menuclose
StockBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn how we make money.

Charles Schwab vs Interactive Brokers 2022

Is Charles Schwab better than Interactive Brokers? After testing 15 of the best online brokers over six months, Charles Schwab (89.63%) is better than Interactive Brokers (89.29%). With nearly $8 trillion in client assets, Charles Schwab understands how to consistently deliver value to its customers. Highlights include $0 trades, excellent stock research, a diverse selection of trading tools, and an industry-leading offering of financial planning services.

Select Brokersexpand_moreclose
close Charles Schwab

$0 Online Trade Commissions.

Visit Site

Advertisement Advertisement
close Interactive Brokers

New clients, special margin rates.

Visit Site

addAdd Broker
closeClose Menu
navigate_before navigate_next
Overall Rating expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Overall starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Commissions & Fees starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Investment Options starstarstarstarstar starstarstarstarstar
Platforms & Tools starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Mobile Trading Apps starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Research starstarstarstarstar starstarstarstarstar
Customer Service starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Education starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Ease Of Use starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review Interactive Brokers Review
Trading Fees expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $49.95 $14.95
Options (Base Fee) $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.65
Futures (Per Contract) $2.25 $0.85
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $25.00 $30.00
Margin Rates expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Margin Rate Under $24,999.99 8.33% 1.58%
Margin Rate $25,000.00 to $49,999.99 7.83% 1.58%
Margin Rate $50,000.00 to $99,999.99 6.88% 1.58%
Margin Rate $100,000.00 to $249,999.99 6.83% 1.08%
Margin Rate $250,000.00 to $499,999.99 6.58% 1.08%
Margin Rate $500,000.00 to $999,999.99 5.08% 1.08%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000.00 4.75% 0.75%
Account Fees expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $25.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $50.00 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee 0.00 0.00
Options Assignment Fee 0.00 0.00
Investment Options expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares Yes Yes
OTCBB / Pink Sheets Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 6
Futures Trading Yes Yes
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 4
Mutual Funds (No Load) 7537 10882
Mutual Funds (Total) 10228 11160
Bonds (US Treasury) Yes Yes
Bonds (Corporate) Yes Yes
Bonds (Municipal) Yes Yes
Advisor Services Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) 28 33
Order Types expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
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 expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Bonds) Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator Yes No
Investor Dictionary Yes Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) Yes Yes
Progress Tracking No Yes
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No Yes
Stock Trading Apps expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
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 No Yes
Stock App Features expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Market Movers (Top Gainers) Yes Yes
Stream Live TV Yes Yes
Videos on Demand Yes Yes
Stock Alerts No Yes
Option Chains Viewable Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) No Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization No Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields 130 669
Stock App Charting expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Charting - After-Hours No Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes Yes
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 32 70
Charting - Study Customizations Yes Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes No
Trading Platforms expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Desktop Trading Platform Yes Yes
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading No Yes
Trade Journal Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Total Fields 130 669
Stock Chart Features expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies 41 121
Charting - Drawing Tools 15 9
Charting - Notes Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades No Yes
Charting - Corporate Events Yes Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars Yes Yes
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Save Profiles Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes Yes
Charting - Study Customizations 7 6
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day Trading expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Streaming Time & Sales Yes Yes
Streaming TV Yes Yes
Direct Market Routing - Stocks Yes Yes
Ladder Trading No Yes
Trade Hot Keys Yes Yes
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No Yes
Short Locator Yes Yes
Order Liquidity Rebates No Yes
Research Overview expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Bonds Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes Yes
Screener - Bonds Yes Yes
Misc - Portfolio Allocation Yes Yes
Stock Research expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Stock Research - PDF Reports 8 5
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders Yes Yes
Stock Research - Social Yes Yes
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG No Yes
Stock Research - SEC Filings Yes Yes
ETF Research expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
ETFs - Strategy Overview Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net 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 expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart Yes No
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 expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Option Chains - Basic View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Streaming Yes Yes
Option Chains - Total Columns 44 37
Option Chains - Greeks 5 4
Option Chains - Quick Analysis Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis Adv Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming Yes Yes
Option Positions - Adv Analysis Yes Yes
Option Positions - Rolling Yes Yes
Option Positions - Grouping Yes Yes
Banking expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Bank (Member FDIC) Yes Yes
Checking Accounts Yes Yes
Savings Accounts Yes No
Credit Cards Yes No
Debit Cards Yes Yes
Mortgage Loans Yes No
Customer Service expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) Yes Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes Yes
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) No No
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support Yes No
Overall expand_moreexpand_less Charles Schwab Interactive Brokers
Overall starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Commissions & Fees starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Investment Options starstarstarstarstar starstarstarstarstar
Platforms & Tools starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Mobile Trading Apps starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Research starstarstarstarstar starstarstarstarstar
Education starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
Ease Of Use starstarstarstarstar_border starstarstarstarstar_border
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAlly Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxE*TRADE
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFidelity
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFirstrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxLightspeed
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMerrill Edge
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRobinhood
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSofi Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSpeedTrader
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTD Ameritrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradeStation
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradier
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVanguard
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxWebull
Compare 0 of 5
arrow_upward

Charles Schwab vs Interactive Brokers Comparison

Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2022 annual broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 15 brokerages to find the best online broker. Let's compare Charles Schwab vs Interactive Brokers.

Is Charles Schwab or Interactive Brokers better for beginners?

Interactive Brokers offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner investors than Charles Schwab. Charles Schwab offers investors access to Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Mutual Funds), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement), while Interactive Brokers offers investors access to Paper Trading, Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement).

What about Charles Schwab vs Interactive Brokers pricing?

Charles Schwab and Interactive Brokers charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Charles Schwab and Interactive Brokers both charge $0.65 per option contract. For a complete commissions summary, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.

Does Charles Schwab or Interactive Brokers offer a wider range of investment options?

Charles Schwab offers investors access to Stock Trading, Fractional Shares, Options Trading, OTCBB / Pink Sheets, Mutual Funds, Futures Trading and Advisor Services, while Interactive Brokers offers investors access to Stock Trading, Fractional Shares, Options Trading, OTCBB / Pink Sheets, Mutual Funds and Futures Trading, neither have Forex Trading. Looking at Mutual Funds, Charles Schwab trails Interactive Brokers in its offering of no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds, with Interactive Brokers offering 4329 and Charles Schwab offering 4294.

Which trading platform is better: Charles Schwab or Interactive Brokers?

To compare the trading platforms of Charles Schwab and Interactive Brokers, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, Interactive Brokers offers a better experience. With research, Charles Schwab offers superior market research. Finally, we found Interactive Brokers to provide better mobile trading apps.

Does either broker offer banking?

Online banking can be a benefit for investors, and some brokerages do provide banking services to customers. Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans are offered by Charles Schwab while Interactive Brokers offers Checking Accounts and Debit Cards.

Is Charles Schwab good?

With nearly $8 trillion in client assets, Charles Schwab understands how to consistently deliver value to its customers. Highlights include $0 trades, excellent stock research, a diverse selection of trading tools, and an industry-leading offering of financial planning services.

Is Interactive Brokers good?

In 2022, Interactive Brokers remains our top pick for professionals because of its institutional-grade desktop trading platform and rock-bottom margin rates. Professionals aside, Interactive Brokers also appeals to active traders and casual investors with $0 trades and a user-friendly web platform.

Charles Schwab vs Interactive Brokers Winner

Overall winner: Charles Schwab

Read Next

Explore our other online trading guides:




close
navigate_before navigate_next