TradeUP vs. Schwab
Points to know:
- Brokerage accounts can be opened at Charles Schwab and TradeUP.
- Only Schwab offers robo and other managed accounts.
- Both brokerage firms have desktop software.
If you’re looking for a new broker, Charles Schwab and TradeUP are worth considering. Here’s our comparison of the two firms:
Pricing
| Broker Fees |
Stock/ETF
Commission |
Mutual Fund
Commission |
Options
Commission |
Maintenance
Fee |
Annual IRA
Fee |
|
Charles Schwab
|
$0
|
$49.95 ($0 to sell)
|
$0.65 per contract
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
TradeUP
|
$0
|
na
|
na
|
$0
|
$0
|
Services
| Broker Review |
Cost |
Investment Products |
Trading Tools |
Customer Service |
Research |
Overall Rating |
|
Charles Schwab
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TradeUP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Promotions
Charles Schwab: $0 commissions + satisfaction guarantee at Charles Schwab.
TradeUP:
Get ACAT fee reimbursed with $3,000+ transfer at TradeUP.
Trading and Investing
Both Schwab and TradeUP allow self-directed trading in the following asset classes:
- Stocks, including OTC equities
- ETFs
- Closed-end funds
- Options
Schwab customers, but not TradeUP clients, can also trade futures, forex, mutual funds, bonds, and foreign stocks.
Schwab offers a wide range of investment advice, including robo and traditional managed accounts. Some advisory packages include financial planning, annuities, and insurance. TradeUP does not provide these services.
Schwab offers a variety of account types, including custodial, education, retirement, and trust accounts. TradeUP only offers individual and IRA accounts.
Winner: Schwab
Websites
Schwab’s website is packed with educational resources, such as materials on tax planning, options trading, fundamental analysis, and podcasts. TradeUP’s website, on the other hand, only offers a newsletter and a blog.
Schwab’s website includes charting and trading tools, along with a web-based platform called thinkorswim, which offers advanced trading and charting features. TradeUP’s site lacks trading capabilities but provides a browser-based platform with useful tools, such as:
- News articles from Bloomberg, Dow Jones, and others
- Economic calendar with dividends, earnings, and IPOs
- Heat maps for major U.S. indexes
- Trade ticket with market, limit, stop, and stop limit orders
- Price ladder with quick-order buttons
- Charts with indicators and drawing tools
- Paper-trading mode
thinkorswim also offers a simulated trading mode and advanced order types, such as OCO and 1st triggers all. It also includes a stock screener, which TradeUP’s platform lacks.
Winner: Schwab
Mobile Platforms
TradeUP’s mobile app offers demo trading with extra order types like iceberg and attached orders. The live trading ticket, however, only supports market, limit, stop, and stop limit orders.
TradeUP’s app includes around 35 technical studies for charting, along with drawing tools and horizontal chart rotation.
Schwab’s thinkorswim app offers over 400 technical studies and supports trading in futures, forex, stocks, ETFs, and options. The app includes live and paper trading modes with advanced order types.
Schwab also has a regular mobile app with educational resources, live Bloomberg streaming, and mobile check deposit, which TradeUP’s app lacks.
Winner: Schwab
Desktop Programs
Both firms offer desktop trading platforms. Schwab’s thinkorswim platform is highly advanced, featuring direct-access routing and an options scanner.
TradeUP’s desktop software includes strong security-research tools but falls short in its trade ticket functionality compared to thinkorswim.
Winner: Schwab
Margin Services
Both firms allow margin trading. TradeUP’s platforms display details like short initial margin requirements, while Schwab’s software only shows long maintenance requirements. Both support short positions and option spreads.
Schwab’s margin rates range from 12.575% to 10.825% (with negotiated rates above $500k). TradeUP charges a flat rate of 5.99%.
Winner: TradeUP
Supplementary Features
IRA Lineups: TradeUP offers Roth, Traditional, and Rollover accounts. Schwab adds SEP, SIMPLE, Inherited, and Minor accounts.
Fractional-Share Trading: Schwab supports it for stocks. TradeUP supports it for stocks and ETFs.
Fully-Paid Stock Lending: Both firms offer it.
Systematic Mutual Fund Purchases: Only Schwab offers this.
Initial Public Offerings: Both firms provide IPO services.
DRIP Service: Schwab offers automatic dividend reinvestment. TradeUP does not.
Extended-hours Trading: Both firms offer it. Schwab also supports overnight trading in select securities and 24-hour trading in futures and forex.
Winner: Schwab
Recommendations
Mutual Funds: Schwab is the clear choice.
Active Stock Trading: Schwab’s thinkorswim and foreign stock offerings give it the edge.
Small Investors: Neither firm requires a minimum balance for brokerage accounts. Schwab requires $5,000 for managed accounts, so we recommend Webull Smart Advisor for small investors.
Long-Term Investors and Retirement Savers: Schwab offers branch locations, retirement education, estate planning, and financial advisors.
Beginners: A Schwab advisory account with a human financial planner is a great starting point.
Summary
TradeUP is a strong choice for margin trading, but Schwab outperforms in most other areas.
Updated on 5/30/2025.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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