Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs VT Markets, 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.
Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a stellar Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded bank, it holds five Tier-1 licenses, making it a secure choice for investors seeking dependable financial services. This long-established firm benefits from its comprehensive regulatory oversight, adding to its reputation for trust and reliability in the financial sector.
In contrast, VT Markets, founded in 2016, is not a publicly traded company and does not operate as a bank. It possesses a single Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, leading to an average-risk Trust Score of 70 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. While VT Markets may cater to those exploring newer platforms, its regulatory backing is not as strong as Charles Schwab's, reflecting a moderate level of trust in comparison.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Charles Schwab and VT Markets take different routes on commissions and fees for forex. Schwab doesn’t charge a forex commission and instead prices trades through the spread, while VT Markets offers a choice: a commission-free Standard STP account with wider spreads, or a Raw ECN account with a small commission and tighter spreads. For ratings, Schwab earns 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks #26 of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while VT Markets scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #21 of 63.
Schwab makes entry easy with no minimum deposit for its primary brokerage accounts. Forex trading is available via the Schwab One account on thinkorswim, and all trades settle in U.S. dollars. The smallest trade size is 10,000 units, which typically requires about $500 in margin at 20:1 leverage. Schwab doesn’t charge a forex commission; in October 2024 the average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips (on the higher side of the industry average). If you use the Schwab Global account to trade in local currencies, expect currency conversion fees ranging from 0.2% to 1%, depending on your balance.
VT Markets sets a $100 minimum deposit for both account types. The Standard STP account is commission-free with a typical EUR/USD spread of 1.2 pips. The Raw ECN account pairs a 0.6 round-turn commission with a 0.23-pip average spread (Sept. 2021), for a 0.83-pip effective cost on EUR/USD—potentially cheaper than Schwab or VT’s Standard account if you prioritize tighter pricing. In short, choose Schwab if you want commission-free trading in USD with thinkorswim, and pick VT Markets’ Raw ECN if lower effective spreads outweigh paying a small commission.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab vs VT Markets: for range of investments, Schwab lists 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while VT Markets offers 1,000 symbols and 39 pairs. Both let you trade forex as a CFD or spot. For shares, Schwab supports exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges (so you can buy stocks like Apple) and on international exchanges, while VT Markets offers international shares but not U.S.-listed shares. Both brokers provide cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. VT Markets offers copy trading; Schwab does not.
Based on ForexBrokers.com, Schwab earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 5th out of 63 brokers; VT Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks 40th. Choose Schwab if you want the widest selection and access to both U.S. and global shares; pick VT Markets if you value copy trading alongside CFDs and forex.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 39 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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 VT Markets: Both brokers offer free paper trading (demo accounts), web-based platforms, Windows desktop apps, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Charles Schwab delivers a proprietary, in-house platform, while VT Markets does not have its own and instead supports third‑party options. If you want MetaTrader or copy trading, VT Markets offers both MT4 and MT5 plus copy trading; Charles Schwab does not support MT4/MT5 or copy trading.
For platform quality, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while VT Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #48. In short, pick Charles Schwab if you want a high-rated in-house platform on web and desktop with a free demo, or choose VT Markets if you need MT4/MT5 and copy trading alongside a browser and Windows platform with a demo account.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and VT Markets offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Schwab has an edge in convenience: its watchlists sync between the app and your online account, and chart drawings auto-save so you can pick up where you left off. VT Markets supports drawing trendlines too, but it does not sync watchlists or auto-save chart annotations.
If charting depth matters, Schwab stands out with 374 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 for VT Markets. That difference is reflected in third-party reviews: Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while VT Markets holds 4 stars and ranks #45. For traders who lean on advanced charting and seamless watchlist management, the Charles Schwab mobile app may be the stronger pick, while VT Markets covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Charles Schwab and VT Markets both cover the core needs for market research: daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and an economic calendar with global events. According to ForexBrokers.com, Schwab leads with a 5-star Research rating and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while VT Markets holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #37.
The main differences show up in tools. Neither broker offers Autochartist, but VT Markets includes Trading Central and a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning—options Schwab does not provide. Schwab also does not offer TipRanks or Acuity Trading; VT Markets has no publicly confirmed support for TipRanks or Acuity Trading in the details provided. Choose Schwab if you prioritize a higher-rated research experience overall, or consider VT Markets if Trading Central and sentiment data are must-haves alongside news and calendars.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing educational resources, Charles Schwab stands out with frequent learning opportunities and breadth. Schwab hosts client webinars at least once a month, offers 10+ beginner trading videos, and also provides 10+ advanced videos for experienced traders. It earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Whether Schwab offers a dedicated set of 10+ forex or CFD-focused pieces wasn’t confirmed in the information provided.
VT Markets covers the basics with at least 10 beginner videos but does not run monthly client webinars and lacks 10+ advanced videos. It holds a 3.5-star Education rating and ranks #56 out of 63 brokers. As with Schwab, the data provided does not confirm whether VT Markets offers a dedicated library of 10+ forex or CFD education pieces. Overall, beginners are likely to find Schwab’s learning path more complete, while VT Markets suits those wanting quick introductions without deeper or live instruction.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 VT Markets. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
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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VT Markets
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 |
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In the Charles Schwab vs VT Markets cryptocurrency trading comparison, neither broker allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
Charles Schwab supports ACH/SEPA transfers and bank wires but not PayPal or Skrill, while VT Markets does not support ACH/SEPA (and PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire availability were 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | VT Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2016 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 39 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.32 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | VT Markets Review |
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