optionsXpress

Online Retail Brokerageoptionsxpress.com

optionsXpress is a Chicago-based online brokerage firm founded in 2000 and now a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation, providing options, equities, and futures trading to U.S. retail and active-trader investors within the integrated Schwab platform.

Company typePublic
Founded1971
HeadquartersChicago, United States
Headcount251–500
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What optionsXpress does

optionsXpress is a Chicago-headquartered online brokerage firm founded in 2000, historically focused on options, equities, futures, and derivatives trading for retail and active-trader customers in the United States. The firm built a multi-asset electronic trading platform and, in May 2008, expanded its futures capabilities by acquiring Open E Cry. At its pre-acquisition scale it was sized at 251–500 employees and operated under the optionsXpress.com consumer brand.

optionsXpress was subsequently acquired by Charles Schwab and taken private — it is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) and is no longer separately listed on NASDAQ (former ticker: OXPS). Under the parent, the optionsXpress franchise has been integrated into Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., a Delaware-incorporated broker-dealer backed by a multi-channel distribution network that includes Schwab.com self-directed investing, the Schwab Mobile App (#1 in StockBrokers.com 2026 rankings), thinkorswim trading platforms (desktop, web, mobile) inherited from the 2019 TD Ameritrade acquisition, and a U.S. branch network supported by independent Schwab franchise branches.

The combined entity monetizes through a diversified revenue mix: $0 online equity trade commissions paired with interest income on client cash balances and margin lending, advisory and management fees on wealth-management and robo-advisor (Schwab Intelligent Portfolios) AUM, payment for order flow on routed trades, and banking revenue from Charles Schwab Bank, SSB (deposits and lending) and Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB (cryptocurrency at 0.75% with zero spread). Customer segmentation spans self-directed retail investors, active traders, retirement savers (Traditional, Roth, Rollover IRA), high-net-worth wealth-advisory clients, and small-business retirement-plan sponsors. Geographic reach is primarily U.S., with international offices in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom serving non-U.S. residents subject to country-specific restrictions.

optionsXpress firmographics

Firmographics

Name: optionsXpress
Legal name: Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Website: https://optionsxpress.com
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1971
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 251–500 employees
Short description: optionsXpress is a Chicago-based online brokerage firm founded in 2000 and now a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation, providing options, equities, and futures trading to U.S. retail and active-trader investors within the integrated Schwab platform.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

optionsXpress industry classification

Industry

Product category: Online Retail Brokerage
NAICS: Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150)
SIC: Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
akta.pro primary industry: Options Brokerage (FSAEACAI)

Keywords

Online brokerage
Options trading
Futures trading
Retail brokerage
Active trading

Where optionsXpress is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Chicago
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

optionsXpress business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Brokerage Commissions (Equities): Equity trade commissions; currently offered at $0 online, representing a shift from traditional commission-based model to interest and fee-based revenue
Interest Income: Interest earned on client cash balances, margin lending, and fixed income investments held in client accounts
Advisory and Management Fees: Fees from managed accounts including Schwab Wealth Advisory, Intelligent Portfolios, and Personal Trust Services
Payment for Order Flow: Revenue from routing client orders to various market makers and exchanges
Banking Services: Revenue from Charles Schwab Bank including deposit products, lending, and credit cards

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Transaction based/ take rate	Pay-as-you-go	Self-Directed Brokerage - $0 Online Equity Trades
Subscription	Monthly	Schwab Intelligent Portfolios - Automated Investing
Subscription	Annual	Schwab Wealth Advisory
Usage-based	Pay-as-you-go	Schwab Crypto - Cryptocurrency Trading
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Fractional Shares (Schwab Stock Slices)

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

optionsXpress product offering

Product offering

Core offering

optionsXpress is an online brokerage firm founded in 2000 and now owned by Charles Schwab. It provides retail brokerage and trading services, historically focused on options and futures trading for active self-directed investors. Following its integration into Charles Schwab, optionsXpress clients access Schwab's multi-platform trading ecosystem, including thinkorswim and Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade platforms.

