TD Ameritrade vs Charles Schwab

TD Ameritrade is a good online broker for long-term investors. How does it compare to Charles Schwab? Read our comparison chart below.

TD Ameritrade offers $0 commission online stock, ETF, and option trades. This online broker also has more than 100 branch locations. There is no minimum deposit, no maintenance fee, and no inactivity fee.

While Charles Schwab offers stock and ETF trades at $0 commission and options trading at $0 commission + $0.65 per contract. There is no minimum deposit, no maintenance fee, and no inactivity fee.

Compare TD Ameritrade with Charles Schwab, side-by-side. Read on for an in-depth look, including ratings, reviews, pros and cons.

	TD Ameritrade	Charles Schwab
	OFFER Commission-Free Trading - Online Stock, ETF and Option Trades - Learn More Read TD Ameritrade Review	SPECIAL OFFER $0 Commissions on Online Stock, ETF, and Options Trades - Learn More Read Charles Schwab Review
	Benefits and Features
Stock Trading	$0 commission for online stock, ETF, and option trades	$0 commission on U.S. stocks and ETFs
Options Trading	$0.65 per contract	$0 + $0.65 per contract
Cryptocurrency Trading	Yes
Minimum Deposit	$0	$0
Mutual Fund Trading	Up to $49.95 or $74.95 for buys. $0 for sells	$0 for no-transaction-fee funds $49.95 for all other funds
Commission Free ETFs	550+ Commission-Free ETFs	2,000+ across asset classes and fund companies, $0 commission through Schwab ETF OneSource™.
Live Chat Support	Yes
Penny Stocks
Broker Assisted Trades	$25	$25.00 service charge
Customer Service	(800) 669-3900 (Open 24/7)	24/7
Inactivity Fee	$0	None
Maintenance Fee	$0	$0
Online Platform	Yes
Banking	Cash Management account offers free ATM withdrawals, no monthly maintenance fees, free online bill pay, and free check writing.	Yes
Mobile App	Yes	Yes
Desktop App	Thinkorswim	Yes
Forex Trading	Yes
Futures Trading	$2.25 per contract (plus exchange & regulatory fees)	$2.25 per contract
Bond Trading	Yes
CFD Trading	No
Currency Trading	Yes
Locations	More than 100 locations in 34 states	300 locations
Online Community		Yes
Seminars	Online webcast	Yes
Trading Platform	thinkorswim
Virtual Trading	Yes	No
	CreditDonkey® Reviews
Stock Trading
Options Trading
Banking
Mobile App
Commissions and Fees
Ease of Use
Online Community
Research
Trading Platform
Mutual Fund Trading
Online Platform
Pros & Cons	Pros: Easy to Use Thinkorswim Platform Customer Service Cons: Trade Fees	Pros: Vast selection of commission-free ETFs and mutual funds 2 platforms (one for beginners and one for advanced traders) 24/7 customer service including online chat Cons: Commission costs on mutual funds outside of the commission-free funds Robo-advisor option requires a minimum investment of $5,000
Bottom Line	Good online broker for long-term investors... Read full review	Good choice for beginning and advanced investors looking to invest in ETFs and mutual funds or investors that require extensive research... Read full review
	Commission-Free Trading - Online Stock, ETF and Option Trades Open an IRA in 15 minutes or less	$0 Commissions on Online Stock, ETF, and Options Trades 500 Commission-Free Online and Options Trades
Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the product website for details. TD Ameritrade: Pricing information from published website as of 09/05/2023. Charles Schwab: Pricing information from published websites as of 11/14/2021.

Which is Better: TD Ameritrade or Charles Schwab?

Still need help deciding which investing is better? Read the in-depth reviews below. You may also be interested in comparing TD Ameritrade or Robinhood.

In short: TD Ameritrade's mobile app and ease of use are impressive. Charles Schwab's stock trading and banking are notable. In particular, the banking is excellent.

Articles on TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade Review

TD Ameritrade fees are higher than competitors, but is it worth it? We say yes and here's why. We analyze and compare it for you in our in-depth review.

TD Ameritrade Customer Service

TD Ameritrade offers 24/7 customer service - both online and on the phone. But the best way to actually contact TD Ameritrade may surprise you. Read on.

Articles on Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab Review

Charles Schwab is one of the oldest names in the world of investing. With low fees, no account minimums, and robust research tools, it's a good brokerage for all levels of investors.