Charles Schwabvs
easyMarketsStock Broker Comparison
This comparison pits Charles Schwab, a legacy US broker, against easyMarkets, a CFD-focused provider. The tension centers on cost, market access, and risk management features.
Who should choose Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets?
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose Charles Schwab if you want commission-free US stock and ETF trading, fractional shares, and IPO access.
Choose if…
Choose easyMarkets if you want fixed spreads on share CFDs and dealCancellation for risk protection.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets: Side-by-Side Stock Broker Comparison
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 3.4/ 5 |
| Min deposit | N/A | $25 |
| Spreads from | N/A | 0.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Deposit fee | Free |
Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets Stock Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
- Commission-free US stock and ETF trading with no account minimum
- thinkorswim, most powerful retail trading platform available at zero cost
- Fractional shares (Schwab Slices) from $5 for any S&P 500 company
- Broadest research stack in US retail (Morningstar, Argus, CFRA, proprietary)
- Regulated by SEC and FINRA; $9 trillion in client assets
- Schwab Intelligent Portfolios robo-adviser with no management fee
Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
6
Charles Schwab
criteria wins
2
easyMarkets
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Charles Schwab | easyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | — |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Pass | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Pass | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Pass | Fail |
| IPO access | Pass | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Charles Schwab vs easyMarkets: Frequently Asked Questions
Charles Schwab is the stronger choice: it rates 4.6/5 versus 3.4/5 for easyMarkets, a gap that reflects clear differences across regulation, fees, and platform quality in our review.
easyMarkets starts from 0.7. Current spread data is not available for Charles Schwab. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
easyMarkets requires $25. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for Charles Schwab.
Both Charles Schwab and easyMarkets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, easyMarkets provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Charles Schwab lists maximum leverage of 1:4, while easyMarkets lists up to 400:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Charles Schwab supports thinkorswim, Proprietary Web/Mobile, while easyMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Charles Schwab has exclusive access to thinkorswim. easyMarkets has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Charles Schwab offers commission-free stock trading while easyMarkets does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
easyMarkets scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
