Charles Schwab vs IUX 2025
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs IUX, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs IUX, 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 veteran in the financial industry and holds a Trust Score of 99, making it highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. Being publicly traded and operating as a bank, Charles Schwab offers a strong regulatory presence with five Tier-1 licenses. These licenses reflect the firm's commitment to high standards of trust and reliability in the online brokerage landscape. In contrast, IUX, which started in 2016, operates without the backing of a public listing or banking status. Holding one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, IUX is considered an average risk player by ForexBrokers.com, with a Trust Score of 78.
Both Charles Schwab and IUX provide online brokerage services, but they differ significantly in terms of regulatory credentials and trustworthiness. Charles Schwab's extensive experience and multiple high-level licenses position it as a more reliable choice for investors seeking stability and security. Meanwhile, IUX's limited regulatory coverage suggests its suitability for those who are more comfortable with moderate risk. Overall, these factors outline the key differences that potential clients might consider when choosing between the two brokers.
Feature |
|
|
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Year Founded | 1971 | 2016 |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
Bank | Yes | No |
Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars, but Charles Schwab ranks higher (#26 of 63) than IUX (#49 of 63). Schwab charges no commission on forex; your cost is the bid/ask spread, which averaged about 1.35 pips on EUR/USD in October 2024. IUX’s pricing can be cheaper on spreads depending on the account: Pro averages around 0.7 pips, Standard about 0.9 pips, and the Raw account can be near 0.6 pips after adding the commission’s pip equivalent.
Charles Schwab has no minimum deposit for its primary brokerage accounts and gives forex access through the Schwab One account on thinkorswim. All trades settle in U.S. dollars, and the smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 minimum margin at 20:1 leverage). For international stocks in local currencies, the Schwab Global account supports 12 markets with currency conversion fees that vary from 0.2% to 1% by balance size. Schwab also provides an in-platform calculator to see overnight carry charges.
IUX ties its commissions and fees to account type. Standard and Standard+ accounts require just $10 to start; Standard+ may include deposit bonuses but typically shows wider spreads, while Standard keeps spreads lower without promotions. Active traders can choose Pro (spread-only, lower than Standard) or Raw ($500 minimum for each; Raw adds a $6 commission per 100,000 units). Bottom line: Schwab offers $0 commissions with wider spreads and a higher minimum trade size, while IUX often delivers tighter spreads—especially on Pro or Raw—at the cost of either a commission or a higher minimum deposit.
Feature |
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Minimum Deposit | $0 | 10 |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.32 | 0.9 |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 0.6 |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | ||
Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing the range of investments at Charles Schwab vs IUX: Schwab offers about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while IUX lists 152 symbols and 34 pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts and both provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives (not the underlying coins). For shares, Schwab supports exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IUX offers international exchange-traded securities but does not provide access to U.S.-listed stocks. Neither broker offers copy trading, and neither lets you buy actual crypto.
These features align with third-party scores: Charles Schwab is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas IUX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #61. In short, Schwab delivers far broader market access, especially for U.S. shares and overall symbol count, while IUX covers the basics with fewer markets.
Feature |
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 152 |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 34 |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Charles Schwab and IUX both offer simulated (paper) trading with free demo accounts, in-house proprietary platforms, Windows desktop software, and web-based platforms. Each lets you trade directly from charts. Neither broker supports copy trading or MetaTrader 4. One key difference: IUX offers MetaTrader 5, while Charles Schwab does not.
For trading platforms and tools, Charles Schwab is rated 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IUX holds 3.5 stars and ranks #60. If you want MT5 specifically, IUX has it; if overall platform quality and tools matter most, Schwab scores higher. Specific counts for chart indicators, drawing tools, and watchlist fields weren’t provided.
Feature |
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 106 |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and IUX offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android with real-time watchlists, multiple time frames (daily, weekly, intraday), and auto-saving chart drawings. The big differences show up in tools and syncing: Schwab provides price alerts and watchlist syncing with your online account, while IUX does not. Schwab also supports drawing trendlines on stock and forex charts, which IUX lacks. For charting depth, Schwab includes 374 technical studies versus IUX’s 106.
Ratings back up the gap in features: in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, Charles Schwab scores 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while IUX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #61. If you want richer charting, alerts, and seamless syncing across devices, Schwab’s mobile app is the stronger pick; if you only need core charting and real-time quotes on iPhone or Android, IUX can cover the basics.
Feature |
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Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 106 |
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
For market research, Charles Schwab has a clear edge over IUX. Schwab provides daily market commentary and offers forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while IUX does not. Both brokers include an economic calendar for upcoming events. Neither firm integrates tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, offers a sentiment gauge, or provides research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
These differences show up in independent scores: Charles Schwab earns 5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks 5th out of 63 brokers, whereas IUX earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks 60th. Choose Schwab if you want frequent commentary and premium news alongside an event calendar; consider IUX if a basic calendar is enough and you don’t need added news feeds or third-party research tools.
Feature |
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
Autochartist | No | No |
Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
Client sentiment data | No | No |
TipRanks | No | No |
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Choosing between Charles Schwab and IUX for beginner trading education? Charles Schwab stands out: it’s rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IUX holds 3 stars and ranks #60. Schwab runs at least one client webinar each month, giving newcomers regular live learning. Both brokers offer 10+ beginner-focused trading videos, but only Charles Schwab also provides 10+ advanced videos to help you progress beyond the basics; IUX does not.
Some items are not confirmed for either broker, including whether they provide 10+ forex/CFDs-focused pieces, a searchable archive of past webinars, or an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. If those features are important, check each broker’s education page. Based on what’s known, beginners who want frequent webinars and a clearer path from beginner to advanced topics may prefer Charles Schwab, while IUX can suit learners who primarily want a basic video library without recurring classes.
Feature |
|
|
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Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
Webinars | Yes | No |
Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
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 IUX. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while IUX 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 |
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Overall Rating |
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Trust Score | 99 | 78 |
Range of Investments |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Research |
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Mobile Trading |
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Education |
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Both Charles Schwab and IUX offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform provides the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies.
Charles Schwab supports ACH and SEPA transfers as well as bank wires but not PayPal, Skrill, or Visa/Mastercard for account transactions, while IUX offers Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires but does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal.
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 5Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Charles Schwab Review | IUX Review |
Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Regulation | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
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Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
Year Founded | 1971 | 2016 | |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
Bank | Yes | No | |
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
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 | No |
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
Investments | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 152 | |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 34 | |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
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). |
Cost | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.32 | 0.9 | |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 0.6 | |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | |||
Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
Funding | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0 | 10 | |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
cTrader | No | No | |
DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
ZuluTrade [DELETED] |
Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] | |||
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 106 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 106 | |
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Research | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
Autochartist | No | No | |
Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
TipRanks | No | No | |
Client sentiment data | No | No | |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Education | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Forex or CFDs) | |||
Webinars | Yes | No | |
Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | |||
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | IUX Review |
Overall | Charles Schwab | IUX | |
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Overall Rating |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Charles Schwab Review | IUX Review |