not disclosed / not applicable for retail share/ETF investing products; no margin or leverage product found in official product pages. Source | No universal maximum leverage ratio disclosed for Fidelity retail brokerage; margin borrowing is available subject to approval and margin requirements/rates rather than a single max leverage figure. Source |
| Deposit fee | Free to deposit and receive dividends for ASX and US Invest; Micro has nil establishment/contribution fees per FSG/PDS summary. Source | $0 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge. Source |
| Withdrawal fee | Pearler pricing says users can withdraw and close their account any time; managed-fund FSG summary lists withdrawal fee and exit fee as nil. Source | $0 Fidelity fee for EFT and domestic bank wire withdrawals; foreign exchange wire up to 3% of principal; receiving bank may charge. Source |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee found in the checked official pricing/FSG pages. Source | No explicit inactivity-fee line found in official fee schedule; official account pages state no retail brokerage account fees/no account or subscription fees. Treat as needs manual confirmation before publishing as '$0 inactivity fee'. Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | ASX shares/ETFs, US shares/ETFs, managed-fund Micro options and self-directed super investments. Source | Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international. Source |
| Trading platforms | Pearler website and Pearler mobile app. Source | Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic. Source |
| Account types | ASX Invest supports multiple accounts (individual, joint, trust or minor); Pearler also offers Micro, Super, HomeSoon and Headstart products. Source | Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts. Source |
| Deposit methods | AUD Cash funding via Invest & Cash/app; bank account linking uses Basiq or small deposit; PayID/direct debit/PayTo via Zepto; USD ACH and Wire details are available for US bank accounts. Source | EFT/ACH, bank wire, check/mobile check, direct deposit, recurring deposit, Fidelity-to-Fidelity/account transfer, transfer of assets, and eligible payment apps. Source |
| Withdrawal methods | Withdraw cash from AUD Cash to linked primary bank account through website or mobile app. Source | EFT/ACH, bank wire, paper check, Fidelity-to-Fidelity transfers, third-party/person-to-person transfers and eligible debit card/ATM access. Source |
| Withdrawal processing time | After a sell order, funds must settle for 2 business days before they are available for withdrawal; deposit holds can apply. Source | EFT withdrawals 1-3 business days; bank wire same day if submitted by 4 p.m. ET; paper check about 5-6 days. Source |
BrokerVS provides broker comparison research only. Scores and evidence can vary by country, account type, and legal entity; users should verify source links before opening an account.