Charles Schwab adds Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, Alerts, Order Book / Level II, Videos, and Newsletters coverage that ORTEX skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Tool Comparison
Charles Schwab vs ORTEX comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
ORTEX includes Short Interest, Insider Data, Quant, Data Visualizations, Index Rebalancing, Money Flow, Options, Analyst Recommendations, Analyst Price Targets, Data APIs, and US Government Trades categories that Charles Schwab omits.
ORTEX keeps a free entry point that Charles Schwab lacks.
In depth comparison
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.
Community votes (overall)
0% upvotes 0% downvotes
You haven't voted yet
ORTEX
public.ortex.com
Hands-on review
Analytics platform focused on short interest and securities lending, with additional coverage of options flow, insider trades, analyst views, and index rebalances. Offers a free tier with limited features, plus paid plans (Basic $39/mo, Advanced $129/mo). Options data is sourced from OPRA and requires agreeing to OPRA terms. API access is available with key-based authentication, and an Excel Add-in (beta) supports short interest data.
Categories
Platforms
WebMobileAPI
Pricing
FreeSubscription
Quick highlights
- Short interest and lending analytics including utilization, cost to borrow, shares on loan, and percentage of free float on loan, with intraday and real-time estimates from a large pool of lenders and brokers.
- Official U.S. exchange-reported short interest (bi-monthly) and European flagged shorts, alongside lending-based estimates.
- Options coverage with unusual activity and flow detection; OPRA-sourced data gated by user agreement to OPRA terms.
- Alpha trading signals across themes like Short Squeeze, EPS, RSI, MACD, and Company Events, each with back-tested stats and intraday updates.
- Configurable stock screener including short-interest columns; results can be exported.
Community votes (overall)
0% upvotes 0% downvotes
You haven't voted yet
Where they differ
Charles Schwab
Distinct strengths include:
BrokeragePortfolioWatchlistPaper TradingAdvanced Order TypesSmart/Direct RoutingAlertsOrder 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.
ORTEX
Distinct strengths include:
Short InterestInsider DataQuantData VisualizationsIndex RebalancingMoney FlowOptionsAnalyst Recommendations
- Short interest and lending analytics including utilization, cost to borrow, shares on loan, and percentage of free float on loan, with intraday and real-time estimates from a large pool of lenders and brokers.
- Official U.S. exchange-reported short interest (bi-monthly) and European flagged shorts, alongside lending-based estimates.
- Options coverage with unusual activity and flow detection; OPRA-sourced data gated by user agreement to OPRA terms.
- Alpha trading signals across themes like Short Squeeze, EPS, RSI, MACD, and Company Events, each with back-tested stats and intraday updates.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Charles Schwab | ORTEX |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Options & Derivatives, News, Calendar, Blogs, Screeners Unique: Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, Alerts, Order Book / Level II, Videos, Newsletters | Shared: Options & Derivatives, News, Calendar, Blogs, Screeners Unique: Short Interest, Insider Data, Quant, Data Visualizations, Index Rebalancing, Money Flow, Options, Analyst Recommendations, Analyst Price Targets, Data APIs, US Government Trades |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs, Options |
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, API |
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 ORTEX both support?
Both platforms cover Options & Derivatives, News, Calendar, Blogs, 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?
ORTEX 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 ORTEX?
Both Charles Schwab and ORTEX 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 ORTEX stands out for Short interest and lending analytics including utilization, cost to borrow, shares on loan, and percentage of free float on loan, with intraday and real-time estimates from a large pool of lenders and brokers., Official U.S. exchange-reported short interest (bi-monthly) and European flagged shorts, alongside lending-based estimates., and Options coverage with unusual activity and flow detection; OPRA-sourced data gated by user agreement to OPRA terms..
Keep exploring
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, Data Visualizations, and Options & Derivatives.
ScreenersData VisualizationsOptions & Derivatives - MarketWatchHands-on review
Overlap: News, Alerts, and Calendar.
NewsAlertsCalendar - StockopediaEditor's pickHands-on review
Overlap: Screeners, Data Visualizations, and Analyst Recommendations.
ScreenersData VisualizationsAnalyst Recommendations - TrendlyneHands-on review
Overlap: Screeners, Analyst Price Targets, and Analyst Recommendations.
ScreenersAnalyst Price TargetsAnalyst Recommendations - eToro
Overlap: Brokerage, Paper Trading, and Advanced Order Types.
BrokeragePaper TradingAdvanced Order Types - InsideArbitrage
Overlap: News, Alerts, and Calendar.
NewsAlertsCalendar
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.