Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Libertex (Forex Club), 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, offers a high level of trust and security in the online brokerage world, underscored by its top Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. Schwab, which operates as a bank and is publicly traded, holds five Tier-1 licenses. This status reflects stringent regulatory oversight, providing peace of mind for investors. In contrast, Libertex (Forex Club), founded in 1997, holds one Tier-1 license and has a Trust Score of 73, indicating an average risk level. Unlike Schwab, Libertex is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank, which may influence its trust perception.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Libertex (Forex Club)
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1997 |
| 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 | 0 |
Charles Schwab offers a compelling entry point for forex trading, primarily due to its no minimum deposit requirement for its main brokerage accounts. Schwab supports 18 account types, with Schwab One and Schwab Global granting access to the thinkorswim platform, allowing for forex trading. Trades are settled in U.S. dollars with a minimum trade size of 10,000 units, necessitating a margin of $500 at 20:1 leverage. While Schwab Global supports trading in local currencies across twelve international markets, conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1% may apply. Schwab doesn’t charge commissions for forex; instead, trading costs are derived from the bid/ask spread, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.35 pips. Overnight carry fees are conveniently estimated using a calculator within the thinkorswim platform. Charles Schwab receives a 4-star rating for its commissions and fees, ranking 24th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
In comparison, Libertex (Forex Club) lacks average spread data, which might be a consideration for traders who prioritize transparency in trading costs. While specific details about spreads and potential commissions for Libertex are not provided, it’s clear that this may contribute to its lower rating. Libertex holds a 3-star rating, placing it at 62nd position out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. This ranking suggests that traders who are cost-conscious and seeking clear visibility into fees might find Schwab’s offerings more favorable.
Overall, when comparing Charles Schwab and Libertex (Forex Club), Schwab emerges as the stronger contender in terms of commissions and fees, providing transparent cost structures and a reliable trading platform. Schwab’s higher rating and ranking reinforce its position as a preferable choice for forex traders who value minimal entry barriers, clear fee visibility, and a well-rounded platform to manage multiple international markets and currencies.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Libertex (Forex Club)
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 |
| 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 | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Charles Schwab and Libertex (Forex Club) based on available investment options, Charles Schwab offers a significantly wider range of tradeable symbols and forex pairs. With 40,000 symbols and 73 forex pairs, Schwab caters to diverse investment needs, including opportunities to trade U.S. and international stocks directly. On the contrary, Libertex provides 300 tradeable symbols and 51 forex pairs but does not offer direct stock investments in U.S. or international markets. However, Libertex has the advantage of copy trading, allowing users to replicate the trades of successful investors, a feature not available with Schwab.
Both platforms provide forex trading in the form of CFDs or spot contracts and allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither supports purchasing actual cryptocurrencies. In terms of ratings, Charles Schwab excels with a 5-star rating for its range of investments, earning a #5 rank among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Libertex holds a 3.5-star rating, ranking at #53 in the same category. This highlights Charles Schwab's expansive investment options compared to the more limited offerings of Libertex.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Libertex (Forex Club)
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 51 |
| 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 Libertex both offer traders a variety of platforms and tools, catering to different trading styles and preferences. Charles Schwab provides a comprehensive proprietary platform that includes a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based option, allowing users to trade directly from stock charts. Traders can take advantage of Schwab's extensive offering of drawing tools, with 24 available for charting, and a vast selection of 580 fields for creating customized watch lists. The platform is highly rated, earning five stars for its features and placing it among the top in the industry at position #5 as ranked by ForexBrokers.com.
Libertex, also with its proprietary platform editions for both desktop and web use, focuses heavily on Forex and CFD trading. Unlike Schwab, Libertex supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), which is popular for its advanced charting and automated trading options. While Libertex provides fewer watch list columns at seven, it compensates with 30 drawing tools and the option to engage in copy trading—a feature Schwab lacks. Rated with four stars, Libertex holds a ranking of #50 among 63 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category per ForexBrokers.com. Both brokers offer simulated trading, allowing users to practice with virtual funds before committing real capital.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Libertex (Forex Club)
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 30 |
| 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 Libertex (Forex Club), there are several key features to consider. Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, allowing users to trade seamlessly across devices. They also provide stock or forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and the ability to view charts in multiple time frames. Additionally, both apps allow users to draw trendlines on charts. However, a significant difference is apparent in the number of technical studies available; Charles Schwab offers an impressive 374 studies, while Libertex features just 30. Furthermore, the Schwab app saves chart drawings automatically, whereas Libertex does not.
Another aspect worth noting is the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, which both apps support. When it comes to user reviews, Charles Schwab's mobile app receives a top rating of five stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Libertex is rated four stars and comes in at #49. These differences highlight Charles Schwab's enhanced capabilities and user satisfaction compared to Libertex, making it a preferred choice for many traders seeking comprehensive tools and a robust mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Libertex (Forex Club)
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Charles Schwab and Libertex (Forex Club) stand at different ends when it comes to providing their users with market research tools and insights. Charles Schwab offers a comprehensive array of research resources including daily market commentary and access to forex news from prominent sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Moreover, users benefit from a detailed economic calendar that highlights crucial global events. With a remarkable research rating of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab ranks as the 4th best out of 63 brokers in the research category.
In comparison, Libertex (Forex Club) also provides forex news from top-tier sources and features an economic calendar, ensuring traders remain informed about market movements. However, the lack of daily market commentary and the absence of tools from companies such as Autochartist and Trading Central indicate some limitations in its research offerings. Consequently, its ForexBrokers.com research rating stands at 3 stars, and it is ranked 61st out of 63 brokers for research. This disparity highlights Charles Schwab as a more resource-rich option for traders seeking in-depth market research.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Libertex (Forex Club)
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners in trading, Charles Schwab stands out in comparison to Libertex (Forex Club). Both platforms offer a wide range of educational materials focusing on forex and CFDs, meeting the minimum threshold of 10 pieces, including articles and videos. However, Charles Schwab provides a more comprehensive learning experience, offering monthly online educational webinars and a searchable archive of past webinars, resources not available with Libertex. This feature can be invaluable for beginners seeking ongoing learning and accessible reference material.
Charles Schwab also excels in delivering content tailored to different skill levels. New traders can benefit from more than 10 beginner-focused videos and an investor dictionary that covers over 50 essential investing terms. In contrast, Libertex falls short in these areas, providing fewer beginner videos and lacking an investor dictionary. Both platforms cater to advanced traders with over 10 specialized videos, yet Charles Schwab's overall educational offerings receive a 5-star rating compared to Libertex's 3 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, this places Charles Schwab at a notable #6 out of 63 brokers for education, whereas Libertex ranks much lower at #57. This analysis suggests that Charles Schwab is a superior choice for beginners looking for a comprehensive educational toolkit in online trading.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Libertex (Forex Club)
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Libertex (Forex Club). Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Libertex (Forex Club) finished with an overall rank of #61.
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
|
Libertex (Forex Club)
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Both Charles Schwab and Libertex (Forex Club) do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing the online brokers Charles Schwab and Libertex (Forex Club), both offer ACH and SEPA transfers as well as bank wires for funding and withdrawals, but only Libertex supports PayPal and Skrill, while neither provides Visa or Mastercard as a payment option.
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 | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1997 | |
| 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 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 51 | |
| 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 | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Libertex (Forex Club) | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
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