Fidelity vs Vanguard
Both providers track indices, so neither "performs" better than the other — what separates them is cost, range and which markets they actually cover. Fidelity has 10 products in this catalog and Vanguard has 22, overlapping in 7 categories. Neither one wins outright: they split the 7 shared categories evenly.
Fidelity
- Products
- 10
- Lowest TER
- 0.06%
- Average TER
- 0.61%
- Categories
- 8
Vanguard
- Products
- 22
- Lowest TER
- 0.07%
- Average TER
- 0.16%
- Categories
- 9
Which one is cheaper, and where
A tie: they split the 7 categories both cover evenly.
The cheapest fund from each, category by category
Each provider’s lowest-fee product within every shared category, head to head. The index each one tracks is shown too, because two funds in the same category do not always track the same thing.
| Category | Fidelity | Vanguard | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainable | Fidelity Funds - Sustainable Water & Waste FundMSCI ACWI NR USD1.90% | Vanguard ESG Global All CapFTSE Global All Cap Choice0.24% | €166/year per €10,000 |
| Japan | Fidelity MSCI Japan Index Fund P-ACC-EURMSCI Japan0.10% | Vanguard FTSE JapanFTSE Japan0.15% | €5/year per €10,000 |
| Emerging | Fidelity MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund P-ACC-EURMSCI Emerging Markets0.19% | Vanguard FTSE Emerging MarketsFTSE Emerging0.22% | €3/year per €10,000 |
| USA | Fidelity S&P 500 Index Fund P-ACC-EURS&P 5000.06% | Vanguard S&P 500S&P 5000.07% | €1/year per €10,000 |
| Europe | Fidelity MSCI Europe Index Fund P-ACC-EURMSCI Europe0.10% | Vanguard FTSE 100FTSE 1000.09% | €1/year per €10,000 |
| Dividends | Fidelity US Quality IncomeFidelity US Quality Income0.30% | Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend YieldFTSE All-World High Dividend Yield0.29% | €1/year per €10,000 |
| Global | Fidelity MSCI World Index Fund P-ACC-EURMSCI World0.12% | Vanguard FTSE Developed WorldFTSE Developed0.12% | Same cost |
What each one covers
Only at Fidelity
Only at Vanguard
Structural differences
Fidelity
- Accumulating
- 80%
- Physical replication
- 100%
- Are ETFs
- 20%
- Domicile
- Ireland, Luxembourg
Vanguard
- Accumulating
- 55%
- Physical replication
- 100%
- Are ETFs
- 68%
- Domicile
- Ireland
Other provider comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Is Fidelity or Vanguard cheaper?+
It depends on the category — they tie overall, each offering the cheapest fund in 3 of the 7 categories both cover. Compare the specific category you want rather than the provider as a whole.
Where is the difference between Fidelity and Vanguard biggest?+
In sustainable (ESG) criteria: Fidelity Funds - Sustainable Water & Waste Fund charges 1.90% against 0.24% for Vanguard ESG Global All Cap. On €10,000 invested that is a €166.00 difference every year, in favour of Vanguard.
Which one has the wider range?+
Vanguard, with 22 products against 10. Coverage is not identical either: Fidelity covers the technology sector where Vanguard does not; Vanguard covers fixed income, small-cap companies where Fidelity does not.
Are there structural differences beyond fees?+
Yes. Fidelity's products in this catalog are 80% accumulating and 100% physically replicated, domiciled in Ireland, Luxembourg. Vanguard's are 55% accumulating and 100% physical, domiciled in Ireland. For a Spanish investor the accumulating/distributing split matters for tax, and domicile matters for dividend withholding.
Does this comparison look at past performance?+
No, deliberately. Two funds tracking the same index deliver almost identical returns before fees, so comparing their past returns tells you about the index, not about the provider. The fee is the part the provider actually controls, and the only one you know for certain the day you invest.
Cost and coverage comparison computed over this site’s catalog, which is a sample and not each provider’s full product range. Returns are not compared: two funds tracking the same index perform almost identically before fees, so past performance tells you about the index, not the provider. Educational content, not a recommendation.