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 offers a user-friendly experience for forex traders by eliminating minimum deposit requirements for its primary brokerage accounts, Schwab One and Schwab Global. Schwab One provides access to the thinkorswim platform, allowing trades settled in U.S. dollars with a minimum trade size of 10,000 units. Schwab Global, on the other hand, caters to those interested in international markets, accommodating twelve international markets in local currencies, although conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1% may apply. Schwab charges no commission fees for forex trading, focusing instead on the bid/ask spread, which averaged 1.35 pips for EUR/USD in October 2024. Schwab is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, and ranks #23 out of 63 brokers.
Spreadex also provides competitive trading conditions, featuring an average spread of 0.81 pips for EUR/USD in January 2024 and achieving a minimum spread of 0.6 pips 60% of the time during that month. Like Schwab, Spreadex lacks any commission fees, relying on the spread for its revenue. While Spreadex holds the same 4-star rating for its commissions and fees, it ranks slightly lower at #27 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Both brokers offer distinct advantages according to their user profiles. Charles Schwab excels in providing access to broad international markets and a robust trading platform with the thinkorswim. Conversely, Spreadex appeals to traders who prioritize tighter spreads. Your choice between these brokers might hinge on whether you need advanced platform features or tighter spread benefits.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 0.81 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Charles Schwab and Spreadex, both platforms offer a comprehensive selection of investments, but each stands out in different areas. Charles Schwab boasts an impressive offering with 40,000 tradeable symbols, significantly more than Spreadex's 10,000. Both brokers allow forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, but Schwab leads in this category as well, providing 73 tradeable forex pairs compared to Spreadex's 52. A key differentiator is in the realm of securities; Charles Schwab allows clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, expanding the investment horizon to include prominent stocks like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, Spreadex does not offer access to these exchanges outside of CFDs.
For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, both Charles Schwab and Spreadex provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither offers actual cryptocurrency purchases. Copy trading is not an option on either platform. While both brokers earn a high 5-star rating for their range of investments, there is a notable difference in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com; Schwab ranks #5 out of 63, indicating a slightly more favorable perception of its investment range compared to Spreadex's #13 rank. These distinctions make Charles Schwab particularly attractive for those looking for a wider array of direct investment options, while Spreadex remains a strong contender with its own strengths in CFD offerings.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 52 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Charles Schwab and Spreadex, both brokers offer unique features that cater to different types of traders. Charles Schwab impresses with its proprietary platform, available as a Windows-based desktop download for an enriched trading experience, alongside a web-based alternative. Similarly, Spreadex provides a proprietary web-based platform, although it lacks a downloadable desktop option for Windows users. Both brokers cater to novice and experienced traders with simulated trading accounts that allow users to hone their skills without financial risk. However, neither broker supports services like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or copy trading features.
In terms of technical capabilities, Charles Schwab offers a significant advantage by providing 24 drawing tools for charting and a robust 580 columns for watch lists, which dwarfs Spreadex's 11 drawing tools and 8-column layout. Both platforms allow for trading directly from stock charts, offering convenience at the click of a mouse. Ratings and rankings further underscore Schwab's edge, with a perfect five-star rating and a prestigious #5 ranking out of 63 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Spreadex, with a four-star rating, stands at #46, highlighting areas where it may not match up to Schwab's offerings.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 58 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 11 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Charles Schwab and Spreadex, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android users, providing essential stock and forex price alerts. However, Charles Schwab stands out with advanced charting capabilities, offering 374 technical studies and allowing trendline drawing and multiple time frame views. Additionally, Schwab's app has features such as watchlist symbol syncing with online accounts and automatic saving of chart drawings, giving users more flexibility and convenience.
Both apps enable the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, but Charles Schwab's superior app experience is reflected in its 5-star user rating compared to Spreadex's 4-star rating. Moreover, Schwab is ranked #6 out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex holds the #46 spot. These distinctions make Schwab a stronger contender for traders seeking a feature-rich and seamless mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Charles Schwab and Spreadex both deliver daily market commentary and access to forex news from prominent sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders are well-informed about market trends. While both platforms provide an economic calendar for tracking global news events, they diverge when it comes to specialized tools. Spreadex stands out with its offering of technical analysis tools from Autochartist and a sentiment-based trading tool that provides insight into market positioning across various instruments. In contrast, Charles Schwab does not provide tools from Autochartist or sentiment-based trading features.
When evaluating these brokers, Charles Schwab receives a higher commendation for its research capabilities. With a five-star rating and a rank of fourth out of 63 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, it surpasses Spreadex, which is rated four stars and ranks at thirty-first. Despite both platforms sharing some basic market resources, Charles Schwab's reputation in the research category is significantly stronger. This makes it a preferred choice for traders prioritizing comprehensive market insights and analysis.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
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
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 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 |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Both Charles Schwab and Spreadex do not provide the capability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency but do offer options for buying cryptocurrency derivatives.
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.
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 | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
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| 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 | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 52 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 1.35 | 0.81 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 58 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 11 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Spreadex Review |
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