Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AJ Bell vs Charles Stanley Direct, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, AJ Bell offers better pricing than Charles Stanley Direct for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £100 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £57.50 per year.
12 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £135 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year.
36 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £255 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year.
120 trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £495 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year.
3 fund trades per year - AJ Bell would cost £0 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £0 per year.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct both offer a robust selection of investment choices for those interested in navigating the financial markets. With options for share trading, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and funds trading, both brokers provide a comprehensive platform for investors. Additionally, they allow trading of corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, making them well-suited for those seeking diversified portfolios. However, neither AJ Bell nor Charles Stanley Direct currently support crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading.
While both brokers receive top marks from UK.StockBrokers.com with a five-star rating for their investment choices, AJ Bell stands out as the third-ranked option among 18 brokers evaluated. Charles Stanley Direct, although highly rated, does not have a specific ranking in this list. Furthermore, Charles Stanley Direct sets itself apart by offering advisory services, providing extra support for investors seeking more guidance in managing their investments.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools offered by AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct, AJ Bell stands out with a more comprehensive range of charting features. AJ Bell allows users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts, a capability not available with Charles Stanley Direct. Additionally, AJ Bell offers a broader assortment of drawing tools, with eight options compared to just one on Charles Stanley Direct. In terms of technical indicators, AJ Bell provides 31 options, far surpassing Charles Stanley Direct's 14.
Both trading platforms offer useful features like index and stock overlays on charts, browser-based trading platforms, and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, all while supplying real-time market data. However, neither broker allows users to add notes to charts. These common offerings ensure real-time connectivity and customization flexibility, appealing to a wide range of traders. Choosing between the two may come down to how much importance you place on the advanced charting tools that AJ Bell offers.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing the retirement account offerings of online brokers AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct, both provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them attractive options for those looking to invest in tax-efficient savings and retirement plans. AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct both support ISAs for accessible, tax-free saving, as well as providing SIPPs for more flexible, self-managed pension investment opportunities. This ensures that whether you're aiming to grow your savings in the short term with an ISA or planning for long-term retirement with a SIPP, both platforms offer the necessary tools to meet your financial goals with ease.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of online brokers AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct, both provide apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility for a broad audience. However, there is a distinction in user satisfaction and rankings. AJ Bell's mobile app is rated 4 out of 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, positioning it as the third best among 18 brokers evaluated, highlighting its superior performance and user experience. Conversely, Charles Stanley Direct's app receives a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars, and it is not ranked among the top brokers, suggesting room for improvement. For those valuing a reliable and highly rated mobile trading experience, AJ Bell appears to be the more favorable choice.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct for their educational resources targeted at beginner investors, AJ Bell shines with more comprehensive offerings. AJ Bell not only provides live educational webinars but also archives them for on-demand viewing, whereas Charles Stanley Direct does not hold live webinars but does offer archived versions. Both platforms cover essential investment topics like share trading, funds, and retirement. However, AJ Bell stands out with a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 3rd out of 18 brokers, while Charles Stanley Direct holds a 4.5-star rating with no specific ranking. For beginners eager to learn through webinars and comprehensive content, AJ Bell might be the better choice.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct, both offer comprehensive options for investors. Each provides research reports for funds and insight into portfolio allocation by asset class, catering to investors seeking a well-rounded understanding of their investments. Both platforms also deliver extensive research on shares, ETFs, and funds, ensuring users have access to valuable data across different investment types. However, while neither broker offers research on CFDs, AJ Bell stands out by offering research on bonds, a feature not available with Charles Stanley Direct. This makes AJ Bell a stronger contender for those interested in bond investments.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, AJ Bell or Charles Stanley Direct? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found AJ Bell to be a better trading platform overall.
You can invest in an extensive range of investments through AJ Bell. Charges are on the high side for those with large portfolios in mutual funds and those looking to execute one-off share deals; but its new app, called Dodl, offers much lower fees and also offers a more slim-lined and user-friendly service. Educational and research materials are strong, too.
| Feature |
AJ Bell
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Charles Stanley Direct
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When comparing online brokers AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct, neither platform offers crypto trading options for investors.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AJ Bell | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | AJ Bell | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | AJ Bell | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £5 | £0 - £10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £10 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.50 | £10 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £100 | £57.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £138 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £255 | £414 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £495 | £1,380 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.50 | £90 - £102 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 - £625 | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £625 - £875 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £875 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £875 | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £5 | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £5 | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5 | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5 | £10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £25 minimum |
| Broker Screenshots | AJ Bell | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | AJ Bell | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 31 | 14 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 1 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AJ Bell | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AJ Bell | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | AJ Bell | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | AJ Bell Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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