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Investopedia Stock Simulator vs Fidelity

Investopedia Stock Simulator logo

Investopedia Stock Simulator

Software

Paper trading without risk

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fidelity logo

Fidelity

Software

Building a better financial future

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Investopedia Stock Simulator has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Investopedia Stock Simulator market data is delayed by 15-20 minutes, inadequate for real-time trading education; Fidelity options trades carry a 0.65 USD per contract fee on top of zero commission
  • They diverge on capability: Investopedia Stock Simulator covers Virtual stock trading, Fidelity covers Commission-free trading.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Investopedia Stock Simulator and Fidelity actually diverge.

Attributes where Investopedia Stock Simulator and Fidelity differ
AttributeInvestopedia Stock SimulatorFidelity
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknowntransaction
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20091946

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 Investopedia Stock Simulator

  • Virtual stock trading
  • Real-time market data
  • Portfolio management
  • Educational resources
  • Market data

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.

Investopedia Stock Simulator

  • Budget Managementnot Fidelity
  • Expense Trackingnot Fidelity
  • Investment Trackingnot Fidelity

Fidelity

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

Where each one falls short

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

Investopedia Stock Simulator

  • Market data is delayed by 15-20 minutes, inadequate for real-time trading education
  • Limited order type support compared to modern trading platforms
  • Simplified fill simulation does not replicate real trading execution
  • Platform has not received significant updates in many years

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

Investopedia Stock Simulator

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Investopedia Stock Simulator review.

Fidelity

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Investopedia Stock Simulator if

  • You need virtual stock trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want real-time market data.
Investopedia Stock Simulator 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 Investopedia Stock Simulator or Fidelity better?
Neither clearly leads. Investopedia Stock Simulator 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, Investopedia Stock Simulator or Fidelity?
Investopedia Stock Simulator has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Investopedia Stock Simulator and On request for Fidelity.
Does Investopedia Stock Simulator or Fidelity run on more platforms?
Investopedia Stock Simulator runs on Web. Fidelity runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Investopedia Stock Simulator for free?
Yes. Investopedia Stock Simulator has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fidelity starts at On request.
What is Investopedia Stock Simulator best used for?
Investopedia Stock Simulator is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what Fidelity is typically brought in for.
What can Investopedia Stock Simulator do that Fidelity cannot?
Investopedia Stock Simulator covers Virtual stock trading, Real-time market data, Portfolio management, Educational resources. Fidelity covers Commission-free trading, Retirement planning, Advisory services, Research tools. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Investopedia Stock Simulator: Is the Investopedia Stock Simulator free?

Yes, the Investopedia Stock Simulator is completely free to use after creating an account. No real funds are required for simulated trading.

Source
Investopedia Stock Simulator: What is included in the simulator?

Users receive a $100,000 virtual portfolio to trade stocks, with integrated educational content including articles, tutorials, and a financial dictionary for learning investing.

Source
Investopedia Stock Simulator: What are the limitations of the Investopedia Simulator?

The simulator uses delayed market data (typically 15-20 minutes), has limited order type support, simplified fill simulation, and has not received proper updates in many years.

Source
Investopedia Stock Simulator: Can you compete with other traders?

Yes, you can join existing games or create custom games with configurable rules including options, margin trading, and adjustable commission rates, competing with thousands of Investopedia traders.

Source
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