Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs AvaTrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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Charles Schwab and AvaTrade are noteworthy options for online brokerage, each with unique characteristics regarding their regulatory standing. Charles Schwab, established in 1971, is a publicly traded company and operates as a bank. It holds an impressive five Tier-1 regulatory licenses, which are deemed highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com. This contributes to its almost perfect Trust Score of 99, classifying it as a highly trusted platform. In contrast, AvaTrade, founded in 2006, is not publicly traded and does not function as a bank. It maintains four Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, resulting in a commendable Trust Score of 94.
While both brokers are deemed trustworthy, Charles Schwab's status as a public company and bank with a longer history might appeal to those who prefer maximum regulatory assurance. AvaTrade, on the other hand, still presents a reliable choice with a slightly lower trust rating, supported by a combination of Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses. Whether prioritizing the extensive regulatory credentials of Charles Schwab or the balanced license portfolio of AvaTrade, investors can find a fit tailored to their preferences and standards of trust.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Charles Schwab and AvaTrade are both popular choices for online forex trading, each with unique advantages in terms of commissions and fees. Charles Schwab stands out with no minimum deposit requirement, making it accessible for new forex traders. Although Schwab doesn’t charge commissions on forex trading, costs involve the bid/ask spread. The average spread on the EUR/USD was 1.35 pips in October 2024, which is relatively high compared to industry averages. Schwab offers two main account types for forex trading, Schwab One and Schwab Global, the latter providing access to international markets with variable currency conversion fees. Overall, Schwab holds a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking #23 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
AvaTrade provides competitive options with spreads near the industry average, at around 0.9 pips for typical accounts. This rate is slightly higher than some competitors like CMC Markets and Tickmill. However, professional traders who qualify for AvaTrade’s Professional account benefit from competitive spreads at 0.6 pips, which aligns them with providers like FP Markets. AvaTrade earns a 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees, placing them in the #12 spot out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, both brokers offer compelling features, but their suitability depends on your trading needs. Schwab is ideal for those who prefer trading on U.S. platforms with no entry barriers, despite slightly higher spreads. On the other hand, AvaTrade may appeal to professional traders seeking more competitive spreads and a higher overall ranking and rating in the industry.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.61 |
| 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 it comes to the range of investments, Charles Schwab and AvaTrade both cater to diverse trader needs, but with some notable differences. Charles Schwab stands out with an impressive offering of 40,000 tradeable symbols and an expansive selection of 73 forex pairs. This broker allows access to both U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, enabling clients to buy shares like Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange. Although Charles Schwab does not offer copy trading or the option to buy delivered cryptocurrency, it does provide cryptocurrency derivatives.
On the other hand, AvaTrade offers 1,260 tradeable symbols, including 53 forex pairs. While it doesn’t provide access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, AvaTrade does offer copy trading, which might appeal to beginners seeking to mirror successful traders. Like Charles Schwab, AvaTrade also provides options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives. With these features, Charles Schwab earns a 5-star rating for its range of investments from ForexBrokers.com, ranking it 5th out of 63 brokers, while AvaTrade holds a solid 4-star rating, placing it 32nd in the same category.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 53 |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms of Charles Schwab and AvaTrade, both brokers offer a range of tools designed to cater to different types of investors. Charles Schwab provides a proprietary platform, available as a Windows-based desktop download and web-based option, that offers extensive features like trading directly from stock charts and a substantial number of watch list columns. While Schwab does not support MetaTrader 4 or 5, it does allow users to engage in simulated trading with a free virtual demo account. With an impressive array of 24 drawing tools, Schwab ensures traders have comprehensive tools at their disposal. Ranked #5 by ForexBrokers.com and rated 5 stars in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, Schwab clearly stands out for its platform offerings.
AvaTrade, on the other hand, also provides a proprietary platform for both desktop and web-based trading, along with a free virtual demo account. Unlike Charles Schwab, AvaTrade offers a suite of third-party platforms including MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as popular social trading options like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, and copy trading capabilities. While AvaTrade has fewer drawing tools and watch list columns compared to Schwab, it compensates by offering a wider range of trading options with its support for popular trading software. Rated 4.5 stars and ranked #13 for Trading Platforms and Tools by ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade is well-suited for traders looking for flexibility and varied trading choices.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 13 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Charles Schwab and AvaTrade, both platforms cater to iPhone and Android users, ensuring wide device compatibility. Traders will appreciate the ability to receive stock or forex price alerts and sync watchlists across devices with either app, allowing seamless transitions between mobile and online platforms. While both apps allow for drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, Charles Schwab excels with its 374 technical studies compared to AvaTrade's 73, offering more in-depth analysis tools. Additionally, Charles Schwab’s app saves chart drawings automatically, adding another layer of convenience that AvaTrade lacks.
In terms of performance, Charles Schwab's mobile app edges out AvaTrade with a perfect 5-star rating versus AvaTrade’s admirable 4.5 stars. Users of both apps can create watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring they stay updated with market movements. However, Charles Schwab's app ranks higher in user evaluations, securing the 6th position out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category according to ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade holds the 13th position. Thus, while AvaTrade offers solid mobile trading experiences, Charles Schwab provides some enhanced features and greater recognition for mobile trading enthusiasts.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 73 |
| 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.
Charles Schwab and AvaTrade both provide a range of market research tools to assist traders, but there are some important differences between the two. Charles Schwab excels in offering daily market commentary and provides forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. While AvaTrade also offers forex news from these high-quality sources, it lacks daily market commentary. When it comes to research tools, neither broker uses Autochartist, but AvaTrade stands out by offering technical analysis tools from Trading Central. AvaTrade also provides a sentiment-based trading tool, which gives insight into trader positions across various currency pairs, while Charles Schwab does not include this feature.
In terms of overall research quality, Charles Schwab is rated with a perfect score of 5 stars, ranking #4 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Its economic calendar feature, which shows global news events, further complements its research offerings. AvaTrade earns 4 stars, ranked at #34, partly due to its absence of daily commentary and fewer integrated research resources like TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools. Nevertheless, AvaTrade’s combination of Trading Central and sentiment tools provides traders with a distinct advantage in technical analysis capabilities, making it a viable choice for those prioritizing these features over comprehensive daily insight.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| 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.
Charles Schwab and AvaTrade both offer an array of educational resources catered to individuals new to trading and investing. Both platforms have a minimum of ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. For those who prefer real-time learning, they provide online educational webinars at least once a month, ensuring that novices have access to current and comprehensive information. Additionally, both brokers maintain a searchable archive of these webinars, allowing learners to access previously recorded content at their convenience.
When it comes to educational content specifically aimed at different experience levels, Charles Schwab and AvaTrade shine equally by offering over ten beginner and advanced level educational videos. They also equip users with an investor dictionary containing more than 50 term definitions, making complex topics easier to understand. Despite the high caliber of educational resources provided by both, Charles Schwab slightly edges out AvaTrade with a perfect five-star rating for education compared to AvaTrade's four stars. However, in the overall ranking of education among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab holds the sixth position, while AvaTrade is positioned even higher at number two, attesting to its strong educational offerings.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than AvaTrade. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13.
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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AvaTrade
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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Both Charles Schwab and AvaTrade provide the option to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency.
In comparing online brokers, Charles Schwab supports ACH and SEPA transfers and bank wires for transactions, while AvaTrade offers a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options including PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, in addition to bank wires, but not 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 | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | AvaTrade Review |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2006 | |
| 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 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 53 | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.61 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 13 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 73 | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | AvaTrade Review |
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