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, but Schwab ranks higher (#25 of 63) than Axi (#44 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s category results. That suggests Schwab’s overall pricing and transparency edge out Axi’s, even though both receive the same star score.
At Schwab, forex trades carry no separate commission; your cost is the bid/ask spread. In October 2024, the 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 accounts, the smallest forex trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 minimum margin at 20:1 leverage), and all trades in the Schwab One account settle in U.S. dollars. If you use Schwab Global to access 12 international markets in local currencies, currency conversion fees typically range from 0.2% to 1% depending on your balance. Overnight financing charges are shown in the thinkorswim platform via a built‑in calculator.
Axi’s average spread data isn’t available, so a direct apples‑to‑apples spread comparison isn’t possible here. Based on the ratings alone, Axi earns 4/5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #44 of 63, behind Schwab’s #25 ranking. Traders comparing the two should weigh Schwab’s published spread and clear USD settlement rules against Axi’s less‑disclosed spread information.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| 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 | 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.
Charles Schwab vs Axi: both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot. Schwab offers far more markets, with about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, plus the ability to buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (so you can own shares like Apple or Vodafone directly, not as CFDs). Axi is narrower in scope, centered on CFDs and does not offer real shares on U.S. or overseas exchanges. For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Schwab 5 stars (ranked #5 of 63) and Axi 3.5 stars (ranked #57).
Axi lists 175 symbols and 65 forex pairs and adds copy trading, which Schwab does not provide. Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, though both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. If you want the widest range of markets and direct stock ownership, Schwab may fit better; if you mainly trade CFDs and want copy trading, Axi could be the simpler pick.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 175 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 65 |
| 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 Axi both offer free paper trading (demo accounts) and let you trade on web and Windows desktop platforms with the ability to place orders right from charts. Schwab provides its own in-house platform, while Axi relies on third-party options, most notably MetaTrader 4. Axi also supports copy trading and ZuluTrade, which Schwab does not. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5 or DupliTrade.
For charting, Schwab lists 24 drawing tools compared with Axi’s 15. Watchlists are far more detailed at Schwab with 580 fields versus Axi’s 7. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while Axi earns 3.5 stars and ranks #64.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab vs Axi mobile trading apps: Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, real-time watchlists, trendline drawing, and multiple chart time frames for stocks and forex. The key differences are in charting depth and workflow. Schwab includes 374 technical studies in its mobile charts, while Axi offers 30. Schwab also supports watchlist symbol syncing with your online account and auto-saves chart drawings, so changes carry across devices; Axi does not sync watchlists and does not auto-save drawings.
Ratings reflect this gap. Schwab earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Axi holds a 3.5-star mobile rating and ranks #60 out of 63. Choose Schwab if you want deeper analysis and smooth app-to-web continuity. Pick Axi if you only need core features and basic charting on the go.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Charles Schwab and Axi take different paths with market research. Charles Schwab delivers daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and forex news from premium sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Axi also provides an economic calendar and top-tier forex news, but it does not publish daily commentary. When it comes to trading tools, Axi stands out with Autochartist and a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning across instruments. Charles Schwab does not offer Autochartist, Trading Central, or a sentiment tool, and neither broker integrates Trading Central.
On overall research, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while Axi earns 3 stars and ranks #56. Pick Axi if you want built-in pattern recognition and sentiment insights; choose Charles Schwab if you value daily commentary paired with high-quality news coverage.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for budding traders, both Charles Schwab and Axi have made meaningful strides to cater to the needs of beginners. Both brokers provide a minimum of 10 articles, videos, or similar content focused on forex or CFDs, ensuring a solid foundation for newcomers. Regular online seminars are part of the learning experience offered by both brokers, with at least one webinar scheduled each month. However, Charles Schwab goes a step further by maintaining an easily searchable archive of these webinars, offering the flexibility to learn at one’s own pace anytime.
Charles Schwab stands out with its comprehensive offerings for both novice and seasoned traders. The broker not only provides 10 beginner-focused educational videos but also extends its support to experienced traders with at least 10 advanced videos on trading topics. Axi, on the other hand, focuses more on beginner education and does not offer advanced video resources. Both brokers offer a dictionary of over 50 investing terms, which is a handy tool for newcomers. Overall, Charles Schwab receives a higher education rating of 5 stars compared to Axi’s 3 stars, ranking 6th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com in this category, while Axi ranks 27th.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 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
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Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 |
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Both Charles Schwab and Axi do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies (delivered), but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, rather than the actual digital currencies.
When comparing online brokers Charles Schwab and Axi, Charles Schwab supports ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds but does not offer PayPal, Skrill, Visa, or Mastercard options, whereas Axi allows Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions but does not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal.
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 | |
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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/Central Bank 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. 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 24 | 15 | |
| 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 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 | No |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
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