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Head to head
Charles Schwab or CMC Markets? Fees, regulation, platform and product range compared side by side — with a verdict drawn from the data.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Investments can fall in value. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
The full-service US giant that also happens to own the best retail trading platform in the business.
The best charting package in retail CFD trading, wrapped around a narrower product range than the market count suggests.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Four decision axes, each derived from the recorded data.
Overall Charles Schwab takes it, 4.6 against 4.4 out of 5. On commissions there is little between them — €0.00 against €0.00 for a reference EUR 5,000 order. CMC Markets scores 94 against 93 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. CMC Markets covers more ground with 10 of 14 asset classes against 9. On platform and app CMC Markets is ahead, 4.7 against 4.6 out of 5. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
CMC MarketsCMC MarketsCMC MarketsCMC MarketsCMC MarketsUp to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 30 Aug 2026
| Criterion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.6 — Better | 4.4 |
| Group index | 93 of 100 | 94 of 100 |
| Best for | US long-term investorsOptions and futures tradersRetirement accountsInvestors who want branchesOne-account consolidation | Technical and chart-driven tradersUK and Irish spread bettingActive FX traders on FX ActiveShare CFD traders in UK and EuropeSmall starting balances |
| Regulation | SECFINRAFDIC | FCAFCAFCAASICBaFinMAS |
| Top-tier licences | 3 | 6 — Better |
| Investor protection | US$500,000 — Better | £85,000 |
| Listed group | Yes | Yes |
| Banking licence | Yes | No |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | No | Yes |
| Audited financials | Yes | Yes |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | 1 | 1 |
| Founded | 1971 | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Westlake, US | London, GB |
| Fees | 4.6 — Better | 4.3 |
| Safety & regulation | 4.9 — Better | 4.6 |
| Trading platform | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Product range | 4.2 | 4.4 — Better |
| Mobile app | 4.4 | 4.5 — Better |
| Research | 4.7 — Better | 4.4 |
| Customer support | 4.8 — Better | 4.1 |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 4.2 — Better | 4.0 |
| Account opening | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Education | 4.6 — Better | 4.2 |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €0.00 | €0.00 |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Stocks (per order) | Free | Free |
| US stocks | Free | US$0.02/share |
| ETFs | Free | Free |
| Options | US$0.65 | Free — Better |
| Futures | US$2.25 | Not offered |
| Crypto | Not offered | n/a |
| Bonds (order) | US$1 | n/a |
| Funds (order) | US$49.95 | n/a |
| EUR/USD spread | n/a | 0.7 pips |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | n/a |
| FX conversion | 1 % | 0.7 % — Better |
| Inactivity fee | None — Better | £10 · after 12 months |
| Custody fee | None | n/a |
| Withdrawal fee | US$15 | free — Better |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 9 | 10 — Better |
| Exchanges | 12 | n/a |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | No | No |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
| Social trading | No | No |
| Platforms | Schwab.com web platformthinkorswim Desktopthinkorswim WebSchwab Mobilethinkorswim MobileSchwab Trader API | Next Generation (web)Next Generation desktopCMC mobile appMetaTrader 4TradingView |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | Yes | No |
| Maximum leverage | 1:2 | 1:30 |
| Account opening | Under 10 minutes online for US residents; 1–2 weeks for a Schwab One International account | Online application, usually approved the same day; funded and trading within 24 hours in most jurisdictions |
| Account types | Schwab One brokerageSchwab Global AccountTraditional / Roth / Rollover IRASchwab One International | Spread betting accountCFD accountFX ActiveCorporate accountProfessional account |
| Payment methods | Bank transferCheque | Bank transferSEPACredit cardDebit card |
| Account currencies | USD | GBPEURUSDAUDCADNOKNZDPLNSEKSGD |
| Deposit time | Instant to 3 business days (ACH, wire, cheque) | Instant by debit or credit card; up to 2 business days by bank transfer |
| Withdrawal time | 1–3 business days by ACH; same day by wire | 1–3 business days back to the original funding source |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | n/a |
| Languages | EnglishSpanishChinese | EnglishGermanFrenchItalianSpanishPolishSwedishNorwegianChinese |
| Channels | PhoneEmailLive chatBranch | PhoneEmailLive chat |
| Availability | 24/7 | 24/5, from the Sunday market open to the Friday close |
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
Charles Schwab
The full-service US giant that also happens to own the best retail trading platform in the business.
Pros
Cons
Best for
CMC Markets
The best charting package in retail CFD trading, wrapped around a narrower product range than the market count suggests.
Pros
Cons
Best for
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A demo account costs nothing and answers the platform question in ten minutes.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
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