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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 | 88 | 91 |
| Trust score | 92 | 100 |
| Cost score | 90 | 92 |
| Platform score | 78 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 80 | 89 |
| Best for | U.S. long-term investors · retirement investors · index-fund and ETF investors | 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 | you are not a U.S. citizen/legal permanent resident with a U.S. mailing address for U.S. account opening · you need forex, CFDs, futures, or crypto trading · you need guaranteed n… | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | Vanguard Marketing Corporation / Vanguard Brokerage Services is a FINRA-regulated broker-dealer and SIPC member; SEC number appears in FINRA BrokerCheck. Source | SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source |
| License numbers | CRD#: 7452; SEC#: 8-21570 Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source |
| Regulated entities | Brokerage assets are held through Vanguard Brokerage Services, a division of Vanguard Marketing Corporation, member FINRA and SIPC. Advice services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc., a registered investment advisor, or by Vanguard National Trust Company, a federally chartered, limited-purpose trust company. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB Source |
| Negative balance protection | No CFD/forex negative balance protection found; Vanguard margin disclosure says clients can lose more than deposited and are responsible for any shortfall after forced liquidation. Source | Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source |
| Investor compensation | SIPC coverage up to $500,000 including $250,000 cash; certain bank sweep deposits are FDIC insured subject to limits. 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 | Vanguard states U.S. account opening requires U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residence with a U.S. mailing address; site products/services are intended for U.S. residents. 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 | $0 to open a Vanguard Brokerage Account; mutual funds vary by fund; Vanguard ETFs $1 per share; Digital Advisor requires $100 per brokerage account. 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 | Not applicable as a forex/CFD spread field; Vanguard is not presented as a forex/CFD broker. ETF shares trade on the secondary market at market prices that may be above or below NAV. 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 | $0 online stocks, ETFs and Vanguard mutual fund trades; options $0 + $1 per contract; broker-assisted commission may apply. 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 | Vanguard supports margin loans, but maximum leverage is security- and account-dependent. Current minimum margin maintenance requirement is 35% for most marginable securities. Source | Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source |
| Deposit fee | Vanguard does not charge for Electronic Bank Transfers; wire transfers are $10 where applicable; physical certificate deposits can cost $100 per CUSIP. 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 | ACH/electronic bank transfers are not charged by Vanguard; wires are $10 where applicable; full account closure/transfer-out may be $100. 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 | No distinct inactivity fee found in official fee schedule; annual account service fee may apply instead. Source | $0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | Vanguard Brokerage Account can hold mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, options, CDs and cash/money market products. 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 | Vanguard supports online brokerage trading through its website and mobile app for account management, deposits/withdrawals and buying/selling investments. Source | Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source |
| Account types | Vanguard supports individual/joint brokerage accounts, IRAs, custodial accounts, 529 plans, cash management and advice/robo-advisor services. 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 | Funding methods include bank transfer, check/mobile check deposit, and asset transfers/rollovers. 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 | Withdrawals/transfers can be initiated from settlement fund; fee schedule covers electronic bank transfers/ACH and wire transfers. 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 | Securities settle T+1 before proceeds can be withdrawn; electronic bank transfer/check funding may have a 7-calendar-day hold; incoming digital asset transfers may take as little as 5–7 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.
