# Charles Schwab Alternatives: Best Trading Platforms in 2026 > Comparing Charles Schwab alternatives by fees, custody, trading hours and market coverage: Liquid, Interactive Brokers, Fidelity, Webull and Schwab. - Canonical: https://www.liquid.trade/learn/schwab-alternatives - Published: 2026-09-24 - Updated: 2026-09-24 - Category: Education - Tags: Guide, Perps, Beginner --- ## The short answer The best Charles Schwab alternatives in 2026 are **Liquid** for 24/7, non-custodial, multi-asset trading with up to 50x multipliers; **Interactive Brokers** for global market access and low commissions; **Fidelity** for full-service brokerage and retirement accounts; and **Webull** for commission-free stocks with 24/5 overnight sessions. Schwab still suits investors who want a full-service broker. ## Why traders look beyond Charles Schwab - **No weekend trading.** Schwab's extended + overnight (EXTO) session runs 24 hours a day, each market day, five days a week — markets still close for the weekend. [Schwab extended hours](https://www.schwab.com/stocks/extended-hours-trading) (accessed 2026-09-24). - **Overnight access is limited.** 24/5 overnight trading covers select securities — all S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow 30 stocks plus 600+ ETFs — and is available only on thinkorswim platforms. [Schwab extended hours](https://www.schwab.com/stocks/extended-hours-trading) (accessed 2026-09-24). - **Extended-hours orders are constrained.** Only limit orders are accepted in extended sessions, and Schwab notes lower liquidity, wider spreads, uncertain prices, and no guarantee of execution. [Schwab extended hours](https://www.schwab.com/stocks/extended-hours-trading) (accessed 2026-09-24). - **Options and futures cost per contract.** Online stock and ETF trades are $0, but options carry a $0.65 per-contract fee and futures $2.25 per contract; broker-assisted trades add a $25 service charge. [Schwab pricing](https://www.schwab.com/pricing) (accessed 2026-09-24). - **OTC and foreign equities cost extra.** Over-the-counter equities are $6.95 per online trade, and foreign stock transactions placed on the U.S. OTC market add a $50 foreign transaction fee. [Schwab pricing](https://www.schwab.com/pricing) (accessed 2026-09-24). - **Custodial model.** As a full-service broker, Schwab holds client assets in brokerage accounts rather than letting you self-custody. [Schwab pricing](https://www.schwab.com/pricing) (accessed 2026-09-24). ## Compare Charles Schwab alternatives at a glance | Platform | Custody | Trading hours | Max multiplier | Asset classes | AI assistant | Best for | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | **Liquid** | **Non-custodial** | **24/7 incl. weekends** | **Up to 50x** | Stocks, pre-IPO, commodities, FX, indices, crypto — as perps | Yes (Co-Invest) | 24/7 multi-asset perps + AI | | **Interactive Brokers** | Custodial | Extended 04:00–20:00 ET; no weekends | Margin (varies) | Global stocks, options, futures, FX, bonds, funds | No | Global access, low cost | | **Fidelity** | Custodial | Premarket + after-hours ECN; no weekends | Margin (varies) | Stocks, ETFs, options, funds, bonds | No | Full-service + retirement | | **Webull** | Custodial | 24/5 overnight (select); no weekends | Margin (varies) | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures | Yes (Agentic) | Charting + overnight | | **Charles Schwab** | Custodial | 24/5 overnight on thinkorswim (select); no weekends | Margin (varies) | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, funds, bonds, FX | No | Full-service + thinkorswim | ## Fees compared Fees differ by product, so we show every platform's published schedule in the **same format**: headline rate, structure, and other costs. Where a platform charges a single flat rate, we say so. Compare like-for-like — a stock commission and a perpetual-contract fee are not the same product. | Platform | Product basis | Headline rate | Structure | Other costs | |---|---|---|---|---| | **Liquid** | Perps & spot | Perps 0.095% taker / 0.065% maker (Tier 0); spot 0.070% / 0.040% | Tiered by 14-day weighted volume; maker rebates paid continuously | Funding on perps; spreads | | **Interactive Brokers** | Stocks/ETFs/options | $0 (Lite); $0.0005–$0.0035/share (Pro Tiered) or $0.005 fixed; options $0.15–$0.65/contract | Tiered or fixed | Regulatory, exchange, and clearing fees; market data | | **Fidelity** | Stocks/ETFs/options | $0 online; options $0.65/contract | Flat — no tiers | Margin interest; regulatory fees; $50 foreign settlement | | **Webull** | Stocks/ETFs/options | $0; index options from $0.50/contract | Flat — no tiers | Regulatory pass-throughs; $75 outgoing transfer | | **Charles Schwab** | Stocks/ETFs/options | $0 online; options $0.65/contract | Flat — no tiers | Futures $2.25/contract; OTC $6.95; $25 broker-assisted | **Full published schedules:** [Liquid](/learn/perpetual-futures-fees) · [Interactive Brokers](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/pricing/commissions-home.php) · [Fidelity](https://www.fidelity.com/trading/commissions) · [Webull](https://www.webull.com/pricing) · [Charles Schwab](https://www.schwab.com/pricing) --- ## 1. Liquid **Overview:** AI-native, non-custodial platform for perpetual contracts across stocks, pre-IPO companies, commodities, FX, indices, and crypto — 300+ markets in one account, up to 50x multipliers, instant settlement, and [Co-Invest](/coinvest), an AI assistant in Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Meta Muse, and iMessage. **Best for:** Traders who want to trade the same markets 24/7 — including weekends — with leverage, without handing custody to a broker, and with an AI assistant for research. **Fees:** Perps all-in 0.095% taker / 0.065% maker at Tier 0; spot 0.070% / 0.040%; tiered by rolling 14-day weighted volume; maker