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Can you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives

Mariana Vilaça| Updated: October 23, 2023

Fidelity, founded in 1946, is a well-established financial institution that has earned a reputation as a trusted investment platform. Fidelity provides a wide range of investment options, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, and retirement accounts, and they have over 40 million individual investors.

The company provides commission-free trades for stocks, ETFs, and options, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious investors.

Fidelity operates in 25 countries, making its services accessible to a global clientele. However, it’s worth noting that Fidelity’s services may vary by country, and not all products and features are available in every region.

Want to know if you can trade futures on Fidelity? Wondering about alternative investment platforms to invest in futures? We’ve got you covered!

Can you trade Futures on Fidelity?

Unfortunately, you are not able to trade futures on Fidelity! As of this writing, Fidelity doesn’t offer futures trading.

Our team conducted research to understand why Fidelity does not offer futures trading. We reached the conclusion, based on a comment posted by an official Fidelity profile on Reddit, that this type of product is not offered due to the associated risk and volatility. It should be an integral part of a strategy recommended only for sophisticated investors.

Can you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 1

Source: Reddit

Which Products can I trade in Fidelity?

Products Available?
Stocks
ETFs ✔​
Bonds ✔​
Funds ✔​
Options ✔​
Futures
Forex
Cryptocurrencies ✔​
Commodities
CFDs
Leverage Products

Best Fidelity alternatives for investing in Futures

Can you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 2

#1 Best futures broker overall

Min. deposit of $/€0
From $0.10 per contract
Excellent reputation (founded in 1978)
View BrokerCan you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 3Read review
Interactive Brokers summary
Founded in 1978, IBKR is one of the world’s most trustworthy brokers. It offers an enormous range of financial products, including futures contracts. For monthly volumes lower than 1,000, it charges $0.85 per future contract in the US. The price may drop to $0.10 when considering E-micro Futures.
Supported countriesWorldwide (exceptions apply)Fractional sharesYes
RegulatorsFINRA, SIPC, SEC, CFTC, IIROC, FCA, CBI, AFSL, SFC, SEBI, MAS and MNB.Interest on unninvested cashEUR: 3.413%; USD: 4.83%; GBP: 4.698%
Products and MarketsStocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Forex, Commodities, Bonds and Funds.
Saxo

#2 Best for experienced non-US investors (not available in the US)

Min. deposit of $/€2,000 (varies)
From $1.25 per contract
High range of products
View BrokerCan you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 3Read review
Saxo Markets summary
Saxo Bank offers diverse trading instruments, providing traders access to over 300 futures from 28 global exchanges, including equity indices, energy, metals, agriculture, rates, and Forex. They offer competitive fees for futures trading, ranging from $1.25 to $6 per contract (min. $10), depending on your account.
Supported countriesWorldwide (exceptions apply - not available in the USA)Fractional sharesNo
RegulatorsASIC, FSA, FCA, SFC, MAS, FINMA, DFSA.Interest on unninvested cashUSD: Up to 4.059%; EUR: Up to 2.65%; GBP: Up to 3.93% (varies between countries)
Products and MarketsStocks, ETFs, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Crypto ETPs, Options, Futures, Forex, Forex Options, Crypto FX, CFDs and Commodities
Can you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 5

#3 Best broker for futures variety

Min. deposit of $0
Flat fee of $2.25 per contract
Excellent reputation (founded in 1975)
View BrokerCan you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 3
TD Ameritrade summary
TD Ameritrade is one of the leading U.S. Some major advantages are commission-free stock, ETF, and options trading, alongside a wide offering of different financial products, including futures contracts. They offer a flat fee of $2.25 per contract for future trading.
Supported countriesUS, India, China, among othersFractional sharesNo
RegulatorsSEC and FINRAInterest on unninvested cash0.35%
Products and MarketsStocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Futures, Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Bonds and access to IPOs
Can you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 7

