Charles Schwab adds Brokerage, Portfolio, Options & Derivatives, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, Order Book / Level II, Videos, and Blogs coverage that MarketWatch skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
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Sunday, October 5, 2025
Head-to-head
Charles Schwab vs MarketWatch comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
MarketWatch includes Data Visualizations, Financials, Options, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Analyst Price Targets, Insider Data, Short Interest, Interest Rates, Yield Curves, and IPO 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..
MarketWatch is known for: Market data hub with stock and market screeners, mutual fund research, fund comparison, and multi-quote lookup tools., Personal watchlists available free with an account; syncs across web and mobile apps with customizable price and news alerts., and Comprehensive event calendars, including U.S. economic releases, corporate earnings, IPO schedules, and options-expiration dates..
MarketWatch 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
Web
Mobile
Desktop
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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MarketWatch
marketwatch.com
Hands-on review
A global financial-news portal from Dow Jones that combines market data, news, analysis, and investor tools. Real-time Nasdaq last-sale quotes are included, while most other intraday prices run on a standard 15-minute delay. Premium newsletters and in-depth articles are gated behind a subscription. Mobile apps extend the experience with push alerts and watchlist syncing.
Categories
Platforms
Web
Mobile
Pricing
Free
Subscription
Quick highlights
- Market data hub with stock and market screeners, mutual fund research, fund comparison, and multi-quote lookup tools.
- Personal watchlists available free with an account; syncs across web and mobile apps with customizable price and news alerts.
- Comprehensive event calendars, including U.S. economic releases, corporate earnings, IPO schedules, and options-expiration dates.
- BigCharts advanced charting platform with multiple timeframes (intraday to monthly) and technical overlays; intraday data typically delayed 15 minutes.
- Options coverage with full chains per symbol and an expiration calendar.
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Overlap
Shared focus areas
7 overlapsMutual strengths include Watchlist, Paper Trading, and News plus 4 more areas.
Where they differ
Charles Schwab
Distinct strengths include:
Brokerage
Portfolio
Options & Derivatives
Advanced Order Types
Smart/Direct Routing
Order Book / Level II
Videos
Blogs
- 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.
MarketWatch
Distinct strengths include:
Data Visualizations
Financials
Options
ETF Overview
ETF Holdings
Analyst Price Targets
Insider Data
Short Interest
- Market data hub with stock and market screeners, mutual fund research, fund comparison, and multi-quote lookup tools.
- Personal watchlists available free with an account; syncs across web and mobile apps with customizable price and news alerts.
- Comprehensive event calendars, including U.S. economic releases, corporate earnings, IPO schedules, and options-expiration dates.
- BigCharts advanced charting platform with multiple timeframes (intraday to monthly) and technical overlays; intraday data typically delayed 15 minutes.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Charles Schwab | MarketWatch |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Watchlist, Paper Trading, News, Alerts, Calendar, Newsletters, Screeners Unique: Brokerage, Portfolio, Options & Derivatives, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, Order Book / Level II, Videos, Blogs | Shared: Watchlist, Paper Trading, News, Alerts, Calendar, Newsletters, Screeners Unique: Data Visualizations, Financials, Options, ETF Overview, ETF Holdings, Analyst Price Targets, Insider Data, Short Interest, Interest Rates, Yield Curves, IPO |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Options, Futures, Commodities, Currencies, Cryptos, Bonds |
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 | Yes |
Editor pick Featured inside curated shortlists | Standard listing | Standard listing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which workflows do Charles Schwab and MarketWatch both support?
Both platforms cover Watchlist, Paper Trading, News, Alerts, Calendar, 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?
MarketWatch 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 MarketWatch?
Both Charles Schwab and MarketWatch 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 MarketWatch stands out for Market data hub with stock and market screeners, mutual fund research, fund comparison, and multi-quote lookup tools., Personal watchlists available free with an account; syncs across web and mobile apps with customizable price and news alerts., and Comprehensive event calendars, including U.S. economic releases, corporate earnings, IPO schedules, and options-expiration dates..
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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.