Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Schwab vs Nutmeg
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Charles Schwab |  Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | £500 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Bonds, FundsCovers more | ETFs, Funds, Stocks, Bonds |
| Regulators | SIPC | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Platforms | Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile | Web, Mobile app |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate | ISA, SIPP |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | 12.075% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | no set-up, trading or exit fees |
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Key differences
- Nutmeg scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Charles Schwab offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Nutmeg offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Markets: only Charles Schwab offers Options, Futures.
- Platforms: only Charles Schwab offers Thinkorswim, Schwab Mobile.
- Platforms: only Nutmeg offers Web, Mobile app.
- Account types: only Charles Schwab offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Account types: only Nutmeg offers ISA, SIPP.
- Support channels: only Nutmeg offers Email.
- Features: only Charles Schwab offers Fractional shares, Demo account.
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.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg suits UK investors who want a managed portfolio held in an ISA or SIPP rather than a self-directed dealing account. The cost of that convenience is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, with a £0 stock trade fee and FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 in place.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Schwab | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherStock trades cost $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0. Options contracts add $0.65. | 9.0Management fees of 0.25% to 0.75% run above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the entry floor is high. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.1Higher |
Choosing between them
Pick Charles Schwab if markets matter most.
Pick Nutmeg if trust matter most.
What each covers
| Markets | Charles Schwab | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Charles Schwab | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes |
| SIPP | No | Yes |
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | Charles Schwab | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority 552016 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 16514 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Charles Schwab: 1. Additional countries for Nutmeg: 1.
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
Nutmeg
- nutmeg.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investing-reviews.co.uk: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- register.fca.org.uk: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- compareandinvest.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- jpm-personal-investing-marketing.cdn.prismic.io: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Schwab | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 137 of 471 | 101 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 28 of 86 | 21 of 86 |
| Robo-advisors | 52 of 151 | 32 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Schwab | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC | J.P. Morgan Personal Investing Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2012 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Charles Schwab | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0%Lower | 0.25% to 0.75% |
| Minimum investment | $5,000 | £100 to £500 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash | ETF, ESG, CashCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Schwab | Nutmeg | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | 12.075%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
Median across 52 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
Nutmeg
Pros
- One ongoing charge to read: management fees of 0.25% to 0.75%, with no set-up, trading or exit fees on top.
- Holdings span etfs, funds and stocks, so a managed basket can still cover a wide spread of asset types.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the account.
Cons
- Management fees of 0.25% to 0.75% sit above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the cost rises as the balance grows.
- The opening deposit is £500 and later money goes in from £100 to £500, higher than the robo-adviser median of €60.06.
- The portfolio range is etf, esg and cash only, so there is no crypto or thematic option to tilt towards.
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
Nutmeg
Who it suits
- UK investors who want a managed portfolio inside an ISA or a SIPP and accept a single ongoing charge for the service.
- People who would rather not research individual funds, since the holdings run to etf, esg and cash approaches chosen and held for you.
- Investors who want a phone line as well as written support, since email, chat and phone includes phone, chat, email and a help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small first payment, since the £500 deposit is well above the robo-advisor lower quartile of €0, and Axos Invest begins at $100 in US dollars.
- Shoppers who want the lowest ongoing charge, since eToro runs a 0% management fee and Vivid Standard charges 0.5% to 1.5%, against Nutmeg's 0.25% to 0.75%.
- Investors who want accounts in US dollars, because Axos Invest takes $100 in dollars while Nutmeg's £100 to £500 sits in pounds.
Current offers
Nutmeg
Current offer
Bonus
Earn £100 when you invest £1,000: GBP 100 cash reward
Invest at least £1,000 in one payment into a General Investment Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA or Personal Pension and keep it invested for at least 6 months; new contributions only, transfers excluded; reward paid as unallocated cash within 55 days; new clients only, cannot be combined with other new-client offers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Charles Schwab | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| 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.
Nutmeg
What does Nutmeg charge to manage my money?+
The charge is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, which sits above the robo-adviser median of 0.35% in this group. There are no set-up, trading or exit fees to add on top. Money can go in from £100 to £500, so the cost is a percentage of what you hold rather than a price per deal.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £500, and once the account is open money can go in from £100 to £500. That first payment is the step most readers notice, and it sits above the lower quartile of €0 across robo-advisers here.
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