Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Charles Schwab vs ActivTrades: Charles Schwab (founded 1971) is an online broker that is publicly traded and operates as a bank, while ActivTrades (founded 2001) is privately held and not a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab holds a Trust Score of 99/99 (highly trusted) and ActivTrades scores 80/99 (trusted). On the ForexBrokers.com scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted.
Looking at regulation, Charles Schwab holds five Tier-1 licenses and zero Tier-2 licenses. ActivTrades holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. ForexBrokers.com considers Tier-1 licenses highly trusted and Tier-2 licenses trusted—useful context when comparing regulatory oversight between these two brokers.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both earn 4 out of 5 stars, but ActivTrades edges ahead in the ForexBrokers.com rankings, placing #21 out of 36 brokers compared with Schwab’s #23 out of 36. Schwab does not charge commissions on forex trades, so the main cost is the spread. In October 2024, Schwab’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, which is a bit high versus many rivals. Schwab also has no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts, but forex traders should note that the smallest trade size is 10,000 units and all trades are settled in U.S. dollars.
ActivTrades also keeps pricing simple by relying mostly on spreads rather than commissions. Its average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is better than Schwab’s and slightly better than the industry average, though not as low as the cheapest brokers in the market. ActivTrades offers an Individual Account, plus Professional and Islamic account options, but it does not have a special pricing plan for high-volume traders. Spreads can vary by asset and may widen during busy market periods, so the final cost depends on what you trade and when you trade it.
Overall, Schwab may appeal more to traders who want access to multiple account types and international markets, while ActivTrades is the stronger pick for lower average forex spreads. For commissions and fees alone, ActivTrades comes out slightly ahead thanks to its lower EUR/USD spread and better ranking, even though both brokers are rated equally at 4 stars.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Charles Schwab offers more choice overall than ActivTrades. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while ActivTrades offers 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as either a CFD or spot contract, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. Charles Schwab also stands out for its access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, while ActivTrades supports international exchange-traded shares only.
There are a few other differences to note. ActivTrades offers copy trading, which Charles Schwab does not. For range of investments, Schwab is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #25. If you want a wider selection of markets and listed stocks, Charles Schwab is the stronger pick; if copy trading matters more, ActivTrades has that extra feature.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both give traders a choice of a web platform, a downloadable desktop platform for Windows, a proprietary in-house platform, and a free demo account for simulated trading. Each also lets users place trades directly from a chart, which can make it easier to act on market moves without switching screens. In this area, Charles Schwab stands out for its higher overall rating, earning 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranking #7 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #26.
The bigger differences come down to trading extras. ActivTrades supports copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5, while Charles Schwab does not offer those tools. That makes ActivTrades a better fit for traders who want popular third-party platforms and the option to follow other traders. Charles Schwab, on the other hand, may appeal more to users who prefer a highly rated in-house platform and a simpler platform lineup built around its own tools.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings, which is helpful for traders who want to review chart notes later. Both platforms make it easy to trade from a phone, but there are important differences in how much charting and account syncing they provide.
Charles Schwab stands out for mobile trading because its app includes watchlist syncing with the online account and a much larger set of chart studies, with 374 technical indicators compared with ActivTrades’ 30. It is also rated 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #21. For traders who want stronger mobile charting and smoother watchlist syncing, Charles Schwab has the edge.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both give traders useful market research features, including daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar with key global events. Neither broker offers Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, so the research lineup is fairly focused rather than packed with extra third-party add-ons.
The main difference is that ActivTrades includes a sentiment tool that shows how many traders are long or short on a currency pair or other instrument, while Charles Schwab does not. Charles Schwab still comes out ahead overall, with a 5-star Research rating and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #5 out of 36 brokers, compared with ActivTrades’ 4-star rating and #26 ranking.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both give beginners plenty of ways to learn, including online educational webinars each month plus at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced videos on trading topics. Both also offer forex or CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces focused on those markets, so new traders can find material that helps them build core knowledge step by step.
Where they differ is in overall education quality and standing. Charles Schwab is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, which points to a stronger learning experience for beginners. ActivTrades is still a solid choice, with a 4-star Education rating and a #30 ranking, but Charles Schwab offers the clearer edge for traders who want more polished educational support.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than ActivTrades. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
Charles Schwab is a highly trusted financial institution and multi-asset broker catering to U.S.-based and international forex traders. Schwab's award-winning thinkorswim platform offers over 70 tradeable currency pairs alongside impressive tools, research, and education. That said, the broker’s forex offering is still largely limited to what is available on thinkorswim.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Comparing online brokers Charles Schwab and ActivTrades, neither supports purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing Charles Schwab vs ActivTrades for deposits and withdrawals: Charles Schwab supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires but not PayPal or Skrill, while ActivTrades supports Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill