Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs VT Markets, 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.
Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a stellar Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded bank, it holds five Tier-1 licenses, making it a secure choice for investors seeking dependable financial services. This long-established firm benefits from its comprehensive regulatory oversight, adding to its reputation for trust and reliability in the financial sector.
In contrast, VT Markets, founded in 2016, is not a publicly traded company and does not operate as a bank. It possesses a single Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, leading to an average-risk Trust Score of 70 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. While VT Markets may cater to those exploring newer platforms, its regulatory backing is not as strong as Charles Schwab's, reflecting a moderate level of trust in comparison.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Charles Schwab offers traders two account types that facilitate forex trading through the thinkorswim platform: the Schwab One and Schwab Global accounts. Schwab presents a straightforward entry with no minimum deposit required for its primary accounts. Notably, all forex transactions are settled in U.S. dollars. Schwab stands out for not charging commissions on forex trades, but the costs consist of the bid/ask spread, with the average spread on the EUR/USD pair reaching 1.35 pips. It also allows trading on international markets via the Schwab Global account, with fees for currency conversion ranging from 0.2% to 1%, influenced by account balance size. Schwab earns a 4-star rating and ranks 23rd out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees.
In contrast, VT Markets provides two choices: the Raw ECN account, which features lower spreads with a commission, and the Standard STP account, which is commission-free but comes with higher spreads. Both account types require a modest minimum deposit of $100. VT Markets offers a competitive spread for the Raw ECN account, with the EUR/USD costing an effective spread of 0.83 pips. Meanwhile, the Standard STP account has a typical spread of 1.2 pips for the same pair, which is less favorable within the industry. VT Markets achieves a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars and ranks 20th on the same broker scale for commissions and fees.
In conclusion, both Charles Schwab and VT Markets provide unique advantages. Schwab offers a fee-free forex trading experience with a higher average spread, while VT Markets provides options between a no-commission account with higher spreads and an account with lower effective costs. These differences in offerings make both brokers appealing depending on your trading needs and preferences.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.8 |
| 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.
When comparing the range of investments offered by Charles Schwab and VT Markets, it's clear that both brokers have their strengths. Charles Schwab impressively provides access to 40,000 tradeable symbols, including 73 forex pairs and a variety of exchange-traded securities in both the U.S. and international markets, such as individual stock investments like Apple and Vodafone. However, it does not offer features like copy trading or the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrency, although it does facilitate trading in cryptocurrency derivatives.
VT Markets, on the other hand, offers a selection of 1,000 tradeable symbols and 39 forex pairs. While its range might be more limited compared to Charles Schwab, VT Markets allows for copy trading, which can be an attractive option for beginner investors looking to mimic experienced traders. Similar to Charles Schwab, VT Markets provides access to international exchange-traded securities and also supports trading in cryptocurrency derivatives. However, unlike Charles Schwab, VT Markets does not provide the option to invest directly in U.S. exchange-traded stocks. Charles Schwab is rated 5 stars for its range of investments and ranks 5th out of 62 brokers, whereas VT Markets holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 39th in the same category.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 39 |
| 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.
When exploring the trading platforms and tools offered by Charles Schwab and VT Markets, both brokers present distinct advantages that cater to different trading preferences. Charles Schwab features a proprietary platform developed in-house, providing a powerful suite of tools for Windows and browser-based trading. It earns high praise with a 5-star rating, thanks to its extensive array of 580 watch list columns and comprehensive paper trading options. Additionally, Schwab allows for direct trading from stock charts and offers an impressive 24 drawing tools, making it highly appealing for those who prioritize detailed technical analysis and a highly customizable trading environment.
On the other hand, VT Markets caters to traders who prefer industry-standard platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are absent from Schwab's offerings. VT Markets distinguishes itself with copy trading capabilities and a browser-based trading platform. Despite having fewer watch list fields, it offers more charting drawing tools with a total of 30. VT Markets receives a solid 4-star rating, emphasizing its appeal to those who value widespread platform compatibility and copy trading features. With varied offerings, both Charles Schwab and VT Markets provide traders with diverse options, leaving it up to individual preferences to guide the choice.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Charles Schwab and VT Markets offer applications compatible with iPhone and Android devices, complete with useful features like price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines. Charles Schwab's app, however, stands out for its more advanced charting capabilities, offering 374 technical studies compared to VT Markets' 30. The ability to sync watchlists with an online account is another advantage Schwab offers, ensuring seamless updates between platforms, a feature missing from VT Markets' app. Additionally, Schwab allows for the auto-saving of chart drawings, simplifying the tracking and analysis of trades.
Both platforms provide the capability to view different time frames on stock or forex charts, as well as creating watchlists with real-time quotes. However, the overall user experience on Schwab's app appears to be superior, as evidenced by its 5-star user rating, compared to VT Markets' 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab ranks #6 out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, a significantly higher position than VT Markets, which sits at #44. This difference underscores Charles Schwab's emphasis on enhanced app functionality and superior user satisfaction.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Charles Schwab and VT Markets for market research features, both platforms provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. A standout feature for VT Markets is the inclusion of tools from Trading Central, which offer enhanced technical analysis. They also provide a sentiment-based trading tool, giving insights into trader positions. Charles Schwab, however, does not include these specific tools but maintains a solid offering with its economic calendar, helping investors stay informed about global events.
Despite VT Markets' additional features, Charles Schwab receives a higher research rating, boasting five stars compared to VT Markets' 3.5 stars. Reflecting this, Charles Schwab is ranked 4th by ForexBrokers.com among 62 brokers, while VT Markets is placed 36th. This indicates that while VT Markets offers some distinct tools, Charles Schwab stands out for its overall research capabilities and resources.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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 exploring trading, Charles Schwab and VT Markets both offer a variety of options, but they differ in some key areas. Charles Schwab excels with a variety of learning avenues, including over ten articles and videos dedicated to forex and CFDs education, regular online webinars, and a comprehensive archive of recorded sessions for on-demand learning. They also provide a range of beginner and advanced video tutorials, catering to both new and seasoned traders. Additionally, Charles Schwab offers an investor dictionary with definitions of at least 50 investing terms. This commitment to education earns them a top rating of 5 stars for their educational content and a commendable 6th place ranking by ForexBrokers.com among 62 brokers.
On the other hand, VT Markets provides a solid foundation with more than ten forex and CFDs educational materials targeted at beginners. While they also offer beginner-level video content and an investor dictionary, they lack certain features compared to Charles Schwab, such as monthly webinars and advanced educational videos for experienced traders. VT Market’s educational resources earn them a respectable 3.5 stars and a rank of 55 out of 62 brokers in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com. Therefore, while both platforms offer beginner-friendly educational resources, Charles Schwab stands out with a more comprehensive suite of learning tools and regular educational opportunities.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 VT Markets. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
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
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 |
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Both Charles Schwab and VT Markets provide opportunities for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offers the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
When comparing the online brokers Charles Schwab and VT Markets, Charles Schwab supports ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing account funds, while VT Markets offers options including Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but not ACH, SEPA, or PayPal for 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 | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | VT Markets Review |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2016 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 39 | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | VT Markets Review |
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