Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs GBE brokers, 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, established in 1971, is a well-known online brokerage firm that also functions as a bank and is publicly traded, enhancing its reliability and transparency in the financial market. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab is considered highly trustworthy, bolstered by holding five Tier-1 licenses, which are indicative of strong regulatory compliance.
In contrast, GBE brokers, founded in 2013, is a relatively new player in the online brokerage space and does not operate as a bank nor is it publicly traded. With a Trust Score of 71, GBE brokers is rated as having average risk. It holds one Tier-1 license, suggesting a moderate level of regulatory trust compared to Charles Schwab. This information highlights distinct differences in their trust ratings and regulatory standings, offering potential investors good insight when choosing a broker.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2013 |
| 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 | 1 |
Charles Schwab and GBE brokers both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but Schwab ranks higher at #26 of 63 brokers versus GBE at #38 of 63 (ForexBrokers.com). Schwab charges no commissions for forex; your cost is the bid/ask spread. In October 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, which sits on the higher side of the industry range. GBE brokers’ average spread data isn’t available, so direct cost comparisons rely on checking live pricing.
Schwab has no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts. Forex trading is available through thinkorswim via the Schwab One account, with all trades settling in U.S. dollars. The smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 minimum margin at 20:1 leverage). Overnight financing rates are shown in-platform so you can estimate holding costs. If you want to trade international securities in local currencies, Schwab’s Global account lets you access 12 markets; currency conversion fees range from 0.2% to 1% depending on your balance, and trades funded in a different currency incur conversion.
Bottom line: Schwab offers clear, commission-free forex pricing with published spread data and helpful cost tools, while GBE brokers shares the same 4-star score but ranks lower and doesn’t provide average spread figures. If pricing transparency is important, Schwab has the edge; if you’re considering GBE brokers, check its real-time spreads and any conversion or account fees before you trade.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | N/A |
| 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 much wider range of investments than GBE brokers. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while GBE brokers features roughly 500 symbols and 71 forex pairs. Both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support cryptocurrency via CFDs (neither offers direct, delivered crypto). A key difference: Schwab provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy and hold actual shares; GBE brokers does not. On the flip side, GBE brokers supports copy trading, which Schwab does not.
These differences show up in third-party evaluations: for Range of Investments, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while GBE brokers earns 3.5 stars and ranks #45. If you want a large catalog and access to stocks across major markets, Schwab is the stronger fit. If you value copy trading and a simpler, CFD-focused lineup, GBE brokers may suit your needs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 71 |
| 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.
Comparing Charles Schwab and GBE brokers for trading platforms and tools: both offer free paper trading (demo accounts) to practice. Charles Schwab provides an in-house proprietary platform and supports both a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform. GBE brokers also offers Windows desktop and web platforms, but instead of its own software it focuses on MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). If you want copy trading, GBE brokers has it; Charles Schwab does not. Both brokers let you place orders directly from charts.
For overall platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab 5 stars and ranks it #5 out of 63 brokers, while GBE brokers earns 4 stars and ranks #58. In short, choose Charles Schwab if you prefer an in-house platform and a higher platforms-and-tools rating, or pick GBE brokers if you want MT4/MT5 and copy trading alongside web and desktop access.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and GBE brokers offer iPhone and Android trading apps with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto‑saved chart annotations. Where they differ is depth and convenience. Schwab’s app supports watchlist syncing with your online account, so symbols you add or edit carry over across devices; GBE brokers does not. For charting, Schwab packs in 374 technical studies versus 30 with GBE brokers, which can matter if you rely on indicators for entries and exits.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab earned 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while GBE brokers scored 4 stars and ranked #58. If you want advanced charting and seamless watchlist management, Schwab is the stronger pick. If you need the basics—alerts, drawing tools, and mobile access—GBE brokers still covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research, Charles Schwab stands out with a 5-star Research rating and a #5 ranking out of 63 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while GBE brokers holds 3 stars and ranks #63. Both offer daily market commentary and an economic calendar. Charles Schwab adds forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones—something GBE brokers does not provide. On the other hand, GBE brokers includes a sentiment-based trading tool that shows long/short positioning, which Charles Schwab does not.
Neither broker integrates Autochartist or Trading Central tools. Charles Schwab does not offer TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools, and availability of these at GBE brokers is not specified. If you value premium news and higher-rated research, Charles Schwab is the stronger choice. If you want basic commentary, a calendar, and a simple sentiment gauge, GBE brokers covers those needs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner trading education, Charles Schwab offers stronger support. It hosts online client webinars at least once a month and provides at least 10 beginner videos, plus at least 10 advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. ForexBrokers.com gives Schwab a 5-star Education rating and ranks it #6 out of 63 brokers, signaling consistent, high-quality learning tools for new investors.
GBE Brokers delivers a leaner setup for newcomers. It does not run monthly client webinars and does not meet the 10-video mark for beginner or advanced topics. As a result, ForexBrokers.com rates GBE Brokers 3 stars for Education and ranks it #64. If you want plentiful beginner-friendly videos and regular live sessions, Charles Schwab is likely the better fit.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 GBE brokers. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #57.
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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GBE brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Neither Charles Schwab nor GBE brokers lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
Comparing online brokers Charles Schwab to GBE brokers: both offer ACH/SEPA for deposits and withdrawals; Charles Schwab also supports bank wire transfers but not PayPal or Skrill, while GBE brokers’ availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire payment methods is 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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2013 | |
| 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 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 71 | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
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