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Charles Schwab vs Pepperstone 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Pepperstone, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Charles Schwab
visit.jpg
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 40000
Pepperstone
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 95
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1726

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.

Regulation

Charles Schwab, founded in 1971, is a publicly traded company that operates as both an online broker and a bank. It holds a total of five Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its strong regulatory standing, and boasts a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This makes it one of the most reliable options available to investors. Being publicly listed adds an additional layer of transparency and accountability, catering well to those who prioritize secure and well-regulated financial services.

Pepperstone, on the other hand, was established in 2010 and is not publicly traded. While it does not operate as a bank, Pepperstone holds three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, signifying a secure regulatory framework. Its Trust Score of 95 is a strong indication of its credibility and reliability in the online trading space. Despite being younger and less diversified compared to Charles Schwab, Pepperstone remains a trustworthy option for traders seeking a specialized brokerage experience.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Pepperstone logoPepperstone
Year Founded info 1971 2010
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 3
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 2
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 2

Fees

When comparing Charles Schwab to Pepperstone for their commissions and fees, both brokers offer competitive options, though they cater to different trading needs. Charles Schwab provides a seamless entry to forex trading with no minimum deposit for its Schwab One account, though trades need to be settled in U.S. dollars and the smallest trade size is 10,000 units. Schwab doesn’t charge commissions on forex trades; instead, costs are derived from the bid/ask spread. For October 2024, the average EUR/USD spread at Schwab was 1.35 pips, which is relatively high. Schwab earned a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking #23 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.

In contrast, Pepperstone shines with its commission-based Razor account, especially for high-volume traders participating in their Active Trader program. The Razor account, which works with platforms like TradingView and MetaTrader, reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips, with the all-in cost rising to 0.80 pips once commissions are factored in. For those trading less frequently, Pepperstone’s Standard account offers commission-free trading with an average spread of 1.1 pips for the same currency pair. With the advantage of rebating a portion of the spread for active traders, Pepperstone boasts a 4.5-star rating and ranks #10 for commissions and fees on ForexBrokers.com.

Overall, Charles Schwab and Pepperstone cater to different trading styles. Schwab offers a solid platform for beginners with no commission on forex and a higher spread, while Pepperstone attracts seasoned traders with competitive pricing and rebates for high-volume trades. Depending on your trading habits, either broker could provide an excellent fit, but Pepperstone offers more considerable savings for the high-volume trader.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Pepperstone logoPepperstone
Minimum Deposit info $0 $0
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.35 info 1.00 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.35 info 0.70 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info No Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes Yes
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

When comparing the investment offerings of Charles Schwab and Pepperstone, Schwab clearly leads with a vast array of choices, providing access to 40,000 tradeable symbols, compared to Pepperstone's 1,726. For those keen on forex trading, both brokers offer forex as CFDs or spot contracts, with Schwab offering 73 tradeable forex pairs and Pepperstone closely following with 65 pairs. An important distinction is that Charles Schwab enables clients to invest directly in U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, allowing them to purchase shares of companies like Apple and Vodafone, whereas Pepperstone does not offer this capability.

Pepperstone does have an edge in offering copy trading, which Schwab doesn't provide, making it appealing for those interested in replicating the trades of experienced investors. Neither Schwab nor Pepperstone allows clients to buy actual cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. In terms of ratings, Charles Schwab scores higher with 5 stars for its range of investments and is ranked 5th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Pepperstone receives 4 stars, ranking 26th. These features make Charles Schwab a more diverse option for investors looking for extensive market access.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Pepperstone logoPepperstone
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 40000 1726
Forex Pairs (Total) info 73 65
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

Charles Schwab and Pepperstone both offer a solid array of trading platforms and tools, each with unique strengths. Schwab provides a proprietary platform with both desktop and web-based options, ranked highly at #5 by ForexBrokers.com. Catering to various trading needs, Schwab supports simulated trading with a free demo account and allows trading directly from stock charts. While it doesn’t offer platforms like MetaTrader 4 or 5, it distinguishes itself with comprehensive options for watch lists, boasting 580 fields, and offers 24 drawing tools for precise charting. Overall, Schwab’s platform earns a top rating of 5 stars, reflecting its thorough and user-friendly approach to trading tools.

