Futu vs Charles Schwab

Futu vs Charles Schwab Comparison Table 2024
Futu Charles Schwab
2.7
2.8

Futu is a NASDAQ-listed brokerage established in 2012. The fintech firm offers multi-asset trading opportunities on two proprietary platforms; Futubull and moomoo. Futu holds licenses with 20+ authorities including the ASIC, NFA and SFC. An impressive 15 million customers trade with Futu.

Charles Schwab is a large US investment broker offering a massive range of stocks, ETFs and equity derivatives in a variety of savings and investment accounts. The trustworthy brand has been offering financial services for 45+ years with over 35 million brokerage accounts and $870+ billion in assets under management. Charles Schwab is also regulated by top-tier watchdogs including the SEC and FCA.

Comment by Reviewer
"Futu is best for investing in Hong Kong, Chinese and US stock markets with transparent pricing. The broker is trustworthy with strong regulatory oversight and multiple awards." "Charles Schwab will serve long-term investors looking for managed accounts, financial advice and self-directed trading opportunities. Fees are competitive, with zero-commission stock and ETF trading and no account minimums for individual brokerage accounts."
Pros
  • Reputable brokerage listed on the NASDAQ and registered with tier-one regulators
  • Extensive list of investments including stocks, options, ETFs, warrants, bonds and IPOs
  • Transparent pricing model with no commission fees to trade HK stocks & ETFs and free market data
  • Easy-to-use proprietary trading platform with desktop software, browser compatibility and a mobile app
  • Regulated worldwide with segregated client funds, ISO27001 security credentials and investor compensation schemes
  • Investor backing from several corporations including Tencent Holdings
  • NiuNiu community-based platform with NiuNiu Classroom education access
  • Pre-IPO trading hours access
  • Strong investment offerings covering stocks, mutual funds, options, bonds and cryptocurrency
  • Powerful trading software with real-time quotes, fundamental research and investment screeners
  • Responsive customer support team available 24/7 via live chat or telephone
  • Competitive trading fees with no commissions on stocks and ETFs
  • Fractional shares on the S&P 500 with a $5 minimum investment
  • Thematic investing categories and ESG compliant portfolios
  • Strong regulatory oversight from the US SEC and UK FCA
  • No account minimums for individual brokerage accounts
  • High-quality educational resources for new investors
Cons
  • Limited number of payment methods with no e-wallets such as Skrill, Neteller or PayPal
  • High minimum deposit requirement of HKD 10,000 or USD 1,500
  • No live chat support available
  • Forex trading not available
  • No MT4 or MT5 access
  • Only US markets available (except 12 foreign markets on the Global Account)
  • High minimum investment of $5000 to use robo-advisors
  • Limited funding methods with no e-wallets
  • No email support
Awards
  • HKEX - Business Innovation Information Vendors 2017
  • HKEX - Rising Information Vendor of the Year 2016
  • KPMG - China Leading Fintech 50 (2017/2016)
  • Bloomberg - Best Online Broker 2017
  • CB Insights - CB Insights’ Fintech 250 (2018/2017)
Instruments
Stocks, ETFs, IPOs, CBBCs, iBonds, Options, Warrants Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Futures, Options, Commodities, Bonds
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$1500 $0
Trading Platforms
  • Own
  • Own
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots $1
Regulator
SFC SEC, FINRA, FCA1
Margin Trading
Yes No
Margin Rate
4.8% - 8.8%
STP Account
No No
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No No
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No Yes
Robo Advisor
No Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No No
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes No
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Auto Trading
Yes
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No Yes
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Islamic Account
No No
Account Currencies
  • USD
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
Cryptocurrency
Crypto trading not offered Charles Schwab supports indirect crypto trading through digital coin trusts and crypto-related stocks. You can get exposure to popular digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ripple and Ethereum.
Spread
Floating
Coins
  • GBTC
  • BITW
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
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