Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Swissquote, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab is an established online broker and bank, publicly traded and recognized for its impressive regulatory standing. With a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, this rating underscores its status as a highly trusted entity in the financial sector. Charles Schwab holds five Tier-1 licenses, affirming its commitment to operating under strict regulatory oversight, although it does not hold any Tier-2 licenses.
Swissquote, founded in 1996, mirrors Charles Schwab's reputation for trustworthiness with an identical ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. Also a bank and publicly traded, Swissquote distinguishes itself with five Tier-1 licenses alongside one Tier-2 license, indicating a solid regulatory framework. Both Charles Schwab and Swissquote are recognized as dependable brokers, securing their places as leaders in the online trading industry.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
When it comes to comparing Charles Schwab and Swissquote in terms of commissions and fees, both brokers offer unique advantages. Charles Schwab emerges as a highly accessible option, requiring no minimum deposit for its primary brokerage accounts, allowing forex traders to dive in easily. Notably, Schwab provides two main account types for forex trading: the Schwab One and Schwab Global. The Schwab One account facilitates forex trading on the thinkorswim platform, with trades settled in U.S. dollars, while the Schwab Global account offers access to international markets in their local currencies. Schwab's forex trading costs mainly stem from bid/ask spreads; for example, the average spread on the EUR/USD was 1.35 pips in October 2024. Schwab's commissions and fees are rated 4 stars, ranking #23 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Swissquote, on the other hand, offers the prestige of Swiss banking, albeit with slightly higher trading costs compared to lower-cost forex brokers. Swissquote’s costs vary by location, with its U.K. entity offering the lowest costs among its branches. This entity provides four account types, with the Elite account being the most favorable for active traders due to its lower spreads and $5 commission per trade. The spreads for the standard EUR/USD trade vary across accounts, starting at 0.6 pips for the Prime account. Meanwhile, Swissquote’s Luxembourg and Swiss branches offer other account options, each with unique minimum deposits and spread ranges. Swissquote's commissions and fees receive a 3.5-star rating, placing it at #52 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, Charles Schwab is well-suited for traders interested in forex markets without high upfront costs, while Swissquote appeals to those seeking Swiss banking reliability despite slightly higher fees. Schwab’s lack of forex trading commissions and wide-ranging account options give it the edge in affordability, supported by its higher star rating and superior ranking. Swissquote's offerings might attract traders valuing the security and reputation of a Swiss financial powerhouse, though they should be mindful of the slight premium in costs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| 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 | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Charles Schwab and Swissquote both offer a broad spectrum of investment options tailored to meet diverse trading needs. Charles Schwab impresses with its extensive range, providing access to an astounding 40,000 tradeable symbols, including 73 forex pairs. Investors can purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing them to buy shares like Apple and Vodafone. While Schwab offers cryptocurrency derivatives, it does not support the buying of actual cryptocurrencies or copy trading.
Swissquote, on the other hand, provides a smaller range of 472 tradeable symbols, yet offers a slightly higher number of forex pairs at 80. Like Schwab, Swissquote enables trading of U.S. and international securities. A standout feature for Swissquote is the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, alongside crypto derivatives. Also, Swissquote supports copy trading, adding to its portfolio flexibility. Both platforms excel in range; with Swissquote ranked #2 and Charles Schwab at #5 by ForexBrokers.com, they both earn five stars for their investment offerings.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 472 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 80 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | Yes |
| 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 Swissquote both offer a range of trading platforms and tools suited to various investor needs. Each broker provides a proprietary platform developed in-house, available as both a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based browser version. They both additionally offer simulated trading, allowing users to practice trades without financial risk through virtual demo accounts. Where the two differ is in advanced platform integrations: while Swissquote supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, popular among forex traders for automated strategies, Charles Schwab does not offer these platforms. Furthermore, Charles Schwab does not offer copy trading options, whereas Swissquote provides this feature, allowing investors to mimic successful trades from other users.
When it comes to charting and tracking potential investments, both brokers enable trading directly from stock charts. Charles Schwab offers a whopping 580 fields for watch lists, which is significantly higher compared to Swissquote's 11. However, Swissquote provides an extensive range of 75 drawing tools for charting, exceeding Charles Schwab's 24. Both brokers demonstrate strong capabilities in their trading tools, with Charles Schwab receiving a 5-star rating for trading platforms and tools, ranking 5th out of 62 brokers. Swissquote follows closely with a 4.5-star rating, ranking 11th, indicating both provide comprehensive and competitive trading solutions tailored to different user preferences.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 86 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 75 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing Charles Schwab and Swissquote in terms of their mobile trading apps, both brokers cater to iPhone and Android users, making trading accessible on the go. Users of both apps can enjoy stock or forex price alerts, as well as the ability to draw trendlines and view charts with multiple time frames. However, a significant difference is Charles Schwab's enhanced watchlist feature that syncs seamlessly between the mobile app and the user's online account, a feature Swissquote lacks.
Charles Schwab also stands out with an impressive offering of 374 technical charting studies compared to Swissquote's 30. Both apps provide auto-saving for chart drawings and allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. In terms of user satisfaction, Charles Schwab leads with a 5-star rating, while Swissquote follows closely behind with 4.5 stars. Rankings from ForexBrokers.com showcase Charles Schwab in 6th place for mobile trading apps out of 62, while Swissquote ranks 10th, highlighting Schwab's slight edge in overall mobile app performance.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both Charles Schwab and Swissquote offer comprehensive research services for traders, including daily market commentary and forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. While neither platform provides sentiment-based trading tools or resources from companies like TipRanks or Acuity Trading, their coverage of essential news and events through economic calendars enables informed trading decisions. It should be noted, however, that Swissquote holds an edge with access to technical analysis tools from Autochartist, which Charles Schwab does not offer.
Despite some differences, Charles Schwab has a slight advantage in overall research capabilities, earning a five-star rating and ranking fourth among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Swissquote secures a commendable four-star rating and is positioned 16th in the same category. This reflects Schwab's recognized strength in offering high-quality research and tools that cater to a range of trading needs, making it a preferred choice for many investors seeking in-depth market insights.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| 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 Swissquote for educational resources aimed at beginners, both brokers provide a wealth of information across various formats. Charles Schwab and Swissquote each offer forex or CFDs education, with a collection of at least 10 educational materials like articles, videos, and archived webinars. Both platforms also host regular online educational webinars for clients, ensuring there is at least one available monthly. For those who may miss the live sessions, each broker maintains a searchable archive of recorded webinars, a helpful feature for self-paced learning. Additionally, beginners can benefit from a suite of more than 10 dedicated educational videos focusing on trading topics specifically for those new to investing.
For those with a bit more experience, Charles Schwab and Swissquote also cater to advanced traders, providing over 10 educational videos designed for seasoned investors. Both platforms include an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, aiding in the demystification of complex market terminology. Despite their similarities, Charles Schwab edges out slightly in terms of overall educational quality, achieving a 5-star rating compared to Swissquote’s 4. Schwab is ranked #6 for education among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote holds the #21 spot. This makes Charles Schwab particularly appealing for those prioritizing comprehensive educational support in their trading journey.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 Swissquote. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11.
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
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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While Charles Schwab provides the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but not the actual cryptocurrency, Swissquote offers both the opportunity to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing the online brokers Charles Schwab and Swissquote, both offer ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but Swissquote provides additional flexibility by also accepting PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard, options not available with Charles Schwab.
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 | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 472 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 86 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 75 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Swissquote Review |
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