Charles Schwab
Charter Prime
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Charles Schwab was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in United States, while Charter Prime was established in 2012 and is based in Australia. Charles Schwab holds licences including Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while Charter Prime is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Charles Schwab serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Charter Prime has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $25 at Charles Schwab and $200 at Charter Prime.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | Charter Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $200 |
| Regulation | Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Founded | 2010 | 2012 |
| Country | United States | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Charles Schwab and Charter Prime, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Charter Prime has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $200 (vs $25 at Charles Schwab). Charles Schwab charges withdrawal fees while Charter Prime does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Charles Schwab applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Charter Prime does not. Charter Prime charges deposit fees; Charles Schwab does not. Overall, Charles Schwab scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | Charter Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $200 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Charles Schwab offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Charter Prime supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | Charter Prime |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Android,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,Mac | MetaTrader 4 |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Charles Schwab and Charter Prime compare. Charter Prime runs regular live webinars; Charles Schwab does not. Both provide video tutorials. Charter Prime publishes daily market commentary; Charles Schwab does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Charter Prime maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Charter Prime scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | Charter Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Charles Schwab accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Charter Prime supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | Charter Prime |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Charles Schwab and Charter Prime 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 | Charles Schwab | Charter Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, and Chinese |