Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Earn, 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.
Comparing Charles Schwab and Earn provides a clear picture of their differences in trust and regulatory standing. Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab is a publicly traded company and also functions as a bank. Known for holding five Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com, Schwab boasts a perfect Trust Score of 99. By contrast, Earn was established in 1994 and is not publicly traded nor does it operate as a bank. While it holds one Tier-1 license, Earn's Trust Score of 71 indicates an average risk, highlighting its less established regulatory position compared to Schwab.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1994 |
| 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 | 0 |
Charles Schwab makes it easy to start forex trading with no minimum deposit on its main brokerage accounts. You can trade forex on the thinkorswim platform through a Schwab One account, with all trades settled in U.S. dollars. The smallest trade size is 10,000 units, which at 20:1 leverage means about $500 in required margin. If you want to place trades directly in a foreign currency, you’ll need to call Schwab; otherwise, you can use Schwab Global, which lets you trade in 12 international markets in their local currencies. Currency conversion fees on Schwab Global range from 0.2% to 1%, depending on your account balance.
Schwab doesn’t charge a commission for forex; your cost is the price spread. During October 2024, the average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, which is on the higher side of typical industry pricing. The thinkorswim platform also shows overnight financing (carry) details so you can estimate holding costs. For commissions and fees, Charles Schwab is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #25 out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com.
Earn also holds a 4 out of 5 stars rating for commissions and fees, but it ranks lower at #46 out of 63. Average spread data for Earn isn’t available, which makes a direct cost comparison difficult. If you’re weighing the two, Schwab provides clearer, published pricing details for forex, while you may need to check Earn’s website or support team for specifics on spreads, any commissions, and currency conversion fees.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| 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 offers a far wider range of investments than Earn: about 40,000 tradeable symbols versus roughly 500. Schwab lists 73 forex pairs (Earn has 61) and lets clients buy exchange-traded stocks on both U.S. and international exchanges (for example, Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London), while Earn does not offer exchange-listed shares. Both brokers support forex trading (via CFDs or spot contracts) and provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. One notable difference: Earn offers copy trading; Schwab does not.
For range of investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab 5 out of 5 stars and ranks it 5th out of 63 brokers. Earn is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranked 46th out of 63, suiting traders who want copy trading and a simpler lineup more than those seeking deep stock and global exchange access.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 61 |
| 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 Earn both offer free paper trading and give you access on Windows and the web. Schwab provides its own in-house platform, while Earn does not; instead, Earn centers on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 (MT4/MT5). If you want copy trading, Earn supports it and works with ZuluTrade, while Schwab does not support copy trading. Neither broker supports DupliTrade.
For charting and watchlists, both let you place trades directly from charts. Schwab includes 24 drawing tools compared to 15 at Earn, and its watchlists can show far more data fields (580 vs 7). According to ForexBrokers.com, Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Earn earns 4 stars and ranks #52. In short, pick Schwab for its in-house platform and deeper customization, or choose Earn if you prefer MetaTrader and copy trading.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 35 |
| 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 and Earn both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts and real-time quote watchlists available on each. In independent reviews by ForexBrokers.com, Schwab’s mobile app earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while Earn scores 4 stars and ranks #28. If you want strong ratings and a higher industry ranking, Schwab has the edge.
For charting and analysis on the go, Schwab packs 374 technical studies compared with Earn’s 35. Both apps let you draw trendlines, switch between intraday, daily, or weekly time frames, and auto-save your chart drawings. A key difference is watchlist syncing: Schwab syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, whereas Earn does not. Traders who value deeper technical analysis and seamless watchlist sync may prefer Schwab, while Earn covers core needs for mobile trading.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 35 |
| 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.
Both Charles Schwab and Earn deliver daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each broker also provides an economic calendar to track upcoming events. However, neither includes tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, and neither offers a sentiment gauge showing the long–short ratio across instruments. Schwab does not partner with TipRanks or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre); Earn’s support for TipRanks or Acuity Trading isn’t clearly stated.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab earns a 5-star Research rating and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while Earn holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #39. If you mainly want daily insights and quality news, both brokers fit the bill; if overall research depth and third-party recognition matter more, Schwab edges ahead.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Charles Schwab vs. Earn: for beginner trading education, Schwab clearly offers more. Schwab provides 10+ forex and CFDs learning pieces, runs client webinars at least monthly, and keeps a searchable archive of past sessions. It also features 10+ beginner videos, 10+ advanced videos, and an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. Earn does not meet those marks: it lacks a 10+ piece forex/CFDs library, does not host monthly webinars or maintain an archive, and does not offer 10+ beginner or advanced videos or a 50+ term glossary. Reflecting this gap, ForexBrokers.com rates Schwab 5 stars for Education and ranks it #6 of 63 brokers, while Earn is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #63 of 63.
If you’re new to trading and want clear guidance, Schwab’s mix of videos, webinars, archives, and a deep glossary makes it easier to learn at your own pace. Earn may suit traders who prefer to find education elsewhere, but beginners seeking structured help with forex, CFDs, and general trading topics will likely find Schwab the more beginner-friendly choice.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Earn. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Earn finished with an overall rank of #50.
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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Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Both Charles Schwab and Earn do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers Charles Schwab and Earn, Charles Schwab supports ACH and SEPA transfers as well as bank wires for account transactions, but lacks options like PayPal, Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard; while Earn does not offer ACH or SEPA transfers, it allows deposits or withdrawals via Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks PayPal support.
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 | Earn | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1994 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 61 | |
| 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 35 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 35 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Earn | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
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