Charles Schwab vs Fidelity:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Charles Schwab had more branded searches than Fidelity among retail investing and trading apps worldwide. Charles Schwab had about 3.4 million branded searches, while Fidelity had 565,000. Charles Schwab made up 37.4% of all retail investing and trading app searches we track, and Fidelity accounted for 6.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about retail investing and trading apps, both Charles Schwab and Fidelity appeared in all five answers. Fidelity was mentioned before Charles Schwab in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Charles Schwab, about 6 searches for every 1 for Fidelity
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Fidelity, named ahead of Charles Schwab in every answer
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Top retail investing and trading apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Charles Schwab and Fidelity showed up in all five answers. Fidelity was listed before Charles Schwab in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Charles Schwab5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Robinhood5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Fidelity5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Interactive Brokers4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Webull3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Trade Republic0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Wealthsimple0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Trading 2120 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
eToro0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Freetrade0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about retail investing and trading apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which retail investing and trading app should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best retail investing and trading apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best retail investing and trading app for individual investors?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best investing app”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“trading app for beginners”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Charles Schwab or Fidelity more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Charles Schwab and Fidelity by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 retail investing and trading apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Charles Schwab, Fidelity. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Charles Schwab | Robinhood | Trade Republic | Interactive Brokers | Fidelity | Wealthsimple | Trading 212 | eToro | Webull | Freetrade | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 35.5% | 20.1% | 8.8% | 7.3% | 6% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 7.4% | 4.1% | 0.48% | 0.05% |
| Nov 2025 | 33.8% | 23.3% | 8.4% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 4.8% | 7% | 3.2% | 0.45% | 0.05% |
| Dec 2025 | 35.3% | 20.1% | 10.6% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 3.4% | 0.4% | 0.06% |
| Jan 2026 | 35.5% | 16.7% | 10.7% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 7.4% | 3.4% | 0.59% | 0.05% |
| Feb 2026 | 37.4% | 17.6% | 9.2% | 6.3% | 6.5% | 8.6% | 4.4% | 6.4% | 3% | 0.51% | 0.05% |
| Mar 2026 | 34.9% | 16.6% | 8.6% | 5.9% | 6% | 13.5% | 5.1% | 6% | 2.8% | 0.48% | 0.05% |
| Apr 2026 | 35.5% | 16.8% | 8.7% | 6% | 7.4% | 12.8% | 4.4% | 5% | 2.8% | 0.48% | 0.06% |
| May 2026 | 38.6% | 15.3% | 11.6% | 7.9% | 6.7% | 6.1% | 4.7% | 5.4% | 3.1% | 0.43% | 0.06% |
| Jun 2026 | 37% | 17.9% | 13.6% | 6.2% | 6.4% | 5.7% | 4.5% | 5.2% | 2.9% | 0.35% | 0.05% |
| Jul 2026 | 35.9% | 17.6% | 13.2% | 7.4% | 7.6% | 5.6% | 4.4% | 5.1% | 2.9% | 0.28% | 0.05% |
| Aug 2026 | 34.8% | 20.2% | 12.8% | 7.2% | 7.3% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 2.8% | 0.33% | 0.05% |
| Sep 2026 | 37.4% | 17.8% | 11.2% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 2.9% | 0.51% | 0.05% |
How has the Charles Schwab and Fidelity comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Charles Schwab was ahead of Fidelity in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Charles Schwab’s share of searches among retail investing and trading apps worldwide moved from 35.5% to 37.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.1M to 3.4M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Fidelity’s share of searches among retail investing and trading apps worldwide moved from 6% to 6.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 691K to 565K.
How did search popularity change for retail investing and trading apps worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, Charles Schwab gained share of searches among retail investing and trading apps worldwide, from 34.8% to 37.4%.

In September 2026, Fidelity lost share of searches among retail investing and trading apps worldwide, from 7.3% to 6.3%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Charles Schwab’s and Fidelity’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Charles Schwab
1 branded search term
- schwab app
Fidelity
1 branded search term
- fidelity app
Other head-to-heads among retail investing and trading apps

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