Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs eToro, 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 eToro are well-known online brokers with solid track records. Charles Schwab was founded in 1971 and eToro in 2007. Both are publicly traded; Schwab is also a bank, while eToro is not. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score, Schwab scores 99/99 and eToro 96/99—both fall in the highly trusted 90–99 range.
On regulation, Charles Schwab holds five Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and no Tier-2 licenses. eToro holds four Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license (trusted). In simple terms, both brokers are overseen by top-tier regulators, with Schwab slightly ahead on the number of highest-grade licenses.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, eToro earns 4.5/5 stars (ranked #23 of 63) while Charles Schwab earns 4/5 stars (ranked #26 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category. On EUR/USD, eToro lists a typical variable spread of 1 pip (slightly above the industry average), whereas Schwab’s average spread in October 2024 was 1.35 pips, which sits on the higher end of the market. Schwab does not charge forex commissions; your cost is the bid/ask spread. As a market-maker, eToro’s pricing is also built into the spread.
Schwab has no minimum deposit for its primary brokerage accounts, making it easy to get started. Forex trading is available via the Schwab One account on thinkorswim, with all trades settling in U.S. dollars. The smallest trade size is 10,000 units, implying about $500 in minimum margin at 20:1 leverage. If you trade international securities in local currencies, Schwab’s Global account supports 12 markets; currency conversion fees apply and range from 0.2% to 1% depending on your balance. Schwab also displays overnight carry charges in-platform so you can estimate holding costs.
eToro is a market-maker broker with a typical 1-pip EUR/USD spread. While its spreads aren’t designed to be the lowest, eToro appeals to many for its social copy trading and VIP Club, which has five tiers (Silver to Diamond) for balances from $5,000 to $250,000. VIP perks can include access to Trading Central, discounted deposit and withdrawal fees, and a dedicated account manager.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50-$10,000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab vs eToro for range of investments: Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols versus eToro’s 7,441. For forex, Schwab offers 73 tradeable currency pairs and eToro 55, and both let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot contracts. Each broker provides access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets (like Apple) and on select international exchanges (such as Vodafone in London). For crypto, both support cryptocurrency CFDs; only eToro also lets you buy actual coins, while Schwab does not. Copy trading is available at eToro but not at Charles Schwab.
Both brokers earned 5 stars for Range of Investments at ForexBrokers.com. In the category ranking out of 63 brokers, Charles Schwab placed #5 and eToro ranked #11. In short, choose Charles Schwab if you want an especially wide symbol list and more forex pairs; pick eToro if you want copy trading and the option to purchase real crypto alongside stocks on U.S. and international exchanges.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 7441 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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 eToro both let you practice with a free paper (demo) account, and each offers its own trading platform built by the broker. Both allow trading directly from charts. Platform availability is a key difference: Schwab provides a Windows desktop download in addition to a web platform, while eToro focuses on a web-based platform and does not offer a Windows desktop download.
Feature-wise, eToro supports copy trading, but Schwab does not. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). According to ForexBrokers.com, Schwab earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #5 of 63 brokers, while eToro earns 4.5 stars and ranks #8 of 63. In short, Schwab edges ahead on overall platform ratings and desktop access, whereas eToro stands out for copy trading and a streamlined web experience.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and eToro both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock or forex price alerts and syncs watchlists with your online account so changes carry across devices. In testing by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab’s mobile app earned 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers, while eToro’s app earned 4.5 stars and ranked #10, giving Schwab a slight edge for overall mobile experience.
For charting tools, Charles Schwab is the more advanced option: it includes 374 technical studies versus eToro’s 104. Schwab’s app also lets you draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings, while eToro does not currently support trendline drawing or auto-saving. Both apps cover the essentials—alerts and synced watchlists—making either a practical choice for trading on the go.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing Charles Schwab vs eToro for market research, both provide daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and an economic calendar for global events. Neither platform includes tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading.
Key differences: eToro adds Trading Central analytics, a sentiment tool that displays long/short positioning, and TipRanks stock research. Schwab does not offer these extras, yet it earns a higher Research score—5 stars and #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com—while eToro holds 4.5 stars and ranks #13. If you want added trading signals and crowd sentiment, eToro stands out; if you prefer a higher-rated research setup overall, Schwab leads.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing Charles Schwab and eToro on education, both brokers make learning easy to access. Each hosts ongoing client webinars at least once a month, and both offer large video libraries with at least 10 beginner-friendly videos plus at least 10 videos for more advanced traders. The information here doesn’t confirm whether either broker meets the 10-piece threshold specifically for forex or CFD-focused education, but both clearly support a steady learning path from basics to more complex topics.
Ratings and rankings are close. Charles Schwab earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while eToro earns 4.5 stars and ranks slightly higher at #5. If you want top-rated educational depth, Schwab has the edge on stars; if you prefer a broker that places a notch higher in category ranking, eToro takes it. Either way, beginners get regular webinars and plenty of videos to build skills over time.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 eToro. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while eToro finished with an overall rank of #9.
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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eToro
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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In the Charles Schwab vs eToro comparison, online broker Charles Schwab does not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency but does offer cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas eToro lets you buy real (delivered) crypto and also trade crypto CFDs.
Among online brokers, Charles Schwab and eToro both support ACH/SEPA transfers and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but only eToro offers PayPal and Skrill, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either platform.
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 | eToro | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | eToro Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 7441 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50-$10,000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | eToro | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | eToro Review |
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