Charles Schwab vs Interactive Brokers: Which Broker Suits You?
Charles Schwab scores 4.6 and Interactive Brokers 4.8 out of 5 on our published methodology. Charles Schwab leads on Account Access & Support; Interactive Brokers leads on Costs & Fees and Asset Range, and they tie on Platform & Tools and Regulation & Trust. Both accept clients in the US.
Overall score
Charles Schwab
4.6/5
Best for: Full-service US investing
Read the full Charles Schwab review →Higher overall score
Interactive Brokers
4.8/5
Best for: Active & globally-minded traders
Read the full Interactive Brokers review →Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| Charles Schwab | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options and a very large no-transaction-fee fund list | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, forex, crypto across 170+ markets |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others |
| Stands out for | thinkorswim's professional tooling alongside full-service support | Unmatched global market access from a single account |
| Watch out for | Low interest paid on uninvested cash; limited crypto access | Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve |
| Accepts clients in | The US | The US, the UK, the EU and other countries |
Is Charles Schwab cheaper than Interactive Brokers?
On our Costs & Fees score, Interactive Brokers rates 5/5 against Charles Schwab’s 4/5, so it is generally the cheaper of the two for the costs we assess: commissions, spreads, currency conversion and account fees. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, Charles Schwab or Interactive Brokers?
Charles Schwab is regulated by SEC, FINRA, SIPC; Interactive Brokers by SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others. Both score 5/5 on our Regulation & Trust measure. Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, Charles Schwab scores 4/5 and Interactive Brokers 2/5. Charles Schwab is the gentler place to start.
Who each one tends to suit
Charles Schwab
- Tends to suit
- Full-service US investing
- Stands out for
- thinkorswim's professional tooling alongside full-service support
- Watch out for
- Low interest paid on uninvested cash; limited crypto access
Interactive Brokers
- Tends to suit
- Active & globally-minded traders
- Stands out for
- Unmatched global market access from a single account
- Watch out for
- Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.