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XS vs Charles Schwab for US stocks
Charles Schwab gives you the actual share; XS gives leveraged exposure to the price without ownership. That is not a preference — it is a different product, with different tax, dividend and risk treatment.
Pick XS if non-US residents who want a wide US share-CFD list on MetaTrader 4 or 5. Pick Charles Schwab if US residents.
CFD — no ownershipA multi-asset CFD broker, not a US stockbroker. It is on this site because it gives non-US traders leveraged exposure to several hundred US share prices with no minimum deposit.
Visit XSA full-service US brokerage; thinkorswim gives it a genuinely strong active-trading platform.
Visit Charles SchwabSide by side
| XS | Charles Schwab | |
|---|---|---|
| What you hold | A CFD on the price | The share |
| US stock access | 550+ US share CFDs | Full US listed market |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Fractional shares | n/a | Yes |
| Published pricing | US share CFDs on the Standard account trade on a floating spread with no separate commission; swaps apply to positions held overnight and are tripled on Fridays. | $0 online commission on US listed stocks and ETFs. |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, XS Trading App | Schwab.com, thinkorswim desktop, thinkorswim mobile |
| Extended hours | Regular US session only, per its published trading hours | Pre-market and after-hours sessions supported |
| Regulation | ASIC 374409, CySEC 412/22, FSCA 53199, CMA 20200000339, FSA SD089, LFSA MB/21/0081, FSC GB25204786 | SEC SIPC member |
| Founded | 2010 | 1971 |
Where each one wins
XS
- Non-US residents who want a wide US share-CFD list on MetaTrader 4 or 5
- Starting with no minimum deposit on the Standard account
- Traders who want an entity licensed in the UAE, South Africa or Labuan
- CFDs are leveraged: you do not own the share, get no shareholder rights, and can lose all your capital
- XS says its website is not directed at residents of the United States, the European Union, Australia or Japan
- Which XS entity holds your account depends on where you live, and investor protection differs by entity — confirm it before depositing
- Dividends arrive as cash adjustments on open CFD positions, not as shareholder dividends
Charles Schwab
- US residents
- Long-term investors who want research and banking in one place
- Options traders via thinkorswim
- International account availability is limited and varies by country
Frequently asked questions
XS or Charles Schwab — which is better for US stocks?
Charles Schwab gives you the actual share; XS gives leveraged exposure to the price without ownership. That is not a preference — it is a different product, with different tax, dividend and risk treatment. XS: non-US residents who want a wide US share-CFD list on MetaTrader 4 or 5. Charles Schwab: US residents.
Which is cheaper?
XS: US share CFDs on the Standard account trade on a floating spread with no separate commission; swaps apply to positions held overnight and are tripled on Fridays. Charles Schwab: $0 online commission on US listed stocks and ETFs. Both figures are restated from each broker's own pricing page; for small non-USD accounts, currency conversion usually costs more than commission does.
Which is better regulated?
XS is authorised by ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, CMA, FSA, LFSA, FSC; Charles Schwab by SEC. What matters is which entity holds your account, since that determines your compensation scheme and leverage limits.
Reviewed October 2026. Figures restated from each broker's published pages.