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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, ACY Securities often delivers lower effective costs for active forex traders on its commission-based accounts, while Charles Schwab keeps pricing straightforward with no forex commissions but generally wider spreads. Schwab’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips in October 2024, on the higher end of industry averages. ACY’s ProZero and Bespoke accounts averaged 0.25 pips on EUR/USD in September 2021 plus a per–round turn commission, and pricing can be even sharper for Australian residents. Ratings and rankings: Charles Schwab — 4 out of 5 stars; ranked #26 of 63 for Commissions and Fees. ACY Securities — 4.5 out of 5 stars; ranked #22 of 63.
Charles Schwab has no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts and lets forex traders use the thinkorswim platform via the Schwab One account. Forex trades settle in U.S. dollars, and the smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 minimum margin at 20:1 leverage). Schwab charges no commission on forex; your cost is the bid/ask spread (EUR/USD averaged 1.35 pips in October 2024). For international stocks, Schwab One supports trading in USD, while the Schwab Global account provides access to 12 markets in local currencies; currency conversion fees range from 0.2% to 1% depending on your balance. Overnight financing rates are shown in-platform to help estimate carry costs.
ACY Securities offers three account types. The Standard account is commission-free with a $50 minimum and averaged 1.2 pips on EUR/USD in September 2021. The ProZero and Bespoke accounts require higher deposits ($200 and $10,000, respectively) and pair tighter average spreads of 0.25 pips with a commission of $6 and $5 per round turn. In Australia, ProZero’s commission drops to $3 per round turn, bringing effective spreads to about 0.55 pips (September 2021). High-volume traders can also join a 10-tier program that trims costs by 0.5 pips per lot once monthly volume exceeds 50 standard lots.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.32 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 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.
Comparing the range of investments at Charles Schwab and ACY Securities: Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols, far more than ACY’s 2,200. Schwab also carries 73 forex pairs versus ACY’s 66, and both let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot. A key difference is stock market access: Schwab lets you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple or Vodafone), while ACY does not offer direct share dealing. Both provide cryptocurrency derivatives but do not support buying actual crypto. For social features, ACY offers copy trading, whereas Schwab does not.
In independent assessments of range of investments, Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ACY Securities earns 4 stars and ranks #31. In short, choose Charles Schwab if you want very wide market access, including U.S. and global stocks alongside forex and crypto derivatives; pick ACY Securities if you focus on forex and CFD trading and want copy trading included.
| 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 provide free paper trading, in-house platforms, and access via Windows desktop and web browsers. Each lets you place trades directly from charts. For charting extras, Schwab lists 24 drawing tools versus 15 at ACY. Watchlists are far more detailed at Schwab with 580 available columns compared with 7 at ACY. Copy trading is where ACY pulls ahead (supported at ACY, not at Schwab). If you want MetaTrader, ACY offers both MT4 and MT5, while Schwab does not. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com for Trading Platforms and Tools, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while ACY Securities earns 4 stars and ranks #42. In short, choose ACY if you need MetaTrader or copy trading; choose Schwab if you want deeper watchlists and more drawing tools along with paper trading and strong desktop and web platforms.
| 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) [DELETED] | 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 offer mobile trading apps on iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts and lets you build watchlists with real-time quotes. A key difference is watchlist symbol syncing: Schwab syncs watchlists across the mobile app and your online account, while ACY does not. Based on evaluations, Schwab’s mobile trading app is rated 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com; ACY’s app is rated 4 stars and ranked #41.
For charting, Schwab supplies 374 technical studies compared with ACY’s 30, which matters if you rely on indicators. Both apps include drawing tools like trendlines, support multiple time frames (daily, weekly, intraday), and auto-save your chart drawings. In short, traders who need deeper analysis may favor Schwab, while ACY covers the essentials on the go.
| 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 market research, both Charles Schwab and ACY Securities provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar to track upcoming events. The key difference is news coverage: Schwab includes forex headlines from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while ACY does not. Neither broker offers tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, and both lack sentiment gauges, TipRanks research, and Acuity Trading tools.
In independent assessments, Schwab stands out with a 5-star Research rating and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. ACY Securities earns 3.5 stars and ranks #46. If high-quality, integrated news is important, Schwab has the edge; if you mainly want basic commentary and a calendar, ACY covers those needs.
| 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 it comes to educational resources for new traders, both Charles Schwab and ACY Securities offer plenty of options, but there are key differences. Charles Schwab provides a comprehensive selection of learning materials for those diving into forex and CFDs, with over ten educational pieces including articles, videos, and archived webinars specifically focused on these topics. They also host monthly live webinars and maintain a searchable archive of recorded sessions, making it easy for investors to learn at their own pace. Schwab goes above and beyond with at least ten beginner-friendly videos and another set for advanced traders. Additionally, their extensive investor dictionary, containing over 50 key investing terms, adds a valuable touch for anyone looking to expand their trading vocabulary. As a result, Charles Schwab has earned a top-notch 5-star rating for its educational offerings and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
ACY Securities, on the other hand, also offers a solid foundation for beginners interested in forex and CFDs, with more than ten educational pieces available. They host monthly webinars and have a searchable archive, much like Schwab, ensuring that learning materials are accessible. However, ACY Securities falls short in offering advanced educational videos exclusively for experienced traders. Furthermore, their educational resources do not include a comprehensive investor dictionary, limiting the scope of beginner support somewhat. Consequently, ACY Securities holds a 3.5-star rating in education and a ranking of #43 according to ForexBrokers.com, positioning them behind Charles Schwab in terms of educational support for new investors.
| 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 63 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 #41.
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 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| 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 | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | 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 | 1.32 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 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) [DELETED] | 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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