VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing Charles Schwab and eToro will find that Both Charles Schwab and eToro concentrate on Brokerage, Portfolio, and Watchlist workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. Charles Schwab leans into Options & Derivatives, Smart/Direct Routing, and Order Book / Level II, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. eToro stands out with Copy/Social Trading, Dividends, and IPO that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
Charles Schwab vs eToro
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- Charles Schwab adds Options & Derivatives, Smart/Direct Routing, Order Book / Level II, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, and Screeners coverage that eToro skips.
- eToro includes Copy/Social Trading, Dividends, IPO, Data Visualizations, Analyst Forecasts, Analyst Recommendations, Analyst Price Targets, and Education categories that Charles Schwab omits.
- Charles Schwab 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., and paperMoney® virtual accounts that let you practice trading with live market data..
- eToro is known for: Commission-free trading on U.S. stocks and ETFs; crypto trades incur a 1% fee; $0 withdrawal fee (minimum withdrawal $30)., Options trading in the U.S. with no commissions and no contract fees, offered via the eToro Options app., and CopyTrader™ allows users to mirror the trades of other investors in real time; copying is free, with a $200 minimum..
- eToro keeps a free entry point that Charles Schwab lacks.
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
Pricing
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.
eToro
etoro.com
A multi-asset broker combining traditional investing with social trading. Known for CopyTrader™, Smart Portfolios, and a $100K demo account. In the U.S., stock and ETF trading is commission-free, options trade at zero commission or contract fees, and crypto carries a 1% fee with state restrictions. CopyTrader is limited to crypto in the U.S., while Smart Portfolios require a $500 minimum investment. Copying other traders starts from $200.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Commission-free trading on U.S. stocks and ETFs; crypto trades incur a 1% fee; $0 withdrawal fee (minimum withdrawal $30).
- Options trading in the U.S. with no commissions and no contract fees, offered via the eToro Options app.
- CopyTrader™ allows users to mirror the trades of other investors in real time; copying is free, with a $200 minimum.
- Smart Portfolios group assets thematically and are managed by eToro’s Investment Team; they rebalance regularly, require a $500 minimum, and carry no management fees.
- Practice trading with a $100,000 virtual portfolio.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
Where they differ
Charles Schwab
Distinct strengths include:
- 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.
eToro
Distinct strengths include:
- Commission-free trading on U.S. stocks and ETFs; crypto trades incur a 1% fee; $0 withdrawal fee (minimum withdrawal $30).
- Options trading in the U.S. with no commissions and no contract fees, offered via the eToro Options app.
- CopyTrader™ allows users to mirror the trades of other investors in real time; copying is free, with a $200 minimum.
- Smart Portfolios group assets thematically and are managed by eToro’s Investment Team; they rebalance regularly, require a $500 minimum, and carry no management fees.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Charles Schwab | eToro |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, News, Alerts, Calendar Unique: Options & Derivatives, Smart/Direct Routing, Order Book / Level II, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, Screeners | Shared: Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, News, Alerts, Calendar Unique: Copy/Social Trading, Dividends, IPO, Data Visualizations, Analyst Forecasts, Analyst Recommendations, Analyst Price Targets, Education |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Cryptos, Commodities, Currencies |
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, Mobile |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Other | Free |
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 eToro both support?
Both platforms cover Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, News, Alerts, and Calendar workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
eToro offers a free entry point, while Charles Schwab requires a paid subscription. Review the pricing table to see how the paid tiers compare.
How can you access Charles Schwab and eToro?
Both Charles Schwab and eToro support web and mobile access, making it easy to keep tabs on research away from the desk.
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 eToro stands out for Commission-free trading on U.S. stocks and ETFs; crypto trades incur a 1% fee; $0 withdrawal fee (minimum withdrawal $30)., Options trading in the U.S. with no commissions and no contract fees, offered via the eToro Options app., and CopyTrader™ allows users to mirror the trades of other investors in real time; copying is free, with a $200 minimum..
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.