Charles Schwab vs E*TRADE 2025
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs E*TRADE, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs E*TRADE, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
When comparing Charles Schwab and E*TRADE, both online brokers stand out with diverse investment options, but Charles Schwab edges ahead with a broader range of offerings. It is rated higher for its investment range, earning a top rating of 5 stars compared to E*TRADE's 4.5 stars. According to StockBrokers.com, Charles Schwab ranks second among 14 brokers for its range of investments, while E*TRADE comes in fourth. This suggests that for investors looking for the most comprehensive set of investment choices, Charles Schwab might be the preferable option.
Both Charles Schwab and E*TRADE offer stock trading, margin trading, and options trading, providing solid foundations for investors looking to trade in these popular asset categories. They also support mutual funds and futures trading, ensuring that investors can access and diversify across traditional markets. However, Charles Schwab offers fractional shares trading, which E*TRADE does not. This feature can be particularly beneficial for investors looking to buy small portions of high-priced stocks within their investment budget.
In addition to common investment types, Charles Schwab sets itself apart by offering forex trading, an option not available with E*TRADE. Despite both brokers not offering cryptocurrency trading, they do provide a range of retirement accounts including traditional and Roth IRAs, along with advisor services to assist investors in their financial planning. With these features, Charles Schwab and E*TRADE aim to serve both beginner and seasoned investors, but Schwab's broader range of options gives it a slight advantage for those seeking more diverse investment opportunities.
Feature |
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | No |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | Yes | Yes |
Crypto Trading | No | No |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 0 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
When evaluating the trading platforms and tools provided by Charles Schwab and E*TRADE, investors will find that Charles Schwab holds a prominent edge, earning a 5-star rating and securing the top spot in a ranking by StockBrokers.com. E*TRADE is no slouch with a respectable 4-star rating, placing at number five. Both offer comprehensive downloadable platforms for Windows and Mac, as well as browser-based options, making them accessible to a wide range of users.
Charles Schwab excels in several areas, offering 580 columns for watch lists compared to E*TRADE's 43, allowing for more detailed tracking of market developments. Additionally, Charles Schwab offers a staggering 374 technical indicators and extensive customization options for charting, including the capability to create custom studies, which E*TRADE does not support. These features underscore Schwab's dedication to providing robust, customizable trading tools for serious investors.
Both platforms support important trading functions such as paper trading and the ability to view historical trades and corporate events on charts. While E*TRADE shines with a larger number of drawing tools, Charles Schwab's trading journal provides an additional layer of tracking and analysis not found with E*TRADE. Overall, both platforms are equipped to meet the needs of active traders, but Charles Schwab's offering is particularly strong for those who prioritize advanced analytical capabilities and customization.
Feature |
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Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes |
Paper Trading | Yes | Yes |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 580 | 43 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 121 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 24 | 37 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
Charles Schwab and E*TRADE both excel in offering educational resources for beginner investors, providing comprehensive materials across stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. Each platform includes paper trading features, educational videos, and webinars that are ideal for those just starting out. While E*TRADE provides substantial resources, Charles Schwab takes a slight edge by also offering educational quizzes and a system to track learning progress, making it easier for beginners to monitor their development.
Charles Schwab and E*TRADE both earn an impressive 5-star rating for their educational capabilities. However, according to StockBrokers.com, Charles Schwab holds the top spot in education, ranked #1 out of 14 brokers, while E*TRADE follows closely at #4. This superior ranking can be attributed to Schwab’s additional features that facilitate tailored learning experiences and help investors assess their knowledge growth over time.
Feature |
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Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
Paper Trading | Yes | Yes |
Videos | Yes | Yes |
Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When it comes to stock trading apps, Charles Schwab and E*TRADE both offer strong platforms. Both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android, as well as Apple Watch support, making mobile trading accessible and convenient. They enable mobile after-hours and options trading, and also offer features like streaming quotes and customizable watch lists. While both platforms receive a 5-star rating for their stock trading apps, Charles Schwab is ranked #1 among 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, with E*TRADE holding the #4 spot. This overview suggests that, although both brokers are top performers, Charles Schwab slightly edges out E*TRADE in terms of overall ranking and feature offerings.
Charles Schwab distinguishes itself with its feature-rich app, allowing users to enjoy video on demand and offering a whopping 373 technical studies for charting. This provides traders with a broad range of analytical tools and learning resources directly from the app. Additionally, Schwab supports after-hours charting and innovative display options like stock comparisons on charts, ensuring users can make informed decisions at any time. Their consistent updates and comprehensive features make it a favorite among seasoned investors who value in-depth analysis capabilities.
E*TRADE also delivers a commendable user experience with reliable trading features such as streaming live TV, stock alerts, and the capacity to create and customize watch lists. Users can also view charts in landscape mode and access multiple time frames for more nuanced chart analysis. While E*TRADE does not offer videos on demand and falls short on the number of technical studies compared to Schwab, it still provides an efficient platform for everyday traders who prioritize straightforward and effective trading tools. Overall, both platforms cater well to various trading needs, with Charles Schwab holding a slight advantage in feature variety and complexity.
Feature |
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iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch App | Yes | Yes |
Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
Charting - Technical Studies | 373 | 107 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When comparing Charles Schwab and E*TRADE for account fees and charges, both brokers offer a competitive range of services, making them attractive options for investors looking for cost-effective trading. Both platforms require no minimum deposit to open an account and offer commission-free trading for regular stock transactions. Additionally, each broker charges a standard $0.65 fee per options contract. This means that in many of the most common trading scenarios, Schwab and E*TRADE provide similar user experiences in terms of fees.
For investors considering margin accounts, differences start to emerge. Charles Schwab offers lower rates on margin balances across various tiers. For balances below $25,000, Schwab charges 12.58% compared to E*TRADE's 12.95%. At balances between $25,000 and $49,999, Schwab's rates drop to 12.08%, while E*TRADE’s rates are slightly higher at 12.7%. As balances increase to between $50,000 and $99,999, Schwab charges 11.13% compared to E*TRADE's 12.2%. These distinctions could lead to significant savings for those who frequently use margin investments.
Other fee considerations include costs related to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and account transfers. Both Charles Schwab and E*TRADE charge no annual fee for IRA accounts, nor do they charge for IRA closure. When it comes to account transfers, both brokers charge nothing for partial transfers; however, Schwab charges $50 for a full account transfer compared to the higher $75 fee at E*TRADE. These finer details might be pivotal for investors who anticipate making frequent shifts or who prioritize keeping transfer costs low.
Feature |
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Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.65 |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
When comparing Charles Schwab and E*TRADE for day trading, both platforms offer several convenient features that cater to active traders. Charles Schwab and E*TRADE provide essential tools such as streaming time and sales data, streaming live TV, direct market routing, trading hotkeys, and level 2 quotes, ensuring that traders have access to real-time market information and enhanced trading functionality. However, if ladder trading is important to you, Charles Schwab has the edge, as E*TRADE does not offer this feature. Additionally, Charles Schwab provides both basic and advanced strategy backtesting, which can be a game-changer for traders looking to refine their strategies, while E*TRADE does not offer such capabilities.
For traders looking to short sell, Charles Schwab stands out with its short locator tool, offering customers real-time views of share availability for shorting. This feature is not available on E*TRADE, potentially making Charles Schwab more appealing for those who frequently engage in short selling. However, both platforms lack order liquidity rebates, a factor that might affect active traders looking for incentives from their transactions. Ultimately, choosing between Charles Schwab and E*TRADE for day trading might come down to which specific features align best with your personal trading needs and strategies.
Feature |
|
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Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes |
Streaming TV | Yes | Yes |
Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | Yes |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No |
Short Locator | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
When it comes to market research capabilities, Charles Schwab and E*TRADE both excel by offering a comprehensive range of tools and resources. However, Schwab edges out E*TRADE in some key areas, earning the top spot by StockBrokers.com, with E*TRADE closely following in second. Both platforms are highly rated, each garnering a five-star rating for market research, making them excellent choices for investors seeking in-depth and diverse information.
Both Charles Schwab and E*TRADE provide extensive research on stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, ensuring investors have plenty of data to make informed choices. Users can easily access information about portfolio allocation by asset class, and both brokers offer stock research utilizing social media sentiment data. While E*TRADE offers more downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, Schwab steps ahead with exclusive ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) research, which E*TRADE lacks.
For those interested in trade ideas, both brokers offer a range of screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. Additionally, both platforms provide downloadable PDF research reports for ETFs, yet E*TRADE expands its offerings with mutual funds research PDFs, which Schwab does not. With each platform boasting distinct advantages, the choice ultimately comes down to the specific needs and preferences of individual investors.
Feature |
|
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Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
Research - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes |
Research |
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When comparing the banking capabilities of Charles Schwab and E*TRADE, both online brokers offer a comprehensive range of services that cater to everyday financial needs. Charles Schwab and E*TRADE each provide checking and savings accounts, making it easy for customers to manage their finances. Both companies also offer debit and credit card options, allowing for convenient access to funds and flexible payment options. For those interested in securing a home, both brokers provide mortgage loan options. Additionally, Charles Schwab and E*TRADE offer certificates of deposit (CDs), providing opportunities for customers to save with potentially higher interest rates. This makes both platforms versatile choices for users looking for a one-stop solution for banking and investment needs.
Feature |
|
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Checking Accounts | Yes | Yes |
Savings Accounts | Yes | Yes |
Debit Cards | Yes | Yes |
Credit Cards | Yes | Yes |
Mortgage Loans | Yes | Yes |
Brokerage CDs | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than E*TRADE. Charles Schwab finished with an overall score of 99.2%, while E*TRADE finished with a score of 95.4%.
With the addition of TD Ameritrade's thinkorswim platforms and the enhancement of several features, Schwab is now a vigorous competitor with thought-provoking research and commentary and a client experience to fit any preference.
Both Charles Schwab and E*TRADE currently do not offer crypto trading, providing their users with zero coin options in the cryptocurrency market.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Charles Schwab and E*TRADE both offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual or closure fees, providing cost-effective retirement savings solutions for investors.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Customer Service |
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Education |
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Ease of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Charles Schwab Review | E*TRADE Review |
Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Trading Fees | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
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Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $6.95 | $6.95 | |
Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | $0.00 | |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.65 | |
Futures (Per Contract) | $2.25 | $1.50 | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | $25 |
Margin Rates | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.58% | 12.95% | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.08% | 12.7% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.13% | 12.2% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.08% | 11.7% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 10.83% | 11.2% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | Varies | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | Varies |
Account Fees | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Full) | $50.00 | $75.00 | |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Investment Options | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | No | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
Futures Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Forex Trading | Yes | No | |
Crypto Trading | No | No | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 0 | |
Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
Advisor Services | Yes | Yes | |
International Countries (Stocks) | 12 | 0 |
Order Types | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - OCO | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - OTO | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | Yes |
Beginners | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
Retirement Calculator | Yes | Yes | |
Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
Progress Tracking | Yes | No | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
Stock Trading Apps | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple Watch App | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Complex Options | Yes | Yes | |
Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | Yes |
Stock App Features | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | Yes | Yes | |
Videos on Demand | Yes | No | |
Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
Stock App Charting | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 373 | 107 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Active Trading Platform | thinkorswim | Power E*TRADE | |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | Yes | |
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Trade Journal | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 580 | 43 |
Stock Chart Features | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 121 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 24 | 37 | |
Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | No | |
Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Study Customizations | 35 | 8 | |
Charting - Custom Studies | Yes | No |
Day Trading | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes | |
Streaming TV | Yes | Yes | |
Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | Yes | |
Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
Trade Hot Keys | Yes | Yes | |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No | |
Short Locator | Yes | No | |
Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
Research Overview | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | Yes | |
Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
Stock Research | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 7 | 8 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Social | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | Yes |
ETF Research | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Ratings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | Yes |
Mutual Fund Research | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | Yes |
Options Trading | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
Banking | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | Yes | |
Checking Accounts | Yes | Yes | |
Savings Accounts | Yes | Yes | |
Credit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
Debit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
Mortgage Loans | Yes | Yes |
Customer Service | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
---|---|---|---|
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | No | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
24/7 Support | Yes | Yes |
Overall | Charles Schwab | E*TRADE | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Education |
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Ease of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Charles Schwab Review | E*TRADE Review |