Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Spreadex, 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 and Spreadex offer different levels of trust and regulatory oversight for online brokerage services. Established in 1971, Charles Schwab stands out with a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating it is highly trusted. As a publicly traded company and a bank, Charles Schwab holds five Tier-1 licenses, which are deemed highly reliable, further enhancing its credibility in the financial industry.
In contrast, Spreadex, founded in 1999, has a Trust Score of 71, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike Charles Schwab, Spreadex is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. Spreadex holds one Tier-1 license, which offers some reassurance to potential clients but is significantly limited when compared to Charles Schwab's regulatory approvals. For investors seeking a well-established and highly trusted broker, Charles Schwab presents a more favorable option.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1999 |
| 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 makes it easy to start since there’s no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts. Forex trading is available through thinkorswim with a Schwab One account, and all forex trades settle in U.S. dollars. The smallest trade size is 10,000 units, which at 20:1 leverage requires about $500 in margin. If you want to place trades in a foreign currency with Schwab One, you must call by phone. For international markets in local currencies, Schwab Global reaches 12 markets and adds currency conversion fees of about 0.2%–1% depending on your balance. Schwab doesn’t charge a separate commission for forex—your cost is the spread. In October 2024, the average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, and thinkorswim displays handy estimates for overnight financing (carry).
Spreadex concentrates costs in the spread. In January 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 0.81 pips, with a 0.6‑pip minimum hit about 60% of the time that month. These figures reflect the typical trading cost seen on that pair during the period measured.
Bottom line on commissions and fees: for EUR/USD spreads over the periods noted, Spreadex was tighter (0.81 pips) than Schwab (1.35 pips). Schwab offers multiple account choices and clear cost tools, but keep in mind the 10,000‑unit minimum trade size and potential currency conversion fees on Schwab Global. Ratings and rankings: Charles Schwab—4 out of 5 stars; ranked #26 of 63 for Commissions and Fees. Spreadex—4 out of 5 stars; ranked #28 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 0.81 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab and Spreadex both support forex trading (as CFDs or spot) and both offer crypto CFDs while not supporting direct, delivered crypto. Neither broker offers copy trading. For sheer variety, Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, compared with Spreadex’s roughly 10,000 symbols and 52 forex pairs. Each earns a 5-star rating for Range of Investments, yet Schwab ranks higher overall in this category (#5 of 63) than Spreadex (#14 of 63).
Where they differ most is stock market access. Charles Schwab lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges (e.g., Apple on NASDAQ) and on international exchanges (e.g., Vodafone in London), providing direct share ownership. Spreadex does not offer exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. If you want extensive symbol coverage and the ability to own shares across major markets, Schwab stands out; if you prefer trading derivatives with a wide, but more focused, lineup, Spreadex remains a solid choice.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 52 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Charles Schwab and Spreadex both provide in-house (proprietary) trading platforms and free paper trading to practice with a demo account. Schwab offers a downloadable Windows desktop platform plus a web platform, while Spreadex is web-only. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, and neither offers copy trading. Both let you place trades directly from charts, though the number of built-in technical indicators and the available watch list columns are not specified.
For platform quality, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #47. If you want a Windows desktop app alongside a browser platform, Schwab is the clear pick; if you prefer to trade in the browser, both can work. Consider trying each broker’s demo to see which interface and tools you like best.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 58 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and Spreadex offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts and drawing trendlines on charts. Where they differ is depth and convenience: Charles Schwab includes watchlist syncing with your online account and auto-saves chart drawings, so your work carries across devices. Schwab’s charting is also more advanced, with 374 technical studies available. Spreadex does not list a number for technical studies, and it does not sync watchlists or auto-save drawings.
Ratings reflect these gaps. Charles Schwab earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and is ranked #6 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #47 out of 63. In short, Schwab suits traders who want powerful, highly configurable charting on the go, while Spreadex covers the essentials for mobile trading with alerts and basic chart tools.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Charles Schwab vs Spreadex for market research: both deliver daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and an economic calendar that tracks global events. Their tools differ. Spreadex includes Autochartist for technical pattern scans and offers a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions; Charles Schwab lacks both. Neither broker integrates Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while Spreadex receives 4 stars and ranks #32. Choose Schwab if you want top-rated in-house research and daily insights; pick Spreadex if Autochartist signals and an easy view of crowd positioning are priorities.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing education for beginners, Charles Schwab offers more ways to learn than Spreadex. Schwab runs online client webinars at least once a month, while Spreadex does not. Both have at least 10 beginner-focused trading videos, but only Schwab also provides 10+ advanced videos for experienced traders. The available data did not confirm whether either broker has 10 or more education pieces dedicated specifically to forex or CFDs.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers for Education, whereas Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #45. If you want live sessions and a clear path from beginner to advanced topics, Schwab is the stronger choice. If you mainly want beginner videos and can skip monthly webinars and advanced materials, Spreadex can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Spreadex. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #39.
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
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
In the Charles Schwab vs Spreadex comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual, delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Charles Schwab vs Spreadex: For deposit and withdrawal options, Charles Schwab offers ACH/SEPA and bank wires, while Spreadex offers bank wires but not ACH/SEPA; neither supports PayPal or Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1999 | |
| 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 52 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 0.81 | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 58 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Spreadex Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill