VaultRubric
Schwab vs Vanguard
Schwab and Vanguard are both popular brokerages. Here are the sourced facts side by side, then VaultRubric's equal-weight score with the math shown. Every value links to its source with an as-of date; anything we couldn't verify says not found.
Rates change often — verify on the bank's or broker's site before opening an account. Every value shows its as-of date; ⚑ marks figures from third-party sites. Not financial advice.
Run your own comparison →Opens the tool with these platforms filled in, so you can change the weights.
Key facts compared
| Fact | Schwab | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock/ETF commission | $0 src · 2026-10-10 | $0 src · 2026-10-10 |
| Options (per contract) | $0.65 src · 2026-10-10 | $1.0 src · 2026-10-10 |
| Account minimum | $0 src · 2026-10-10 | not found |
| IRA types | Traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP, SIMPLE src · 2026-10-10 | Traditional, Rollover, Roth, SEP, Custodial src · 2026-10-10 |
| IRA match | None ⚑ third-party source src · 2026-10-10 | None advertised src · 2026-10-10 |
| Transfer-out fee | $50 ⚑ third-party source src · 2026-08-03 | $100 src · 2026-10-10 |
| SIPC member | Yes src · 2026-10-10 | Yes src · 2026-10-10 |
| FINRA CRD | CRD 5393 src · 2026-10-10 | CRD 7452 src · 2026-10-10 |
| Regulatory actions (5 yrs) | 2022-06-13 SEC: ~$187M for misleading robo-adviser (Intelligent Portfolios) clients about hidden cash fees src | 2025-01-17 SEC: $106.41M re target-date fund capital gains disclosures src |
VaultRubric verdict
VaultRubric pick: Charles Schwab
⚠ Charles Schwab: Regulatory: SEC: ~$187M for misleading robo-adviser (Intelligent Portfolios) clients about hidden cash fees (2022-06-13)
⚠ Vanguard: Regulatory: SEC: $106.41M re target-date fund capital gains disclosures (2025-01-17)
| Criterion (weight) | Charles Schwab | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Trading costs (17%) | 7.4/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Account minimum (17%) | 10.0/10 | not found |
| IRA options (17%) | 8.0/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Transfer-out fee (17%) | 8.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Protection (SIPC) (17%) | 8.0/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Regulatory record (17%) | 8.0/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Overall | 82.3% coverage 100% | 72.0% coverage 83% |
Show math: Charles Schwab
0.167×7.4 + 0.167×10.0 + 0.167×8.0 + 0.167×8.0 + 0.167×8.0 + 0.167×8.0 = 8.23; ÷ covered weight 1.000 = 8.23/10 → 82.3%Show math: Vanguard
0.167×6.0 + 0.167×8.0 + 0.167×6.0 + 0.167×8.0 + 0.167×8.0 = 6.00; ÷ covered weight 0.833 = 7.20/10 → 72.0%Opens the tool with these platforms filled in, so you can change the weights.
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FAQ
Is Schwab or Vanguard better?
On VaultRubric's equal-weight rubric, Schwab scores higher (82.3% for Schwab, 72.0% for Vanguard). Change the weights in the tool to match your priorities.
Which is cheaper for options, Schwab or Vanguard?
Per-contract options fee in our data: Schwab 0.65, Vanguard 1.0. Stock/ETF commissions: 0 vs 0.
Has Schwab faced regulatory action recently?
Our data lists: 2022-06-13 SEC: ~$187M for misleading robo-adviser (Intelligent Portfolios) clients about hidden cash fees.
Has Vanguard faced regulatory action recently?
Our data lists: 2025-01-17 SEC: $106.41M re target-date fund capital gains disclosures.
How does VaultRubric score these?
Only from our curated dataset (official pages, regulators, and flagged third-party sites), with fixed formulas shown in “Show math”. No AI or live scraping, so the same comparison always gives the same result. Not financial advice.