Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs ATFX, 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, founded in 1971, is a well-established online broker that offers clients the assurance of a high Trust Score rating of 99, as per ForexBrokers.com. This indicates that Schwab is highly trusted and secure in the eyes of industry experts. Being publicly traded and operating as a bank, Charles Schwab holds five Tier-1 licenses, underscoring its strong regulatory framework. Its longstanding presence in the financial market reflects a deep commitment to reliability and investor protection.
ATFX, on the other hand, started its journey in 2017 and has rapidly positioned itself as a trusted name with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85. While not publicly traded and not a bank, ATFX maintains a respectable standing with four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses. This blend of licenses portrays a careful adherence to regulatory standards, providing a level of trust and safety to its clients. Both brokers offer unique strengths suited for different investor needs, backed by their regulatory credentials.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Charles Schwab and ATFX are two distinct options for online forex trading, particularly when comparing their commissions and fees. Charles Schwab stands out with no minimum deposit requirement, making it accessible for beginners. The broker offers forex trading through its Schwab One and Schwab Global accounts. The Schwab One account allows trades in U.S. dollars with a minimum trade size of 10,000 units, which means a $500 margin is needed based on 20:1 leverage. For those interested in trading on international markets, the Schwab Global account offers access to twelve markets in local currencies, with conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1%, contingent on your account balance.
Charles Schwab does not charge commissions for forex trading but depends on the bid/ask spread, with the EUR/USD spread averaging 1.35 pips, slightly higher than industry norms. Schwab's thinkorswim platform conveniently lists overnight carry charges, helping traders estimate costs for holding positions overnight. On the other hand, ATFX does not provide specific average spread data and therefore lacks transparency in comparison.
In terms of ratings, Charles Schwab earns 4 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees, holding the 23rd rank out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. ATFX, in contrast, receives 3 stars and is ranked 59th in the same category. Overall, Schwab offers a more comprehensive fee structure with greater access to international markets for those willing to navigate its somewhat higher costs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | N/A |
| 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 ATFX both offer opportunities for forex trading, making them viable choices for those interested in currency markets. However, when it comes to the variety of available investments, Charles Schwab stands out significantly with an impressive selection of 40,000 tradeable symbols, including 73 forex pairs. This vast array extends to the ability to trade exchange-listed securities on both U.S. and international markets, offering direct purchase options for global giants like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, ATFX provides a more limited selection with 150 tradeable symbols and 44 forex pairs, and it does not offer access to exchange-traded securities beyond CFDs.
While Charles Schwab opts not to provide copy trading services, ATFX caters to this demand, adding an appealing feature for some traders. Both platforms offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows for the direct purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Charles Schwab’s comprehensive range of investments earns it a stellar five-star rating and a prestigious 5th place ranking in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ATFX holds a more modest 3.5-star rating, placing it at 57th out of 62 brokers in the same category.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 44 |
| 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 ATFX provide diverse trading platforms and tools that cater to various investment needs. Charles Schwab offers a unique in-house developed trading platform, allowing users to engage with a customized, Windows-based desktop platform, and a web-based interface. In contrast, ATFX uses popular third-party systems such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), appealing to traders who favor these widely recognized platforms. Both brokers facilitate simulated (paper) trading through free virtual demo accounts, giving newcomers to the market a chance to practice without financial risk. However, ATFX stands out by supporting copy trading, offering opportunities for traders to mirror others' strategies, while Charles Schwab does not provide this feature.
In terms of technical capabilities, both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts. Charles Schwab offers 24 drawing tools compared to ATFX's 15, giving it an edge for technical analysis enthusiasts. Notably, Charles Schwab includes an extensive 580 columns for watch lists, significantly more than ATFX's 7. These features contribute to Charles Schwab earning a higher rating of five stars compared to ATFX’s 3.5 stars for their trading platforms and tools. Additionally, ForexBrokers.com ranks Charles Schwab as fifth among 62 brokers in this category, highlighting its overall superiority, while ATFX is placed at 61st. These distinctions underscore Charles Schwab's strong standing in advanced trading solutions and tools, providing a comprehensive platform that caters to seasoned traders and investors alike.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 ATFX offer convenient mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users. Traders can receive stock or forex price alerts via both apps, keeping them in the loop with market trends. Charles Schwab stands out with its watchlist symbol syncing feature, which lets users sync watchlists between their mobile app and online account—a feature not available with ATFX. When it comes to charting, Charles Schwab offers a comprehensive range of 374 technical studies, while ATFX provides 7. Both platforms allow users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts, with auto-saving capabilities for any drawings.
Creating a watchlist with real-time quotes is straightforward on both apps, offering a seamless trading experience. However, Charles Schwab's app is rated higher, marked with 5 stars compared to ATFX's 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab ranks 6th amongst 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, reflecting its superior user experience and functionality. In contrast, ATFX is ranked at the bottom at 62nd. Overall, while both platforms offer essential mobile trading features, Charles Schwab's app delivers a more comprehensive and integrated trading experience.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 7 |
| 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 ATFX for market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary and economic calendars, helping clients stay updated on global news events. Charles Schwab stands out by offering forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. In contrast, ATFX does not have news from these prestigious sources but compensates with technical analysis tools like Autochartist and Trading Central's Technical Analytics, both of which are absent from Charles Schwab's services.
In terms of ranking and ratings, Charles Schwab excels with a 5-star research rating and is positioned at #4 among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, ATFX holds a 3-star rating and is ranked #54, indicating a difference in the quality and reliability of their research tools and sources. Although neither broker provides sentiment-based trading tools or research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, Charles Schwab's access to high-quality news and stronger industry recognition makes it a preferred choice for more comprehensive market research.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners interested in forex and CFDs, Charles Schwab and ATFX both provide a substantial amount of content. Charles Schwab shines with its comprehensive educational materials, offering more than ten pieces focused specifically on forex and CFDs. They also provide online educational client webinars every month, which are archived for future viewing. This is an area where Schwab excels, providing both a diverse range of beginner and advanced educational videos, as well as an investor dictionary with over fifty investing terms. ATFX, on the other hand, matches Schwab in providing essential forex and CFDs education and offers a wide selection of educational videos for beginners. However, it falls short in offering advanced educational content and monthly webinars.
Charles Schwab's emphasis on continuous education is reflected in its high rating of five stars for education, ranking sixth out of sixty-two brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, ATFX garners a three-star rating, coming in at the twenty-eighth spot in the same ranking. Both platforms offer a dictionary to aid beginners in understanding investing terminology, complementing their educational materials. Overall, while both platforms provide valuable educational resources, Charles Schwab offers a more extensive range of tools and support for traders at all experience levels.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
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 ATFX. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
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
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
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While both Charles Schwab and ATFX do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, they both offer opportunities to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing traders to leverage market opportunities without owning the underlying digital asset.
Charles Schwab supports ACH and SEPA transfers for account deposits and withdrawals but does not facilitate transactions via PayPal, Skrill, Visa, or Mastercard, while ATFX does not offer ACH or SEPA transfers yet accepts Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard and, like Charles Schwab, also supports bank wire transactions.
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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | ATFX | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 44 | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
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