Product overview

Charles Schwab offers a comprehensive, multi-platform financial services ecosystem. The core offerings center on brokerage accounts (individual, joint, and retirement accounts including Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and Rollover IRA) with $0 online equity trade commissions. Trading capabilities are delivered through two primary platforms: Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade and the advanced thinkorswim Trading Platforms (desktop, web, and mobile). Wealth management solutions include Schwab Wealth Advisory for dedicated advisor access and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios for automated investing. The company has expanded into cryptocurrency trading with Schwab Crypto (Bitcoin and Ethereum at 0.75% fee), and offers specialized products like Schwab Stock Slices for fractional shares, Schwab Personalized Indexing for direct indexing, and Alternative Investments for qualified investors. Banking services include checking, savings, credit cards (via American Express partnership), and home loans. All services are accessible through web platforms, the Schwab Mobile App, and dedicated trading platforms, with the company recently winning StockBrokers.com 2026 awards for #1 Overall Brokerage, #1 Mobile Apps, and #1 Customer Service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

thinkorswim: Advanced trading platforms for active traders, formerly part of TD Ameritrade
Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade
Schwab Crypto
Schwab Network
Schwab Starter Kit
Schwab Personalized Indexing
Schwab Wealth Advisory
Intelligent Portfolios
Schwab Investing Themes
Schwab Personal Trust Services
Schwab Stock Slices
Schwab Funds
Schwab ETFs
Schwab Advisor Services
Schwab Franchise
Schwab Workplace Services
Charles Schwab Media Productions Company

Products and services

Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade
thinkorswim Trading Platforms
Brokerage Accounts
Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
Schwab Stock Slices
Schwab Crypto
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios
Schwab Mobile App
Schwab Wealth Advisory
Alternative Investments

Quantifiable outcome

$0 online equity trade commissions
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use optionsXpress

Customer profile

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

optionsXpress technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

optionsXpress partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

American ExpressminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 July 2026Partnership for co-branded Charles Schwab credit cards. American Express issues The Charles Schwab Cards offering welcome bonuses with Statement Credits or Membership Rewards points. Limited time welcome offers available for new cardholders.
TD Ameritrade (Platform Integration)coreTechnology or IntegrationFollowing Schwab's acquisition of TD Ameritrade, the platforms have been integrated. Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade and thinkorswim platforms are now part of Schwab's offering. Client accounts and operations have been consolidated.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

optionsXpress competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

TD Ameritrade: Historic direct peer now integrated into Charles Schwab; operated the thinkorswim platform that is directly comparable to optionsXpress's options and futures offerings.
Webull: Digital-first retail broker offering options, futures, and equities trading on a zero-commission model with advanced mobile charting — a comparable online options-focused brokerage.
tastytrade: Options-focused retail brokerage and content network offering multi-leg options trading, futures, and equities to self-directed active traders — directly comparable to optionsXpress's core niche in retail options execution.
E*TRADE (Morgan Stanley): Large online retail brokerage offering options chains, Power E*TRADE platform, and integrated banking — a direct peer in online options and multi-asset retail brokerage.
TradeStation: Online broker targeting active traders with advanced charting, options analytics, and direct market access across equities, options, and futures — competing head-to-head for the same optionsXpress-style active-trader audience.
Interactive Brokers: Global online broker serving active and professional traders with deep options and futures capabilities, sophisticated order routing, and low-cost execution — overlapping strongly with optionsXpress's options and futures product set.
Robinhood: Commission-free mobile-first retail brokerage with growing options and futures products — competing for the same self-directed retail traders as optionsXpress.
Ally Invest: Online retail brokerage providing options and equities trading integrated with Ally's banking franchise — a comparable self-directed retail broker competing on price and platform.

Broad incumbents

Charles Schwab: Parent company and incumbent multi-asset brokerage; the broader Charles Schwab franchise (including thinkorswim and Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade) competes with and now subsumes optionsXpress's offerings.
Fidelity Investments: Large incumbent brokerage offering Active Trader Pro, full options and futures chains, and integrated retirement products — competes with optionsXpress across active trading and the broader brokerage spectrum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

optionsXpress financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

optionsXpress leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

optionsXpress subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries8 records

optionsXpress funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

optionsXpress M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about optionsXpress

What does optionsXpress do?

Is optionsXpress a public or private company?

optionsXpress is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.

When was optionsXpress founded?

optionsXpress was founded in 1971. It employs 251 to 500 people.

Where is optionsXpress based?

optionsXpress is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.

How does optionsXpress make money?

Five revenue lines are on record. Brokerage Commissions (Equities) is the primary driver. The others are interest Income, advisory and Management Fees, payment for Order Flow and banking Services.

Who are optionsXpress's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are TD Ameritrade, Webull, tastytrade, E*TRADE (Morgan Stanley), TradeStation, Interactive Brokers, Robinhood and Ally Invest. Broad incumbents are Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments.

Does optionsXpress have an API?

No public API is recorded for optionsXpress.

What industry is optionsXpress in?

optionsXpress's product category is Online Retail Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEACAI, Options Brokerage. Its NAICS code is 523150 and its SIC code is 6211.