Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Capital.com, 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, established in 1971, stands out for its strong regulatory credentials and high trust factor as a leading online broker. It is publicly traded and operates as a bank, providing an additional layer of security for its clients. Schwab boasts five Tier-1 licenses, highlighting its position as a highly trusted entity according to ForexBrokers.com, and it achieves a standout Trust Score of 99. This score places it at the top of the trust spectrum for online brokers.
Capital.com, on the other hand, entered the market in 2016 and, although not publicly traded or a bank, still maintains a solid reputation with three Tier-1 licenses and an additional Tier-2 license. These factors contribute to its Trust Score of 87, categorizing it as a trusted platform. While it doesn't quite reach Schwab’s level of trust, Capital.com remains a reliable choice for those seeking an alternative in the trading landscape.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Charles Schwab provides forex traders with options through the Schwab One and Schwab Global accounts, with no commissions for trading. The Schwab One account allows forex trading on the thinkorswim platform where trades settle in U.S. dollars, while the Schwab Global account grants access to twelve international markets in local currencies, with varying conversion fees from 0.2% to 1% depending on the account balance. The average spread on the EUR/USD for Schwab is 1.35 pips, slightly higher than the industry average. Charles Schwab holds a rating of 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #23 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees.
In comparison, Capital.com offers competitive pricing with a single account option available to retail investors and a separate professional account for qualified traders. Capital.com's trading costs are more attractive, featuring an average spread of 0.67 pips for the EUR/USD, which is below the industry average. This positions Capital.com as an excellent choice for those seeking lower costs in forex trading. Capital.com garners a 5-star rating and ranks #3 out of 62 brokers in the same category, making it a top contender for cost-conscious traders.
In conclusion, Capital.com provides a more cost-effective solution for forex trading compared to Charles Schwab, particularly for traders focusing on tighter spreads and lower overall fees. Although Schwab offers flexibility with its account types and access to international markets, traders might appreciate Capital.com's lower spreads and higher ranking. Whether a trader prioritizes broader market access or cost efficiency will ultimately guide their choice between these two prominent brokers.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.67 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.67 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Charles Schwab and Capital.com, investors will notice significant differences in the range of investment options available on each platform. Charles Schwab stands out with an impressive 40,000 tradeable symbols, including 73 forex pairs. Investors can access a diverse portfolio of exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing for investments in major companies like Apple and Vodafone. In addition, while Charles Schwab does not offer actual delivered cryptocurrencies, clients can trade cryptocurrency derivatives, providing some exposure to this asset class without directly owning digital currencies.
Capital.com, on the other hand, offers a more limited selection with 3,007 tradeable symbols, but it compensates with a larger variety of 125 tradeable forex pairs. The platform does not provide access to exchange-traded securities from U.S. or international markets, meaning investors looking to directly buy stocks like Apple or Vodafone will need to consider other options. Similar to Schwab, Capital.com provides the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives instead of actual cryptocurrencies. While both brokers have their unique strengths, Charles Schwab is rated higher for its range of investments, with a five-star rating and 5th place ranking out of 62 brokers, compared to Capital.com's 4.5-star rating and 22nd place ranking.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 3007 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 125 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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.
When evaluating trading platforms, Charles Schwab and Capital.com offer impressive tools, both featuring simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts. Each provider offers its own proprietary platforms, which are available both as Windows-based downloads and web-based versions that run in your browser. However, Capital.com supports MetaTrader 4, a popular trading platform, while Charles Schwab does not offer MetaTrader compatibility. Neither broker provides copy trading or integration with third-party trading systems like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Thus, if MetaTrader 4 is crucial to your trading strategy, Capital.com might be the go-to choice.
