Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Schwab vs FOREX.com
Where Charles Schwab and FOREX.com differ
| Compare |  Charles Schwab |  FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $100 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds | Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SIPC | FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 1.2% |
| Margin rate | 12.075% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- FOREX.com scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Charles Schwab offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only FOREX.com offers FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC.
- FOREX.com is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Charles Schwab: $0 vs $100.
- Markets: only Charles Schwab offers Stocks, ETFs, Options.
- Markets: only FOREX.com offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Features: only Charles Schwab offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only FOREX.com offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
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.
FOREX.com
FOREX.com suits UK retail traders who want one commission-free account covering forex, CFDs and crypto under a named UK regulator. The trade-off is the price of entry: a $100 minimum deposit sits well above the €4.64 median across the brands compared here.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Schwab | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherStock trades cost $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0. Options contracts add $0.65. | 8.3Commission-free pricing with a 1.2% EUR/USD spread, though the $100 minimum deposit is steep against the €4.64 site median. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.8Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Charles Schwab | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 16514 | |
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Charles Schwab | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Sources behind this comparison
Charles Schwab
- schwab.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneysmart.hk: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bankrate.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- public.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
FOREX.com
- compareforexbrokers.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Schwab | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Charles Schwab | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $5,000 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Schwab | FOREX.com | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $100above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74%above the median | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 1.2%highest quarter | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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
FOREX.com
Pros
- Commission-free pricing means the 1.2% EUR/USD spread is the cost you can actually see before you trade
- Regulated in the UK by the FCA, in the US by the NFA/CFTC and in Australia by the ASIC
- UK clients have investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the firm
Cons
- The $100 minimum deposit sits above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage, so entry is the main hurdle
- Retail accounts lose money at 74%, above the 70.15% median for the brands compared here
- The range stops at forex, CFDs and crypto, without the shares, ETFs and futures that appear in stocks, etfs and forex
Who each suits
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
FOREX.com
Who it suits
- UK retail traders who want one commission-free account across forex, CFDs and crypto
- Traders who want a demo account to size up the platform before funding the $100 deposit
- People who put weight on a named UK regulator and FSCS up to GBP 85,000
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small sum, since CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5 against a $100 entry here
- Share and ETF investors, because eToro's range runs to stocks, etfs and forex
Country by country
| Country | Charles Schwab | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
FOREX.com
What does it cost to trade forex on FOREX.com?+
Pricing is commission-free, so the cost sits in the spread rather than a separate deal charge. The euro against the dollar carries a spread of 1.2%, and that figure is the one to watch if you trade often or in size. The commission-free model runs across the account, not on one pair alone.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That is a clear step up from the €4.64 median across the brands compared here, and well above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage. Plan the funding before you open, because the threshold applies at the account level.
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