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Charles Schwab vs Vanguard 2023

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Written by StockBrokers.com

April 11, 2023

Is Charles Schwab better than Vanguard? After testing 17 of the best online brokers over three months, Charles Schwab (94.51%) is better than Vanguard (71.94%). As the granddaddy of discount brokers, Charles Schwab understands how to deliver value to its customers, providing a comprehensive roster of tools, advice and actionable ideas at reasonable cost.

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  • 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_boxMerrill Edge
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRobinhood
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSofi Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxtastytrade
  • 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

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Overall RatingCharles SchwabVanguard
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review Vanguard Review
Trading FeesCharles SchwabVanguard
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $6.95 $0.00
Mutual Fund Trade Fee Varies Varies
Options (Base Fee) $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $1.00
Futures (Per Contract) $2.25 N/A
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $25 $25
Margin RatesCharles SchwabVanguard
Margin Rate Under $25,000 13.08% 13.25% info
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12.58% 12.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 11.63% 12.25%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 11.58% 11.75%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 11.33% 11.25%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 Varies info 10.00%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 Varies info Varies info
Account FeesCharles SchwabVanguard
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $20.00
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 OptionsCharles SchwabVanguard
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares Yes No
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 4
Futures Trading Yes No
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading No No
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 0
Mutual Funds (No Load) 14996 N/A
Mutual Funds (Total) 17912 N/A
Bonds (US Treasury) Yes Yes
Bonds (Corporate) Yes Yes
Bonds (Municipal) Yes Yes
Advisor Services Yes Yes
International Countries (Stocks) 12 0
Order TypesCharles SchwabVanguard
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 No
Order Type - OCO Yes No
Order Type - OTO Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes Yes
BeginnersCharles SchwabVanguard
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes No
Education (Options) Yes No
Education (Mutual Funds) No No
Education (Bonds) Yes No
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary Yes No
Paper Trading No No
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes No
Webinars (Archived) Yes No
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading AppsCharles SchwabVanguard
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App Yes No
Trading - Stocks Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours Yes No
Trading - Simple Options Yes No
Trading - Complex Options Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes No No
SB Gallery - Mobile Apps
Stock App FeaturesCharles SchwabVanguard
Market Movers (Top Gainers) Yes No
Stream Live TV Yes No
Videos on Demand Yes No
Stock Alerts No No
Option Chains Viewable Yes No
Watch List (Real-time) Yes No
Watch List (Streaming) No No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage Yes No
Watch Lists - Column Customization No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields 130 9
Stock App ChartingCharles SchwabVanguard
Charting - After-Hours No No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 32 0
Charting - Study Customizations Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes No
Trading PlatformsCharles SchwabVanguard
Active Trading Platform StreetSmart Edge N/A
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) No No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading No No
Trade Journal Yes No
Watch Lists - Total Fields 130 9
Stock Chart FeaturesCharles SchwabVanguard
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 41 9
Charting - Drawing Tools 15 0
Charting - Notes Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades No No
Charting - Corporate Events Yes Yes
Charting - Custom Date Range Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars Yes No
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations 7 1
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day TradingCharles SchwabVanguard
Streaming Time & Sales Yes No
Streaming TV Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks Yes No
Ladder Trading No No
Trade Hot Keys Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator Yes No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research OverviewCharles SchwabVanguard
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 ResearchCharles SchwabVanguard
Stock Research - PDF Reports 7 2
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders Yes No
Stock Research - Social Yes No
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings Yes No
ETF ResearchCharles SchwabVanguard
ETFs - Strategy Overview Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings Yes No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis Yes No
ETFs - Ratings Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports Yes No
Mutual Fund ResearchCharles SchwabVanguard
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview 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 No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation Yes Yes
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap Yes Yes
Options TradingCharles SchwabVanguard
Option Chains - Basic View Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns 44 9
Option Chains - Greeks 5 0
Option Chains - Quick Analysis Yes No
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming Yes No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis Yes No
Option Positions - Rolling Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping Yes No
BankingCharles SchwabVanguard
Bank (Member FDIC) Yes No
Checking Accounts Yes No
Savings Accounts Yes No
Credit Cards Yes No
Debit Cards Yes No
Mortgage Loans Yes No
Customer ServiceCharles SchwabVanguard
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 No
24/7 Support Yes No
OverallCharles SchwabVanguard
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review Vanguard Review
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Charles Schwab vs Vanguard Comparison

Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2023 annual broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 17 brokerages to find the best online broker. Let's compare Charles Schwab vs Vanguard.

Is Charles Schwab or Vanguard better for beginners?

Charles Schwab offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginner investors than Vanguard. Charles Schwab offers investors access to Videos, Education (Stocks), Education (ETFs), Education (Options), Education (Bonds) and Education (Retirement), while Vanguard offers investors access to Videos, Education (Stocks) and Education (Retirement). Neither have Paper Trading and Education (Mutual Funds). See our guide to Best Paper Trading Platforms for more.

What about Charles Schwab vs Vanguard pricing?

Charles Schwab and Vanguard charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Option contracts are pricier at Vanguard, costing $1.00 per contract versus $0.65 per contract at Charles Schwab. For a complete commissions summary, see our best brokers for free stock trading guide.

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

Charles Schwab offers investors access to Stock Trading, Fractional Shares, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds, Futures Trading and Advisor Services, while Vanguard offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds and Advisor Services. Neither have Forex Trading. Looking at Mutual Funds, Vanguard trails Charles Schwab in its offering of no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds, with Charles Schwab offering 7168 and Vanguard offering .

Which trading platform is better: Charles Schwab or Vanguard?

To compare the trading platforms of Charles Schwab and Vanguard, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, Charles Schwab offers a better experience. With research, Charles Schwab offers superior market research. Finally, we found Charles Schwab 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 Vanguard offers neither of these.

Is Charles Schwab good?

As the granddaddy of discount brokers, Charles Schwab understands how to deliver value to its customers, providing a comprehensive roster of tools, advice and actionable ideas at reasonable cost.

Is Vanguard good?

Vanguard is aimed squarely at buy-and-hold investors, and its platform reflects that focus. Vanguard is known for its low-cost funds, and the investment platform is really built for those looking to invest solely in mutual funds and ETFs.

Charles Schwab vs Vanguard Winner

Overall winner: Charles Schwab

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