Charles Schwab vs Plus500: licences compared

Side-by-side view of each broker's licences, regulator tiers and key facts. Remember that protection depends on which entity holds your account.

AttributeCharles SchwabPlus500
Licence Score65Strong92Very strong
Strongest licence 1 Tier 1 1 Tier 1
Licences on record110
1 FCA United Kingdom —Licensed · FRN 509909
1 ASIC Australia —Licensed
1 CFTC / NFA United States LicensedLicensed
1 MAS Singapore —Licensed
2 CySEC Cyprus —Licensed
2 FSCA South Africa —Licensed
2 DFSA United Arab Emirates —Licensed
2 FMA (NZ) New Zealand —Licensed
2 EFSA Estonia —Licensed
4 FSA (Seychelles) Seychelles —Licensed
Founded19712008
HeadquartersUnited StatesIsrael
TypeMulti-asset brokerForex & CFD broker
Publicly listedNYSE:SCHWLSE:PLUS
PlatformsProprietaryProprietary
Minimum depositNo minimumUS$100
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Frequently asked questions

Is Charles Schwab or Plus500 better regulated?

Plus500 has the higher Licence Score (92 vs 65), based on the number and tier of licences, operating history and public listing.

Which regulators license both Charles Schwab and Plus500?

Both are matched to licences from CFTC / NFA.

Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged forex are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Consider whether you understand how they work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Read more.