Charles Schwab adds Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, and Screeners coverage that Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Head-to-head
Charles Schwab vs Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) includes IPO, Dividends, Splits, and Buybacks & Authorizations 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..
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is known for: HKEXnews: centralized hub for listed company announcements and regulatory filings with keyword and category search., Custom email and mobile alerts for issuer announcements and Disclosure of Interests notices., and Short Selling Turnover reports (intra-day and daily) for both Main Board and GEM listings..
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) 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.
Community votes (overall)
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX)
hkex.com.hk
The official exchange site for Hong Kong. Provides free access to company filings via HKEXnews, corporate calendars, and market alerts. Real-time and historical tick data, as well as full order book feeds, are available through paid HKEX Market Data Services and the Data Marketplace. Quotes displayed on the public website are delayed by at least 15 minutes. Mobile apps include a Stock Options app with real-time options and selected futures data.
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- HKEXnews: centralized hub for listed company announcements and regulatory filings with keyword and category search.
- Custom email and mobile alerts for issuer announcements and Disclosure of Interests notices.
- Short Selling Turnover reports (intra-day and daily) for both Main Board and GEM listings.
- Trading and clearing calendar, downloadable as PDF or subscribable via iCal/URL.
- HKEX Data Marketplace offering paid datasets such as CCASS shareholding and historical full order book data, delivered via SFTP, direct download, or cloud-to-cloud.
Community votes (overall)
Shared focus areas
4 overlapsMutual strengths include News, Alerts, and Calendar plus 1 more area.
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.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX)
Distinct strengths include:
- HKEXnews: centralized hub for listed company announcements and regulatory filings with keyword and category search.
- Custom email and mobile alerts for issuer announcements and Disclosure of Interests notices.
- Short Selling Turnover reports (intra-day and daily) for both Main Board and GEM listings.
- Trading and clearing calendar, downloadable as PDF or subscribable via iCal/URL.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Attribute | Charles Schwab | Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) |
---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: News, Alerts, Calendar, Order Book / Level II Unique: Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, Screeners | Shared: News, Alerts, Calendar, Order Book / Level II Unique: IPO, Dividends, Splits, Buybacks & Authorizations |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Options, Futures |
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, 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 Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) both support?
Both platforms cover News, Alerts, Calendar, and Order Book / Level II workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) 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 Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX)?
Both Charles Schwab and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) 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 Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) stands out for HKEXnews: centralized hub for listed company announcements and regulatory filings with keyword and category search., Custom email and mobile alerts for issuer announcements and Disclosure of Interests notices., and Short Selling Turnover reports (intra-day and daily) for both Main Board and GEM listings..
Keep exploring
Stay on top of related tools
Browse the categories and profiles that overlap most with this comparison to round out your shortlist.
Related categories
Follow the same themes these tools compete in.
Recommended tools
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
- TradingViewEditor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: Screeners, Options & Derivatives, and Portfolio.
ScreenersOptions & DerivativesPortfolio - TrendlyneHands-on review
Overlap: Screeners, Options & Derivatives, and Portfolio.
ScreenersOptions & DerivativesPortfolio - eToro
Overlap: Brokerage, Paper Trading, and Advanced Order Types.
BrokeragePaper TradingAdvanced Order Types - Investing.comHands-on review
Overlap: Screeners, Portfolio, and Watchlist.
ScreenersPortfolioWatchlist - TC2000
Overlap: Screeners, Watchlist, and Portfolio.
ScreenersWatchlistPortfolio - Interactive BrokersEditor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: Brokerage, Paper Trading, and Advanced Order Types.
BrokeragePaper TradingAdvanced Order Types
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.