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 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Charles Schwab offers a forex trading opportunity with zero commission, though trading costs rely on the bid/ask spreads found in available currency pairs. Schwab is notable for its absence of a minimum deposit requirement for its primary accounts, Schwab One and Schwab Global. While the Schwab One account features settlements in U.S. dollars and requires a minimum margin of $500 for trading 10,000 currency units, the Schwab Global account provides access to twelve international markets with fees ranging from 0.2% to 1% based on account balance size. However, forex traders might find Schwab's 1.35 pips average spread on the EUR/USD pair in October 2024 to be high compared to the industry standard. It's worth noting that Schwab has received a star rating of 4 out of 5 and ranks 23rd out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category.
XTB stands out with its two account types: a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account reserved for select UK and European clients. The Standard account, starting with a minimum deposit of 250 base currency, is generally more appealing for retail forex traders, particularly since the Professional account is being phased out. XTB's average spreads on the EUR/USD pair were 1 pip in Q4 2023, aligning with the industry average but still trailing some top-tier brokers. XTB enhances its attractiveness with an active trader discount program that offers spread rebates from 5% to 30% depending on monthly trading volumes, which starts from 20 lots and can reach up to 1000 lots. XTB's commissions and fees receive a 4.5-star rating, with the broker ranking 11th out of 63 in its category.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 1.00 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 1.00 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab and XTB are both prominent online brokers well-equipped to cater to diverse investor interests. They each provide access to forex trading as both CFD and spot contracts, but Charles Schwab offers a larger selection with 73 forex pairs compared to XTB's 71 pairs. Schwab also stands out by providing a significantly broader range of tradeable symbols, boasting an impressive 40,000 compared to XTB's 7,184. Both brokers facilitate the purchase of exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges like Apple shares and international exchanges like Vodafone shares, ensuring investors have options across global markets. However, neither platform supports copy trading or the direct purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, though users can engage with cryptocurrency derivatives.
In terms of investment offerings, both Charles Schwab and XTB have earned a noteworthy 5-star rating for their range of investments. However, Charles Schwab holds a higher position in the ForexBrokers.com's ranking, securing the 5th spot out of 63 brokers, whereas XTB is ranked 14th. This distinction reflects Schwab's extensive selection of investment options, providing a more comprehensive trading platform. While Charles Schwab might appeal to those seeking a wider array of trading choices, XTB remains a solid contender with its broad yet slightly limited selection compared to Schwab.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 7184 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 71 |
| 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.
Charles Schwab and XTB each offer a suite of trading platforms and tools tailored for online investors, yet they have key differences. Both companies provide simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice and refine their strategies without risk. They also offer proprietary platforms developed in-house, available as both Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms, accommodating diverse trading preferences. However, neither Charles Schwab nor XTB supports MetaTrader 4 or 5, and they do not offer copy trading or integration with services like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. When it comes to trading directly from stock charts, both platforms facilitate this functionality, enhancing the trading experience.
Charles Schwab stands out with its substantial 580 columns available for watch lists, compared to just 8 with XTB, which can be a significant factor for traders who value extensive data tracking. Charles Schwab also offers a solid array of 24 drawing tools, while XTB provides 32. Despite these differences, both platforms are rated highly, with Charles Schwab earning a perfect 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools compared to XTB's commendable 4.5 stars. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab is positioned as the fifth out of 63 brokers, demonstrating its proficiency in trading tools, whereas XTB ranks ninth, showing strong performance as well but with some room for enhancement.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 39 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 32 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Charles Schwab and XTB offer comprehensive mobile trading apps available for both iPhone and Android users. These apps cater to traders who need access to real-time stock and forex price alerts. Where Charles Schwab stands out is its ability to sync watchlist symbols across the app and online platforms, ensuring that any changes are reflected in both places seamlessly. On the other hand, XTB does not offer this syncing capability. Schwab also offers a significantly larger array of technical studies for charting, with 374 options compared to XTB's 39, giving technical traders more tools to analyze market trends. Both apps provide the ability to draw trendlines and view charts in various time frames, catering well to intraday and longer-term traders alike.
In terms of usability, both platforms offer real-time watchlists, important for active traders who track market movements closely. Auto-saving of chart drawings is another feature that both apps support, enhancing the user experience by maintaining users' technical analyses across sessions. According to ForexBrokers.com, Charles Schwab's app is rated 5 stars, ranking it 6th out of 63 brokers, while XTB's app holds a 4.5-star rating, ranking 8th. Overall, while both platforms offer strong mobile trading capabilities, Charles Schwab edges ahead in terms of features and its higher rating, making it a slightly more attractive option for users seeking a deeply integrated and feature-rich trading experience.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 39 |
| 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.
Charles Schwab and XTB both provide traders with valuable market insights through their daily commentaries and forex news sourced from industry giants like Bloomberg and Reuters. While neither broker partners with Autochartist or Trading Central for advanced technical analysis tools, XTB stands out with its sentiment-based trading tool that offers a clear view of long and short positions across various currency pairs, a feature Charles Schwab does not provide. For those who want a visual calendar of important global economic events, both brokers offer this resourceful tool, ensuring you're always informed of key financial occurrences worldwide.
When it comes to research ratings, Charles Schwab and XTB both achieve impressive five-star ratings, demonstrating their dedication to providing strong informational support to traders. Despite this equal rating, Charles Schwab edges out XTB in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at fourth place, compared to XTB's seventh place out of 63 brokers reviewed. This slight distinction highlights Charles Schwab's commendable performance in delivering reliable and comprehensive market research to its users.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| 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 comparing Charles Schwab and XTB for beginner-friendly educational resources, both platforms emerge as strong contenders, each offering plentiful learning materials. For those starting with forex or CFDs, both brokers provide over 10 educational pieces including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on these topics. Additionally, Schwab and XTB commit to enhancing client knowledge by hosting at least one educational webinar each month. A valuable feature shared between the two is a searchable archive, allowing users to revisit previously recorded webinars at their convenience.
Exploring educational content further, both Charles Schwab and XTB cater excellently to beginners with over 10 videos dedicated to foundational trading topics. They also extend their educational offerings to experienced traders with a collection of advanced videos. However, Charles Schwab sets itself apart by offering an extensive investor dictionary, featuring definitions for over 50 investing terms, a resource not available through XTB. In terms of education rankings, Charles Schwab is rated slightly higher in the industry, securing the #6 spot compared to XTB's #11, although both have earned a commendable five-star rating for education.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 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
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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Both Charles Schwab and XTB do not offer the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency; however, they both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Charles Schwab supports ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds but does not accept PayPal, Skrill, or Visa/Mastercard, whereas XTB offers more flexibility with options like PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | 0 | |
| 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 (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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 7184 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 71 | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.35 | 1.00 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.35 | 1.00 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 580 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 39 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 24 | 32 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 39 | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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