ATFX
Charles Schwab
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Overview
ATFX was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Cyprus, while Charles Schwab was established in 2010 and is based in United States. ATFX holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Charles Schwab is regulated by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) among others. ATFX serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Charles Schwab has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $100 at ATFX and $25 at Charles Schwab.
| Feature | ATFX | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $25 |
| Regulation | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) |
| Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Country | Cyprus | United States |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ATFX and Charles Schwab, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ATFX has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $25 at Charles Schwab). Charles Schwab charges withdrawal fees while ATFX does not, giving ATFX an edge for frequent withdrawers. Charles Schwab applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; ATFX does not. Overall, Charles Schwab scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | ATFX | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $100 | $25 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
ATFX offers MT5, cTrader, while Charles Schwab supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Charles Schwab supports social and copy trading features, which ATFX does not offer. Charles Schwab edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | ATFX | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Mac, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | Android,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,Mac |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how ATFX and Charles Schwab compare. ATFX runs regular live webinars; Charles Schwab does not. Both provide video tutorials. ATFX publishes daily market commentary; Charles Schwab does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. ATFX maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. ATFX scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | ATFX | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. ATFX accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Charles Schwab supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | ATFX | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both ATFX and Charles Schwab offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | ATFX | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |