Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Trading 212, 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 Trading 212 are two well-known online brokers with distinct features and trust ratings. Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab is not only a broker but also a publicly traded bank, which adds to its credibility and financial backing. It boasts the highest possible Trust Score of 99 as rated by ForexBrokers.com, signifying high trust. This rating is supported by Charles Schwab’s possession of 5 Tier-1 licenses, regarded as the gold standard in regulatory trust.
Trading 212, which began its operations in 2004, offers a modern approach to online trading but without the banking services Schwab provides. It is not publicly traded, setting it apart from Charles Schwab, and holds 3 Tier-1 licenses, signifying a trusted level of regulatory compliance. With a Trust Score of 80, Trading 212 is classified as trusted but does not reach the same level of assurance as Charles Schwab. For traders, these factors contribute to the decision-making process, whether one seeks the robust stability of an established institution or the innovative features of a newer platform.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Charles Schwab and Trading 212 both market “zero-commission” trading, but your real costs come from the spread—the difference between the buy and sell price. For commissions and fees, each earns 4 stars. Schwab ranks #23 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 ranks #27 out of 63.
Schwab doesn’t charge a separate commission for forex; its pricing is spread-only. In October 2024, Schwab’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, which is on the higher side versus peers. There’s no minimum deposit for its main accounts, but the smallest forex trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 minimum margin at 20:1 leverage). All trades settle in U.S. dollars with a Schwab One account; to place orders directly in a foreign currency you must call in, or use the Schwab Global account, which lets you trade in 12 local markets. Currency conversion fees on Schwab Global range from 0.2% to 1% depending on your balance. Overnight financing (carry) costs are clearly shown in a calculator on the thinkorswim platform.
Trading 212 also uses spread-only pricing for forex and CFDs. It has low entry points (Invest account minimum 1 euro; CFD account 10 euros), but its spreads are higher than many rivals. In April 2025, Trading 212’s average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips—well above the industry average—which can make active trading more expensive even without a commission. Trading 212 has begun publishing average spread data, improving pricing transparency.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab and Trading 212 both support forex trading (CFD or spot), access to U.S.-listed shares like Apple (AAPL), and international stocks such as Vodafone on the LSE. Each also offers cryptocurrency exposure through CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto or use copy trading. Where they differ is scale: Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols, while Trading 212 offers 7,868. For forex specifically, Trading 212 leads with 146 pairs versus Schwab’s 73, which may appeal to active currency traders.
Both brokers earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, yet Schwab ranks higher overall in this category (#5 of 63) compared with Trading 212 (#15 of 63). In short, Schwab suits investors who want the widest menu across asset types, while Trading 212 is attractive if you want a simpler lineup with an especially large selection of forex pairs.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 146 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Trading 212 both include a free demo account for practice. Each runs its own in-house platform and offers a browser platform, plus the option to place trades right from a chart. A key difference is on desktop: Schwab provides a downloadable Windows platform, while Trading 212 does not. Neither broker offers copy trading, and neither supports MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5.
For platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab 5 stars and ranks it #7 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools. Trading 212 earns 4 stars and ranks #19. If you want a full desktop download and higher-rated tools, Schwab is the stronger pick; if browser trading covers your needs, Trading 212 works well.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 54 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and Trading 212 offer fully featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and watchlist syncing, so changes you make on mobile match your online account. Charting tools are strong on both, with the ability to draw trendlines and have your drawings auto-save. The biggest difference is the depth of technical studies: Schwab includes 374 indicators, while Trading 212 offers 104, which may matter if you rely on advanced chart analysis.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab’s mobile trading app is rated 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 earns 4 stars and ranks #17. If you want the widest range of built-in indicators and top-tier ratings, Schwab stands out; if you prefer a simpler toolkit that still covers key features like alerts, syncing, and drawing tools, Trading 212 is a solid pick.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research from Charles Schwab and Trading 212, Schwab provides daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), and an easy-to-use economic calendar. Trading 212 also supplies high-quality forex news and an economic calendar, and it adds a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. However, Trading 212 does not publish daily commentary. Neither broker includes research from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
For overall research quality, ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab 5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #5 of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. In short, pick Schwab if you want frequent in-house commentary paired with news and an economic calendar; choose Trading 212 if you want news and an economic calendar with a simple sentiment gauge.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| 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.
For beginner trading education, Charles Schwab edges out Trading 212. Schwab runs client webinars at least once a month and offers 10+ beginner videos, plus 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. Trading 212 also provides 10+ beginner and advanced videos, but it does not host monthly client webinars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Schwab’s education is rated 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #20.
If you’re specifically looking for forex or CFD lessons, the details provided here don’t confirm whether either broker has a dedicated library of 10 or more pieces focused on those topics. If live learning and higher-rated education matter most, Schwab is the stronger choice. If you prefer self-paced video learning, Trading 212 can still be a good fit for beginners.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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Comparing online brokers Charles Schwab and Trading 212 for cryptocurrency: neither allows buying actual (delivered) crypto, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Charles Schwab vs. Trading 212: both support ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers; Trading 212 also supports PayPal while Charles Schwab does not; neither supports Skrill; and Visa or Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 54 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Trading 212 Review |
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