Charles Schwab Review
Full-service brokerage with thinkorswim and 24/7 support. Independent Charles Schwab review: 4.8/5 for brokerage.
By Michael Hewitt, Founder & Editor-in-Chief. Rates last checked September 7, 2026.
Our verdict
Schwab works for investors from beginners to pros: $0 stock, ETF and Schwab fund trades, $0.65 options, thinkorswim for active traders, and 24/7 phone support backed by 300+ branches. The weak spot is narrow. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios needs $5K to start and requires a large cash allocation, and the platform can feel complex to new users.
Skip it if you want a robo-advisor that doesn't hold a large share of your money in cash.
About Charles Schwab
Full-service brokerage with thinkorswim and 24/7 support. Charles Schwab is offered by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Our editorial rating is 4.8 out of 5.
Best for: All-around investors from beginners to pros.
Editorial grade: A+ (composite score 95/100).
Highlights
- $0 stocks/ETFs/Schwab funds · $0.65 options
- thinkorswim desktop, web, and mobile for active/options traders
- 24/7 phone support and 300+ branches nationwide
What we like
- Research from Morningstar, Argus, and MarketEdge
- Fractional shares (Schwab Stock Slices) from $5 on S&P 500 stocks
- No-fee robo-advisor (Schwab Intelligent Portfolios, $5K min.)
- Taxable, IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), 529, HSA, and custodial accounts
Where it falls short
- Schwab Intelligent Portfolios requires a large cash allocation
- Trading platform can be complex for new users
Fees, minimums, and rates
Monthly fee: $0 trades. Minimum to open: $0. Rates and fees last checked on September 7, 2026.
How we reviewed it
This is a desk review: we have not opened an account with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.. It is built from Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.'s published rates, fee schedule and terms and from the public complaint record, and compared with the other products in the Brokerage shortlist. Our brokerage and robo-advisor reviews weight costs and fees (25%), platform and tools (20%), asset selection (15%), account types (10%), education and research (10%), customer support (10%), and trust and safety (10%). The rubric is the same for every brand.
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Read our full editorial methodology for how we review products.