Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs XTB, 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 online brokers, Charles Schwab and XTB both stand as reputable choices, albeit with unique regulatory profiles. Charles Schwab, established in 1971, is a well-known name in financial circles and operates as a bank. It boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, categorizing it as highly trusted. The company is publicly traded and holds an impressive five Tier-1 licenses, which reflects a high level of regulatory trust.
In contrast, XTB was founded in 2002 and also enjoys a strong reputation with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96. While it isn't a bank, XTB is publicly traded and manages a commendable regulatory standing with two Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses. These numbers suggest that both brokers are reliable, but Charles Schwab edges ahead slightly in terms of regulatory trust and history in the financial market.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2002 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
XTB edges out Charles Schwab on typical trading costs for forex. XTB averages about 1.0 pip on EUR/USD (Q4 2023) versus Schwab’s 1.35 pips (October 2024). Both use a spread-only model for most retail traders, with no extra commission on standard accounts. Ratings and ranks: XTB is 4.5/5 stars and ranked #13 of 63 for Commissions and Fees; Charles Schwab is 4/5 stars and ranked #23 of 63.
Charles Schwab has no minimum deposit for its main brokerage accounts and lets you trade forex through the Schwab One account on thinkorswim. Trades settle in U.S. dollars, and the smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 minimum margin at 20:1 leverage). Schwab doesn’t charge forex commissions; you pay the spread (EUR/USD averaged 1.35 pips). If you want to place trades directly in foreign currencies via Schwab One you must call by phone, though the Schwab Global account supports 12 international markets in local currencies with currency conversion fees of about 0.2%–1% depending on balance. Overnight financing costs are visible in-platform via a calculator.
XTB offers a spread-only Standard account with a 250 base-currency minimum deposit ($/€/£250). Its formerly commission-based Pro account is being phased out and limited to certain professional clients in the U.K. and EU. For most retail traders, the Standard account is the pick, and active traders can earn spread rebates of 5%–30% once monthly volumes hit 20 to 1,000 lots. Overall, XTB’s pricing is generally cheaper than Schwab for forex, especially on EUR/USD.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 0.92 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| 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 and XTB both deliver a wide range of investments. Each supports forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, offers access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets (like Apple) and on international exchanges (like Vodafone), and lists cryptocurrency CFDs (but not delivered crypto). Schwab features about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while XTB lists around 10,900 symbols and 71 forex pairs.
Neither broker provides copy trading. For Range of Investments, both earn 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, with Charles Schwab ranked #5 out of 63 brokers and XTB ranked #14. If sheer symbol count matters most, Schwab has the edge; XTB still offers a broad multi-asset lineup with strong forex and CFD coverage.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 10900 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 71 |
| 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 XTB both make it easy to get started with a free paper trading (demo) account. Each broker offers its own proprietary platform, available as a Windows desktop download and as a web-based platform, and both let you place trades directly from a chart. If you’re looking for copy trading or MetaTrader 4/5 support, neither broker offers those options.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Charles Schwab at 5 stars and ranks it #7 out of 63 brokers, while XTB earns 4.5 stars and ranks #9. In short, Schwab edges out XTB in this category, but both deliver capable, in-house platforms with chart trading and access via desktop and browser, plus the safety of practicing with a demo account.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and XTB both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, lets you draw trendlines on charts, and automatically saves your chart drawings. Schwab stands out for power users with 374 technical studies in its mobile charting versus XTB’s 39. Another key difference is watchlist symbol syncing: Schwab syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while XTB does not.
As for quality scores, ForexBrokers.com rates Schwab’s mobile trading app 5 stars and ranks it #6 out of 63 brokers. XTB earns 4.5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63. If you want deeper charting tools and watchlist syncing across devices, Schwab may fit better; if you’re fine with fewer indicators and no sync, XTB’s app still delivers strong, user-friendly trading on the go.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 39 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Charles Schwab and XTB both deliver strong market research for everyday traders. Each offers daily market commentary, an economic calendar with global events, and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Both earn a 5-star Research rating, though ForexBrokers.com ranks Schwab higher at #5 out of 63 brokers, with XTB at #9.
Tool-wise, neither broker includes Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading integrations. The key difference is sentiment: XTB provides a sentiment-based trading tool that shows long/short ratios, while Schwab does not. If you want built-in sentiment data, XTB stands out; if you prefer a higher-ranked research suite from a large U.S. broker, Schwab has the edge.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Charles Schwab and XTB are both strong picks for beginners who want to learn trading. Each hosts at least one client webinar per month and offers 10+ beginner videos, plus 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to take the next step. Both earn a 5-star Education rating, though Schwab holds a higher placement in ForexBrokers.com’s Education rankings (#6 out of 63) compared with XTB (#11).
If you’re specifically seeking forex or CFD lessons, the information provided here does not confirm whether either broker has 10+ pieces focused on those topics. Check each broker’s education library to verify coverage. For general trading education, beginners at both firms can expect regular webinars and a sizable catalog of videos to build skills over time.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 XTB. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while XTB finished with an overall rank of #7.
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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XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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In a Charles Schwab vs XTB cryptocurrency comparison, neither broker offers the ability to buy actual delivered crypto, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs for price exposure without owning the underlying asset.
Charles Schwab vs XTB: Schwab supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires but not PayPal or Skrill, while XTB lacks ACH/SEPA yet offers PayPal and Skrill along with bank wires; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for 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 | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2002 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 10900 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 71 | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.27 | 0.92 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.27 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 39 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | XTB Review |
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