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The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.
Broker 1
Broker 2
| VS field |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Decision summary | ||
| Overall score | 78 | 91 |
| Trust score | 76 | 100 |
| Cost score | 80 | 92 |
| Platform score | 88 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 71 | 89 |
| Best for | Experienced Forex and CFD traders · MetaTrader 4/5 users · Traders wanting many CFDs across currency pairs, indices, commodities, stocks and ETFs | Best suited for U.S.-centric investors and active traders who want a large, bank-affiliated multi-asset brokerage with $0 online listed stock/ETF commissions, strong platform dept… |
| Watch out | Many key conditions vary by entity, country, account type, client classification and instrument · Global officialWebsite content reviewed is primarily Admirals SC Ltd/Seychelles ·… | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | FSA Seychelles, CySEC Cyprus, FCA UK. Source | SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source |
| License numbers | Admirals SC Ltd: SD073; Admirals Europe Ltd: CySEC 201/13; Admiral Markets UK Ltd: FCA 595450. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source |
| Regulated entities | Admirals discloses Admirals SC Ltd (Seychelles), Admirals Europe Ltd (Cyprus), and Admiral Markets UK Ltd (UK); the reviewed global site is primarily Admirals SC Ltd. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB Source |
| Negative balance protection | Admirals has a negative balance protection policy; exact terms depend on Admirals entity. SC Ltd policy applies to eligible normal trading activity and excludes debts unrelated to trading or illicit trading methods. Source | Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source |
| Investor compensation | Admirals SC Ltd client funds protection insurance up to 100,000 USD; not a universal broker-level investor compensation scheme claim. Source | SIPC protection up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit for brokerage account assets; futures accounts are not protected by SIPC. Source |
| Restricted countries | Country availability/restrictions are jurisdiction-specific and not available as a reliable public list in reviewed sources. Source | Not all products, services, or investments are available in all countries; Schwab is not registered outside the United States and products/services may not be registered in a user's jurisdiction. Source |
Costs & account conditions | ||
| Minimum deposit | Not consistently disclosed at broker-level; likely account/entity specific. Official index CFD page mentions 'Start with just 25 USD'. Source | $0 minimum for standard U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts; Schwab One International accounts require a minimum deposit but amount is not disclosed in checked official pages. Source |
| Spread from | Zero accounts: spreads from 0; Trade accounts: from 0.5 pips in FAQ / 0.6 pips on start-trading comparison; floating and vary by instrument/account/market conditions. Source | Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources. Source |
| Commission | Trade accounts mostly spread-based; Zero accounts spread plus commission; stock/ETF CFD and investing commissions vary by exchange/region. Source | stock_commission: $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; OTC equities $6.95; broker-assisted service charge $25; etf_commission: $0 online commission for listed U.S.-exchange ETFs; options_commission: $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per options contract; futures_commission: $2.25 per contract, per side, for futures and futures options; exchange, regulatory, overnight, NFA, and market-data fees may apply; mutual_fund_commission: $0 on thousands of Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds; all other mutual funds up to $74.95 per purchase; bond_commission: New-issue bonds/CDs: $0 online/selling concession included; Treasuries online $0; most other secondary bonds $1 per bond with $10 minimum and $250 maximum; forex_commission: $0 commission; forex trade costs are reflected in the bid/ask spread Source |
| Maximum leverage | Up to 1:500 depending on instrument (official index CFDs page); broker-level maximum is entity/account/instrument dependent. Source | Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source |
| Deposit fee | No Admirals deposit fee; third-party charges and conversion may apply. Source | $0 for funds entering a standard brokerage account; banking deposit services generally no monthly/account minimum fees, but certain services can have fees Source |
| Withdrawal fee | One free withdrawal per calendar month per payment method, additional withdrawals fee varies. Source | No fee for routine withdrawals from standard brokerage per FAQ; full outbound ACAT $50 and outgoing wire $25; Schwab Bank Investor Checking has unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, subject to conditions. Source |
| Inactivity fee | 10 EUR/month after 24 months inactivity on positive-balance account; wallet can avoid fee; refund may be available for up to three months. Source | $0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | 2,300+ CFDs across currency pairs, indices, shares, commodities and ETFs; FAQ says Invest.MT5 offers thousands of stocks and ETFs. Homepage says 6,900+ instruments across global markets, creating count uncertainty by region/product scope. Source | Stocks; fractional shares; ETFs; mutual funds; bonds/CDs/fixed income; money market funds; options; futures; futures options; forex; international stocks/ADRs/foreign ordinaries; cash products; annuities; alternatives; crypto ETPs/securities/futures. Source |
| Trading platforms | MT4, MT5, MetaTrader WebTrader, Admirals Platform, Admirals Mobile App (iOS/Android). Source | Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source |
| Account types | Trade.MT5 and Zero.MT5 are highlighted on the global start-trading page; FAQ also describes Trade.MT4, Trade.MT5, Zero.MT4, Zero.MT5 and Invest.MT5; demo accounts are free. Source | Individual Brokerage; Joint Brokerage; Schwab One Brokerage; Investor Checking-linked brokerage; Futures Account; Global Account; IRAs; custodial, education, trust, estate, organization, and business retirement accounts; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. Source |
| Deposit methods | Available payment methods are not safely globalized; official FAQ says methods depend on region/entity and to check the Deposits & Withdrawals page/Dashboard. Source | ACH/electronic transfer/MoneyLink; wire transfer; check/mail check; Schwab Mobile Deposit for checking; direct deposit for checking; account transfer/ACAT; branch/in-person deposit where available. Source |
| Withdrawal methods | Not safely disclosed as a universal list; same-source withdrawal rule applies. Source | Transfer to linked bank/checking; wire transfer; check; ATM/debit card for Schwab Bank Investor Checking; ACAT outbound account transfer. Source |
| Withdrawal processing time | Same-business-day processing before 17:00 for Admirals SC Ltd; otherwise next business day. Source | Cash moved from brokerage to linked Investor Checking is generally available in seconds, but weekend/after-hours transfers may not be available until the next business day; other withdrawal methods vary/not fully disclosed on checked pages. Source |
BrokerVS provides broker comparison research only. Scores and evidence can vary by country, account type, and legal entity; users should verify source links before opening an account.