Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Markets4you, 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.
When comparing Charles Schwab to Markets4you, several key differences become clear, especially regarding trust and regulatory compliance. Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab is not only publicly traded, but it is also a recognized banking institution. Its impressive regulatory credentials include holding five Tier-1 licenses, the highest standard for regulatory trust. These factors contribute to an outstanding ForexBrokers.com Trust Score rating of 99 out of 99, marking it as a highly trusted broker.
On the other hand, Markets4you, established in 2007, doesn't hold any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, which are sought after by investors looking for secure platforms. As a non-bank institution and not listed on a stock exchange, its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score stands at 61, indicating a higher risk. For investors who prioritize safety and trust, Charles Schwab's long-standing reputation and rigorous regulatory oversight set it apart from Markets4you.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Charles Schwab charges no commissions for forex trades; your trading costs come from the bid/ask spread. In October 2024, the average EUR/USD spread on thinkorswim was 1.35 pips, which is on the higher side of the industry average. Schwab has no minimum deposit for its primary brokerage accounts and enables forex trading through Schwab One and Schwab Global. The smallest trade size is 10,000 units, implying about $500 in margin at 20:1 leverage. Schwab is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #26 out of 63 brokers.
Markets4you’s detailed pricing is harder to compare because its average spread data isn’t available. Without published spread averages, assessing typical trading costs versus Schwab is limited. Markets4you is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #55 out of 63 brokers.
Additional Schwab cost notes: with a Schwab One account, all trades (including forex) settle in U.S. dollars, and placing trades in a foreign currency requires a phone order. The Schwab Global account lets you access 12 international markets in local currencies; currency conversion fees apply (about 0.2% to 1%, depending on your balance). Schwab also displays overnight financing (carry) charges in a calculator on the thinkorswim platform, helping you estimate holding costs in advance.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
In the Charles Schwab vs Markets4you matchup for range of investments, Schwab clearly offers broader market access. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, plus the ability to buy exchange-traded stocks on both U.S. and international exchanges. Markets4you offers around 150 symbols and 43 forex pairs, and it does not provide access to exchange-traded U.S. or international shares. Both brokers support forex trading as CFD or spot, and both offer cryptocurrency via CFDs only (not actual coins).
Markets4you stands out for copy trading, which Schwab does not offer—useful if you want to mirror other traders. For overall breadth, Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while Markets4you scores 3.5 stars and ranks #59. Choose Schwab if you want the widest selection of markets and listed stocks; pick Markets4you if copy trading is your priority.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 43 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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). | 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 vs Markets4you for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free paper trading demo accounts, in-house proprietary platforms, Windows desktop software, web-based platforms, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The key differences are social features and third-party platforms: Markets4you supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Charles Schwab does not support copy trading and does not offer MT4 or MT5.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Markets4you earns 4 stars and ranks #53. Indicator totals and watchlist column counts were not specified for either broker. If you want a top-rated, all-in-one platform experience, Schwab stands out; if you need MT4/MT5 or want copy trading, Markets4you has those covered.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Markets4you offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts to keep you updated. You can draw trendlines on charts in both apps, and your drawings auto-save. The biggest difference is watchlists: Schwab syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while Markets4you does not, which can matter if you move between phone and desktop.
For charting depth, Schwab provides 374 technical studies compared with 30 at Markets4you, giving data-focused traders far more ways to analyze price action. Independent ratings reflect this gap: Schwab’s mobile app holds a 5-star score and is ranked #6 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for Mobile Trading Apps, while Markets4you earns 4 stars and ranks #51. If you value extensive indicators and seamless watchlist syncing, Schwab stands out; if you just need core tools with alerts and basic drawing, Markets4you covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Charles Schwab and Markets4you deliver daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each broker also provides an economic calendar to track upcoming events. Where they differ is in extra research tools: Markets4you includes Autochartist and Trading Central for chart patterns and trade ideas, while Charles Schwab does not. Neither broker offers a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. Details about Markets4you using TipRanks or Acuity Trading weren’t specified.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while Markets4you scores 3.5 stars and ranks #48. If you want built-in third-party scanners and signals, Markets4you has more options. If you prefer higher-rated research with daily commentary, top-tier news, and an easy-to-use calendar, Charles Schwab is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing Charles Schwab and Markets4you on education, Schwab delivers a stronger learning experience. It offers online client webinars at least once a month, plus 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos that help you grow from basics to more complex strategies. Schwab’s education is rated 5 stars and it’s ranked 6th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. By contrast, Markets4you does not run monthly webinars and falls short of having 10 beginner and 10 advanced videos; it holds a 3.5-star education rating and ranks 26th out of 63. Note: the available data does not confirm whether either broker meets the 10-piece threshold specifically for forex or CFD-focused education.
If you want a clear learning path with regular live sessions and a deep video library, Charles Schwab is the more comprehensive pick for beginners. Markets4you can suit self-directed learners who are fine with a smaller set of materials, but expect fewer structured sessions and less depth overall.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 Markets4you. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Markets4you finished with an overall rank of #56.
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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Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 61 |
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When comparing Charles Schwab vs. Markets4you for crypto trading, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs.
Compared with Markets4you, Charles Schwab offers ACH/SEPA transfers and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, whereas Markets4you does not support ACH/SEPA and its support for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is not specified.
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 | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 43 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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). | 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review |
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