rebates paid continuously. [Fee guide](/learn/perpetual-futures-fees). **Custody:** Non-custodial — funds stay in your wallet and trades settle on-chain; smart contracts are independently [audited](/audits). [Security docs](https://docs.liquid.trade/security). Smart-contract, protocol, oracle, liquidity, front-end, self-custody, and jurisdictional risks still apply. **Trading hours:** 24/7 across listed markets, including weekends and holidays. Liquidity, spreads, and reference pricing can differ when the underlying market is closed. **Limitations:** No fiat custody (by design). Available markets, features, and eligibility vary by jurisdiction. Perpetual contracts are derivatives and do not confer share ownership. Additional features include copy trading, integrated news, and vaults/staking (Earn). --- ## 2. Interactive Brokers **Overview:** A global brokerage known for low commissions, broad market access, and professional-grade tools. **Best for:** Active and international traders who need global exchanges, options, futures, and FX in one account. **Fees:** $0 (IBKR Lite, eligible US residents) or $0.0005–$0.0035/share (Pro Tiered) / $0.005 fixed; options $0.15–$0.65/contract. [IBKR pricing](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/pricing/commissions-home.php). **Custody:** Custodial. **Trading hours:** Extended sessions from 04:00 to 20:00 ET on eligible US stocks and ETFs; no weekend session. **Limitations:** Custodial. Complex interface for beginners. Outside-regular-hours access has program rules and eligibility limits, and it does not run on weekends. --- ## 3. Fidelity **Overview:** A full-service brokerage with $0 online commissions, a strong retirement offering, and margin rates as low as 7.75%. **Best for:** Long-term investors and retirement accounts that also want options and extended-hours trading. **Fees:** $0 online for US stocks and ETFs; options $0.65/contract. [Fidelity commissions](https://www.fidelity.com/trading/commissions). **Custody:** Custodial. **Trading hours:** Premarket and after-hours ECN sessions (7:30–9:15 a.m. and 4–8 p.m. ET) on eligible securities; limit orders only; no weekend session. [Fidelity extended hours](https://www.fidelity.com/webxpress/help/topics/help_notes_ecn.shtml). **Limitations:** Custodial. No 24/7 weekend access. Extended-hours trading uses ECN limit orders with per-order size limits, and there is no 24/5 overnight session. --- ## 4. Webull **Overview:** A commission-free brokerage aimed at more technical retail traders, with strong charting and overnight sessions. **Best for:** Traders who want advanced charts and 24/5 overnight trading without commissions. **Fees:** $0 commissions on US-listed stocks, ETFs, and options; index options from $0.50/contract; $75 outgoing stock transfer. [Webull pricing](https://www.webull.com/pricing). **Custody:** Custodial (cleared through Apex). **Trading hours:** Premarket 4–9:30 a.m. ET, after-hours 4–8 p.m. ET, overnight 8 p.m.–4 a.m. ET Sun–Thu (24/5, select securities). [Webull overnight trading](https://www.webull.com/help/faq/10988-All-about-24-5-trading). **Limitations:** Custodial. Overnight is 24/5, not weekends. Overnight sessions accept limit orders only; shorting and margin are not available overnight; coverage varies by account and jurisdiction. --- ## How we evaluated these platforms We compared platforms on fees, custody, trading hours, asset coverage, and account fit for traders considering a move from Charles Schwab. Fees use each platform's published schedule, shown in a uniform format. Data is from platform documentation, cited inline; verified 2026-09-24. We did not independently test execution quality or liquidity. ## Verdict If you want **self-custody, 24/7 multi-asset markets, and AI-assisted trading**, choose **Liquid**. Move to an alternative if you need weekend trading, leverage, non-custodial control, or multi-asset coverage: Liquid covers all of these with 24/7 perpetual markets and up to 50x multipliers. For global access and low commissions, choose **Interactive Brokers**; for full-service brokerage and retirement, **Fidelity**; for commission-free trading with overnight sessions, **Webull**. Stay with Charles Schwab if you want a full-service broker with thinkorswim, in-person branches, and direct share ownership with fiat custody. ## About the author Franklyn Wang is the CEO & Founder of Liquid, an AI-native, non-custodial trading platform. [X](https://x.com/frank_liquid) · [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/franklyn-wang) ## Sources & further reading - [Schwab pricing](https://www.schwab.com/pricing) — Charles Schwab, accessed 2026-09-24 - [Schwab extended hours trading](https://www.schwab.com/stocks/extended-hours-trading) — Charles Schwab, accessed 2026-09-24 - [Interactive Brokers commissions](https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/pricing/commissions-home.php) — IBKR, accessed 2026-09-24 - [Fidelity commissions](https://www.fidelity.com/trading/commissions) — Fidelity, accessed 2026-09-24 - [Fidelity extended hours trading](https://www.fidelity.com/webxpress/help/topics/help_notes_ecn.shtml) — Fidelity, accessed 2026-09-24 - [Webull pricing](https://www.webull.com/pricing) — Webull, accessed 2026-09-24 - [Webull Agentic AI](https://www.webull.com/agentic) — accessed 2026-09-24 - [Webull overnight trading](https://www.webull.com/help/faq/10988-All-about-24-5-trading) — Webull, accessed 2026-09-24 - [Liquid fee documentation](https://docs.liquid.trade/trading/fees) — Liquid, accessed 2026-09-24 - [Liquid security documentation](https://docs.liquid.trade/security) — Liquid, accessed 2026-09-24 - Related: [Where can I trade stocks 24/7?](/learn/where-to-trade-stocks-24-7) · [Which leverage trading platforms are non-custodial?](/learn/non-custodial-leverage-trading-platforms)