Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs IFC Markets, 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.
Comparing online brokers Charles Schwab and IFC Markets on regulation and trust: Charles Schwab, founded in 1971, is a publicly traded bank with 5 Tier-1 licenses and a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 (90–99 = highly trusted). IFC Markets, founded in 2006, is not publicly traded and not a bank; it holds 1 Tier-1 license and has a Trust Score of 73 (70–79 = average risk). Both hold 0 Tier-2 licenses, which ForexBrokers.com classifies as trusted.
In plain terms, Schwab’s bank status, public listing, and multiple top-tier licenses signal stronger oversight. IFC Markets is regulated but carries a mid-range trust rating with fewer top-tier licenses. When choosing a broker, consider the number of Tier-1 licenses, whether the company is publicly listed or a bank, and how its Trust Score fits the ForexBrokers.com scale.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2006 |
| 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 | 5 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Charles Schwab and IFC Markets are both rated 4 stars, but Schwab has the edge in the rankings, placing #23 out of 36 brokers compared with IFC Markets at #32. Schwab does not charge commissions on forex trades, so costs mainly come from the bid/ask spread. Its average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips in October 2024, which is a bit high versus the industry average, but the lack of a minimum deposit on its main accounts makes it easy to get started. Schwab also offers thinkorswim access through Schwab One, though forex trades are settled in U.S. dollars, and its Schwab Global account is better suited for traders who want access to international markets in local currencies.
IFC Markets is also 4 stars for commissions and fees, but its pricing is slightly less competitive overall. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, above the industry average of 1.08. For active traders, IFC Markets’ ECN account can offer a better effective cost of about 1.1 pips after adding the 0.005% commission on each side of the trade. On the plus side, IFC Markets does not charge inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which may help lower costs for frequent traders.
In simple terms, Schwab may appeal more to traders who want no forex commissions and a broader range of account choices, while IFC Markets may suit active traders looking at ECN pricing and discount options. Still, both brokers’ forex costs are mainly spread-based, and both have room to improve compared with lower-cost competitors.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Charles Schwab offers a much wider selection than IFC Markets. Schwab provides access to about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers around 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading, stock trading on international exchanges, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but only Charles Schwab lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares. IFC Markets, on the other hand, does not offer U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities, though it does offer international shares and copy trading.
Overall, Charles Schwab stands out for investors who want more choice and broader market access. It earns a 5-star rating for Range of Investments and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers in this category, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5-star rating and #31 ranking. For traders looking for a larger menu of assets, Schwab is the stronger option, while IFC Markets may suit those who want a smaller selection with copy trading included.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Charles Schwab and IFC Markets both give traders a choice of simulated paper trading, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. Each also lets you trade directly from a stock chart, which can make placing orders easier for active users. In terms of trading platforms and tools, Charles Schwab stands out with a 5-star rating and a #7 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com.
IFC Markets offers a few extra platform options that Charles Schwab does not, including copy trading plus support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. That can appeal to traders who want more third-party platform choices or a social trading feature. IFC Markets is rated 4 stars for trading platforms and tools and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers, making it a solid option, though not as highly rated overall as Charles Schwab in this category.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and IFC Markets both give mobile traders what most people need on the go: iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts, and those drawings are saved automatically. In other words, each broker covers the basics well for traders who want to check markets and manage trades from a phone or tablet.
The biggest difference is in charting and overall app quality. Charles Schwab offers 374 technical studies in its mobile app, while IFC Markets offers 30, which gives Schwab a much wider set of chart tools for active traders. That gap shows up in ratings too: Charles Schwab is rated 5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #34 out of 36.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Charles Schwab and IFC Markets for market research, both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so traders can follow current events and stay on top of key data releases. Charles Schwab stands out with forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while IFC Markets does not offer this same level of outside news coverage. On the other hand, IFC Markets includes a sentiment-based trading tool that shows the balance of long and short positions, which Charles Schwab does not.
Neither broker offers research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Overall, Charles Schwab has the edge in research, earning a 5-star rating and ranking #5 out of 36 brokers for Research by ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5-star rating and #30 ranking. For traders who want stronger market news and research coverage, Charles Schwab is the better choice, while IFC Markets may appeal to those who value sentiment data.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Charles Schwab stands out for beginners who want plenty of help learning the markets. It offers forex and CFDs education, holds online client webinars at least once a month, and provides more than 10 beginner and more than 10 advanced trading videos. That strong mix is reflected in its 5-star Education rating and #6 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets also gives beginners a useful set of learning tools, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, but it does not offer monthly educational webinars and does not appear to match Schwab’s level of forex or CFDs-focused education.
For new traders comparing online broker education, Charles Schwab is the stronger choice overall. Its regular webinars, wide range of beginner-friendly content, and higher third-party education score make it easier for first-time investors to learn step by step. IFC Markets still provides some helpful video-based learning, but its 3.5-star Education rating and #25 ranking suggest a more limited experience for beginners seeking structured support.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 IFC Markets. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.
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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Charles Schwab vs IFC Markets: Neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs, making them similar choices for crypto exposure without owning the underlying asset.
In a comparison of online brokers Charles Schwab vs IFC Markets, Schwab supports ACH/SEPA and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, IFC Markets supports bank wires but not ACH/SEPA, and neither broker supports PayPal or Skrill; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | |||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | |||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | |||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | |||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill