Two established brokers square off over cost, platforms, and long-term features. Schwab and E*TRADE showcase different strengths and tradeoffs, inviting deeper comparison.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose Charles Schwab if you want fractional shares from $5 and access to thinkorswim.
Choose if…
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | N/A | N/A |
| Spreads from | N/A | N/A |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Deposit fee |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Pass | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Pass | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Pass | Pass |
| IPO access | Pass | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Charles Schwab rates 4.6/5 and E*TRADE rates 4.3/5. Charles Schwab has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Both Charles Schwab and E*TRADE 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.
Minimum deposit and negative balance protection data are not confirmed for this pair. Both hold top-tier regulatory status, meaning client fund protections apply to both. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site.
Charles Schwab lists maximum leverage of 1:4, while E*TRADE lists up to 1:4. 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 E*TRADE supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Charles Schwab has exclusive access to thinkorswim.
Yes, you can open an account with ETRADE independently of your Charles Schwab account. There is no formal transfer process for open positions; you would need to close existing trades with Charles Schwab before funding and trading with ETRADE.
Yes, both Charles Schwab and E*TRADE offer commission-free stock trading according to our data. Keep in mind that commission-free brokers may still charge spread costs, foreign exchange fees, or platform fees — always check the full fee schedule on each broker's website.
Choose E*TRADE if you want Power E*TRADE with professional options analytics and strategy scanner.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Equally matched on low-cost trading, both offer commission-free stocks and ETFs.
Charles Schwab wins for safety and regulation, backed by SEC and FINRA oversight and a large client-asset base.
Charles Schwab wins for long-term investing with Schwab Intelligent Portfolios no-management-fee robo-adviser.
Charles Schwab wins for active traders with thinkorswim and zero-commission trades.
Charles Schwab wins for beginners with fractional shares from $5 and a no-fee robo-adviser.
Charles Schwab wins for global access with 12 exchanges and multilingual support.
| Free |
| Deposit methods | Bank TransferACHWire TransferCheque | Bank TransferACHWire TransferCheque |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank TransferACHWire TransferCheque | Bank TransferACHWire Transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free ACH; $25 wire transfer | Free ACH; $25 wire transfer |
|---|
| Commission-free | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Fractional shares | Yes | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| IPO access | Yes | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | SEC FINRA | SEC FINRA |
|---|
| Platforms | thinkorswim Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | 2 offers | 2 offers |
|---|
Charles Schwab wins on editorial score, edging E*TRADE 4.6 to 4.3. Schwab also offers fractional shares from $5 and the powerful thinkorswim platform.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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