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, both online brokers in the UK provide a range of investment options that cater to diverse investor needs. Investors can trade shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts with either platform. However, those looking to trade cryptocurrencies, engage in spread betting, or invest via contract for difference (CFD) trading will find neither broker offers these services. AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct both provide highly rated investment choices, each receiving a five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. Nevertheless, AJ Bell is ranked slightly higher, securing the 5th position out of 21 brokers, compared to Charles Stanley Direct's 6th place.
While both platforms offer robust options for traditional investments, there are differences in additional services. Notably, Charles Stanley Direct offers advisor services, providing expert guidance for those who seek it, whereas AJ Bell does not offer such support. Despite these variances, both brokers maintain a strong reputation in investment offerings, making them competitive choices for UK investors seeking comprehensive online brokerage services.
| 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android users. However, AJ Bell stands out with a higher user satisfaction, receiving a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Charles Stanley Direct follows with a 3.5-star rating. In terms of overall rankings for mobile apps among 21 brokers, AJ Bell holds a respectable 9th position, significantly ahead of Charles Stanley Direct, which is placed at 20th. This suggests that AJ Bell users generally experience a more favorable mobile app performance compared to those using Charles Stanley Direct.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, AJ Bell and Charles Stanley Direct both provide valuable support. AJ Bell shines with its educational client webinars, which are available both live and archived for on-demand viewing, a feature that Charles Stanley Direct lacks in live format. Both brokers offer education on share trading, funds, and retirement topics, meeting the needs of novice investors. However, AJ Bell tops the charts with a 5-star rating and a notable 5th place ranking out of 21 brokers for beginner education as per UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to Charles Stanley Direct's respectable 4.5 stars and 12th place ranking. This makes AJ Bell a slightly more attractive option for those prioritizing educational support.
| 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 |
|
|
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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