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.
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, 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 stands out with its accessible forex trading options due to the absence of a minimum deposit requirement for its primary brokerage accounts. Forex traders can take advantage of Schwab's platform, thinkorswim, through the Schwab One account, where trades are settled in U.S. dollars with a minimum trade size of 10,000 units. The Schwab Global account additionally offers exposure to twelve international markets with trades conducted in local currencies, though it's important to keep in mind the conversion fees that range from 0.2% to 1%, depending on account balance. Notably, Schwab eliminates traditional commission fees in forex trading, opting instead for costs based on bid/ask spreads, with the EUR/USD spread averaging 1.35 pips in October 2024—higher than the industry average. For those estimating overnight position costs, the thinkorswim platform provides an accessible calculator for overnight carry charges.
GBE Brokers' commission and fees structure lacks available average spread data, which may influence traders seeking transparency in trading costs. Despite this, both Charles Schwab and GBE Brokers achieve a commendable score of 4 stars out of 5 for their commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that each broker offers competitive pricing structures for cost-conscious traders.
In terms of overall ranking by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab is positioned at #23 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, reflecting strong industry competitiveness. Meanwhile, GBE Brokers sits at #37, indicating a reasonably favorable standing though slightly behind Schwab in this particular ranking. Each broker provides valuable offerings tailored to different trading needs and preferences, making it essential for traders to consider these distinctions when choosing a platform.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Charles Schwab and GBE brokers on their range of available investments, the differences are quite evident. Charles Schwab stands out by offering a staggering 40,000 tradeable symbols, including 73 forex pairs, while GBE brokers offer 500 symbols with 71 forex pairs. Additionally, Charles Schwab allows clients to trade in exchange-listed securities both in the U.S. and international markets, such as buying shares of Apple or Vodafone. In contrast, GBE brokers do not provide access to U.S. or international exchange-traded stocks, which can be a significant limitation for investors looking to diversify their portfolio across global markets.
Both brokers provide the option to trade forex through CFDs or spot contracts and offer cryptocurrency derivatives. However, neither platform currently supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Those interested in copy trading might lean towards GBE brokers, as Charles Schwab does not offer this feature. Charles Schwab’s comprehensive investment offerings have earned it a 5-star rating and a position of #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for Range of Investments, whereas GBE brokers hold a 3.5-star rating, ranking them at #44. These distinctions highlight Charles Schwab's advantage in terms of variety and global market access.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 71 |
| 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.
Charles Schwab and GBE brokers offer a range of options for traders, but their platforms and tools have some key differences that may influence your choice. Both brokers provide simulated trading with a virtual demo account, allowing new traders to practice their strategies without risk. Charles Schwab has an advantage with its proprietary trading platform, well-suited for those who appreciate in-house developed technology. Both brokers offer a Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based trading platform, ensuring access from various devices. However, GBE brokers stands out for traders interested in copy trading and those looking to use popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are not available at Charles Schwab. Additionally, chart trading is possible with both brokers, but Schwab offers significantly more drawing tools, highlighting its strength in charting capabilities.
When it comes to watch list customization, Charles Schwab provides an impressive 580 columns, offering extensive data analysis, compared to GBE brokers' seven. This, along with Schwab's five-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools compared to the four stars for GBE brokers, suggests a more comprehensive user experience for detail-oriented traders. Schwab also has a higher ranking in this category, sitting at #5 out of 63 brokers, whereas GBE brokers is positioned at #57. Ultimately, Charles Schwab may appeal more to those who prioritize advanced tools and in-depth customization, while GBE brokers could attract traders who favor common, versatile platforms and the ability to engage in social trading.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Charles Schwab and GBE brokers, both offer iPhone and Android apps, comprehensive price alerts, and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, Charles Schwab stands out with its superior syncing capabilities, allowing watchlists in the mobile app to seamlessly sync with the user's online account. In contrast, GBE brokers do not offer this feature. Additionally, Charles Schwab provides a more comprehensive charting experience with 374 technical studies compared to just 30 available from GBE brokers.
Both companies offer trendline drawing and access to multiple time frames on stock or forex charts, with auto-saving of chart annotations. Despite these similarities, Charles Schwab's app receives a higher user rating of 5 stars, ranking 6th among 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category on ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, GBE brokers earn a rating of 4 stars and are positioned 57th in the same ranking. The scores reflect the overall difference in user experience and the range of features offered by each broker's mobile trading platform.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the research offerings of Charles Schwab and GBE Brokers, Charles Schwab clearly stands out with its comprehensive features. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and an accessible economic calendar to keep traders informed of global events. However, Charles Schwab takes the lead by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which further enhances the depth of market insights available to its users. In contrast, GBE Brokers does not provide forex news from such prestigious sources. Moreover, while neither broker provides tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, GBE Brokers offers a sentiment-based trading tool, a feature absent from Charles Schwab's arsenal.
Despite having this sentiment tool, GBE Brokers' overall research rating is lower, earning 3 out of 5 stars compared to Charles Schwab's impressive 5-star rating. This is further exemplified by Charles Schwab's high rank of #4 amongst 63 brokers for research on ForexBrokers.com, whereas GBE Brokers is placed quite far behind at #62. In summary, while both brokers have foundational research offerings, Charles Schwab provides a more sophisticated range of tools and insights, making it a preferred choice for traders focusing heavily on informed decision-making.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, Charles Schwab clearly outshines GBE brokers. Charles Schwab offers a rich assortment of educational materials specifically geared toward forex and CFDs, including a library exceeding 10 articles, videos, and archived webinars. They also host regular online educational webinars for their clients, delivering fresh insights at least once a month and archiving these sessions for future reference. For beginners, Schwab offers a collection of over 10 videos designed specifically to help new traders understand the basics of trading. Their offerings are complemented by advanced educational videos and a comprehensive investor dictionary that breaks down more than 50 investment terms.
In contrast, GBE brokers fall short in several key educational areas. They do not meet the minimum threshold for forex or CFDs educational content. Moreover, GBE brokers do not provide consistent client webinars, searchable archives of past webinars, or a robust video library for beginners or advanced traders. They also lack an investor dictionary with definitions for at least 50 terms, which can be vital for new investors. Given these disparities, Charles Schwab earns a strong 5-star rating for education, while GBE brokers lag behind with a 3-star rating. Within the ForexBrokers.com ranking of 63 brokers, Charles Schwab stands at the 6th position in the Education category, a stark contrast to GBE brokers, which are placed last at 63rd.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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In comparing Charles Schwab and GBE brokers, neither platform offers the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Charles Schwab and GBE Brokers both support ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds; however, GBE Brokers additionally offers more flexible payment options including PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard, unlike Charles Schwab.
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 | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 71 | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
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