Pepperstone also delivers versatile trading options with its proprietary platform available on both desktop and web. While it doesn't reach the very top of ForexBrokers.com's ranking, coming in at #22, it still provides a competitive suite of tools with a 4-star rating. Pepperstone stands out with its support for popular trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, enhancing functionality especially for those interested in automated trading. Additionally, Pepperstone offers copy trading services through DupliTrade and 30 drawing tools for charting, even though its watch lists feature fewer fields than Schwab’s. Both brokers support direct trading from stock charts and offer free demo accounts, making them accessible for new and seasoned traders alike.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Pepperstone logoPepperstone
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
DupliTrade info No Yes
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 374 15
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 24 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 580 7

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Charles Schwab and Pepperstone offer extensive features catered to traders on-the-go. Both brokers provide iPhone and Android apps that let users access price alerts for stocks or forex, sync watchlist symbols seamlessly, and enjoy the flexibility of drawing trendlines directly on charts. Additionally, these apps allow users to explore multiple time frames—such as daily, weekly, or intraday—on their stock or forex charts, and ensure any drawings made on charts are automatically saved. Both apps also support creating watchlists with real-time quotes, enhancing the user's trading experience.

In terms of charting capabilities, Charles Schwab stands out with a generous offering of 374 technical studies, compared to Pepperstone’s 30. This breadth of technical studies can provide traders with more detailed market insights. Reflecting their comprehensive features, Charles Schwab's mobile app is rated five stars and is ranked 6th by ForexBrokers.com among 63 brokers, while Pepperstone’s app garners a solid four-star rating, ranking 21st in the same category. Overall, while both apps provide a wealth of functionality, Schwab edges ahead particularly in terms of charting options and overall rankings.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Pepperstone logoPepperstone
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

When it comes to market research, both Charles Schwab and Pepperstone offer strong features tailored to the needs of traders. Daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters are available through both platforms, ensuring investors stay informed with the latest insights. Each broker provides an economic calendar, offering a comprehensive view of global economic events. However, while Pepperstone integrates advanced technical analysis tools from Autochartist and a sentiment-based trading tool for traders interested in gauging market movers, Charles Schwab does not provide these specific features.

Despite the lack of some advanced tools, Charles Schwab shines with a stellar five-star research rating from ForexBrokers.com, ranking it 4th out of 63 brokers for research capabilities. Pepperstone is not far behind, with a 4.5-star rating and a commendable 12th-place ranking. This makes Charles Schwab a top choice for traders who prioritize research excellence, while Pepperstone appeals to those who value additional analytical tools and sentiment tracking in their trading strategy.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Pepperstone logoPepperstone
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info No Yes
TipRanks info No No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When comparing the educational resources offered by Charles Schwab and Pepperstone, both online brokers provide comprehensive support for those new to forex and CFDs trading. Each offers more than ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars designed to enhance your trading knowledge. Both Charles Schwab and Pepperstone also host monthly educational webinars and have user-friendly archives of past sessions for you to explore. Beginner traders can find at least ten dedicated educational videos from both platforms to help them get started. Advanced traders aren't left out either, as each broker provides over ten specialized videos catering to more experienced audiences.

However, when diving deeper into additional learning tools, Charles Schwab appears to have a slight edge. Both brokers have an investor dictionary with more than 50 investing terms, ensuring that newcomers can quickly learn the necessary jargon. Despite these similarities, Charles Schwab's educational offerings receive a 5-star rating, compared to Pepperstone's 4.5-star rating. This difference is reflected in their rankings, with Charles Schwab positioned at #6 and Pepperstone at #17 in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com among 63 brokers. This distinction makes Charles Schwab a slightly more favorable option for those prioritizing extensive learning resources.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Pepperstone logoPepperstone
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than Pepperstone. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16.

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 logoCharles Schwab
Pepperstone logoPepperstone
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 95
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Charles Schwab or Pepperstone?

Both Charles Schwab and Pepperstone do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing investors to engage in crypto markets without owning the actual digital assets.

What funding options does each broker offer?

When comparing online brokers, Charles Schwab supports ACH and SEPA transfers as well as bank wires, but lacks options like PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard, whereas Pepperstone not only provides ACH, SEPA, and bank wire options but also offers additional conveniences such as PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard for depositing and withdrawing funds.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 95
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review Pepperstone Review
Broker Screenshots Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Trust Score info 99 95
Year Founded info 1971 2010
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info No Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 3
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 2
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 2
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info No Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info Yes No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info No Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No Yes
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No No
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info No Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No No
Investments Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 40000 1726
Forex Pairs (Total) info 73 65
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 Pepperstone
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.35 info 1.00 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.35 info 0.70 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info No Yes
Inactivity Fee info No No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes Yes
Execution: Market Maker info No Yes
Funding Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Minimum Deposit info $0 $0
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes Yes
Trading Platforms Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No Yes
DupliTrade info No Yes
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 580 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 374 15
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 24 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info No No
TipRanks info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info No Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs Charles Schwab Pepperstone
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review Charles Schwab Review Pepperstone Review
Overall Charles Schwab Pepperstone
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 95
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review Pepperstone Review
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