#4 Best for beginners

Min. deposit of $0
Flat fee of $1.50 per contract
Excellent reputation (founded in 1982)
View BrokerCan you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 3
E*TRADE summary
E*TRADE is a well-known US broker, considered both reputable and beginner-friendly. They offer a wide range of financial products, including +200 futures contracts. These encompass contracts on agricultural products, energy, precious and industrial metals, equities, currencies, and interest rates. E*TRADE provides a highly competitive flat-rate fee for futures contracts at $1.5 per contract, except for crypto contracts, which incur a fee of $2.5 per contract.
Supported countriesWorldwideFractional sharesYes
RegulatorsSEC and FINRAInterest on unninvested cashUSD: 0.15%
Products and MarketsStocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Retirment Plans, Managed Portfolios and Small business accounts
Can you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 9

#5 Best for demo accounts

Min. deposit of $100
From $0.49 per contract
Access to the Futures Academy
View BrokerCan you trade Futures on Fidelity? Alternatives 3Read review
Plus500 Futures summary
Plus500 Futures markets platform that is 100% focused on Futures trading. The range of underlying assets is wide, so you can quickly access several asset classes. It is part of the Plus500 group, listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Supported countriesUSFractional sharesNo
RegulatorsSEC, CFTCInterest on unninvested cash0%
Products and MarketsFutures

Brokers’ comparison table

Broker Minimum Deposit Supported Futures Available in US? Futures Trading Fees
Interactive Brokers $0 Futures on Crypto, Agriculture, Metals, Forex, Interest Rates, Energy and Equity Index Yes From $0.25 to $0.85 for US contracts (depending on the volume).Up to $0.25 for Micro contracts, and max of $5 for crypto futures contracts
Saxo Markets $2,000 (can vary by country) Futures on equity indices, energy, metals, agriculture, rates and FX No Ranges between $1.25 and $6 per contract (min of $10)
TD Ameritrade $50 (electronic transfers); no account minimum Futures on Stock index & Micro E-mini index futures, Energy, Metals, Treasury & interest rates, Agriculture, Currency, Micro Futures Yes $2.25 per contract
E*TRADE $0 Futures on market indices, energies, metals, interest rates, currencies, Bitcoin and Micro Yes $1.5 per contract, except for cryptocurrency futures, which cost $2.5 per contract
Plus500 Futures $100 Futures on market indices, energy, interest rate, commodities, crypto and Forex Yes $0.49 (per trade) in micro contracts and $0.89 (per trade) in Standard contract

What Makes a Good Broker for Futures Trading?

When choosing a futures broker, it’s important to consider several factors that can impact a trader’s success. These include:

  • Low trading fees: To enhance your profitability in futures trading, choosing a broker with competitive trading fees is crucial. You’ll want to look for a broker that offers low spreads and minimal or no commissions.
  • Reliable platform: The trading platform is your primary tool and should have all the necessary features for effective trading. The platform should be user-friendly, fast, and reliable. It’s also helpful if the platform includes market news and real-time data feeds, which can give you valuable insights into the market. Additionally, risk management tools such as stop-loss orders and trailing stops can help protect your trades and minimise your risk.
  • Excellent customer support: A futures broker’s customer support is essential, particularly for new traders. Fast response times and helpful support staff should be available via phone, email, or live chat to ensure you can get the help you need when needed.
  • Regulatory compliance: To ensure the safety of your funds, it’s important to choose a futures broker that is regulated by the relevant regulatory bodies in the country where they operate. For example, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is a member of the National Futures Association (NFA) in the United States, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in Australia, or any other reputable global regulatory bodies.

Bottom Line

Fidelity, a well-established financial institution, does not provide futures trading within its platform. In this article, we have highlighted some of the best alternatives to explore, such as Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, Saxo Bank, E*TRADE and Plus500 Futures.

When selecting a Future broker, consider factors such as regulatory compliance, trading platform quality, commissions and spreads, trade execution speed, liquidity, and customer support. Each broker has pros and cons, so choosing the one that best suits our needs is important.

Hopefully, we have helped you with your choice!

Mariana Vilaça
Fintech Analyst

Mariana is currently a finalist in Management program at the University of Minho, and she also serves as a digital ambassador for a leading Big4 company in the field of financial consulting, Ernst & Young.

Mariana's primary areas of interest revolve around the exact sciences, numbers, and the financial sector. Presently, Mariana holds the position of COO at a junior initiative within her university, dedicated to promoting financial literacy among the youth and addressing the educational challenges faced in Portugal.

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