Charles Schwab adds Brokerage, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, and Order Book / Level II coverage that InsideArbitrage skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
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Sunday, October 26, 2025
Head-to-head
Charles Schwab vs InsideArbitrage comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
InsideArbitrage includes Acquisitions, Spin-offs, Buybacks & Authorizations, Dividends, Splits, Insider Data, Institutional Data, 13F, 13D/13G, Regulatory Filings Monitoring, Data Visualizations, Playbooks & Case Studies, and PDF Annotation 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..
InsideArbitrage is known for: Merger Arbitrage Tool with announced‑deal lists, spread tracking, calendars and deal updates; ‘Deals in the Works’ and deal post‑mortems., Insider data hub with ‘Insider Weekends’, cluster buys, buys near highs, flip‑floppers, top‑performing insiders and sector heat‑map., and Buyback suite: daily buyback announcements, searchable buyback history, ‘Buyback Wednesdays’, and ‘Double Dipper’ (insiders + buybacks)..
InsideArbitrage keeps a free entry point that Charles Schwab lacks.
Charles Schwab ships a mobile app. InsideArbitrage is web/desktop only.
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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InsideArbitrage
insidearbitrage.com
Event‑driven research platform by Asif Suria focused on merger arbitrage, insider transactions, spinoffs, buybacks, activists, and related special situations. Premium includes tools like the Merger Arbitrage Tool, CVR database, buyback & spinoff trackers, premium screens (IA Score, cluster buys, ‘double dipper’), ‘Deals‑in‑the‑Works’ and deal calendars. IA Professional adds pro‑only features (e.g., CVR outcomes, activist tracker, reverse‑splits tracker, Insider Performance Score) and multi‑seat licensing.
Categories
Platforms
Web
Pricing
FreeSubscription
Quick highlights
- Merger Arbitrage Tool with announced‑deal lists, spread tracking, calendars and deal updates; ‘Deals in the Works’ and deal post‑mortems.
- Insider data hub with ‘Insider Weekends’, cluster buys, buys near highs, flip‑floppers, top‑performing insiders and sector heat‑map.
- Buyback suite: daily buyback announcements, searchable buyback history, ‘Buyback Wednesdays’, and ‘Double Dipper’ (insiders + buybacks).
- Spinoff suite: upcoming/completed spinoffs and ‘Spinsider’ screen; CVR deals database with outcomes.
- Gurus/Institutional holdings pages aggregating 13F/13D/13G and Form 4 into manager dashboards.
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Overlap
Shared focus areas
9 overlapsMutual strengths include Portfolio, Watchlist, and News plus 6 more areas.
Where they differ
Charles Schwab
Distinct strengths include:
BrokerageOptions & DerivativesPaper TradingAdvanced Order TypesSmart/Direct RoutingOrder 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.
InsideArbitrage
Distinct strengths include:
- Merger Arbitrage Tool with announced‑deal lists, spread tracking, calendars and deal updates; ‘Deals in the Works’ and deal post‑mortems.
- Insider data hub with ‘Insider Weekends’, cluster buys, buys near highs, flip‑floppers, top‑performing insiders and sector heat‑map.
- Buyback suite: daily buyback announcements, searchable buyback history, ‘Buyback Wednesdays’, and ‘Double Dipper’ (insiders + buybacks).
- Spinoff suite: upcoming/completed spinoffs and ‘Spinsider’ screen; CVR deals database with outcomes.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Charles Schwab | InsideArbitrage |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Portfolio, Watchlist, News, Alerts, Calendar, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, Screeners Unique: Brokerage, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, Order Book / Level II | Shared: Portfolio, Watchlist, News, Alerts, Calendar, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, Screeners Unique: Acquisitions, Spin-offs, Buybacks & Authorizations, Dividends, Splits, Insider Data, Institutional Data, 13F, 13D/13G, Regulatory Filings Monitoring, Data Visualizations, Playbooks & Case Studies, PDF Annotation |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs |
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 |
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 InsideArbitrage both support?
Both platforms cover Portfolio, Watchlist, News, Alerts, Calendar, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, 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?
InsideArbitrage 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 InsideArbitrage 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 InsideArbitrage stands out for Merger Arbitrage Tool with announced‑deal lists, spread tracking, calendars and deal updates; ‘Deals in the Works’ and deal post‑mortems., Insider data hub with ‘Insider Weekends’, cluster buys, buys near highs, flip‑floppers, top‑performing insiders and sector heat‑map., and Buyback suite: daily buyback announcements, searchable buyback history, ‘Buyback Wednesdays’, and ‘Double Dipper’ (insiders + buybacks)..
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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.