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Charles Schwab vs Forex4you 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Forex4you, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Charles Schwab
visit.jpg
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 40000
Forex4you
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 61
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 150

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.

Regulation

Charles Schwab and Forex4you are two notable online brokers with distinct characteristics and regulatory standing. Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab is a well-established broker that is publicly traded and operates as a bank. In contrast, Forex4you, founded in 2007, remains privately held and does not carry bank status. The regulatory credentials also set them apart; Charles Schwab boasts five Tier-1 licenses, highly trusted by industry standards, while Forex4you does not hold any Tier-1 licenses. This distinction underscores Schwab's strong regulatory backing compared to Forex4you's more limited credentials.

When evaluating trustworthiness through ForexBrokers.com's Trust Score rating, Charles Schwab scores a near-perfect 99 out of 99, signifying a high level of trustworthiness. On the other hand, Forex4you scores 61, which suggests a higher risk for users. This rating showcases the stark difference in trust levels between the two brokers, reflecting their regulatory strength and market presence. In summary, Charles Schwab is a highly regulated, publicly traded bank with strong trust ratings, while Forex4you has a higher risk profile in the regulatory landscape.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Forex4you logoForex4you
Year Founded info 1971 2007
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1

Fees

Charles Schwab and Forex4you offer different approaches to commissions and fees for online trading. Schwab stands out with a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking #23 out of 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. It doesn't require a minimum deposit for its primary brokerage accounts, making it accessible for forex trading. Schwab offers two account types that provide access to the thinkorswim platform for forex trading: Schwab One and Schwab Global. With these, Schwab grants users the ability to engage in forex trades settled in U.S. dollars, with a minimum trade size of 10,000 units, necessitating a $500 margin based on 20:1 leverage. While Schwab doesn't charge commissions for forex trades, it imposes trading costs via the bid/ask spread, with the EUR/USD spread averaging at 1.35 pips in October 2024. This spread is relatively high compared to industry norms.

The Schwab Global account extends further into international markets, allowing trading in twelve foreign markets with their local currencies. This can incur conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1%, depending on the account balance size. The flexibility of the Schwab Global account is better suited for those who engage heavily in international securities and are at ease handling multiple currencies. Schwab provides users with a convenient calculator within the thinkorswim platform to calculate the cost of holding positions overnight, aiding traders in managing their positions more effectively.

In contrast, Forex4you earns a 3.5-star rating and ranks #53 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. However, specific details about Forex4you's average spreads are not readily available, limiting the ability to directly compare the costs of trading forex with this broker to Schwab. While both platforms offer forex trading opportunities, Schwab's comprehensive approach, bolstered by its access to the thinkorswim platform and more extensive international market options, may provide more robust tools and insights for investors seeking a diverse trading experience.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Forex4you logoForex4you
Minimum Deposit info $0 $0
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.35 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.35 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info No No
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

Charles Schwab and Forex4you both offer the ability to trade forex as a CFD or spot contract. However, the sheer quantity of tradeable symbols significantly differs between the two. Charles Schwab provides an expansive selection of 40,000 symbols, including 73 forex pairs, contrasting with Forex4you's offering of 150 tradeable symbols and 43 forex pairs. Moreover, Charles Schwab enables clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing access to shares such as Apple and Vodafone. In comparison, Forex4you does not offer exchange-traded securities on any major exchanges. Both brokers offer the option of cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither facilitates the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.

When it comes to additional trading options, Forex4you stands out with its copy trading service, a feature not found at Charles Schwab. For those seeking a broad range of investment opportunities, Charles Schwab is highly rated, receiving 5 stars for its range of investments and ranks 5th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Forex4you, with a 3.5-star rating in the same category, is placed 58th, indicating some limitations in the diversity of its investment offerings compared to Charles Schwab.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Forex4you logoForex4you
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 40000 150
Forex Pairs (Total) info 73 43
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Charles Schwab and Forex4you, both brokers provide essential features for traders. Each offers a simulated paper trading account, allowing users to practice their strategies without financial risk. Both have developed proprietary platforms and provide a Windows-based desktop download option as well as web-based trading. While Charles Schwab does not support copy trading, Forex4you steps up by offering this feature along with popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which Charles Schwab does not provide. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.

In terms of charting capabilities, Charles Schwab excels with 24 drawing tools available, compared to the 15 tools Forex4you offers. Both platforms allow trading directly from stock charts. For those managing extensive watch lists, Charles Schwab provides a comprehensive set of 580 fields for watch list customization, surpassing Forex4you’s offering of 7 fields. Overall, Charles Schwab is rated 5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, securing the 5th spot out of 62 brokers ranked by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Forex4you is rated 4 stars and is ranked 52nd, highlighting distinctions in their platform offerings and user satisfaction.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Forex4you logoForex4you
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 374 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 24 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 580 7
View More

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

When comparing the mobile trading apps of Charles Schwab and Forex4you, both brokers offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, providing essential features like stock and forex price alerts. Charles Schwab stands out with its ability to sync watchlist symbols across the mobile app and online account, a feature Forex4you does not provide. Moreover, Schwab offers a significantly higher number of technical studies—374 compared to Forex4you's 30—enhancing its appeal to users who rely on detailed technical analysis.

