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Home ‣ Compare ‣ Charles Schwab vs Spreadex 2025

Charles Schwab vs Spreadex 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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.

Charles Schwab
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5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 40000
Spreadex
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 71
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 10000

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 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 logoCharles Schwab
Spreadex logoSpreadex
Year Founded info 1971 1999
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 0

Fees

For forex commissions and fees, Charles Schwab earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #25 of 63, while Spreadex also earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28. Schwab charges no commissions for forex; your cost is the spread, which averaged 1.35 pips on EUR/USD in October 2024 (on the higher side of the industry). Spreadex posted a tighter average EUR/USD spread of 0.81 pips in January 2024, with a 0.6-pip minimum achieved 60% of the time.

Schwab’s barrier to entry is low with no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts. Forex access runs through thinkorswim via the Schwab One account, where all trades settle in U.S. dollars; the smallest trade size is 10,000 units, implying about $500 minimum margin at 20:1 leverage. If you want to trade in a foreign market’s local currency with Schwab One, you must phone in the order. The Schwab Global account lets you trade in 12 international markets in their local currencies, with currency conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1% based on your balance. Schwab also displays overnight financing (carry) charges inside thinkorswim so you can estimate holding costs.

Bottom line: Spreadex is likely to appeal if your priority is lower typical EUR/USD spreads, while Schwab may suit traders who want thinkorswim and U.S. dollar settlement, plus optional access to local-currency markets via Schwab Global (with conversion fees). Both brokers score 4/5 stars on pricing, but Schwab’s #25 ranking edges Spreadex’s #28 in the Commissions and Fees category.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Spreadex logoSpreadex
Minimum Deposit info $0 $0
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.35 info 0.81 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.35 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info No No
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
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

Charles Schwab vs Spreadex: both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. Schwab lists 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while Spreadex offers 10,000 symbols and 52 pairs. Neither broker supports copy trading. Both give access to cryptocurrency through derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto.

Schwab also offers exchange-traded securities, so you can buy and hold real shares on U.S. exchanges (like Apple) and on select international exchanges (like Vodafone). Spreadex does not offer direct share dealing on U.S. or international exchanges. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category, both earn 5 stars, with Schwab ranked #5 out of 63 brokers and Spreadex ranked #14.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Spreadex logoSpreadex
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 40000 10000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 73 52
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
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 vs Spreadex: both brokers offer free paper trading with virtual demo accounts and run their own proprietary platforms. Schwab provides a Windows desktop download in addition to a web platform, while Spreadex offers web trading only. Neither broker supports copy trading, MetaTrader 4 or 5 (MT4/MT5), DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade.

For charting and workspace tools, both let you place trades directly from charts. Charles Schwab includes 24 drawing tools compared with 11 at Spreadex, and its watchlists are far deeper (580 columns/fields vs 8). These differences show up in third-party reviews: ForexBrokers.com rates Schwab 5/5 stars and ranks it #5 of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Spreadex earns 4/5 stars and ranks #47 of 63.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Spreadex logoSpreadex
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 374 58
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 24 11
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 580 8

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

Forex trading apps

Charles Schwab vs Spreadex: both brokers offer iPhone and Android trading apps with price alerts and watchlists showing real-time quotes. A key difference is syncing—Schwab syncs your mobile watchlists with your online account, while Spreadex does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, Schwab’s mobile app earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, whereas Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #47.

For charting, Schwab lists 374 technical studies, while Spreadex doesn’t provide a count. Both apps let you draw trendlines and switch between intraday, daily, and weekly views. Schwab also auto-saves your chart drawings; Spreadex does not. If you want deeper chart tools and seamless watchlist syncing, Schwab is the stronger pick. If you need core features and alerts on iOS or Android, Spreadex covers the basics.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Spreadex logoSpreadex
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 N/A
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Charles Schwab and Spreadex both deliver daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Each also provides an economic calendar to track upcoming events. According to ForexBrokers.com, Schwab leads on overall research quality with a 5-star rating and a #4 ranking out of 63 brokers, while Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #32.

When it comes to tools, Spreadex stands out with Autochartist for technical ideas and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions—features Charles Schwab does not offer. Neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading integrations. Choose Schwab if you want a top-rated research experience with strong news and commentary; pick Spreadex if you value Autochartist insights and real-time sentiment data to guide trade decisions.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Spreadex logoSpreadex
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 Charles Schwab and Spreadex in terms of educational resources for beginners, both platforms provide an extensive array of educational materials dedicated to forex and CFDs. However, Charles Schwab distinctly stands out by offering more comprehensive support for new traders. Notably, Schwab hosts monthly online educational webinars that are of great benefit to beginners, whereas Spreadex does not provide this kind of live, interactive learning experience. Moreover, Schwab grants access to a searchable archive of recorded webinars, offering convenience to users who wish to learn at their own pace. In contrast, Spreadex lacks this feature, which can limit a beginner's ability to revisit and review past sessions.

Both brokers offer a series of beginner educational videos and investor dictionaries with numerous investing terms. However, Charles Schwab goes further by catering to those who advance beyond the basics, providing advanced educational videos for more experienced traders. This dedication to a comprehensive learning path contributes to Schwab’s higher educational ranking, earning a 5-star rating and a #6 spot in the Education category according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Spreadex, though offering foundational resources, is rated with 4 stars and ranks #45, indicating room for growth in their educational offerings. For beginners looking for a thorough educational journey, Schwab offers an enriched atmosphere to develop trading skills confidently.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Spreadex logoSpreadex
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
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 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 logoCharles Schwab
Spreadex logoSpreadex
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 71
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Charles Schwab or Spreadex?

Both Charles Schwab and Spreadex do not provide the capability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency but do offer options for buying cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

In a comparison of online brokers, Charles Schwab provides ACH and SEPA transfers along with bank wires as options for depositing or withdrawing funds, whereas Spreadex supports Visa/Mastercard and bank wires, but neither platform offers PayPal or Skrill services.

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Overall Rating Charles Schwab Spreadex
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 71
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Review Charles Schwab Review Spreadex Review
Broker Screenshots Charles Schwab Spreadex
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Schwab thinkorswim mobile forex charting. Schwab thinkorswim desktop forex trading. Schwab research weekly market analysis YouTube video detail. Schwab education courses technical analysis.
Spreadex web platform. Spreadex research news headlines market analysis. Spreadex educational article risk management.
Regulation Charles Schwab Spreadex
Trust Score info 99 71
Year Founded info 1971 1999
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info No No info
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Charles Schwab Spreadex
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info No No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info Yes No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info No No info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) Charles Schwab Spreadex
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments Charles Schwab Spreadex
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 40000 10000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 73 52
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
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 Spreadex
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.35 info 0.81 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.35 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info No No
Inactivity Fee info No No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes No
Execution: Market Maker info No Yes
Funding Charles Schwab Spreadex
Minimum Deposit info $0 $0
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms Charles Schwab Spreadex
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools Charles Schwab Spreadex
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 580 8
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 374 58
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 24 11
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading Charles Schwab Spreadex
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 No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 N/A
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research Charles Schwab Spreadex
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 Spreadex
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs Charles Schwab Spreadex
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 Spreadex Review
Overall Charles Schwab Spreadex
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 71
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Review Charles Schwab Review Spreadex Review
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