Two brokers face off on pricing, share ownership, and platform reach, highlighting a tension between commission-free investing and broad CFD-focused trading tools.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose Charles Schwab if you want commission-free US stock trading and access to fractional shares.
Choose if…
Choose GO Markets if you prefer MT4, MT5, and cTrader with CFD flexibility.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 3.5/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | N/A | $200 |
| Spreads from | N/A | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $5/lot |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Charles Schwab | GO Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Charles Schwab is the stronger choice: it rates 4.6/5 versus 3.5/5 for GO Markets, a gap that reflects clear differences across regulation, fees, and platform quality in our review.
GO Markets starts from 0. Current spread data is not available for Charles Schwab. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
GO Markets requires $200. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for Charles Schwab.
Both Charles Schwab and GO Markets 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, GO Markets 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 GO Markets lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
GO Markets charges $5 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Charles Schwab are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
Charles Schwab supports thinkorswim, Proprietary Web/Mobile, while GO Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Charles Schwab has exclusive access to thinkorswim and Proprietary Web/Mobile. GO Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Charles Schwab offers commission-free stock trading while GO Markets 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.
GO Markets 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.
Charles Schwab wins with commission-free US stock trading.
Charles Schwab wins for safety with SEC and FINRA oversight.
Charles Schwab wins for long-term investors with fractional shares and dividend reinvestment.
Charles Schwab wins for active traders with thinkorswim and advanced tools.
Charles Schwab wins for beginners with fractional shares and no account minimum.
Charles Schwab wins for global access with 12 exchanges.
| N/A |
| 0.5 pips |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferACHWire transferCheque | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferACHWire transferCheque | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free ACH; $25 wire transfer | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | Yes | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | Yes | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | Yes | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | Yes | No |
|---|
| IPO access | Yes | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | SEC FINRA | ASIC CySEC FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | thinkorswim Proprietary Web/Mobile | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses | 2 offers | None |
|---|
Charles Schwab is the overall winner by editorial score. It edges GO Markets on commission-free trading, IPO access, and exchange coverage.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.5 / 5
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