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.
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When comparing Charles Schwab and ActivTrades, both brokers present their own unique features and regulatory standings. Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab stands out with a Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded entity and a bank, it holds five Tier-1 licenses—considered highly trusted—demonstrating its strong regulatory framework. In contrast, ActivTrades has been in operation since 2001 and isn’t publicly traded or a bank. While it holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, it still maintains a respectable Trust Score of 81, marking it as a trusted broker.
Overall, Charles Schwab offers a highly secure option for those seeking an online broker with stringent regulatory backing, thanks in part to its significant number of Tier-1 licenses and its status as a publicly traded bank. Meanwhile, ActivTrades provides a solid level of trust with its combination of Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses, appealing to investors who prioritize regulatory oversight. Each broker’s regulatory standings can help users make an informed choice based on their personal investment preferences and risk tolerance.
| 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 |
Charles Schwab offers a competitive environment for traders, thanks to its no minimum deposit requirement and access to the thinkorswim platform for forex trading. Traders can choose between a Schwab One account, where trades are settled in U.S. dollars, and a Schwab Global account, which provides access to international markets using local currencies while applying conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1%. Notably, forex trading at Schwab does not incur direct commissions; instead, costs arise from the bid/ask spread, with the EUR/USD spread averaging around 1.35 pips in October 2024. Schwab has garnered a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked #23 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades, while offering a slightly better spread than the industry average, provides an Individual Account along with variants like Professional and Islamic accounts. Spreads at ActivTrades depend on the asset and platform in use, and there is no dedicated account type for high-volume traders. Although aimed at meeting different trader needs, the variance in trading costs emerges primarily from asset type rather than commission rates. With an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips reported for May 2024, ActivTrades presents a compelling option for traders seeking competitive rates without extra commissions. ActivTrades is also rated 4 stars for commissions and fees but stands at a slightly lower rank, #27, in comparison to Charles Schwab, according to ForexBrokers.com.
Both brokers show strong performances in managing commissions and fees, with Schwab offering access to diverse accounts and international markets, and ActivTrades focusing on competitive spreads across its account options. Traders may find Charles Schwab suitable for broader market exposure and ActivTrades appealing for tighter forex spreads, making both viable options depending on individual trading preferences.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades both offer a variety of investment options, but they cater to different needs. Schwab provides an extensive selection with over 40,000 tradeable symbols, including 73 forex pairs. They allow clients to buy U.S. exchange-traded securities like Apple shares and international options such as Vodafone shares. While Schwab does not have a copy trading feature or allow buying actual cryptocurrencies, they offer cryptocurrency derivatives for those interested. This broad offering earns Schwab a rating of 5 stars for range of investments and a high rank of #5 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, ActivTrades offers a smaller, yet competitive, selection with 1,267 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. Although ActivTrades does not provide access to U.S. exchange-traded securities, it supports international options and includes copy trading—a feature Schwab lacks. Like Schwab, ActivTrades offers cryptocurrency derivatives but does not facilitate the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Their general range of investments receives a respectable 4-star rating and is ranked #31 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, catering to a diverse range of investment strategies.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 each provide comprehensive trading platforms ideal for both novice and experienced investors, yet they differ in several key areas. Both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading without financial risk, and they each have a proprietary platform developed in-house. They also support Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms, making trading accessible whether at home or on the go. However, where ActivTrades has a distinct advantage is in its support for popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, enabling traders to utilize a variety of trading strategies, including copy trading, which Charles Schwab does not offer.
When it comes to tools for charting and customizing watch lists, Charles Schwab provides an edge with 24 drawing tools and an impressive 580 columns for watch list customization compared to ActivTrades' 15 drawing tools and 11 columns. Both platforms allow trading directly from stock charts. This broader toolset helps Charles Schwab achieve an exceptional five-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking fifth among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades, while also highly rated, garners four stars, placing it at 29th, which may reflect its narrower selection of charting tools compared to Schwab.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and ActivTrades provide comprehensive mobile trading applications for iPhone and Android users, ensuring seamless access to the financial markets. While both platforms offer features like real-time price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts, there are noticeable differences in their offerings. Charles Schwab stands out with its extensive charting capabilities, featuring 374 technical studies compared to just 30 offered by ActivTrades. Additionally, Charles Schwab allows watchlist symbol syncing with an online account, a feature missing in the ActivTrades app. Both apps support viewing multiple timeframes and automatically save drawings on charts, providing convenience for traders on the go.
When it comes to rating and rankings, Charles Schwab's mobile trading app enjoys a pristine five-star rating, demonstrating user satisfaction and trust, while ActivTrades scores a solid four stars. Reflecting this difference, Charles Schwab is ranked sixth among 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, whereas ActivTrades holds the nineteenth spot. Despite some similarities, Charles Schwab offers a richer, more integrated mobile trading experience, especially for users who prioritize advanced charting tools and seamless syncing features.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Charles Schwab and ActivTrades for market research, both brokers offer daily market commentary and provide forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring investors have access to important financial updates. While neither broker utilizes analysis tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, ActivTrades stands out by offering a sentiment-based trading tool that displays the ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs, which Charles Schwab does not provide. In addition, both brokers feature an economic calendar displaying significant global news events, allowing traders to stay informed about market movements.
Despite some similarities, there are notable distinctions in their research offerings. Charles Schwab is highly regarded with a five-star rating for research and ranks fourth out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. This reflects its comprehensive approach and tools available for traders. Meanwhile, ActivTrades, with a four-star rating and positioned at 30th place on the same list, provides a solid research experience but falls short compared to Charles Schwab's top-tier status. Neither broker offers insights from companies like TipRanks or Acuity Trading, indicating similar limitations in this area. However, investors looking for detailed research support may find Charles Schwab's offerings more robust in meeting their needs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Charles Schwab and ActivTrades offer a comprehensive suite of tools to help new traders understand forex and CFDs. Both platforms provide a wide range of educational content, including at least 10 articles, videos, or webinars focused on forex and CFDs. Moreover, they each host regular online educational webinars and maintain a searchable archive of past sessions, allowing users to learn at their own pace. For beginners specifically, both brokers deliver over 10 beginner-friendly educational videos to help new traders get started. However, Charles Schwab distinguishes itself by also offering a detailed investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, a feature that ActivTrades does not provide.
In the realm of educational resources, Charles Schwab is highly acclaimed, earning a 5-star rating based on its comprehensive and accessible content. In contrast, ActivTrades receives a respectable 4-star rating, reflecting its solid, yet slightly less extensive, educational offerings. When evaluated among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab is ranked 6th in the Education category, underscoring its commitment to supporting learner growth. On the other hand, ActivTrades holds the 38th position, suggesting there might be room for improvement. Overall, both brokers present solid educational resources, but Charles Schwab's extra offerings like an investor dictionary give it an edge for those just starting out.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 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 #33.
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
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ActivTrades
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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Both Charles Schwab and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Charles Schwab and ActivTrades differ in their fund transfer options: Charles Schwab supports ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires but does not accommodate PayPal, Skrill, or Visa/Mastercard, whereas ActivTrades allows fund transfers via Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but not ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal.
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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | 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 (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 1.35 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ActivTrades Review |
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