Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Avanza vs Charles Schwab
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Avanza |  Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | SEK 1 | $0 |
| Account fee | SEK 0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Finansinspektionen | SIPC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Avanza Platform, Avanza App | Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.075% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate |
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Key differences
- Charles Schwab scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Avanza offers Finansinspektionen.
- Regulators: only Charles Schwab offers SIPC.
- Markets: only Charles Schwab offers Options, Futures, Bonds.
- Platforms: only Avanza offers Avanza Platform, Avanza App.
- Platforms: only Charles Schwab offers Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile.
- Features: only Charles Schwab offers Fractional shares, Demo account.
- Pricing model: only Avanza offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Charles Schwab offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Avanza
Avanza suits Swedish and European beginners who want a regulated home for stocks, ETFs and funds without an account charge. Its account fee is SEK 0 and each stock trade costs SEK 1, with money covered by EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 and watched by Finansinspektionen.
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab suits investors who want a wide US market range at a low running cost, with $0 on stock trades and an account fee of $0. It is less suited to those who want forex, CFDs or crypto on the same account.
Score breakdown
| Area | Avanza | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Account fee is SEK 0 and the stock trade fee is SEK 1 on a low-fees model, against a site account fee median of €0. | 9.1HigherStock trades cost $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0. Options contracts add $0.65. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.0Higher | 8.6 |
Which one suits you
Pick Avanza if trust matter most.
Pick Charles Schwab if offer and markets matter most.
What each covers
| Markets | Avanza | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Avanza | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 154 of 471 | 137 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 61 of 151 | 52 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Avanza | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Avanza Bank Holding AB | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC |
| Headquarters | Sweden | United States |
| Founded | 1999 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Avanza | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $5,000 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Avanza | Charles Schwab | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $25 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.075%highest quarter | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Avanza
Pros
- No account charge: the account fee is SEK 0, and Avanza ranks at 1 of 138 brands on that measure.
- Stock trades cost SEK 1 on a low-fees model, below the site stock trade fee median of €0.
- Regulated in Sweden by Finansinspektionen, and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 covers eligible holdings.
Cons
- Coverage is limited to stocks, etfs and funds, so traders who want forex, CFDs or crypto must look elsewhere.
- The account sits with Avanza Bank Holding AB in Sweden, so money is in a Swedish account rather than a UK one.
- Regulator count is thin: Finansinspektionen is the only entry, which limits cross-border reassurance for readers in other markets.
Charles Schwab
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and there is an account fee of $0, so holding a balance costs nothing to keep open
- No inactivity charge either, with an inactivity fee of $0, so an unused account is not billed
- Markets run stocks, etfs and options, which covers shares, exchange traded funds, options, futures, bonds and funds in one place
Cons
- Options contracts carry a fee of $0.65 each, so a derivative trade costs more than the $0 charged on a stock trade
- The listed markets are stocks, etfs and options, and forex, contracts for difference and crypto are not among them
- Support runs on chat, phone and help centre, and email is not among those channels
Who each suits
Avanza
Who it suits
- Beginners building a first share and fund portfolio in Sweden
- Long-term holders who want EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 behind their holdings
- Investors who trade through the app and prefer one account charge of SEK 0
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, CFDs or crypto, since Avanza lists stocks, etfs and funds only
- Readers who want a UK-listed provider and the account type that goes with it
- Anyone who needs a wide spread of regulated entities beyond Finansinspektionen
Charles Schwab
Who it suits
- Investors buying US shares and exchange traded funds who care about what each trade costs
- Retirement savers who want tax-advantaged accounts next to a taxable account
- Fractional share investors building a position gradually with small monthly amounts
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting forex, contracts for difference or crypto, where eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex against Schwab's stocks, etfs and options
- Traders who want a per contract derivative fee waived, since options cost $0.65 here
- Investors starting a managed portfolio with less than the $5,000 the service asks for
Country by country
| Country | Avanza | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Avanza
How much does Avanza cost to open and run an account?+
The account fee is SEK 0, so holding the account does not cost anything on its own. Each stock trade is SEK 1 on a low-fees model. That puts Avanza near the top of the site ranking for account fees at 1 of 138 brands.
What can I actually buy and sell on Avanza?+
The listed markets are stocks, etfs and funds. So the account is built for direct share dealing, ETF buying and fund investment rather than leveraged products. Readers who want forex, CFDs or crypto will need a different broker for those instruments.
Charles Schwab
How much does it cost to trade stocks at Charles Schwab?+
Stock trades cost $0, and there is no account charge on top, with the account fee at $0. Trading is commission free, so the cost of a buy or sell is not driven by a per trade ticket. Options are the exception, priced at $0.65 per contract.
Is there an inactivity fee if I leave my account empty?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so an unused brokerage account is not billed for sitting still. That keeps a dormant account free to hold, which matters if you fund once and add to it occasionally. The same applies to the account fee, which is $0.
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