  Motivated by the fact that cosmological models based on $f(Q)$ gravity are
very efficient in fitting observational datasets at both background and
perturbation levels, we perform a combined dynamical system analysis of both
background and perturbation equations in order to examine the validity of this
result through an independent method. We examine two studied $f(Q)$ models of
the literature, namely the power-law and the exponential ones. For both cases,
we obtain a matter-dominated saddle point characterized by the correct growth
rate of matter perturbations, followed by the transition to a stable
dark-energy dominated accelerated universe in which matter perturbations remain
constant. Furthermore, analyzing the behavior of $f \sigma_8$, we find that the
models fit observational data successfully, obtaining a behavior similar to
that of $\Lambda$CDM scenario, although the exponential model does not possess
the latter as a particular limit. Hence, through the independent approach of
dynamical systems, we do verify the results of observational confrontation,
namely that $f(Q)$ gravity can be considered as a very promising alternative to
the $\Lambda$CDM concordance model.
