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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, both Charles Schwab and Trading 212 market zero-commission trading on forex/CFDs, but your real cost is the spread. Schwab’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips in October 2024, while Trading 212 reported 2.7 pips for April 2025. That difference can add up for active traders, making Schwab cheaper on this key pair in our snapshot comparison. Ratings: Charles Schwab — 4 out of 5 stars, ranked #26 of 63 for Commissions and Fees. Trading 212 — 4 out of 5 stars, ranked #50 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
Charles Schwab has no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts and supports forex trading via the thinkorswim platform with a Schwab One account. All trades settle in U.S. dollars, and the smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 in margin at 20:1 leverage). If you want to place trades in a foreign market’s local currency from Schwab One, you’ll need to call Schwab; the Schwab Global account lets you trade directly in 12 international markets, with currency conversion fees from 0.2% to 1% depending on balance. Schwab doesn’t charge forex commissions; your costs are the spread, and the platform shows overnight financing (carry) in a built-in calculator.
Trading 212 offers two accounts: Invest (shares) with a €1 minimum and CFD with a €10 minimum. It advertises zero-commission trading for CFDs and forex, but spreads apply; its published average EUR/USD spread of 2.7 pips for April 2025 is well above the industry average, which can make frequent trading more expensive than at leading rivals. Trading 212’s Commissions and Fees rating is 4 out of 5 stars, and it ranks #50 of 63 in this category.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.32 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 2.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab offers about 40,000 tradeable symbols, far more than Trading 212’s 7,868. Both let you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets (such as Apple) and on international exchanges (such as Vodafone), so building a global stock and ETF portfolio is straightforward. Neither platform supports copy trading.
For currency traders, Schwab lists 73 tradeable forex pairs while Trading 212 lists 146, and both support forex trading either as CFDs or spot contracts. Neither broker lets you buy actual crypto, but both provide access to crypto-linked derivatives. According to ForexBrokers.com, both earn 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments; however, Schwab ranks #5 out of 63 brokers in this category, while Trading 212 ranks #16.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Trading 212, both offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, giving new traders the opportunity to hone their skills risk-free. Both brokers provide proprietary platforms, designed in-house, with Charles Schwab offering a Windows-based desktop download option, whereas Trading 212 does not. Instead, it focuses on web-based platforms, which both brokers offer, providing flexibility for those who prefer to trade via browser. Neither broker supports copy trading or popular peripheral platforms such as MetaTrader 4 or 5, DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade. Charles Schwab stands out with its robust offering of 24 drawing tools for charting, compared to Trading 212's 20. Both platforms allow trading directly from stock charts, enhancing user experience by streamlining the trading process.
Charles Schwab excels in personalization with an impressive 580 fields for watch lists, dwarfing Trading 212’s offering of just 5. As a result, Charles Schwab earns a full five-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 5th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Trading 212 receives a four-star rating, placing 20th in the same category. Both platforms have distinct strengths, but Schwab’s higher rank and additional features may cater better to traders seeking more detailed analytical capabilities and a wider range of options for customizing their trading experience.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Charles Schwab and Trading 212 offer a seamless experience for iPhone and Android users. They provide essential features like stock or forex price alerts and watchlist symbol syncing, allowing users to stay updated and have their watchlists synchronized between the mobile app and their online accounts. Additionally, both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing various time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday on stock or forex charts, which are essential tools for traders. These apps also ensure that your chart drawings are automatically saved, and both allow for the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes.
In terms of charting, Charles Schwab stands out with 374 technical studies available on its mobile app, significantly more than Trading 212's 104. With a five-star rating for its mobile trading app, Charles Schwab is a preferred choice, ranked sixth out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Trading 212's four-star rating and 17th position. Ultimately, while both platforms offer solid mobile trading solutions, Charles Schwab provides a more comprehensive and highly rated experience for users seeking advanced charting capabilities and overall app performance.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research, Charles Schwab stands out for offering daily market commentary alongside forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Trading 212 also streams high-quality forex news and includes an economic calendar, just like Schwab, but it does not publish daily commentary. Neither broker integrates Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. A key difference: Trading 212 provides a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions, while Schwab does not.
For overall research strength, ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab at 5 stars and ranks it #5 out of 63 brokers. Trading 212 earns 3.5 stars and ranks #45. If you want frequent, in-house insights to guide your day-to-day decisions, Schwab is the stronger pick; if you prefer a simpler setup with a built-in sentiment gauge, Trading 212 has appeal.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| 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.
Online brokers Charles Schwab and Trading 212 both give beginners plenty to learn from. Each offers at least 10 pieces of forex and CFD education, 10+ beginner videos, 10+ advanced videos, and a searchable archive of recorded webinars. Both also provide an investor dictionary with 50+ terms to explain market jargon. The key difference is live learning: Charles Schwab hosts client webinars at least once a month, while Trading 212 does not offer regular live webinars.
That shows up in independent scores: ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab 5 stars for Education and ranks it #6 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 earns 3.5 stars and ranks #21. If you want frequent live sessions plus a large on-demand library, Schwab is the stronger pick. If you’re comfortable with self-paced videos, articles, and recorded sessions, Trading 212 still offers a solid starter toolkit.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Trading 212. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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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Both Charles Schwab and Trading 212 do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency; however, they both provide the option to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing Charles Schwab and Trading 212 for deposit and withdrawal options, both offer ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires, but only Trading 212 supports PayPal and credit card transactions with Visa or Mastercard, while neither platform offers Skrill.
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 (SFC 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.32 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 2.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 20 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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