Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets, 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 and easyMarkets are well-known online brokers, both offering unique advantages to their clients. Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab is a publicly traded firm and also operates as a bank, providing diverse financial services. In contrast, easyMarkets, founded in 2001, is not publicly traded and does not hold banking status. When it comes to regulatory trust and safety, Charles Schwab stands out with a perfect Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating a high level of trust. The firm boasts five Tier-1 licenses, further cementing its reputation for reliability.
easyMarkets, while newer than Charles Schwab, offers competitive services with its own set of credentials. It holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 84, placing it in the 'trusted' category. The firm maintains two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, showcasing a commitment to maintaining trusted regulatory standards. Both brokers cater to clients seeking secure platforms for trading, but with different structures and regulatory standings, they offer varied experiences to their users. Whether prioritizing a firm with banking capabilities or one with a strong online presence, investors can choose based on their personal needs and trust preferences.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2001 |
| 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 | 2 |
Charles Schwab charges no commissions for forex; your trading costs come from the spread. In October 2024, Schwab’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, which is on the higher side versus many peers. easyMarkets also uses a spread-only pricing model: EUR/USD is fixed at 0.8 pips on the easyMarkets platform and TradingView, 1.7 pips on MT4 Standard (dropping to 0.7 pips on MT4 VIP), and variable from 0.7 pips on MT5. Bottom line on price: easyMarkets can be cheaper for EUR/USD—especially on its own platform or VIP/MT5—while Schwab’s spreads are typically wider. Schwab is rated 4.0/5 stars for Commissions & Fees (ranked #25 of 63), and easyMarkets is rated 3.5/5 stars (ranked #53 of 63).
Key cost nuances: Schwab has no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts and gives forex access through the Schwab One account with thinkorswim. All trades settle in U.S. dollars, the smallest trade size is 10,000 units, and at 20:1 leverage that requires about $500 in margin. Overnight financing (carry) costs are viewable in a built-in calculator on thinkorswim. If you use the Schwab Global account to trade in local currencies, currency conversion fees apply when funding in another currency—typically 0.2% to 1% based on your account balance. With easyMarkets, fixed spreads can make costs more predictable on its own platform, while pricing varies by account type on MT4/MT5.
If your priority is the tightest possible EUR/USD spread, easyMarkets often wins on its proprietary platform or VIP/MT5. If you prefer a large U.S. broker with commission-free forex, integrated USD settlement, and clear overnight cost tools, Schwab is appealing—just factor in its generally wider spreads and potential currency conversion fees when trading foreign markets.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.8 |
| 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.
For range of investments, Charles Schwab offers far more choice than easyMarkets. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while easyMarkets has roughly 230 symbols and 63 pairs. Both support forex trading via CFDs or spot. Schwab also lets you buy and sell real exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London), whereas easyMarkets does not offer exchange-traded shares.
Feature-wise, easyMarkets includes copy trading, which Schwab does not. Both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. Reflecting the difference in selection, ForexBrokers.com rates Schwab 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks it #5 out of 63 brokers, while easyMarkets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #55. Choose Schwab if you want the widest market access; pick easyMarkets if you value copy trading and a simpler lineup.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 230 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 63 |
| 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.
This Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets comparison focuses on trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer free paper trading via demo accounts, plus proprietary platforms available on Windows desktop and in your web browser. Each lets you place trades directly from charts. While the number of technical indicators wasn’t specified for either broker, drawing tools total 24 at Charles Schwab versus 30 at easyMarkets. Watchlists are a major differentiator: Charles Schwab supports up to 580 columns (fields) compared with 8 at easyMarkets. Platform integrations also differ: easyMarkets offers copy trading and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), whereas Charles Schwab does not. Neither broker connects to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For trading platforms and tools, Charles Schwab is rated 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while easyMarkets earns 4 stars and ranks #36. If you want MetaTrader access and copy trading, easyMarkets is the better fit. If you prefer highly customizable watchlists and a higher-rated overall platform experience, Charles Schwab stands out.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and easyMarkets both offer iPhone and Android mobile trading apps. Each app lets you create synced watchlists that match your online account, with real-time quotes. The key difference: Charles Schwab provides price alerts for stocks and forex, while easyMarkets does not.
For charting, Charles Schwab offers 374 technical studies compared with 81 on easyMarkets. Both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames, but only Schwab auto-saves your chart drawings. Reflecting these differences, ForexBrokers.com rates Schwab’s mobile app 5 stars and ranks it 6th out of 63 brokers, while easyMarkets earns 4 stars and ranks 32nd.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 81 |
| 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.
Comparing Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets for market research: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and include an economic calendar. That said, their overall scores diverge—Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while easyMarkets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #44.
Feature-wise, neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. The key differences favor easyMarkets on add-ons: it provides Trading Central analytics and a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning, while Schwab does not. If you prioritize Trading Central and sentiment data, easyMarkets has an edge; if you want top-rated research and broad market coverage, Charles Schwab is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing the educational offerings for beginners from Charles Schwab and easyMarkets, both platforms provide a wealth of resources to help novice traders get started. Charles Schwab offers a wide range of educational content, including over ten articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. easyMarkets matches this, also providing a similar quantity of educational materials on these topics. Both platforms go a step further by hosting at least one educational webinar each month and offering a searchable archive of recorded sessions, ensuring beginners can continue learning at their own pace.
In terms of video content, both Charles Schwab and easyMarkets offer over ten beginner-friendly videos focused on trading topics. They also cater to more advanced traders with an additional selection of advanced trading videos. Furthermore, each platform provides an investor dictionary containing over fifty key investing terms, a helpful tool for those new to trading jargon. Despite the similarities, Charles Schwab shines slightly brighter with a perfect five-star rating for education compared to easyMarkets' 3.5 stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Charles Schwab holds the sixth position out of 63 brokers for educational resources, while easyMarkets is ranked 39th.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 easyMarkets. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while easyMarkets finished with an overall rank of #42.
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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easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 |
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Both Charles Schwab and easyMarkets do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Charles Schwab and easyMarkets provide options for ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing account funds, but only easyMarkets offers additional payment methods such as Skrill and Visa or Mastercard, whereas neither broker supports PayPal transactions.
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 | easyMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | easyMarkets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 230 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 63 | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 81 | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | easyMarkets Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | easyMarkets Review |
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