Loading broker comparison
Your research is on its way. You can keep using the navigation above.
Loading broker comparison…
Your research is on its way. You can keep using the navigation above.
Loading broker comparison…
Compare trust, fees, platforms, and withdrawals. See the trade-offs and details worth checking before you choose.
Choose brokers
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.
| VS field | ![]() | |
|---|---|---|
Decision summary | ||
| Overall score | ||
88 |
91 |
| Trust score | 92 | 100 |
|---|
| Cost score | 90 | 92 |
|---|
| Platform score | 78 | 94 |
|---|
| Withdrawal score | 80 | 89 |
|---|
| Best for | U.S. long-term investors · retirement investors · index-fund and ETF investors | 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 | you are not a U.S. citizen/legal permanent resident with a U.S. mailing address for U.S. account opening · you need forex, CFDs, futures, or crypto trading · you need guaranteed n… | Needs verification |
|---|
Trust & regulation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regulators | Vanguard Marketing Corporation / Vanguard Brokerage Services is a FINRA-regulated broker-dealer and SIPC member; SEC number appears in FINRA BrokerCheck. Source | SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source |
| License numbers | CRD#: 7452; SEC#: 8-21570 Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source |
| Regulated entities | Brokerage assets are held through Vanguard Brokerage Services, a division of Vanguard Marketing Corporation, member FINRA and SIPC. Advice services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc., a registered investment advisor, or by Vanguard National Trust Company, a federally chartered, limited-purpose trust company. 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 CFD/forex negative balance protection found; Vanguard margin disclosure says clients can lose more than deposited and are responsible for any shortfall after forced liquidation. Source | Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source |
| Investor compensation | SIPC coverage up to $500,000 including $250,000 cash; certain bank sweep deposits are FDIC insured subject to limits. 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 | Vanguard states U.S. account opening requires U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residence with a U.S. mailing address; site products/services are intended for U.S. residents. 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 | $0 to open a Vanguard Brokerage Account; mutual funds vary by fund; Vanguard ETFs $1 per share; Digital Advisor requires $100 per brokerage account. 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 | Not applicable as a forex/CFD spread field; Vanguard is not presented as a forex/CFD broker. ETF shares trade on the secondary market at market prices that may be above or below NAV. 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 | $0 online stocks, ETFs and Vanguard mutual fund trades; options $0 + $1 per contract; broker-assisted commission may apply. 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 | Vanguard supports margin loans, but maximum leverage is security- and account-dependent. Current minimum margin maintenance requirement is 35% for most marginable securities. Source | Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source |
| Deposit fee | Vanguard does not charge for Electronic Bank Transfers; wire transfers are $10 where applicable; physical certificate deposits can cost $100 per CUSIP. 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 | ACH/electronic bank transfers are not charged by Vanguard; wires are $10 where applicable; full account closure/transfer-out may be $100. 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 | No distinct inactivity fee found in official fee schedule; annual account service fee may apply instead. Source | $0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tradable assets | Vanguard Brokerage Account can hold mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, options, CDs and cash/money market products. 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 | Vanguard supports online brokerage trading through its website and mobile app for account management, deposits/withdrawals and buying/selling investments. Source | Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source |
| Account types | Vanguard supports individual/joint brokerage accounts, IRAs, custodial accounts, 529 plans, cash management and advice/robo-advisor services. 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 bank transfer, check/mobile check deposit, and asset transfers/rollovers. 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/transfers can be initiated from settlement fund; fee schedule covers electronic bank transfers/ACH and wire transfers. 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 | Securities settle T+1 before proceeds can be withdrawn; electronic bank transfer/check funding may have a 7-calendar-day hold; incoming digital asset transfers may take as little as 5–7 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.