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Fidelity vs Kraken

Fidelity logo

Fidelity

Software

Building a better financial future

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kraken logo

Kraken

Software

Secure cryptocurrency exchange for serious traders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Kraken has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fidelity options trades carry a 0.65 USD per contract fee on top of zero commission; Kraken restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements
  • They diverge on capability: Fidelity covers Commission-free trading, Kraken covers Spot Trading.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fidelity and Kraken actually diverge.

Attributes where Fidelity and Kraken differ
AttributeFidelityKraken
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modeltransactionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded19462011

Identical on both: platforms (Web, IOS, Android), 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 Fidelity

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

Only in Kraken

  • Spot Trading
  • Futures Trading
  • Margin Trading
  • Staking
  • OTC Desk
  • Bank transfers
  • SWIFT
  • Plaid

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Fidelity

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

Kraken

  • Exchangesnot Fidelity
  • Tradingnot Fidelity
  • Stakingnot Fidelity

Where each one falls short

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

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

Kraken

  • Restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements
  • Withdrawal processing delays due to KYC verification, blockchain confirmations, and compliance checks
  • Account restrictions triggered by scam prevention can only be lifted after 90 days
  • Margin trading limited to 5x leverage on most assets; 10x available only to eligible users

Pricing, plan by plan

Fidelity

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

Kraken

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Basic trading
    • Staking
    • Instant buy
  • ProFree
    • Advanced trading
    • Margin trading
    • Futures

Which should you pick?

Choose Fidelity if

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

Choose Kraken if

  • You need spot trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want futures trading.
Kraken review

Questions people ask

Is Fidelity or Kraken better?
Neither clearly leads. Fidelity starts at On request and Kraken at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fidelity or Kraken?
Kraken has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Fidelity and Free for Kraken.
Does Fidelity or Kraken run on more platforms?
Fidelity runs on Web, IOS, Android. Kraken runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Kraken for free?
Yes. Kraken has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fidelity starts at On request.
What is Fidelity best used for?
Fidelity is most often used for commission free trading of us stocks and etfs, holding iras, 401(k) plans and taxable brokerage accounts, trading bonds, options and mutual funds from one account. Of those, commission free trading of us stocks and etfs and holding iras, 401(k) plans and taxable brokerage accounts are not what Kraken is typically brought in for.
What can Fidelity do that Kraken cannot?
Fidelity covers Commission-free trading, Retirement planning, Advisory services, Research tools. Kraken covers Spot Trading, Futures Trading, Margin Trading, Staking. Both handle Web support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kraken: How much does Kraken charge in fees?

Kraken Pro spot trading fees start at 0.25 percent maker and 0.40 percent taker for entry-level volume, decreasing to 0.00 percent maker and 0.08-0.10 percent taker at USD 10M+ monthly volume. The Kraken standard platform charges 1 percent on instant trades and 1.5 percent on custom orders. Kraken+ membership costs 4.99 USD/month or 49.99 USD/year for up to USD 10k/month in fee-free volume.

Source
Kraken: In how many countries can I use Kraken?

Kraken supports 190+ countries and 9 major fiat currencies (USD, EUR, GBP). However, services are restricted in 16 jurisdictions including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Afghanistan due to regulatory compliance requirements.

Source
Kraken: Is Kraken custody secure?

Kraken holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and passed SOC 2 Type 1 examination. The exchange uses cold storage with crypto infrastructure in secure cages under 24/7 armed surveillance. Kraken Custody uses multiparty computation (MPC) and hardware security module (HSM) technology. As a Wyoming SPDI-chartered institution, Kraken Financial operates on full-reserve basis, holding 100 percent of client deposits in unencumbered liquid assets.

Source
Kraken: What cryptocurrencies can I trade?

Kraken supports 500+ cryptocurrencies across 600+ crypto trading pairs. The platform also offers tokenized equities (xStocks) for direct trading of stock exposure, and supports staking rewards on eligible digital assets.

Source
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