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.
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Charles Schwab and IFC Markets offer online brokerage services, but they differ significantly in aspects related to trust and regulation, which can be crucial for investors. Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab is a prominent name in the financial industry, publicly traded and operating as a bank. This standing is supported by its five Tier-1 licenses, considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com. Charles Schwab has earned a top Trust Score rating of 99, placing it at the highest level of trustworthiness for brokers.
In contrast, IFC Markets, established in 2006, is not publicly traded and doesn't function as a bank. It holds one Tier-2 license, with no Tier-1 licenses, and thus attracts a Trust Score rating of 73 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating an average risk level. These differences highlight the gap in perceived trust and reliability, with Charles Schwab offering a more established and trusted option for those prioritizing strong regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
For commissions and fees, both Charles Schwab and IFC Markets earn 4 out of 5 stars. Schwab ranks #26 out of 63 brokers in this category at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets ranks #40. Schwab charges no commission on forex; your cost is the bid/ask spread. IFC Markets offers spread-only pricing on standard accounts and an ECN option that combines lower spreads with a small commission.
Charles Schwab has no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts. Forex trading runs through the Schwab One account on thinkorswim, with all trades settling in U.S. dollars. The smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 in margin at 20:1 leverage). Schwab’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips in October 2024, which is on the higher side. If you use the Schwab Global account to trade in local currencies, expect currency conversion fees of about 0.2% to 1% based on your balance. Overnight financing costs are displayed in a calculator inside thinkorswim.
IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips on standard pricing, above the 1.08-pip industry average. Cost-conscious and active traders can switch to the ECN account, where the effective spread is about 1.1 pips after adding a 0.005% commission on both sides of each trade. There are no inactivity fees, and active-trader discounts can further trim overall costs.
| 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 far more choice than IFC Markets. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols versus 630 at IFC Markets, and 73 tradeable forex pairs compared with 49. Both brokers support forex trading (via CFDs or spot) and provide cryptocurrency trading through CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual, delivered crypto.
Schwab also gives access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy shares like Apple and Vodafone directly. IFC Markets does not offer U.S.-listed shares, but it does provide access to some international exchange-traded securities, and it supports copy trading (Schwab does not). Reflecting this difference, ForexBrokers.com rates Schwab 5 stars for Range of Investments (ranked #5 of 63), while IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars (ranked #44 of 63).
| 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 deliver well-rounded trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, and the ability to trade directly from charts. Both also provide free paper trading via a demo account. In industry comparisons, Charles Schwab is rated 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds 4 stars and ranks #37.
The main differences come down to third-party integrations and strategy options. IFC Markets supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and includes copy trading, which can be useful if you prefer MetaTrader or want to mirror other traders. Charles Schwab does not offer MT4, MT5, or copy trading, but its in-house platform suite earns the higher category rating. If you want desktop, web, and chart-trading features, both brokers have you covered; if you need MetaTrader or copy trading, IFC Markets is the better fit.
| 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.
Both Charles Schwab and IFC Markets offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with price alerts, synced watchlists between mobile and web, and drawing tools like trendlines that auto-save on your charts. The key difference is charting depth: Schwab packs in 374 technical studies, while IFC Markets offers 30. If you rely heavily on indicators and in-app analysis, Schwab’s toolset gives you far more to work with, whereas IFC Markets covers the essentials for straightforward trading.
When it comes to reviews and industry standings, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars for its mobile trading apps and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets holds 4 stars and ranks #53. In short, Schwab is better suited for traders who want advanced charting on the go, while IFC Markets provides a simpler, capable mobile experience.
| 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.
Comparing market research at Charles Schwab vs. IFC Markets, both brokers deliver daily market commentary and an economic calendar. The big difference is news quality: Schwab streams forex headlines from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while IFC Markets does not. Neither broker includes research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
Feature-wise, IFC Markets stands out with a sentiment-based tool showing long/short positioning, which Schwab doesn’t offer. For most investors who want premium news and higher-caliber research, Charles Schwab is the stronger pick, earning 5 stars and ranking #5 out of 63 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets may appeal to traders who value sentiment data, but it holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #41 out of 63.
| 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.
For beginner trading education, Charles Schwab outshines IFC Markets. Schwab hosts ongoing client webinars (at least monthly) and offers at least 10 beginner videos plus at least 10 advanced videos, earning a 5-star Education rating and a #6 ranking out of 63 brokers. IFC Markets also provides at least 10 beginner and at least 10 advanced videos, but it does not run monthly client webinars; it holds a 3.5-star Education rating and ranks #30 out of 63.
If you value live, scheduled learning and a higher-rated curriculum, Schwab is the stronger pick. If you prefer self-paced video lessons, both brokers can work. Note: the information provided here does not confirm whether either broker meets a minimum of 10 forex- or CFD-focused educational pieces; check each site’s forex and CFD sections if those topics are a priority.
| 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 #45.
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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IFC Markets
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | IFC Markets | |
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| 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| 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 SCA 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 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
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