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.
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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 cost is the bid/ask spread. On EUR/USD, its average spread was 1.35 pips in October 2024, which is on the higher side. There’s no minimum deposit, and forex is available through the thinkorswim platform via a Schwab One account. Trades settle in U.S. dollars, the smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 minimum margin at 20:1), and an in-platform calculator helps estimate overnight financing. For international markets in local currencies, the Schwab Global account supports 12 markets with currency conversion fees from 0.2% to 1% (phone orders are required to trade non-USD via Schwab One). Commissions and fees rating: 4/5 stars; ranked #26 of 63.
easyMarkets centers pricing on spreads. Using the easyMarkets platform or TradingView, EUR/USD is a fixed 0.8 pips. On MT4, spreads are 1.7 pips for the Standard account and 0.7 pips for VIP. On MT5, spreads are variable starting from 0.7 pips. Commissions and fees rating: 3.5/5 stars; ranked #53 of 63.
In a head-to-head on EUR/USD, easyMarkets can be cheaper if you use its own platform (fixed 0.8 pips) or qualify for MT4 VIP (0.7 pips), while Schwab’s typical 1.35 pips is higher but comes with no separate forex commission and useful cost tools inside thinkorswim. Schwab also appeals if you want no minimum deposit and access to local-currency markets via Schwab Global (noting 0.2%–1% conversion fees). Your better fit likely hinges on platform preference and how sensitive you are to spreads versus multi-market convenience.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab offers a far wider range of investments than easyMarkets. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, and it lets you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London). easyMarkets focuses on CFDs with around 230 symbols and 63 forex pairs, and it does not provide access to exchange-traded stocks. Both brokers support forex trading (CFD or spot) and let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto.
For range of investments, Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while easyMarkets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #55. One notable difference: easyMarkets offers copy trading, while Schwab does not. In short, Schwab suits investors who want extensive markets and real stock ownership across the U.S. and abroad, whereas easyMarkets fits traders who mainly want CFD access and copy trading tools.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 230 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 63 |
| 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 easyMarkets both check the basics for platform access and practice trading. Each broker offers a free demo account, an in-house trading platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Both also let you place trades directly from charts, which can speed up execution. Details on the number of built-in technical indicators and watchlist columns weren’t specified for either broker.
Where they differ is in platform variety and social features. easyMarkets supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Charles Schwab does not. For overall quality, Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, compared with easyMarkets at 4 stars and #36. Choose Charles Schwab if you want higher-rated, broker-built tools; pick easyMarkets if MetaTrader and copy trading are must-haves.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both the Charles Schwab mobile app and the easyMarkets mobile app are available for iPhone and Android, and each syncs watchlists between mobile and your online account. Key differences show up in trading features: Charles Schwab supports stock and forex price alerts, while easyMarkets does not. For charting, Charles Schwab offers 374 technical studies compared with 81 at easyMarkets. Both apps let you draw trendlines, but only Charles Schwab auto-saves your drawings, which can be helpful when switching devices or revisiting charts.
In testing by ForexBrokers.com, the Charles Schwab mobile trading app earned 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers, while the easyMarkets app earned 4 stars and ranked #32. If you want deeper charting, saved drawings, and built-in alerts, Charles Schwab is the stronger pick. If you prefer a simpler setup with synced watchlists on iPhone and Android, easyMarkets can still meet basic mobile trading needs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 81 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets: both brokers provide daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and an economic calendar. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Schwab earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while easyMarkets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #44.
When it comes to tools, neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. easyMarkets adds Trading Central analytics and a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, which Schwab does not offer. If you want built-in technical signals and crowd sentiment for forex, easyMarkets has the edge; if you prefer higher-rated research overall with top-tier news and steady daily commentary, Charles Schwab is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner trading education, both Charles Schwab and easyMarkets offer a clear starting path. Each broker hosts ongoing online webinars (at least monthly) and provides a sizable library of beginner video lessons—10 or more—so newcomers can learn core trading concepts at their own pace. As skills grow, both also supply 10+ advanced videos, which helps bridge the gap from basics to more complex strategies.
Where they differ is overall quality and depth. Charles Schwab earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, signaling a stronger learning experience. easyMarkets receives 3.5 stars and ranks #39 out of 63, which is solid but not at the same level. Note: the data here doesn’t confirm whether either broker offers a dedicated library of 10+ pieces focused specifically on forex or CFDs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 |
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In the Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support cryptocurrency CFD trading.
In a Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets comparison of deposit and withdrawal methods, both support ACH/SEPA transfers; Charles Schwab also offers bank wires but does not support PayPal or Skrill, while availability for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires at easyMarkets—and Visa/Mastercard at Charles Schwab—was not specified.
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, FSRA, or SCA 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. 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 15 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 81 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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