Charles Schwab adds Brokerage, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, News, Calendar, Order Book / Level II, and Newsletters coverage that ETF Action skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Tool Comparison
Charles Schwab vs ETF Action comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
ETF Action includes ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Valuation, ETF Factors, ETF Overlap, Data Visualizations, Backtesting, 13F, and Data APIs categories that Charles Schwab omits.
ETF Action keeps a free entry point that Charles Schwab lacks.
Charles Schwab ships a mobile app. ETF Action is web/desktop only.
In depth comparison
Charles Schwab
schwab.com
One of the largest US brokerages, combining commission-free stock and ETF trading with deep functionality through the thinkorswim® platform suite (desktop, web, and mobile). Options are priced at $0.65 per contract, with 24/5 trading on over a thousand stocks and ETFs. Investors can trade futures and forex (approval required), use paperMoney® for risk-free practice, and even buy fractional shares of S&P 500 companies starting at $5 through Stock Slices®. Schwab also provides flexible alerts, advanced order types, tax integrations, and access to research and screeners—all backed by decades of brand trust.
Categories
Platforms
WebMobileDesktop
Pricing
Other
Quick highlights
- Zero-commission online trades for stocks and ETFs; options at $0.65 per contract.
- thinkorswim® platform suite (desktop, web, mobile) plus Schwab Mobile, with extended 24/5 trading access to 1,100+ stocks and ETFs.
- paperMoney® virtual accounts that let you practice trading with live market data.
- Tradable universe spans stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and forex—though futures and forex require separate approval and are offered by Schwab Futures & Forex LLC.
- Fractional share investing via Stock Slices®: S&P 500 companies, starting from $5.
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ETF Action
etfaction.com
Independent ETF analytics platform for advisors and asset managers. Offers global ETF classification, look‑through holdings analytics, overlap analysis, flows/volumes with T+1 flow timing, live quotes (FMV) via Polygon.io, model portfolio tools, 13F screening (Advisor Pro), and enterprise options including API access. DIY/Advisor Pro plans emphasize self‑service research and Excel/CSV downloads; Enterprise adds collaboration, custom dashboards, and API. A separate Model Builder plan enables model uploads and ‘Bridge’ trading integration. API details are not publicly documented—confirm endpoints and auth with vendor.
Categories
Platforms
WebAPI
Pricing
FreeSubscription
Quick highlights
- Global ETF ‘Channels’ taxonomy with category reports and dashboards (Size & Style US/Global, Region & Country, Sector & Industry, Thematic, Fixed Income, Non‑Traditional, Commodities, Crypto).
- Look‑through analytics on fund holdings for factor/style, sector/industry, country, concentration; portfolio overlap analysis across funds or entire models.
- Flows & trading dashboards (volumes/ADV); flows noted as T+1 timing in daily updates.
- Live pricing on platform pages via Polygon.io FMV quotes (real‑time-ish indicative).
- Screeners for ETFs; watchlists; data exports to Excel/CSV (DIY 50 rows, Advisor Pro 500 rows).
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Where they differ
Charles Schwab
Distinct strengths include:
BrokerageOptions & DerivativesPaper TradingAdvanced Order TypesSmart/Direct RoutingNewsCalendarOrder Book / Level II
- Zero-commission online trades for stocks and ETFs; options at $0.65 per contract.
- thinkorswim® platform suite (desktop, web, mobile) plus Schwab Mobile, with extended 24/5 trading access to 1,100+ stocks and ETFs.
- paperMoney® virtual accounts that let you practice trading with live market data.
- Tradable universe spans stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and forex—though futures and forex require separate approval and are offered by Schwab Futures & Forex LLC.
ETF Action
Distinct strengths include:
ETF OverviewETF PerformanceETF HoldingsETF FundamentalsETF ValuationETF FactorsETF OverlapData Visualizations
- Global ETF ‘Channels’ taxonomy with category reports and dashboards (Size & Style US/Global, Region & Country, Sector & Industry, Thematic, Fixed Income, Non‑Traditional, Commodities, Crypto).
- Look‑through analytics on fund holdings for factor/style, sector/industry, country, concentration; portfolio overlap analysis across funds or entire models.
- Flows & trading dashboards (volumes/ADV); flows noted as T+1 timing in daily updates.
- Live pricing on platform pages via Polygon.io FMV quotes (real‑time-ish indicative).
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Charles Schwab | ETF Action |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Portfolio, Watchlist, Alerts, Videos, Blogs, Screeners Unique: Brokerage, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, News, Calendar, Order Book / Level II, Newsletters | Shared: Portfolio, Watchlist, Alerts, Videos, Blogs, Screeners Unique: ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, ETF Fundamentals, ETF Valuation, ETF Factors, ETF Overlap, Data Visualizations, Backtesting, 13F, Data APIs |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Currencies | ETFs, Stocks |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, Mobile, Desktop | Web, API |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Other | Free, Subscription |
Key features Core capabilities called out by each vendor | Unique
| Unique
|
Tested Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat | Not yet | Not yet |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Charles Schwab and ETF Action both support?
Both platforms cover Portfolio, Watchlist, Alerts, Videos, Blogs, and Screeners workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
ETF Action offers a free entry point, while Charles Schwab requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
Which tool has mobile access?
Charles Schwab ships a dedicated mobile experience, while ETF Action focuses on web or desktop access.
What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?
Charles Schwab differentiates itself with Zero-commission online trades for stocks and ETFs; options at $0.65 per contract., thinkorswim® platform suite (desktop, web, mobile) plus Schwab Mobile, with extended 24/5 trading access to 1,100+ stocks and ETFs., and paperMoney® virtual accounts that let you practice trading with live market data., whereas ETF Action stands out for Global ETF ‘Channels’ taxonomy with category reports and dashboards (Size & Style US/Global, Region & Country, Sector & Industry, Thematic, Fixed Income, Non‑Traditional, Commodities, Crypto)., Look‑through analytics on fund holdings for factor/style, sector/industry, country, concentration; portfolio overlap analysis across funds or entire models., and Flows & trading dashboards (volumes/ADV); flows noted as T+1 timing in daily updates..
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.