Is Fidelity good for investing?
Independent review by Boring Money
Written by Boring Money
1 Jan, 2025
Investment expert’s opinion
*This is the view of investment expert Holly Mackay based on her first-hand customer experience as a test account holder. This does not constitute regulated advice. You can read more about Holly's investments here.
Risk warning
As is always the case with investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your portfolio can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.
Who is Fidelity?
Fidelity – also known as Fidelity International - was established in 1969 as a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments, one of the largest asset management firms in the world. Fidelity International became an independent business in 1980 and today is one of the most popular investment platforms in the UK, with over 1.6 million customers. It offers a wide range of investments, including its own funds - such as the popular Fidelity Index World, which frequently appears in our monthly best-selling funds series.
Who is Fidelity good for?
Fidelity’s charges make it a better option for those with larger portfolios (£30,000+) who want access to good research and solid customer support. The large global brand will reassure some too - it's a safe pair of hands for those who find newer brands too risky. There are extensive sustainable investing filtering options too. However, not the best digital experience.
Pros and cons
Investments
Fidelity users can access a wide range of thousands of investments, including:
The Fidelity website has a helpful Investment Finder which you can use to search through all of the available investments, filtering by type as well as provider, sector and even charges.
Accounts
Fidelity offers a range of accounts. The table below shows a breakdown of which ones are available and you can scroll down for more information about Fidelity's ISA, Pension and JISA.
Stocks & Shares ISA | Pension (SIPP) | General Investment Account (GIA) | Lifetime ISA | Junior ISA |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
Fees and charges
The cost of investing with Fidelity depends on the amount of money you have invested, whether you invest in regular monthly installments (the regular savings plan), and what you’re invested in.
Fidelity’s service fee is the same across ISA and SIPP accounts but is tiered based on the amount of money you have. Note that there is no service fee at all on Fidelity Junior ISA and Junior SIPP accounts. The table below illustrates how this works.
Fidelity service fee explained
Invested amount | Cost |
<£25,000 | 0.35% if you have a regular savings plan or £90 (£7.50 a month) if you don't |
£25,000 - £250,000 | 0.35% |
£250,000 - £1m | 0.20% |
£1m+ | 0.20% for the first £1 million and no service fee for investments over this |
Fidelity charges £7.50 per online trade for shares, ETFs and investment trusts. This is reduced to £1.50 if you have a regular savings or withdrawal plan.
Fidelity charges Foreign exchange fees as follows:
Amount | Fee |
Under £10,000 | 0.75% |
£10,000 - £20,000 | 0.50% |
Over £20,000 | 0.25% |
There may also be additional fees such as government levies, Stamp Duty, or taxes that apply depending on what you invest in.
Fidelity does not charge:
Service fees on cash held in your accounts
Exit fees
Buying, switching or selling funds
Customer reviews
Fidelity is generally well-regarded for its reliable and secure service, good range of investment products, and user-friendly app and website. Users appreciate the good returns on investments, comprehensive educational resources, and high-quality customer service. The platform is easy to use, making it suitable for beginners, and offers a variety of investment options.
However, there are areas for improvement. Some users suggest lowering fees, improving customer service, and providing more frequent communication. There are also calls for better clarity in reporting performance, simplifying the online process, and enhancing the user interface. Despite these suggestions, Fidelity is seen as a trustworthy and reliable provider with a strong reputation in the industry.
Most asked questions
Is Fidelity safe?
Fidelity is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). If a fund fails due to fraud or mismanagement, you may be eligible for compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The FSCS protection is capped at £85,000 per person, per fund manager (not per individual fund). However, if your investments lose value due to normal market conditions or your investment choices, this is part of the normal risk of investing and is not covered by FSCS compensation.
Can you invest in Vanguard funds with Fidelity?
Yes, it is possible to invest in over 80 Vanguard funds on Fidelity. You can filter for these by using Fidelity’s Investment Finder here.
Can you invest in individual shares with Fidelity?
Yes, you can invest in almost 2,500 UK and international shares with Fidelity. You can view the full range on the Fidelity website here.
Can you invest in bonds with Fidelity?
No, it is not possible to invest directly in bonds with Fidelity. However, many of the funds on Fidelity – its own ones and those run by other fund managers – invest in bonds, so it is still possible to get exposure to bonds as part of other investments.
Does Fidelity have an app?
Yes, Fidelity has an app for UK customers. You can download it on the Google Play Store and App Store.
