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Broker Comparison

ActivTrades vs Charles Schwab

Compare ActivTrades and Charles Schwab side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

ActivTrades

ActivTrades

Forex and CFD traders seeking tight spreads

ActivTrades is a multi-asset CFD and spread betting broker founded in 2001, regulated by the FCA, offering fo…

VS
Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab

Investors who want brokerage, trading, and advice options

Charles Schwab combines $0 online listed stock and ETF commissions with thinkorswim platforms, fractional S&P…

Head-to-head comparison

ActivTrades vs Charles Schwab
Feature ActivTrades Charles Schwab
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee $0.02 per share ($1 min) for US share CFDs; percentage-based commission for European shares (see broker's current schedule); 0.10% (min £1) for UK shares $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; US OTC equities $6.95
Regulators FCA, CMVM, SCB, FSC, BACEN, CVM SIPC, FDIC, CFTC, NFA
Best for Forex and CFD traders seeking tight spreads Investors who want brokerage, trading, and advice options
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Forex
CFDs
-
Crypto
-
Bonds
Options
-
Futures
-
Spread Betting
-
Demo Account
Funds
-
Fractional Shares
-
Ready Made Portfolios
-
Money Market Funds
-
Margin
-

Pros & cons

ActivTrades

ActivTrades

Pros

  • FCA-regulated with FSCS coverage up to £85,000
  • Additional private client insurance of up to £1,000,000
  • No commissions on forex, indices, commodities, ETFs, and bonds
  • Ultra-fast execution averaging 4 milliseconds
  • Choice of MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ActivTrader, and TradingView
  • Spread betting available for UK and Irish clients (tax-free profits)
  • No minimum deposit requirement
  • Free demo account with virtual funds

Cons

  • Inactivity fee of £10 per month after 52 weeks
  • $12.50 fee on USD bank wire withdrawals
  • No copy trading or social trading features
  • Weekend customer support unavailable
  • No ISA or SIPP account types
  • Limited educational content compared to some competitors
  • Crypto CFDs unavailable under FCA entity
Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab

Pros

  • $0 online listed stock and ETF commissions reduce trading costs
  • $0 brokerage opening, maintenance, and account minimums
  • Stock Slices let clients buy S&P 500 fractional shares from $5
  • paperMoney offers simulated trading on thinkorswim platforms
  • Schwab Intelligent Portfolios has no advisory fee or commissions
  • Treasuries trade online for $0 commission
  • Investor Checking has no monthly service or foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Options carry a $0.65 per-contract fee
  • Broker-assisted stock and ETF trades add a $25 service charge
  • US OTC equities cost $6.95 online
  • Other mutual funds can cost up to $74.95 per purchase
  • Stock Slices are limited to S&P 500 companies
  • Day trading on thinkorswim requires margin approval and $25,000 equity
  • Futures and forex accounts are not protected by SIPC
  • Direct crypto cannot currently be traded in a Schwab brokerage account
ActivTrades

ActivTrades

ActivTrades is a multi-asset CFD and spread betting broker founded in 2001, regulated by the FCA, offering forex, indices, stocks, commodities, ETFs, and bonds across MetaTrader 4/5, ActivTrader, and TradingView.

Visit ActivTrades Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab combines $0 online listed stock and ETF commissions with thinkorswim platforms, fractional S&P 500 Stock Slices, and automated portfolios.

Visit Charles Schwab Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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