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Built for final-shortlist moments: select brokers, scan the trade-offs, then open the profile for deeper source notes.
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The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.
Broker 1
Broker 2
| VS field |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Decision summary | ||
| Overall score | 83 | 91 |
| Trust score | 87 | 100 |
| Cost score | 78 | 92 |
| Platform score | 92 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 77 | 89 |
| Best for | Best suited to active traders and investors wanting a well-regulated, multi-asset platform with strong proprietary tools and broad CFD/forex coverage; publish with prominent regio… | Best suited for U.S.-centric investors and active traders who want a large, bank-affiliated multi-asset brokerage with $0 online listed stock/ETF commissions, strong platform dept… |
| Watch out | Needs verification | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | CMC Markets group entities are regulated by FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, DFSA, and BMA, depending on client jurisdiction/entity. Source | SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source |
| License numbers | Known official registration/licence references include FCA 173730, FCA 948126, AFSL 238054, AFSL 246381, UEN 200605050E, BaFin 154814, DFSA f002740, Bermuda company 202302718, and CIRO/CIPF membership. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source |
| Regulated entities | Multiple local CMC Markets entities are disclosed; client entity depends on jurisdiction and product. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB Source |
| Negative balance protection | Retail negative balance protection is disclosed for UK leveraged accounts and Bermuda retail clients; not available to professional clients; not applicable to cash equities. Source | Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source |
| Investor compensation | UK eligible clients: FSCS up to £85,000. Canada: CIPF membership. Other jurisdictions reviewed disclose segregation but no comparable amount in sources checked. Source | SIPC protection up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit for brokerage account assets; futures accounts are not protected by SIPC. Source |
| Restricted countries | CMC states CFD services are not available to US residents; iOS app access is limited to listed permitted regions; broader availability depends on local law and entity. Source | Not all products, services, or investments are available in all countries; Schwab is not registered outside the United States and products/services may not be registered in a user's jurisdiction. Source |
Costs & account conditions | ||
| Minimum deposit | No minimum deposit for UK/international trading accounts; UK equities page states minimum deposit amount £1 for share/ETF investing. Source | $0 minimum for standard U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts; Schwab One International accounts require a minimum deposit but amount is not disclosed in checked official pages. Source |
| Spread from | Spreads from 0.2 points on UK spread betting/CFD account comparison; FX Active from 0.0 pips on six major FX pairs; international advertises 0.0 pips FX minimum spread. Source | Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources. Source |
| Commission | Commission varies by account/product: UK equities 0%; FX Active 0.0025% per transaction ($2.50 per $100k); share/ETF CFD commissions vary by market/account table. Source | stock_commission: $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; OTC equities $6.95; broker-assisted service charge $25; etf_commission: $0 online commission for listed U.S.-exchange ETFs; options_commission: $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per options contract; futures_commission: $2.25 per contract, per side, for futures and futures options; exchange, regulatory, overnight, NFA, and market-data fees may apply; mutual_fund_commission: $0 on thousands of Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds; all other mutual funds up to $74.95 per purchase; bond_commission: New-issue bonds/CDs: $0 online/selling concession included; Treasuries online $0; most other secondary bonds $1 per bond with $10 minimum and $250 maximum; forex_commission: $0 commission; forex trade costs are reflected in the bid/ask spread Source |
| Maximum leverage | Maximum leverage is entity/jurisdiction dependent: UK retail table shows 30:1; international page shows 1:200 maximum retail leverage; ASIC rules impose product-specific caps. Source | Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source |
| Deposit fee | UK deposits are free from CMC; external card issuer/bank charges may apply. Other regions require review of platform/client portal or local fee schedules. Source | $0 for funds entering a standard brokerage account; banking deposit services generally no monthly/account minimum fees, but certain services can have fees Source |
| Withdrawal fee | UK card and standard bank transfer withdrawals: no CMC charge; international transfers may carry fees displayed on platform. Source | No fee for routine withdrawals from standard brokerage per FAQ; full outbound ACAT $50 and outgoing wire $25; Schwab Bank Investor Checking has unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, subject to conditions. Source |
| Inactivity fee | UK leveraged accounts: £10/month after one year of inactivity if funds are available; no negative balance from dormancy; equities marked N/A in account comparison. Source | $0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | Tradable universe includes forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, rates/bonds/treasuries, options and some crypto CFDs, with counts varying by jurisdiction and platform. Source | Stocks; fractional shares; ETFs; mutual funds; bonds/CDs/fixed income; money market funds; options; futures; futures options; forex; international stocks/ADRs/foreign ordinaries; cash products; annuities; alternatives; crypto ETPs/securities/futures. Source |
| Trading platforms | CMC proprietary web/mobile platforms, MT4, MT5 (international/Canada), and TradingView integration; exact availability varies by region/account. Source | Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source |
| Account types | Official account types include equities, CFD trading, options, FX Active, spread betting, corporate CFD, and CMC Invest plans depending on jurisdiction. Source | Individual Brokerage; Joint Brokerage; Schwab One Brokerage; Investor Checking-linked brokerage; Futures Account; Global Account; IRAs; custodial, education, trust, estate, organization, and business retirement accounts; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. Source |
| Deposit methods | Deposit methods vary by region: UK card/online banking/bank transfer; international card/bank transfer/crypto via Binance Pay/Neteller/Skrill; Canada CAD/USD credit card and wire transfer. Source | ACH/electronic transfer/MoneyLink; wire transfer; check/mail check; Schwab Mobile Deposit for checking; direct deposit for checking; account transfer/ACAT; branch/in-person deposit where available. Source |
| Withdrawal methods | UK withdrawals by card or bank transfer; international page advertises nominated bank account, card, cryptocurrency or digital wallet; third-party payments rejected/not supported. Source | Transfer to linked bank/checking; wire transfer; check; ATM/debit card for Schwab Bank Investor Checking; ACAT outbound account transfer. Source |
| Withdrawal processing time | UK: same-day internal processing before cut-off for registered bank details; card issuer timing within an hour to five working days; domestic bank 1-2 working days; international bank 3-5 working days. Source | Cash moved from brokerage to linked Investor Checking is generally available in seconds, but weekend/after-hours transfers may not be available until the next business day; other withdrawal methods vary/not fully disclosed on checked pages. Source |
BrokerVS provides broker comparison research only. Scores and evidence can vary by country, account type, and legal entity; users should verify source links before opening an account.