Focusing on advanced tools, Charles Schwab shines with 24 drawing tools compared to Capital.com's 18, allowing for more detailed and customized charting. Both brokers enable trading directly from stock charts. Schwab also offers extensive watch list functionality, providing up to 580 columns, while Capital.com offers 11, which can play a significant role if you require detailed analysis on your watch lists. Rated at 5 stars, Charles Schwab is a top contender for trading platforms, securing the 5th rank out of 62 brokers. Capital.com, with a 4.5-star rating and a rank of 12th, also stands as a competitive option with solid offerings but lacks Schwab's comprehensive capabilities.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 83 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 18 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and Capital.com both provide mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, enabling convenient access to financial markets on the go. Both platforms support stock and forex price alerts, along with the ability to draw trendlines on charts and view multiple time frames. However, Charles Schwab edges ahead by offering watchlist symbol syncing, so changes you make either on their mobile app or online account are automatically updated in both places. Additionally, Schwab provides an impressive 374 technical studies for their charts, significantly more than Capital.com's 30, making it a go-to choice for in-depth technical analysis.
When it comes to app ratings, Charles Schwab boasts a 5-star rating for its mobile trading experience, compared to Capital.com's still respectable 4.5 stars. Schwab’s top-notch app ranks 6th out of 62 brokers, while Capital.com holds the 12th position according to ForexBrokers.com. Both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes and auto-save their chart drawings. For those seeking advanced charting tools and seamless integration with online accounts, Charles Schwab presents a more comprehensive package.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Capital.com for their market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary to keep you informed. However, if staying updated on forex news with information from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters is important to you, Charles Schwab might be the better choice, as Capital.com lacks this feature. Despite this, Capital.com offers a sentiment-based trading tool that provides insights into long or short positions across various instruments, which can give your trading strategies an edge. Charles Schwab doesn't offer a similar feature.
In terms of research tools, neither broker provides technical analysis from Autochartist or Trading Central. But Capital.com has an advantage by offering market research from TipRanks, whereas Charles Schwab does not. Both platforms come equipped with an economic calendar to help you track important global financial events. For those who prioritize research quality, Charles Schwab holds a slight edge with a five-star rating and being ranked #4 among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Capital.com is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #14.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| 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 Capital.com provide a wealth of tools to help newcomers to forex and CFDs learning. Charles Schwab offers an impressive array of materials, including over ten educational pieces covering forex and CFDs. In addition to having a robust library, Schwab provides monthly online educational webinars that are especially beneficial for continuous learning, along with a searchable archive of past webinars. This ensures that clients can always catch up or revisit important topics. Moreover, Schwab has tailored educational videos specifically for beginners, as well as for advanced traders, ensuring that learners at every level can find content that suits their needs. The inclusion of an investor dictionary is a bonus that solidifies Schwab's resources. This comprehensive approach contributes to its high education rating of 5 stars and a commendable ranking of 6th in the education category by ForexBrokers.com.
Capital.com, on the other hand, also offers a substantial selection of educational materials on forex and CFDs, matching Charles Schwab in this area with a similarly extensive collection of articles and videos. While Capital.com lacks the monthly educational webinars offered by Schwab, it compensates by having a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars, which is beneficial for self-paced learning. Like Schwab, Capital.com provides an array of beginner and advanced educational videos, ensuring traders of all experience levels can benefit from their content. Their investor dictionary is equally broad, offering definitions for over 50 investing terms. Although Capital.com is slightly behind Schwab, with a 4.5-star education rating and an 8th place ranking by ForexBrokers.com, it remains a strong contender for those seeking comprehensive learning resources in online trading.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 Capital.com. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #10.
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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Capital.com
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 |
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Both Charles Schwab and Capital.com do not allow the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency; however, they both offer options for buying cryptocurrency derivatives.
While Charles Schwab supports ACH and SEPA transfers along with bank wires for transactions, it lacks options like PayPal, Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard which are available through Capital.com, highlighting Capital.com's broader variety in payment methods by including PayPal, Skrill, and credit card options alongside bank wires, although it does not support ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | Capital.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
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| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Capital.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Capital.com | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 3007 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 125 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.67 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.67 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 83 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 18 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Capital.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Capital.com Review |
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