Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs ACY Securities, 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.
When comparing Charles Schwab and ACY Securities, both companies offer distinct advantages based on their credentials and regulatory standing. Charles Schwab, founded in 1971, enjoys a high level of trust with a perfect Trust Score of 99, according to ForexBrokers.com. This American broker is publicly traded and operates as a bank, bringing added security and reliability. Schwab holds five Tier-1 licenses, which are considered the pinnacle of trustworthiness in the financial world.
On the other hand, ACY Securities, established in 2011, has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 75, placing it in the average risk category. While not publicly traded or a bank, ACY Securities has a single Tier-1 license, indicating a level of regulatory recognition but not quite on the same level as Schwab's. As an investor, these factors may help guide your decision based on the level of trust and security you prioritize in an online broker.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Charles Schwab offers a variety of account options for traders, with no minimum deposit required for its standard brokerage accounts, making it accessible for forex trading. With the Schwab One account, traders can utilize the thinkorswim platform for trading forex, although all trades are settled in U.S. dollars, and the minimum trade size is 10,000 units. For those focusing on international markets, the Schwab Global account provides access to twelve foreign markets in their local currencies, albeit with conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1%, influenced by account balance size. Schwab's forex trading is commission-free, with costs deriving from bid/ask spreads, which average 1.35 pips on the EUR/USD—on the higher side of industry averages. Schwab received a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked #23 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
ACY Securities caters to a diverse trader base with both low-deposit and commission-based account options. The Standard account offers commission-free trading for just a $50 deposit, but the spreads, averaging 1.2 pips on the EUR/USD, are broader than the commission-based ProZero and Bespoke accounts. The ProZero account, starting at a $200 deposit, and the Bespoke account, requiring $10,000, offer average spreads as low as 0.25 pips, with commissions varying from $5 to $6 per round turn. ACY Securities provides competitive pricing, especially for Australian residents, where commissions on ProZero drop to $3 per RT, equating to effective spreads of 0.55 pips. ACY is rated 4.5 stars for commissions and fees and holds the #21 position out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| 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 ACY Securities both offer a wide array of investment options that cater to different types of traders. At Charles Schwab, investors can access over 40,000 tradeable symbols, with 73 forex pairs included. This broker also provides the opportunity to invest in exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, like Apple or Vodafone shares. In contrast, ACY Securities presents traders with 2,200 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, but it does not offer direct access to exchange traded securities on U.S. or international markets. Both brokers provide forex trading in the form of CFDs or spot contracts and allow for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
For those interested in copy trading, ACY Securities offers this feature, while it is not offered by Charles Schwab. When it comes to the range of investments, Charles Schwab has been awarded five stars and is ranked 5th out of 62 brokers, reflecting the broad array of investment options they provide. ACY Securities, with a four-star rating, is positioned 30th in the same category. This highlights Schwab's more extensive offering in terms of investment types and markets available for trading. Overall, Charles Schwab's diverse range of products is ideal for investors looking for a broader market reach, whereas ACY Securities may appeal to those specifically interested in CFDs and copy trading.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| 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 ACY Securities both cater to traders with a variety of platform tools, but they offer different experiences and features. For users who prefer trying out trading without the financial risk, both brokers provide simulated trading through a free virtual demo account. When it comes to platform innovation, both brokers have developed their proprietary platforms, ensuring a tailored trading experience. They also each provide a Windows-based desktop and a web-based trading platform, offering flexibility for accessing the market. However, ACY Securities has an edge with the availability of MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), popular platforms among traders for their comprehensive tools, which Charles Schwab does not offer. On the other hand, ACY supports copy trading, a feature absent in Schwab’s offerings.
For those focused on detailed charting and analysis, Charles Schwab might have the upper hand. It provides an extensive array of 24 drawing tools and an impressive 580 columns for watch lists, compared to ACY Securities’ 15 drawing tools and 7 watch list fields. Both platforms allow trading directly from a stock chart, enhancing the trading process. Despite the advantages that ACY Securities brings with its diverse platform support, Charles Schwab is rated higher for its trading platforms and tools, receiving a full five-star rating and ranking fifth among 62 brokers. In comparison, ACY Securities holds a slightly lower four-star rating and ranks 41st in the same category according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and ACY Securities provide iPhone and Android apps for convenient trading on the go. Both platforms support providing stock or forex price alerts directly to your mobile device, enhancing your ability to stay informed no matter where you are. However, a key difference between the two is that Charles Schwab offers watchlist syncing, meaning any updates you make on either the mobile app or your online account will automatically sync across both. In contrast, ACY Securities lacks this feature. When it comes to charting tools, Charles Schwab shines with 374 technical studies available in its mobile app, while ACY Securities offers 30. Both brokers allow users to draw trendlines and support multiple time frames like daily, weekly, or intraday, keeping technical analysis straightforward and accessible. Additionally, both apps automatically save your chart drawings, ensuring your progress and insights are preserved.
When creating watchlists, both Charles Schwab and ACY Securities provide real-time quotes to keep you updated with the latest market movements. In terms of user ratings, Charles Schwab receives an impressive 5-star rating, while ACY Securities holds a strong 4-star rating. Among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab secures the #6 spot in the Mobile Trading Apps category, reflecting high user satisfaction, while ACY Securities is ranked at #40. With these metrics in mind, Charles Schwab appears to offer a slightly more comprehensive and user-friendly mobile trading experience for both novice and experienced traders alike.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 the market research offerings of Charles Schwab and ACY Securities, several distinctions become evident. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and a global economic calendar that highlights significant news events for economies worldwide, ensuring investors stay informed about market shifts. However, Charles Schwab stands out by offering forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, whereas ACY Securities does not provide such top-tier news resources. This access to premier news sources might explain why Charles Schwab achieves a higher research rating of 5 stars, compared to ACY Securities' 3.5 stars.
Furthermore, neither broker offers tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, or Acuity Trading, nor do they have sentiment-based trading tools that display the ratio of long or short positions across different instruments. Although these features are absent, Charles Schwab’s commitment to offering comprehensive market insights is evident in its impressive number 4 ranking in the Research category by ForexBrokers.com, among 62 brokers evaluated. In contrast, ACY Securities is positioned at rank 44, illustrating a notable difference in their research capabilities and offerings.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing Charles Schwab and ACY Securities regarding educational resources for beginners, both online brokers offer solid materials for those new to forex and CFDs. Charles Schwab provides over 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, all focusing on forex and CFDs, mirrored by ACY Securities. Both platforms also host regular monthly webinars and maintain a searchable archive of past webinars, offering valuable insights for continuous learning.
However, Charles Schwab takes a step further in educational support by offering more beginner and advanced videos, with over 10 for beginners and experienced traders. On the contrary, ACY Securities provides the necessary educational videos for beginners but falls short on advanced content. Additionally, Charles Schwab includes an extensive investor dictionary with more than 50 investing terms, a feature ACY Securities currently lacks. Reflecting these differences, Charles Schwab boasts a 5-star education rating and ranks 6th among 62 brokers, while ACY Securities holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 43rd.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 ACY Securities. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #42.
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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ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 |
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While neither Charles Schwab nor ACY Securities provides the option to purchase actual cryptocurrency, both platforms offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, catering to investors interested in market exposure without owning the digital assets.
Both Charles Schwab and ACY Securities allow ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but ACY Securities stands out by also accepting Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard, which Charles Schwab does not, and neither offers PayPal as a transaction option.
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 | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
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| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | No |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Research | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | ACY Securities Review |
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