Charles Schwab adds Brokerage, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, Order Book / Level II, Videos, Blogs, and Newsletters coverage that Zacks (Zacks.com) skips.
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★
PRICE: 5 CENTS
Monday, October 6, 2025
Head-to-head
Charles Schwab vs Zacks (Zacks.com) comparison
Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick takeaways
Zacks (Zacks.com) includes ETF Screeners, Scores, Analyst Forecasts, Analyst Price Targets, ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, and Transcripts 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..
Zacks (Zacks.com) is known for: Zacks Rank system (#1–#5) and Zacks Industry Rank shown on company pages., Style Scores across Value, Growth, and Momentum factors., and Stock, ETF, and mutual fund screeners with hundreds of filters..
Zacks (Zacks.com) 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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Zacks (Zacks.com)
zacks.com
Hands-on review
Equity and fund research platform best known for the Zacks Rank system, Style Scores, and detailed earnings analysis. Free users get access to basic screeners and research pages, while Premium unlocks the full #1 Rank list, Equity Research Reports, and 45+ premium screens. The Earnings ESP filter is exclusive to Premium, and Zacks Ultimate bundles all of the firm’s private portfolios. The mobile app includes subscriber alerts and real-time ECN quotes.
Categories
Platforms
Web
Mobile
Pricing
Free
Subscription
Quick highlights
- Zacks Rank system (#1–#5) and Zacks Industry Rank shown on company pages.
- Style Scores across Value, Growth, and Momentum factors.
- Stock, ETF, and mutual fund screeners with hundreds of filters.
- Per-ticker pages with analyst forecasts, price targets, and earnings estimates.
- Unique Price-Consensus-EPS Surprise charts that map historical estimate accuracy and surprises.
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Overlap
Shared focus areas
6 overlapsMutual strengths include Portfolio, Watchlist, and News plus 3 more areas.
Where they differ
Charles Schwab
Distinct strengths include:
Brokerage
Options & Derivatives
Paper Trading
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.
Zacks (Zacks.com)
Distinct strengths include:
ETF Screeners
Scores
Analyst Forecasts
Analyst Price Targets
ETF Overview
ETF Performance
ETF Holdings
Transcripts
- Zacks Rank system (#1–#5) and Zacks Industry Rank shown on company pages.
- Style Scores across Value, Growth, and Momentum factors.
- Stock, ETF, and mutual fund screeners with hundreds of filters.
- Per-ticker pages with analyst forecasts, price targets, and earnings estimates.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
| Attribute | Charles Schwab | Zacks (Zacks.com) |
|---|---|---|
Categories Which research workflows each platform targets | Shared: Portfolio, Watchlist, News, Alerts, Calendar, Screeners Unique: Brokerage, Options & Derivatives, Paper Trading, Advanced Order Types, Smart/Direct Routing, Order Book / Level II, Videos, Blogs, Newsletters | Shared: Portfolio, Watchlist, News, Alerts, Calendar, Screeners Unique: ETF Screeners, Scores, Analyst Forecasts, Analyst Price Targets, ETF Overview, ETF Performance, ETF Holdings, Transcripts |
Asset types Supported asset classes and universes | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Currencies | Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds |
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 Zacks (Zacks.com) both support?
Both platforms cover Portfolio, Watchlist, News, Alerts, Calendar, 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?
Zacks (Zacks.com) 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 Zacks (Zacks.com)?
Both Charles Schwab and Zacks (Zacks.com) 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 Zacks (Zacks.com) stands out for Zacks Rank system (#1–#5) and Zacks Industry Rank shown on company pages., Style Scores across Value, Growth, and Momentum factors., and Stock, ETF, and mutual fund screeners with hundreds of filters..
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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.