SoFi Invest vs Charles Schwab Comparison: Fees, Features, and More (2026)
SoFi Invest and Charles Schwab are two leading discount brokerages offering commission-free stock and ETF trading. Use this head-to-head comparison table to evaluate fees, features, trading tools, and account options to help you decide which broker is right for you in 2026.
| Feature | SoFi Invest | Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Website | https://www.sofi.com/invest/ | https://www.schwab.com/ |
| Broker Type | Discount (self-directed online brokerage + robo-advisor) | Full-service |
| Trading: Stock & ETF? | Yes | Yes |
| ETF & Stock commission | $0 commissions | $0 online (listed stocks/ETFs) |
| Fractional Shares? | Yes ($5 min on select stocks/ETFs) | Yes (most U.S.-listed stocks/ETFs, from $1) |
| Percent Allocations? | No | Yes (Personalized Portfolio Builder) |
| Crypto Trading? | Yes. SoFi Crypto offers 28 cryptocurrencies (as of May 2026); requires SoFi Checking & Savings. | Yes, via Schwab Crypto (BTC/ETH currently; not NY/LA/territories) |
| Crypto Fees | Tiered 1.90%/1.50%/1.25%/0.90% of trade value by monthly volume (<$1k/$1-5k/$5-10k/$10k+); possible ≤0.10% spread. | 0.75% of notional value (min $0.01) per buy/sell |
| Options Trading? | Yes. Options trading available (long calls/puts, covered calls, cash-secured puts; 0DTE and IRAs). | Yes |
| Options Fee | $0 commissions and $0 contract fees. Regulatory fees apply (e.g., ORF $0.02, OCC $0.025 per contract). | $0 online commission + $0.65 per contract |
| Bond Trading Available? | No. Individual bonds not offered; exposure via bond ETFs and mutual funds only. | Yes |
| Receives payment for order flow (PFOF)? | Yes. Receives payment-for-order-flow revenue share via Apex Clearing. | Yes (receives PFOF rebates) |
| Interface: Web trading? | Yes. Full trading on SoFi mobile app (iOS/Android) and sofi.com website. | Yes |
| Desktop trading? | No | Yes, thinkorswim desktop (Windows/Mac; free for brokerage clients) |
| API Trading? | No | Yes, Trader API (Individual) for self-directed retail accounts (orders, data; via developer.schwab.com) |
| Mutual Funds: Offered? | Yes | Yes |
| Total Mutual Funds | 6,800+ | ~14,500 from 600+ families (incl. 4,000+ NTF) |
| NTF Mutual Funds | 6,800 | 4,000+ (no-load via OneSource & others) |
| Non-NTF Fund Fee | 0.2% of purchase (max $20); 2% for interval/tender funds | Up to $74.95/buy online ($0 sell); some $49.95; 8.5% cap, <$100 exempt |
| Early Redemption Fee? | Yes (no SoFi short-term fee) | No; $49.95 Schwab fee on NTF funds held ≤90 days (some exemptions) |
| Redemption Hold (Days) | Fund-specific (CDSC varies by fund); no SoFi-imposed hold. | 90 days (NTF/OneSource funds; some Schwab Funds exempt) |
| Early Redemption Fee | Fund-specific CDSC (varies); SoFi charges none (purchase tx fee 0.2% max $20). | $49.95 online/automated phone; $49.95 + $25 broker-assisted |
| Accounts: Margin Accounts? | Yes (Self-Directed; apply, $2,000 min). | Yes ($2,000 min. cash or marginable securities) |
| IRAs Offered? | Yes: Traditional, Roth, and SEP IRAs. | Yes (Traditional, Roth, SEP, Rollover, Inherited, Custodial, SIMPLE) |
| HSAs Offered? | No | Yes (HSBA via participating HSA providers; no standalone Schwab HSA) |
| Money Market Sweep? | Yes (optional FDIC bank sweep via Apex). | Yes (Cash Features Program: Bank Sweep or Schwab One Interest) |
| CDs Offered? | No | Yes (brokered CDs via Schwab CD OneSource) |
| Robo-Advisor: Offered | Yes | Yes |
| Robo-Advisor Service | SoFi Automated Investing (Robo Investing) | Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® (Premium also offered) |
| Robo-Advisor Fees | 0.25% annual wrap/advisory fee plus fund expenses; $50 min. | $0 advisory (standard); $300 one-time + $30/mo (Premium); ETF OERs 0.02–0.15%. Mins $5k/$25k. |
| Basics: Headquarters | San Francisco, CA | Westlake, TX |
| Year Founded | 2011 | 1971 |
| Clearing Firm | Apex Clearing Corporation | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (self-clearing) |
| Local Branches? | No | Yes, more than 420 branches in 48 U.S. states |
| New Account Minimum | $0 | $0 |
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