Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Axi, 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 as a notable player in the world of online brokerage. Being publicly traded and operating as a bank, it holds significant credibility with a total of five Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust. This is reflected in its top-tier Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, suggesting that it is incredibly reliable. Charles Schwab's robust regulatory framework underscores its secure and dependable service, making it a prime choice for those seeking assurance and stability in their financial dealings.
In contrast, Axi was founded in 2007 and, although not publicly traded or operating as a bank, it still garners attention with its commendable Trust Score of 82 from ForexBrokers.com. Axi's regulatory standing includes two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, indicative of a trusted platform though slightly less so than Charles Schwab. While Axi may not offer the same level of prestige as Charles Schwab, it remains a solid option for those considering alternative brokerages with good trust parameters.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Charles Schwab and Axi both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. However, Schwab is ranked #26 of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Axi sits at #44 of 63. That gap reflects differences in pricing transparency and the details traders can see when comparing costs.
Schwab charges no commission on forex; your cost is the bid/ask spread. In October 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, which is on the higher side of the industry average. There’s no minimum deposit for Schwab’s main brokerage accounts, and forex trading is available through the Schwab One account on thinkorswim. Trades settle in U.S. dollars, the smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 minimum margin at 20:1 leverage), and overnight financing rates are displayed in a calculator inside the platform. If you want to place orders directly in a foreign currency from a Schwab One account, you must call the broker. The Schwab Global account supports trading in 12 local markets, with currency conversion fees of roughly 0.2%–1% depending on your balance.
Axi’s average spread data was not available, making a direct spread comparison with Schwab difficult. Given its equal 4-star rating but lower #44 ranking for commissions and fees, it’s wise to check Axi’s live quotes, account terms, and any financing or conversion costs to understand your all-in pricing.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab vs Axi on range of investments: Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while Axi offers 175 symbols and 65 forex pairs. Both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. Schwab also provides access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges—so you can buy shares such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Vodafone (LSE: VOD)—whereas Axi does not offer direct share dealing and focuses on CFDs.
For added features, Axi supports copy trading; Schwab does not. Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs. Reflecting overall breadth, ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab 5 stars and ranks it #5 of 63 for Range of Investments, compared with Axi at 3.5 stars and #57.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 175 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 Axi both offer free paper trading so you can practice with a virtual account. Schwab provides its own in-house platform, while Axi does not; instead, Axi focuses on MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Both brokers have Windows desktop downloads and web-based platforms, and both let you place trades directly from charts. If you want copy trading, Axi has it, while Schwab does not. Schwab does not offer MT4 or MT5.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5, while Axi earns 3.5 stars and ranks #64. Choose Schwab if you prefer an in-house platform and strong desktop and web experiences; pick Axi if MT4 and copy trading are must-haves.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and Axi offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports stock or forex price alerts. Where they differ is convenience: Schwab syncs your watchlists between the mobile app and your online account so changes carry over automatically, while Axi’s watchlists don’t sync across platforms.
For charting, Schwab provides 374 technical studies compared with Axi’s 30. Both let you draw trendlines on stock or forex charts, but only Schwab auto-saves your drawings. Reflecting these differences, Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Axi earns 3.5 stars and ranks #60. In short, Axi covers the basics, but Schwab offers more tools and a smoother experience for active traders.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Charles Schwab vs Axi for market research: Schwab stands out with a 5-star research rating and a #5 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Axi earns 3 stars and ranks #56. Schwab offers daily market commentary alongside forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Axi also streams top-tier forex news, but it does not provide daily commentary. Both brokers include an economic calendar for tracking global events.
When it comes to tools, Axi includes Autochartist and a sentiment trading tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions, which Schwab does not offer. Neither broker provides Trading Central. TipRanks and Acuity Trading integrations are not available at Schwab; they are not specified for Axi in the provided data. If you want daily insights with a higher overall research rating, Schwab is the better pick. If you prefer forex-focused tools like Autochartist and sentiment data, Axi may fit your needs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing education for beginners at Charles Schwab vs Axi: both brokers host ongoing client webinars at least once a month and each provides 10 or more beginner-friendly trading videos, which is helpful if you’re just getting started. Where they differ is depth for more experienced learners—Schwab offers at least 10 advanced trading videos, while Axi does not, so Schwab may better support you as your skills grow. The source information does not specify whether either broker supplies 10+ dedicated forex/CFD pieces (articles, videos, or archived webinars) focused specifically on those markets.
In independent evaluations, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Axi earns 3 stars and ranks #27 out of 63. If you want a broader learning path from beginner to advanced, Schwab stands out; if you mainly want monthly webinars and starter videos, both brokers cover those needs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 Axi. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Axi finished with an overall rank of #49.
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
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 |
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According to the information provided, online brokers Charles Schwab and Axi do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer trading exposure through cryptocurrency CFDs instead.
Compared to Axi, which does not support ACH or SEPA transfers and has unspecified availability for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, Charles Schwab supports ACH/SEPA and bank wire deposits and withdrawals but not PayPal or Skrill.
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 | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 175 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
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