Traders using either app can expect to draw trendlines and view stock or forex charts in multiple time frames, with automatic saving of chart drawings. Both apps support creating watchlists with real-time quotes. However, Charles Schwab's app has earned a higher user rating of five stars, compared to Forex4you's four stars, and ranks #6 in the Mobile Trading Apps category according to ForexBrokers.com, while Forex4you is positioned at #50. This suggests a more polished user experience and broader feature set for Schwab's app users.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Forex4you logoForex4you
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Charles Schwab and Forex4you both offer daily market commentary and provide forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. This ensures their users have access to timely and reliable information for informed decision-making. However, when it comes to technical analysis and fundamental research tools, Forex4you stands out by including tools from Autochartist and Trading Central. Such features can be valuable for traders looking for advanced analytics in their trading toolkit. Both platforms offer an economic calendar, showcasing global news events to help traders keep track of important economic developments.

Despite the shared strengths, Charles Schwab receives a higher rating of 5 stars for its research capabilities, compared to Forex4you's 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their respective rankings on ForexBrokers.com, where Charles Schwab holds the impressive 4th position out of 62 brokers, while Forex4you sits at 47th. Overall, while Forex4you provides additional analytical tools, Charles Schwab's outstanding reputation in market research may appeal more to traders who prioritize top-tier information services and a highly regarded research standing.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Forex4you logoForex4you
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info No Yes
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info No No
TipRanks info No No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When comparing the educational offerings for beginners between Charles Schwab and Forex4you, it's clear that Charles Schwab stands out. Both platforms provide a solid range of educational material related to forex and CFDs trading, each offering more than ten articles or videos on the topic. However, Charles Schwab further enhances its offerings by hosting regular monthly webinars and providing a comprehensive, searchable archive of past sessions. This continuity in education is beneficial for those who prefer live learning experiences. In addition to their engaging webinars, Charles Schwab provides a wealth of content specifically designed for beginners, including over ten beginner-oriented trading videos. This is in contrast to Forex4you, which does not offer the same level of beginner-focused video resources.

Charles Schwab distinguishes itself with advanced educational videos tailored for more experienced traders, along with an extensive investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms. Forex4you, on the other hand, lacks in both of these areas. These differences in educational resources are reflected in their ratings; Charles Schwab has earned an impressive five-star rating for education and holds the #6 spot in ForexBrokers.com's education rankings. In comparison, Forex4you has a 3.5-star rating, ranking it #25 out of 62 brokers. For beginners seeking comprehensive education and resources, Charles Schwab provides a more thorough and structured learning experience.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Forex4you logoForex4you
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes No
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than Forex4you. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Forex4you finished with an overall rank of #55.

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 logoCharles Schwab
Forex4you logoForex4you
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 61
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Charles Schwab or Forex4you?

Both Charles Schwab and Forex4you do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

In comparing online broker Charles Schwab to Forex4you regarding deposit and withdrawal options, Charles Schwab provides ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers, while Forex4you supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers, with neither offering PayPal.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Charles Schwab Forex4you
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 61
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review
Broker Screenshots Charles Schwab Forex4you
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation Charles Schwab Forex4you
Trust Score info 99 61
Year Founded info 1971 2007
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info No No info
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Charles Schwab Forex4you
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info No No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info Yes No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info No No info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) Charles Schwab Forex4you
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No No
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info No No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No No
Investments Charles Schwab Forex4you
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 40000 150
Forex Pairs (Total) info 73 43
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 Forex4you
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.35 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.35 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info No No
Inactivity Fee info No No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes No
Execution: Market Maker info No Yes
Funding Charles Schwab Forex4you
Minimum Deposit info $0 $0
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms Charles Schwab Forex4you
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools Charles Schwab Forex4you
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 580 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 374 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 24 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading Charles Schwab Forex4you
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research Charles Schwab Forex4you
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info No Yes
TipRanks info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education Charles Schwab Forex4you
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes No
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No
Major Forex Pairs Charles Schwab Forex4you
GBP/USD info Yes No
USD/JPY info Yes No
EUR/USD info Yes No
USD/CHF info Yes No
USD/CAD info Yes No
NZD/USD info Yes No
AUD/USD info Yes No
Review Charles Schwab Review
Overall Charles Schwab Forex4you
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 61
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review
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