Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account or sign up through links on this page. This does not cost you extra. Our rankings are based on our published methodology, not on commission amount.
Charles Schwab Review
A large, well-established US broker with strong research, full-service features and the thinkorswim platform.
633 reviews · checked Jul 2026
Trustpilot skews negative for large platforms that don't invite reviews.
Best for
- Long-term US investors
- Research-heavy investors
- thinkorswim users
Not best for
- You need non-US market focus
- You want a minimalist app only
Our verdict & scoring
Charles Schwab is one of the largest US brokers, offering commission-free stock/ETF trading, extensive research, banking, and — following its TD Ameritrade acquisition — the powerful thinkorswim platform for active traders. A solid all-rounder for US investors.
Scores are based on our review methodology. Affiliate relationships do not buy higher ratings.
Who should actually use Charles Schwab
Schwab suits long-term US investors who want depth: extensive research, strong education and full-service features, plus the thinkorswim platform for those who also trade actively. Options and futures traders get purpose-built tooling, while buy-and-hold investors get a dependable all-rounder. It's less relevant if you need a non-US-focused broker or only want a minimalist app.
What we'd change
Schwab is mainly US-focused, so it isn't aimed at UK/EU retail clients. And the sheer breadth of platforms and features — brokerage, banking, research, thinkorswim — can overwhelm a newcomer who just wants to buy a few ETFs.
How it compares to Fidelity
Schwab and Fidelity are the two dominant US buy-and-hold brokers and match closely: $0 US stock/ETF commissions, $0.65 per options contract, and SIPC coverage (Schwab adds excess-of-SIPC insurance). Schwab's advantage is thinkorswim, paper trading and futures for active traders; Fidelity's is zero-expense-ratio index funds and service for pure long-term investing. Both are US-only.
Pros
- Deep research and education
- thinkorswim for active traders
- Strong customer support
Cons
- Mainly US-focused
- Platform breadth can overwhelm beginners
Fees & hidden costs explained
$0 US stock/ETF commissions; $0.65 per options contract; futures per-contract fees apply.
Safety, regulation & availability
US: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. is an SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA/NYSE/SIPC member (CRD# 5393). Primarily serves US residents; not aimed at UK/EU retail clients.
Account protection: SIPC coverage up to $500,000 (including $250,000 cash), plus additional 'excess-SIPC' insurance.
Available to retail traders in:
Verify this platform yourself:
Frequently asked questions
Does Schwab have an affiliate program?
Large US brokers like Schwab generally do not run open affiliate programs, so we link to the official site and do not earn a commission.
Is Charles Schwab safe?
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. is an SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA/SIPC member. Accounts carry SIPC coverage up to $500,000 (including $250,000 cash), plus additional excess-of-SIPC insurance.
What does it cost to trade on Schwab?
US stock and ETF trades are $0, options are $0.65 per contract, and futures carry per-contract fees. Managed-account and fund fees apply to those products.
Does Schwab offer paper trading?
Yes — paper trading is available through the thinkorswim platform Schwab acquired with TD Ameritrade.
Can UK or EU residents use Schwab?
Schwab primarily serves US residents and is not aimed at UK/EU retail clients.
Official sources
Risk warning: Trading stocks, options, futures, forex, crypto, CFDs and funded accounts involves risk. You can lose money. This website is educational only and does not provide financial, investment, tax or legal advice.
Leverage, volatility, fees, spreads, liquidity and platform rules can increase losses.
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you click some links on our site. This does not cost you extra. Our comparisons are educational and transparent, and our rankings are not affected by commissions.