B
Charles Schwab logo

Charles Schwab

7.5/10
orbex logo

orbex

7.3/10
7/10RegulationWinner10/10
10/10WinnerFees0/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms7/10
4/10Education & ResearchTied4/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsWinner10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Charles Schwab was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in United States, while orbex was established in 2012 and is based in Cyprus. Charles Schwab holds licences including Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while orbex is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Charles Schwab serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; orbex has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $25 at Charles Schwab and $250 at orbex.

Charles Schwab wins this category
FeatureCharles Schwaborbex
Min. Deposit$25$250
RegulationCommodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F291
Founded20102012
CountryUnited StatesCyprus
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Charles Schwab and orbex, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Charles Schwab has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $25 (vs $250 at orbex). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Charles Schwab applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; orbex does not. Overall, Charles Schwab scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Charles Schwab wins this category
FeatureCharles Schwaborbex
Min. Deposit$25$250
Withdrawal FeesYesYes
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Charles Schwab offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while orbex supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Charles Schwab supports social and copy trading features, which orbex does not offer. Charles Schwab edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

Charles Schwab wins this category
FeatureCharles Schwaborbex
MT4YesNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsAndroid,WEB,Desktop,iPhone,MacMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, 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 orbex compare. Both provide video tutorials. Both integrate third-party research tools. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
FeatureCharles Schwaborbex
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationNoNo
Weekly WebinarsNoNo
Daily CommentaryNoNo
Trading CentralNoNo
AutochartistYesYes

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 orbex supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). orbex uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. orbex scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

orbex wins this category
FeatureCharles Schwaborbex
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoYes
SkrillNoYes
NetellerNoYes

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 orbex offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Charles Schwab supports 2 languages and orbex supports 8, giving orbex broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureCharles Schwaborbex
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic