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 and Spreadex both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees from ForexBrokers.com. In this category, Schwab ranks #23 out of 63 brokers, while Spreadex ranks #25. Here’s how their pricing compares for forex traders.
Charles Schwab doesn’t charge a separate commission for forex; your costs come from the bid/ask spread and any overnight financing. In October 2024, Schwab’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, which is on the higher side of industry norms. There’s no minimum deposit for Schwab’s primary brokerage accounts, but the smallest forex trade is 10,000 units (about $500 minimum margin at 20:1 leverage). Trades in a Schwab One account settle in U.S. dollars. If you use Schwab Global to trade in local currencies, expect currency conversion fees of roughly 0.2%–1% depending on your balance; thinkorswim also shows overnight carry charges in a built-in calculator.
Spreadex prices mainly through the spread: in January 2024, EUR/USD averaged 0.81 pips, with a 0.6 pips minimum reached 60% of the month. That typically undercuts Schwab’s reported average on EUR/USD and can mean lower day-to-day trading costs, though spreads change with market conditions and financing still applies. For tight EUR/USD spreads, Spreadex has the edge; for dollar-settled trading and multi-currency market access, Schwab may fit better. Both are 4-star options for commissions and fees (Schwab #23/63; Spreadex #25/63).
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 0.81 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 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.
Comparing Charles Schwab vs Spreadex on range of investments: both support forex trading and crypto CFDs, while neither offers copy trading or the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, far more than Spreadex’s 10,000 symbols and 52 pairs. A key difference is access to real shares: Schwab lets you buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, whereas Spreadex does not offer direct share dealing (it focuses on CFDs instead).
Both are rated 5 stars for Range of Investments by ForexBrokers.com, but Schwab ranks #5 of 63 brokers compared with Spreadex at #13. If you want a very wide instrument list plus the ability to buy U.S. and international stocks directly, Schwab is the better fit. If your priority is CFD trading with a solid selection of forex pairs and crypto CFDs, Spreadex covers the essentials.
| 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 vs Spreadex: Both brokers offer a free paper trading demo and in-house platforms. Schwab provides a Windows desktop download platform in addition to its web-based platform, while Spreadex is web-only. You can place orders straight from price charts at both brokers. Neither broker supports copy trading, and neither offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5).
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab 5 stars and ranks it 7th out of 63 brokers. Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks 34th out of 63. If you want a desktop download plus the web, Schwab has the edge; if a browser platform and a demo account are enough, both fit the bill.
| 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 the Charles Schwab mobile app and the Spreadex mobile app are available for iPhone and Android, and each supports stock and forex price alerts plus the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Key differences show up in day-to-day usability: Charles Schwab syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Spreadex does not. Schwab also auto-saves your chart drawings so your annotations are there next time; Spreadex does not auto-save.
For charting depth, Charles Schwab lists 374 technical studies in its mobile app, whereas Spreadex does not disclose a figure. Reflecting these differences, ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab’s mobile trading apps 5 stars and ranks it #6 out of 63 brokers, while Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #33. If you want extensive chart tools and seamless syncing, Charles Schwab is the stronger choice; if you mainly need core features with alerts and trendlines on both iPhone and Android, Spreadex covers the essentials.
| 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 brokers deliver daily market commentary, real-time forex news from top-tier sources (like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), and a helpful economic calendar. Schwab holds a 5-star Research rating and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #27.
Key tool differences: Spreadex adds Autochartist for pattern spotting and offers a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions—features Schwab does not include. Neither broker provides tools from Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Choose Schwab if you want top-tier news flow and highly rated research content, or pick Spreadex if you value built-in pattern-recognition and sentiment data alongside daily commentary.
| 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.
Charles Schwab is the stronger pick for beginners who want structured learning and steady support. It runs educational client webinars at least once a month and offers at least 10 beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos, making it easy to progress from basics to more complex strategies. Schwab earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com.
Spreadex provides a good starting point with at least 10 beginner-focused videos, but it does not host monthly educational webinars and falls short on advanced video depth. It holds a 4-star Education rating and ranks #33 out of 63 for Education. If you’re after ongoing live learning and a deeper library as you level up, Charles Schwab is the more comprehensive choice, while Spreadex suits newcomers who mainly want straightforward, self-paced videos.
| 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 #32.
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 |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| 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 |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| 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 (FSA 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 | 1.27 | 0.81 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 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 |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| 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
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill