VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Investors comparing Charles Schwab and Robinhood will find that Both Charles Schwab and Robinhood concentrate on Brokerage, Portfolio, and Watchlist workflows, making them natural alternatives for similar investment research jobs. Charles Schwab leans into Paper Trading, Smart/Direct Routing, and Alerts, which can be decisive for teams that need depth over breadth. Robinhood stands out with Downloadable Tax Reports that the competition lacks. Use the feature-by-feature table to inspect unique capabilities and confirm which roadmap best maps to your process.
Head-to-head
Charles Schwab vs Robinhood
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
- Charles Schwab adds Paper Trading, Smart/Direct Routing, Alerts, Calendar, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, and Screeners coverage that Robinhood skips.
- Robinhood includes Downloadable Tax Reports 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..
- Robinhood is known for: Commission-free trading on US stocks, ETFs, and options (with per-contract fees: $0.50 standard, $0.35 with Gold)., Fractional share investing starting from $1 across most eligible US stocks and ETFs., and Advanced order types including stop, stop-limit, and trailing stop orders..
- Robinhood 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.
Robinhood
robinhood.com
Robinhood is a US and UK brokerage offering commission-free trading in stocks, ETFs, and options, plus access to futures and crypto. Options carry per-contract fees. Robinhood Gold ($5/month after a 30-day trial) unlocks Nasdaq TotalView Level II, Morningstar research, larger instant deposits, and a 3% IRA match for eligible customers. The platform also offers 24-Hour Market trading on select symbols, real crypto wallets with deposits/withdrawals, and an accessible mobile-first design.
Categories
Platforms
Pricing
Quick highlights
- Commission-free trading on US stocks, ETFs, and options (with per-contract fees: $0.50 standard, $0.35 with Gold).
- Fractional share investing starting from $1 across most eligible US stocks and ETFs.
- Advanced order types including stop, stop-limit, and trailing stop orders.
- 24-Hour Market on select symbols, running Sunday evening through Friday evening ET, alongside extended trading hours.
- Options support includes multi-leg strategies such as spreads and iron condors, with a Strategy Builder tool and Greeks displayed in the chain.
Shared focus areas
Both platforms align on these research themes, so you can stay within one workflow when your use case involves them.
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.
Robinhood
Distinct strengths include:
- Commission-free trading on US stocks, ETFs, and options (with per-contract fees: $0.50 standard, $0.35 with Gold).
- Fractional share investing starting from $1 across most eligible US stocks and ETFs.
- Advanced order types including stop, stop-limit, and trailing stop orders.
- 24-Hour Market on select symbols, running Sunday evening through Friday evening ET, alongside extended trading hours.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Charles Schwab | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Options & Derivatives, Advanced Order Types, News, Order Book / Level II Unique: Paper Trading, Smart/Direct Routing, Alerts, Calendar, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters, Screeners | Shared: Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Options & Derivatives, Advanced Order Types, News, Order Book / Level II Unique: Downloadable Tax Reports |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, 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 | Web, Mobile |
Pricing High-level pricing models | Other | Free, Subscription, Other |
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 Robinhood both support?
Both platforms cover Brokerage, Portfolio, Watchlist, Options & Derivatives, Advanced Order Types, News, 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?
Robinhood 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 Robinhood?
Both Charles Schwab and Robinhood 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 Robinhood stands out for Commission-free trading on US stocks, ETFs, and options (with per-contract fees: $0.50 standard, $0.35 with Gold)., Fractional share investing starting from $1 across most eligible US stocks and ETFs., and Advanced order types including stop, stop-limit, and trailing stop orders..
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.