Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Swissquote, 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.
When comparing Charles Schwab and Swissquote, both established players in the online brokerage industry, their trustworthiness is notably high. Charles Schwab, founded in 1971, and Swissquote, founded in 1996, are both publicly traded and operate as banks. They each hold a perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, placing them firmly in the "highly trusted" category. This reliability is underlined by their possession of five Tier-1 regulatory licenses, which are regarded as the highest standard of trust in the financial sector.
While both firms demonstrate substantial trustworthiness, a slight difference can be noted in their regulatory structures. Swissquote holds two additional Tier-2 licenses, indicators of a trusted status, which Charles Schwab does not possess. This distinction suggests a broader regulatory recognition for Swissquote, complementing its already solid standing. Overall, both Charles Schwab and Swissquote stand out as dependable choices for those seeking a secure and regulated online trading experience.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Charles Schwab charges no commissions for forex; your cost is the bid/ask spread. In October 2024, the average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, which is on the higher side versus many brokers. There’s no minimum deposit for a Schwab One account, though the smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 margin at 20:1 leverage). All trades settle in U.S. dollars. If you want to trade in local currencies, the Schwab Global account supports 12 markets, with currency conversion fees of 0.2% to 1% depending on your balance. Schwab’s Commissions and Fees rating: 4 out of 5 stars; ranked #23 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com.
Swissquote’s pricing varies by entity and tends to land above the cheapest brokers. In the U.K., four account types are offered: the Elite account (best for active traders with at least $10,000) uses a commission model at $5 per round‑turn with lower spreads; the Standard account’s EUR/USD spread starts at 1.3 pips, while Prime advertises a 0.6‑pip minimum (note this is a minimum, not an average). In Luxembourg, the Standard ($1,000 min), Premium ($5,000), and Prime ($50,000) accounts list minimum spreads from 1.5 to 0.8 pips. In Switzerland, forex accounts require larger deposits and show wider minimum spreads: Standard 1.7 pips ($1,000), Premium 1.4 pips ($10,000), Prime 1.1 pips ($50,000), with custom pricing available for high‑volume traders. Swissquote’s Commissions and Fees rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars; ranked #35 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com.
Bottom line: Schwab offers simple, $0‑commission forex with no account minimum, but its EUR/USD spreads can be wider and local‑currency trading via the Global account adds 0.2%–1% in conversion fees. Swissquote provides more account choices across regions and the appeal of a Swiss bank, yet you’ll often pay more either through wider spreads or the $5 commission on the U.K. Elite account. If you want low entry costs and straightforward pricing, Schwab is the easier fit; if you value multi‑entity options and bank branding and are comfortable with higher typical trading costs, consider Swissquote.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab offers far more overall choice, with about 40,000 tradeable symbols versus Swissquote’s 472. For forex, both support trading as CFDs or spot; Schwab lists 73 currency pairs while Swissquote lists 80. Each broker also lets you buy exchange‑traded securities on U.S. markets (like Apple) and on international exchanges (like Vodafone). Both support cryptocurrency CFDs.
Where they differ: Swissquote includes copy trading and lets you buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, while Schwab does not. Despite these differences, both earned 5 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com. In the rankings, Swissquote places #2 out of 63 brokers for this category, and Charles Schwab ranks #5.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 472 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 80 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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 Swissquote both check the big boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers free paper trading (a virtual demo account), in-house proprietary platforms, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. You can also place orders straight from charts with either broker.
The main differences come down to extras. Swissquote supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Charles Schwab does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, whereas Swissquote earns 4.5 stars and ranks #12. If you want MetaTrader or social-copy features, Swissquote is the better fit; if you prefer a higher-rated platform suite, Charles Schwab stands out.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 86 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and Swissquote offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each supports price alerts, trendline drawing on charts, and auto-saving of chart annotations. A key difference is watchlists: Schwab syncs watchlist symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while Swissquote does not, which can matter if you move between phone and desktop often.
For charting depth, Schwab provides 374 technical studies compared with Swissquote’s 30, giving active chart watchers far more indicators to work with. Independent ratings also tilt toward Schwab: it earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote scores 4.5 stars and ranks #12. If you want extensive chart tools and seamless watchlist syncing, the Charles Schwab mobile app stands out; if you need a capable app with solid alerts and drawing tools, Swissquote remains a strong choice.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Charles Schwab and Swissquote both deliver daily market commentary, top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and an economic calendar that tracks global events. The main difference in tools: Swissquote includes Autochartist for chart patterns and trade ideas, while Charles Schwab does not. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), or a sentiment tool that shows the long-versus-short balance.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab’s research is rated 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while Swissquote earns 4 stars and ranks #15. Choose Charles Schwab if you want a higher-rated research experience built on daily commentary, trusted news, and a clear calendar; pick Swissquote if Autochartist’s pattern recognition is a must-have.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing education, Charles Schwab edges out Swissquote. Schwab holds a 5-star education rating and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote earns 4 stars and ranks #19. Both brokers run client webinars at least once a month and offer deep video libraries, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that cover trading topics in a clear, structured way.
If you want forex or CFD study materials specifically, the available info does not confirm whether either broker provides 10 or more pieces focused on those subjects. Still, for most newcomers, both platforms deliver steady learning through webinars and sizable video content, with Schwab getting the higher overall marks and Swissquote remaining a solid pick for ongoing education.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Swissquote. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11.
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
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Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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In a head-to-head crypto comparison, Charles Schwab does not let clients buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency but does offer cryptocurrency CFDs, while Swissquote supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and also offers cryptocurrency CFDs.
For depositing and withdrawing funds, Charles Schwab and Swissquote both support ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers, but only Swissquote offers PayPal and Skrill (not available at Charles Schwab), and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified by either broker.
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 | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 472 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 86 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Swissquote Review |
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