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.
When comparing AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct for investment options, both platforms cover a wide range of choices. They both offer share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, making them solid options for various types of investors. However, neither platform provides crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, which might be important for those seeking such asset classes.
One key distinction lies in advisor services; while Charles Stanley Direct provides them, AJ Bell does not, potentially appealing to those needing expert guidance. Both brokers have received a five-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting their extensive offerings. AJ Bell ranks slightly higher at #5 compared to Charles Stanley Direct's #6 out of 18 brokers, suggesting a slight edge in investment choice variety according to industry rankings.
| 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 of AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct, AJ Bell stands out with its capability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts—an option missing from Charles Stanley Direct. Additionally, AJ Bell leads in customization with eight drawing tools compared to Charles Stanley Direct’s single offering, and it supports 31 technical indicators for charting, while Charles Stanley Direct provides 14. Both platforms enable users to add index and stock overlays to charts, allowing for a comprehensive market analysis.
Both AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct offer browser-based trading platforms with real-time market data, ensuring that investors have up-to-date information. Users of each platform can set alerts for stock price updates, keeping them informed of market movements. However, neither service allows the addition of notes directly to charts, a feature that could enhance user experience. Overall, AJ Bell offers a more detailed set of tools for investors keen on extensive technical analysis.
| 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 options available through AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct, both brokers in the UK offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). This means that investors seeking to grow their savings tax-efficiently or manage their pensions with flexibility have the advantage of choosing either AJ Bell or Charles Stanley Direct, depending on their specific needs and preferences. With both options providing these popular retirement accounts, UK investors can find a suitable match for their financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
If you're choosing between AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct in the UK for an online broker that offers a mobile app experience, here are some key points to consider. Both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring broad accessibility. AJ Bell's mobile app earns a commendable rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, alongside an impressive rank of 9th out of 18 brokers for its mobile app features. In comparison, Charles Stanley Direct's app garners a 3.5-star rating and is positioned at 20th in the same ranking. This makes AJ Bell a more favorable choice for those prioritizing mobile app performance.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors seeking education, AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct offer a range of resources. AJ Bell stands out by providing live educational webinars and making them available on demand, a feature Charles Stanley Direct lacks in terms of live sessions. Both brokers provide educational content on share trading, funds, and retirement. AJ Bell, however, receives a higher rating for beginner education, with 5 stars and a ranking of 5th among 18 brokers, whereas Charles Stanley Direct earns 4.5 stars and ranks 12th. This suggests AJ Bell offers slightly more comprehensive resources for novice investors.
| 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 reports for funds, shares, and ETFs, providing investors with a wealth of information to make informed decisions. Both brokers also enable users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, helping them manage and balance their investments effectively. However, a key difference lies in the availability of bonds research; AJ Bell provides this feature, while Charles Stanley Direct does not. Neither platform offers research for CFDs, catering more to traditional investment preferences. These similarities and distinct features help UK investors choose the platform that best suits their research needs.
| 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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