Charles Schwab
CMC Markets
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Overview
Charles Schwab was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in United States, while CMC Markets was established in 1989 and is based in UK. Charles Schwab holds licences including Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while CMC Markets is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Charles Schwab serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; CMC Markets has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $25 at Charles Schwab and $200 at CMC Markets.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $200 |
| Regulation | Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Founded | 2010 | 1989 |
| Country | United States | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Charles Schwab and CMC Markets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. CMC Markets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $200 (vs $25 at Charles Schwab). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Overall, Charles Schwab scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $200 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Charles Schwab offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while CMC Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Charles Schwab supports social and copy trading features, which CMC Markets does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Web Trader, Binary, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Charles Schwab and CMC Markets compare. CMC Markets runs regular live webinars; Charles Schwab does not. Both provide video tutorials. CMC Markets publishes daily market commentary; Charles Schwab does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. CMC Markets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. CMC Markets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 CMC Markets supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 CMC Markets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Charles Schwab supports 2 languages and CMC Markets supports 8, giving CMC Markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Charles Schwab | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, German, French, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, and Norwegian |