Charles Schwab adds Portfolio, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, News, Alerts, Calendar, Order Book / Level II, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, and Screeners coverage that N26 skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Head-to-head
Charles Schwab vs N26 comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
N26 includes Wealth Management 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..
N26 is known for: Unlimited commission-free trading in stocks and ETFs for all customers., Fractional investing available from as little as €1, with free recurring investment plans., and Access to thousands of instruments (3,000–4,000 depending on market)..
N26 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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N26
n26.com
Mobile-first bank with built-in investing. Customers can trade stocks, ETFs, and crypto directly in the app. Stock and ETF trades are free across all plans, with fractional investing and recurring plans available. Ready-made funds are powered by BlackRock, while crypto trading is supported by Bitpanda. Fees vary by asset and plan tier, and availability depends on country of residence.
Categories
Platforms
Mobile
Pricing
Free
Subscription
Quick highlights
- Unlimited commission-free trading in stocks and ETFs for all customers.
- Fractional investing available from as little as €1, with free recurring investment plans.
- Access to thousands of instruments (3,000–4,000 depending on market).
- Automated investment plans offered on weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly schedules.
- Ready-made funds managed by BlackRock, offered in three profiles: Mindful, Balanced, and Ambitious.
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Overlap
Shared focus areas
2 overlapsMutual strengths include Brokerage, and Watchlist.
Where they differ
Charles Schwab
Distinct strengths include:
Portfolio
Options & Derivatives
Paper Trading
Advanced Order Types
Smart/Direct Routing
News
Alerts
Calendar
- 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.
N26
Distinct strengths include:
- Unlimited commission-free trading in stocks and ETFs for all customers.
- Fractional investing available from as little as €1, with free recurring investment plans.
- Access to thousands of instruments (3,000–4,000 depending on market).
- Automated investment plans offered on weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly schedules.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Charles Schwab | N26 |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Brokerage, Watchlist Unique: Portfolio, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, News, Alerts, Calendar, Order Book / Level II, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, Screeners | Shared: Brokerage, Watchlist Unique: Wealth Management |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos |
Experience levels Who each product is built for | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Platforms Where you can access the product | Web, Mobile, Desktop | 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 N26 both support?
Both platforms cover Brokerage, and Watchlist workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.
Which tool offers a free plan?
N26 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 N26?
Both Charles Schwab and N26 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 N26 stands out for Unlimited commission-free trading in stocks and ETFs for all customers., Fractional investing available from as little as €1, with free recurring investment plans., and Access to thousands of instruments (3,000–4,000 depending on market)..
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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.