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Vanguard vs Charles Schwab

Vanguard is a good choice for ETF and mutual fund investors interested in Vanguard-sponsored investments. How does it compare to Charles Schwab? Read our comparison chart below.

Vanguard offers $0 commission on stock and ETF online trades, $0 commission on Vanguard mutual funds, and no minimum deposit.

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

 

Vanguard

Charles Schwab

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Read Vanguard Review

SPECIAL OFFER
$0 Commissions on Online Stock, ETF, and Options Trades - Learn More

Read Charles Schwab Review

 

Benefits and Features

Stock Trading
$0
$0 commission on U.S. stocks and ETFs
Options Trading$0 + $1-per-contract fee. Discounts available if you have more than $1 million assets invested in Vanguard ETFs and mutual funds
$0 + $0.65 per contract
Minimum Deposit
$0
$0
Mutual Fund Trading
$0 for Vanguard mutual funds
$0 for no-transaction-fee funds $49.95 for all other funds
Commission Free ETFsAround 1,800 ETFs from about 100 other companies2,000+ across asset classes and fund companies, $0 commission through Schwab ETF OneSourceā„¢.
Broker Assisted Trades
$25.00
$25.00 service charge
Inactivity Fee
$0
None
Maintenance Fee$20/year. Waived if account owner signs up for e-delivery service OR have at least $10,000 in Vanguard ETFs and mutual funds
$0
Banking
No
Yes
Mobile App
Yes
Yes
Desktop App
Yes
Yes
Forex Trading
Yes
 
Futures Trading
No
$2.25 per contract
Customer Service
Monday-Friday 8am -10pm ET
24/7
Locations
No
300 locations
Online Community
No
Yes
Seminars
Yes
Yes
Virtual Trading
No
Yes (thinkorswim platforms)
 

CreditDonkey® Reviews

Stock TradingStarStarStarEmpty StarEmpty StarStarStarStarStarHalf Star
Options TradingStarStarStarStarEmpty StarStarStarStarHalf StarEmpty Star
Mutual Fund TradingStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarEmpty Star
Mobile AppStarStarStarEmpty StarEmpty StarStarStarStarHalf StarEmpty Star
Commissions and FeesStarStarStarStarEmpty StarStarStarStarEmpty StarEmpty Star
Ease of UseStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarEmpty Star
ResearchStarStarStarHalf StarEmpty StarStarStarStarStarStar
Online PlatformStarStarStarStarStar
BankingStarStarStarStarStar
Pros & ConsPros:
  • Large selection of mutual funds and commission-free ETFs
  • Broker assistance is available at no additional cost
  • Easy to use
Cons:
  • Commission structure penalizes frequent traders
  • Customer service wait times
  • Commission costs on non-Vanguard investment options
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 LineGood choice for ETF and mutual fund investors interested in Vanguard-sponsored investments... Read full reviewGood choice for beginning and advanced investors looking to invest in ETFs and mutual funds or investors that require extensive research... Read full review

Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the product website for details.

Vanguard: Pricing information from published websites as of 10/17/2023.

Charles Schwab: Pricing information from published websites as of 02/29/2024.

Which is Better: Vanguard or Charles Schwab?

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

In short: Vanguard's mutual fund trading, commissions and fees, and ease of use are worth mentioning. In particular, the mutual fund trading and ease of use are impressive. Charles Schwab's stock trading and research are notable. In particular, the research is excellent.


Articles on Vanguard

Vanguard

Vanguard Brokerage may be a full-service broker, but typically long-term investors preferring ETFs and mutual funds see the greatest return on their investment with them.

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.

Which Do You Think is Best?


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About CreditDonkey
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