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Charles Schwab vs Xtrade 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Xtrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Charles Schwab
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5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 40000
Xtrade
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $250
  • Trust Score: 74
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 482

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.

Regulation

Charles Schwab, established in 1971, is a well-recognized online broker with a strong reputation for trustworthiness and reliability. As a publicly traded institution and a fully developed bank, Charles Schwab holds an outstanding Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. This rating is supported by its possession of five highly trusted Tier-1 regulatory licenses, underscoring Charles Schwab's commitment to providing secure and credible trading services.

In contrast, Xtrade, founded in 2003, is a privately held company that does not operate as a bank. With a Trust Score of 74, Xtrade is considered by ForexBrokers.com to fall within an average risk category. The company holds one Tier-1 regulatory license and one Tier-2 license, which indicates a moderate level of regulatory oversight compared to Charles Schwab. While Xtrade offers certain levels of security and trust, potential clients may consider these differences when choosing the right broker for their needs.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Xtrade logoXtrade
Year Founded info 1971 2003
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1

Fees

For commissions and fees, Charles Schwab earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 2.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #64. Schwab’s pricing is easier to evaluate, whereas Xtrade’s lack of published average spreads makes real trading costs harder to judge.

Schwab charges no commissions on forex; costs come from the bid-ask spread. In October 2024, the average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips, which is on the higher side of the industry. There’s no minimum deposit for its primary brokerage accounts. Forex trading runs through the thinkorswim platform via a Schwab One account, where trades settle in U.S. dollars and the smallest trade size is 10,000 units (about $500 in required margin at 20:1 leverage). The Schwab Global account lets you trade in 12 international markets in local currencies; funding in a different currency adds conversion fees of 0.2%–1%, depending on your account balance. Schwab also displays overnight financing charges in-platform so you can estimate holding costs.

Xtrade does not provide average spread data, limiting transparency around day-to-day trading costs. With a 2.5/5 commissions-and-fees rating and a #64 ranking from ForexBrokers.com, it trails Schwab’s 4/5 rating and #26 ranking for cost competitiveness.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Xtrade logoXtrade
Minimum Deposit info $0 $250
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.32 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.32 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) [DELETED] info
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

Charles Schwab vs Xtrade: when it comes to the range of investments, Schwab offers far more choice. Schwab lists about 40,000 tradeable symbols and 73 forex pairs, while Xtrade offers 482 symbols and 56 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support cryptocurrency derivatives (but not actual, delivered crypto). A key difference is stock access: Schwab lets you buy and own exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (think shares like Apple or Vodafone), whereas Xtrade does not offer listed stocks and focuses on CFDs. Neither platform offers copy trading.

Independent ratings reflect this gap in breadth. For range of investments, Charles Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 3.5 stars and ranks #50. In short, Schwab suits investors and traders who want extensive market access and the ability to own stocks outright, while Xtrade is better for those who mainly want to trade CFDs and forex without stock ownership.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Xtrade logoXtrade
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 40000 482
Forex Pairs (Total) info 73 56
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

Comparing trading platforms and tools, Charles Schwab stands out with a 5-star rating and a #5 rank out of 63 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks #59. Both brokers offer a free virtual demo account for paper trading and both have proprietary platforms built in-house, making it easy to get started and test strategies without risk.

For platform access, Charles Schwab provides a Windows desktop download along with a web-based platform; Xtrade offers a web-based platform but no Windows desktop app. Both let you place trades directly from charts. Neither broker supports copy trading, and neither offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). If you want a highly rated toolkit with a desktop option, Charles Schwab is the stronger pick; if you just need a browser platform with demo access, Xtrade covers the essentials.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Xtrade logoXtrade
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
DupliTrade [DELETED] info
ZuluTrade [DELETED] info
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 374 N/A
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] info
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] info

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

Both Charles Schwab and Xtrade offer iPhone and Android trading apps. However, the Charles Schwab mobile app goes further with stock/forex price alerts, real-time watchlists, and watchlist syncing with your online account—features Xtrade’s app does not provide. In independent testing, Charles Schwab earned 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade received 4 stars and ranked #54.

