Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Plus500, 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.
Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab is a well-established online broker that is also a publicly traded bank. In terms of regulation, Charles Schwab holds an impressive number of Tier-1 licenses, totaling five. This high level of licensing contributes to its perfect Trust Score rating of 99, as determined by ForexBrokers.com. With a solid foundation in the financial industry, Charles Schwab stands out as a highly trusted choice for investors.
Plus500, established in 2008, is another prominent online broker that is publicly traded but not a bank. It surpasses Charles Schwab in its regulatory footprint by holding six Tier-1 licenses and an additional three Tier-2 licenses. Like Charles Schwab, Plus500 also achieves a top Trust Score rating of 99, making it equally dependable for those interested in online trading. Both brokers offer a blend of trust and regulatory compliance, though with slightly different aspects and histories.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Charles Schwab and Plus500 both make their money on forex primarily through the spread rather than an added trading commission. In our comparison data, Schwab’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips (October 2024), while Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips (April 2024)—both a bit above the industry average, with Schwab slightly tighter in this snapshot. For the Commissions and Fees category, Schwab is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks #23 of 63 brokers; Plus500 also earns 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks #24 of 63 brokers.
Charles Schwab charges no separate commission for forex; costs come from the bid/ask spread on its currency pairs. There’s no minimum deposit for its primary brokerage accounts. Forex access runs through the thinkorswim platform via a Schwab One account, and all trades settle in U.S. dollars. The smallest trade size is 10,000 units, which implies about $500 in margin at 20:1 leverage. To place trades in a foreign market’s local currency with Schwab One, you must call in. Alternatively, the Schwab Global account lets you trade across 12 international markets in local currencies, with currency conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1% depending on your balance. Schwab also displays overnight financing (carry) charges inside thinkorswim so you can estimate holding costs.
Plus500’s pricing sits slightly above the industry average and doesn’t offer retail discounts, though Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. The EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024. Bottom line: both brokers are competitive for casual forex traders who value simplicity—Schwab edges Plus500 on the sample EUR/USD spread cited here, while Plus500’s structure may appeal to professionals who can access rebates. Always check real-time spreads and financing rates before you trade.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Charles Schwab offers a much larger menu than Plus500. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while Plus500 provides roughly 5,500 symbols and 65 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading (via CFDs or spot), let clients buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international markets (think Apple on Nasdaq or Vodafone in London), and offer crypto exposure through CFDs only—neither supports buying delivered cryptocurrency. Copy trading is not available at either broker.
Independent ratings mirror these differences: Schwab earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #17. If you want the widest selection of markets and symbols, Schwab has the edge. If you mainly trade popular CFDs and forex pairs, Plus500 still covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Charles Schwab and Plus500 both provide free paper trading (demo accounts) and each offers a proprietary platform. Schwab adds a Windows desktop download option, while Plus500 does not; both deliver web-based trading. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, and neither offers copy trading.
For charting, Schwab lets you place trades directly from the chart, whereas Plus500 does not. In independent reviews for Trading Platforms and Tools, Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14. In short, choose Schwab if you want desktop software and chart-based order entry; pick Plus500 if a straightforward web platform and demo access meet your needs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and Plus500 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. On either app, you can set stock and forex price alerts and keep your watchlists synced with your online account. Each app supports drawing trendlines on charts; however, Charles Schwab automatically saves your chart drawings, while Plus500 does not.
For charting depth, Charles Schwab provides 374 technical studies compared with 115 on Plus500, which can matter if you rely on indicators. According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab’s mobile app earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14. Both are solid mobile trading choices, with Schwab better suited to heavy chart analysis and Plus500 covering the essentials.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing Charles Schwab and Plus500 for market research, both provide daily market commentary and a helpful economic calendar for tracking global events. Schwab stands out by offering forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not include this level of news coverage. Neither broker offers tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. However, Plus500 includes Trading Central analytics and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions—features Schwab does not provide.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab earns a 5-star Research rating and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 scores 4.5 stars and ranks #17. In short, pick Schwab if you want strong news flow paired with daily commentary, and consider Plus500 if you value built-in Trading Central insights and a quick read on crowd positioning.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Charles Schwab and Plus500 both offer beginner-friendly trading education. Each hosts online client webinars at least once a month and provides a library with 10+ beginner videos, plus 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #26—giving Schwab the edge for overall education quality.
If you’re seeking forex education or CFD education specifically, verify the depth of topic-focused content at each broker; this summary doesn’t confirm whether either offers 10+ dedicated forex or CFD pieces (articles, videos, or archived webinars). In short, beginners will find frequent webinars and plenty of easy-to-follow videos at both brokers, but learners who want the highest-rated education may lean toward Charles Schwab, while Plus500 remains a solid choice for getting started.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Plus500. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
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
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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Charles Schwab vs Plus500: neither online broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
In a head-to-head comparison of funding methods, Charles Schwab supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires but not PayPal or Skrill, whereas Plus500 offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA; Visa/Mastercard availability for both 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 | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
| Cost | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Plus500 Review |
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