Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Capital.com vs Charles Schwab
Capital.com vs Charles Schwab: the differences
| Compare |  Capital.com |  Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £20 | $0 |
| Account fee | £0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app, MT4, TradingView | Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.075% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Capital.com scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Capital.com offers FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Regulators: only Charles Schwab offers SIPC.
- Capital.com is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Capital.com offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Charles Schwab offers Options, Futures, Funds.
- Platforms: only Capital.com offers Web platform, Mobile app, MT4.
- Platforms: only Charles Schwab offers Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile.
- Support channels: only Charles Schwab offers Phone.
- Features: only Charles Schwab offers Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
Capital.com
Capital.com suits traders who want one account across shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds without a monthly or inactivity charge. UK clients sit under FCA regulation with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The minimum deposit of £20 is the only cost barrier, above CFI at $0.
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 | Capital.com | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherAccount fee of £0, stock trade fee of $0 and no inactivity charge, with free deposits and withdrawals. | 9.1Stock trades cost $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0. Options contracts add $0.65. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Trust | 9.1Higher | 8.6 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Capital.com | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | CySEC HE 354252 Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 984500C46B3B7B69Y904 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | FCA 793714 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 16514 |
What each covers
| Markets | Capital.com | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Capital.com | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 56 of 490 | 129 of 490 |
| Low-fee brokers | 7 of 11 | 11 of 11 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital.com | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Legal entity | CAPITAL VAULT LTD | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Capital.com | 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 | Capital.com | Charles Schwab | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.075%highest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.59 |
Median across 81 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Capital.com
Pros
- No account fee at all, which puts it joint first on that measure in our data (£0).
- No inactivity charge, also joint first in our data, so an unused balance is not quietly billed (£0).
- Stock trades cost $0 under a commission-free model.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of £20 is far higher than CFI, which asks for $0.
- Support runs on chat and help centre, so there is no phone line for questions about a leveraged position.
- Retail accounts lose 65% of money, and the market is open around the clock.
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
Capital.com
Who it suits
- Traders who want shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds in one account
- UK residents who want FSCS protection alongside a CySEC regulated entity
- People who keep a balance and would otherwise pay inactivity fees
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you want a social platform with copy trading
- Vantage, if you would rather start from a smaller deposit of $5
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 | Capital.com | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Capital.com
What is the minimum deposit at Capital.com?+
The minimum deposit is £20 in the UK. That is higher than CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5. Clients who want a smaller opening balance may prefer a rival on that measure.
What does it cost to open and hold an account?+
There is no account fee, so the account costs £0. There is also no inactivity charge, at £0. Both rank the brand joint first on our data, so an unused balance is not billed.
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.