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 assessing the commissions and fees of Charles Schwab and Trading 212, both brokers offer unique advantages and limitations. Charles Schwab stands out with its lack of a minimum deposit requirement for its primary brokerage accounts, such as Schwab One and Schwab Global, which provide access to the thinkorswim platform for forex trading. Schwab doesn't charge direct commissions for forex trading; however, the trading costs are embedded in the bid/ask spreads. In October 2024, the average spread for EUR/USD was 1.35 pips. Schwab's offerings also include access to twelve international markets through local currencies, though note that currency conversion fees may apply. Schwab's thorough approach to commissions and fees earns it a 4-star rating and places it at #24 out of 63 brokers reviewed in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
Trading 212, on the other hand, offers two main account types: Invest for trading shares and CFD for trading CFDs. With minimum deposits set at 1 euro for the Invest account and 10 euros for the CFD account, Trading 212 claims zero-commission trading yet incurs costs through spreads. In April 2025, the average spread for EUR/USD on Trading 212 was 2.7 pips, significantly above the industry average. This high spread slightly undermines its zero-commission promise and places Trading 212 at a disadvantage compared to other forex brokers. Despite this, Trading 212 also received a 4-star rating for commissions and fees but ranks #49 out of 63 brokers reviewed.
In summary, both Charles Schwab and Trading 212 offer competitive commission structures with differing strengths. Charles Schwab appeals with its comprehensive options for forex and international trading through its Schwab One and Schwab Global accounts, while Trading 212 attracts beginner traders with its low minimum deposit requirements. However, when it comes to average spreads, Schwab offers more competitive rates, granting it a higher ranking in the industry.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 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 and Trading 212 both cater to a diverse range of investment needs, but they differ in their offerings. Charles Schwab provides access to 40,000 tradeable symbols, substantially more than Trading 212's 7,868 symbols. In terms of forex trading, Charles Schwab offers 73 tradeable pairs, while Trading 212 offers a wider selection with 146 pairs. Both platforms allow users to trade exchange-traded securities in the U.S. and international markets, enabling investors to buy stocks like Apple and Vodafone. Additionally, both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives, yet neither supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies or facilitates copy trading.
Despite the differing specifics of their investment offerings, both Charles Schwab and Trading 212 receive high praise for their broad range of options, each earning a five-star rating in this category. However, according to ForexBrokers.com rankings, Charles Schwab holds a higher position at #5, compared to Trading 212's #15 standing among 63 brokers. This ranking suggests that while both platforms are commendable, Charles Schwab's slightly more extensive range may appeal to investors looking for a broader array of investment opportunities.
| 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 the market research offerings of Charles Schwab and Trading 212, there are a few key differences to highlight. Charles Schwab stands out with its daily market commentary, providing investors with timely insights into financial markets. Both platforms deliver forex news from well-known sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, keeping users informed with credible information. However, neither broker features technical research tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, nor do they incorporate market sentiment tools like those from Acuity Trading or TipRanks. While Charles Schwab lacks a sentiment-based trading tool, Trading 212 offers such a feature, showing the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments.
For those who depend on economic insights to make decisions, both brokers offer an economic calendar to keep users updated on significant global events. Charles Schwab earns a distinguished 5-star rating for its research capabilities, ranking 4th among 63 brokers. In contrast, Trading 212 receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks 44th. This gap in rankings reflects Charles Schwab's edge in providing more comprehensive market research tools, appealing to investors looking for in-depth analysis and insights.
| 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.
When evaluating the educational resources available for beginners, Charles Schwab and Trading 212 present unique offerings for traders seeking to bolster their know-how. Both platforms ensure a solid foundation in forex and CFDs education, each featuring more than ten educational pieces including articles, videos, and archived webinars. However, Charles Schwab takes a step further by hosting monthly online educational webinars, helping users stay up-to-date and engaged with the latest trading insights. Unfortunately, Trading 212 doesn’t offer regular webinars, which might slightly limit new users seeking interactive learning opportunities.
Despite the difference in webinar availability, both platforms provide a searchable archive of recorded webinars and cater to beginner and advanced traders with comprehensive video content. Investor dictionaries are also available on both platforms, with at least 50 investing terms defined for easy learning. In terms of educational quality, Charles Schwab stands out with a five-star rating compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars. Moreover, ForexBrokers.com ranks Charles Schwab at an impressive 6th place out of 63 brokers for education, while Trading 212 is positioned at 20th. This ranking highlights Charles Schwab’s commitment to delivering extensive educational resources to its clientele.
| 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 | 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 1.35 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 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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