If you value charting and analysis on the go, the gap widens. The Charles Schwab mobile app includes 374 technical studies, trendline drawing, multiple time frames (from intraday to weekly), and auto-saved drawings. Xtrade’s app does not offer these charting tools, time frames, or saved drawings. For traders who want more advanced charting and customization on mobile, Charles Schwab is the stronger pick; if you only need basic access on iPhone or Android, Xtrade may still fit.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Xtrade logoXtrade
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes No
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 N/A
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Both Charles Schwab and Xtrade help traders stay informed with daily market commentary, real-time forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and an economic calendar covering global events. These shared features make it easy to track market moves and plan around major releases.

Where they differ is in the overall quality and depth of their research experience. Neither broker includes Autochartist, Trading Central tools, TipRanks, Acuity Trading, or a sentiment tool that shows long/short ratios. Even so, Schwab stands out with a 5-star Research rating and a #5 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #53. In short, both cover the essentials, but Schwab is the stronger choice if research is a top priority.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Xtrade logoXtrade
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No No
Client sentiment data info No No
TipRanks info No No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

For beginner trading education, Charles Schwab vs Xtrade is a clear comparison. Schwab offers monthly client webinars and has at least 10 beginner videos plus at least 10 advanced videos, helping new traders build skills step by step. ForexBrokers.com rates Schwab’s education 5 stars and ranks it #6 out of 63 brokers. Xtrade does not run monthly educational webinars and doesn’t meet the 10-video mark for beginner or advanced topics; it earns 3.5 stars for Education and ranks #46 out of 63.

Details about dedicated forex and CFD education libraries (10+ items), searchable archives of past webinars, and investor dictionaries with 50+ terms are not specified for either broker. If you want structured learning with ongoing live sessions and sizable video libraries, Schwab is the stronger pick. If you only need lighter, basic materials, Xtrade may suffice, but it offers less depth for beginners.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Xtrade logoXtrade
Education (Forex or CFDs) info
Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] info
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes No
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] info

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than Xtrade. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.

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 logoCharles Schwab
Xtrade logoXtrade
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 74
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Charles Schwab or Xtrade?

Both Charles Schwab and Xtrade do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

In a Charles Schwab vs Xtrade comparison of funding methods, Charles Schwab supports ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers but not PayPal or Skrill, while Xtrade supports Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.

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Overall Rating Charles Schwab Xtrade
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 74
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review Xtrade Review
Broker Screenshots Charles Schwab Xtrade
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Schwab thinkorswim mobile forex charting. Schwab thinkorswim desktop forex trading. Schwab research weekly market analysis YouTube video detail. Schwab education courses technical analysis.
Regulation Charles Schwab Xtrade
Trust Score info 99 74
Year Founded info 1971 2003
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info No Yes
Tier-1 Licenses info 5 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Charles Schwab Xtrade
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info No No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info Yes No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info No Yes
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) Charles Schwab Xtrade
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments Charles Schwab Xtrade
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 40000 482
Forex Pairs (Total) info 73 56
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 Xtrade
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.32 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.32 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] info
Inactivity Fee info No No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes No
Execution: Market Maker info No Yes
Funding Charles Schwab Xtrade
Minimum Deposit info $0 $250
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) [DELETED] info
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
Trading Platforms Charles Schwab Xtrade
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade [DELETED] info
ZuluTrade [DELETED] info
Trading Tools Charles Schwab Xtrade
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] info
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 374 N/A
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] info
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes No
Mobile Trading Charles Schwab Xtrade
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes No
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 N/A
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes No
Research Charles Schwab Xtrade
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education Charles Schwab Xtrade
Education (Forex or CFDs) info
Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] info
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes No
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] info
Major Forex Pairs Charles Schwab Xtrade
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review Charles Schwab Review Xtrade Review
Overall Charles Schwab Xtrade
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 74
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review Xtrade Review
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