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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 | 85 | 91 |
| Trust score | 88 | 100 |
| Cost score | 86 | 92 |
| Platform score | 86 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 78 | 89 |
| Best for | Canadian investors trading Canadian/US stocks and ETFs · Options traders needing US equity, Canadian and index options · Investors wanting registered Canadian accounts plus margin… | 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 | Needs verification | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | Questrade, Inc. states it is a CIRO member; Questrade ID page cites CIRO and FINTRAC requirements; QWM registration categories are disclosed by Questrade. Source | SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source |
| License numbers | Specific registration or licence numbers were not disclosed in the checked official Questrade, CIRO, CSA, and CIPF sources; regulator/member category is verified instead. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source |
| Regulated entities | Questrade, Inc. is the registered investment dealer; Questrade Wealth Management Inc. is a registered Portfolio Manager, Investment Fund Manager, and Exempt Market Dealer for Questwealth Portfolios. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB Source |
| Negative balance protection | No explicit negative balance protection claim found in official pages checked; margin/FX/CFD pages instead discuss margin calls, interest on negative balances, leverage and substantial risk of loss. Source | Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source |
| Investor compensation | Questrade, Inc. member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF); CIPF directory lists Questrade, Inc. 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 | Questrade primarily serves Canadians; U.S. residents generally cannot open accounts; international residents generally limited to Margin accounts, subject to exemptions/manual review. 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 | Self-directed: $0 to start/open, no minimum balance; Questwealth Portfolios: $250 minimum stated in account-types FAQ. 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 | FX target spreads as low as 0.8 pips; published examples include EUR/USD 1.9, USD/JPY 1.9, USD/CAD 2.5; CFD target spreads vary by product. 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 | Stocks/ETFs $0 online; US equity options $0 contract fee; Canadian/index options generally $0.99 per contract; mutual funds $9.95; bonds $24.95; GICs no cost. 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 | Securities margin marketed as up to 3x more buying power; FX/CFD exact maximum leverage requires manual review. Source | Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source |
| Deposit fee | Checked funding overview and administrative-fee pages did not disclose a Questrade deposit-fee schedule for standard funding methods; fees may be charged by sending institutions for wires/transfers. 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 | EFT withdrawals are free; wire withdrawals cost $20 CAD, $30 USD, or $40 international; other administrative withdrawal/transfer fees apply. 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 | Questrade states no inactivity fees for self-directed accounts and no inactivity fees on FX & CFD accounts. Source | $0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | Broad asset lineup: stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds/GICs, IPOs, precious metals, FX and CFDs, and managed portfolios. 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 | Mobile app for stocks/options/account management; Questrade Edge desktop/web/mobile for advanced trading; Questrade Global for FX/CFDs; Questrade Pro promoted as active trader platform. Source | Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source |
| Account types | Self-directed and managed account lineup includes registered, non-registered, entity/trust, and FX/CFD account types. 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 | Funding methods include Instant deposit, bill payment, PAD, brokerage/bank transfer, wire, non-certified cheque, and DRS/stock certificate alternatives. 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 | Withdrawals overview identifies EFT as most popular and wire transfers as a faster paid option; EFTs can only be sent to Canadian bank accounts, wires can be sent internationally. 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 | EFT 3-5 business days; wire 1-3 business days; currency conversion adds one business day; Questwealth withdrawals may add 3 business days. 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.