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Software · head to head

dYdX vs Fidelity

dYdX logo

dYdX

Software

Decentralized perpetual trading

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fidelity logo

Fidelity

Software

Building a better financial future

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only dYdX has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: dYdX newer platform with smaller liquidity pools compared to centralized exchanges; Fidelity options trades carry a 0.65 USD per contract fee on top of zero commission
  • They diverge on capability: dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Fidelity covers Commission-free trading.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which dYdX and Fidelity actually diverge.

Attributes where dYdX and Fidelity differ
AttributedYdXFidelity
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreetransaction
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20171946

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in dYdX

  • Perpetual Contracts
  • Cross Margin
  • Portfolio Margin
  • Governance
  • DYDX Token
  • Cosmos SDK

Only in Fidelity

  • Commission-free trading
  • Retirement planning
  • Advisory services
  • Research tools
  • Bank accounts
  • Investment accounts
  • IOS support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

dYdX

  • Definot Fidelity
  • Dexnot Fidelity
  • Derivativesnot Fidelity

Fidelity

  • Commission free trading of US stocks and ETFsnot dYdX
  • Holding IRAs, 401(k) plans and taxable brokerage accountsnot dYdX
  • Trading bonds, options and mutual funds from one accountnot dYdX

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

dYdX

  • Newer platform with smaller liquidity pools compared to centralized exchanges
  • Requires cryptocurrency wallet for trading, adding friction for new users
  • Limited fiat on/off ramps compared to centralized alternatives like Coinbase

Fidelity

  • Options trades carry a 0.65 USD per contract fee on top of zero commission
  • Non Fidelity mutual funds carry a 49.95 USD transaction fee per purchase
  • Secondary market bonds cost 1.00 USD per bond, while new issues are free
  • A foreign settlement fee of 50 USD applies per trade
  • Margin rates are tiered by debit balance, from 11.825 percent below 25,000 USD down to 7.50 percent at 1 million USD or more, against a base rate of 10.575 percent effective 12 December 2025
  • Margin liquidation by the broker costs 32.95 USD per liquidation

Pricing, plan by plan

dYdX

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Perpetual trading
    • Governance
    • Staking

Fidelity

On request
  • Brokerage$undefined/month
    • Commission-free trading
    • Research tools
  • Advisory$undefined/month
    • Personal advisor
    • Wealth management

Which should you pick?

Choose dYdX if

  • You need perpetual contracts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want cross margin.
dYdX review

Choose Fidelity if

  • You need commission-free trading.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want retirement planning.
Fidelity review

Questions people ask

Is dYdX or Fidelity better?
Neither clearly leads. dYdX starts at Free and Fidelity at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, dYdX or Fidelity?
dYdX has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for dYdX and On request for Fidelity.
Does dYdX or Fidelity run on more platforms?
dYdX runs on Web. Fidelity runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use dYdX for free?
Yes. dYdX has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fidelity starts at On request.
What is dYdX best used for?
dYdX is most often used for defi, dex, derivatives. Of those, defi and dex are not what Fidelity is typically brought in for.
What can dYdX do that Fidelity cannot?
dYdX covers Perpetual Contracts, Cross Margin, Portfolio Margin, Governance. Fidelity covers Commission-free trading, Retirement planning, Advisory services, Research tools. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

dYdX: What type of trading does dYdX specialize in?

dYdX is a decentralized platform for perpetuals and margin trading, allowing professional traders to trade crypto derivatives without expiry dates. Built on ZK-rollup technology, it enables trading 143+ cryptocurrencies with leverage up to 50x on selected contracts.

Source
dYdX: How does dYdX maintain decentralization?

dYdX governance is fully community-driven, meaning token holders decide on protocol upgrades, fee structures, and risk parameters. The platform distributes 100% of its trading fees to stakers.

Source
dYdX: What are dYdX's gas fee advantages?

Built on StarkWare's ZK-rollup technology, dYdX enables trading with near-zero gas fees while users maintain full custody of their assets.

Source
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Related pages

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