Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Bestinvest vs Charles Stanley Direct, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
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, Bestinvest 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 - Bestinvest would cost £144.75 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £57.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £119.40 - £179.40 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year.
36 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £238.20 - £357.60 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year.
120 trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £654 - £714 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Bestinvest would cost £50 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.
Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct both offer strong options for UK investors seeking diverse investment opportunities. Both platforms enable share trading, ETF trading, funds trading, and investment trusts trading. Additionally, they offer advisor services to assist with investment strategies. A notable difference is in bond trading; while Charles Stanley Direct facilitates trading in both corporate and government bonds (gilts), Bestinvest does not provide these options.
When evaluated by UK.StockBrokers.com, Charles Stanley Direct holds a higher investment choices rating of 5 stars, compared to Bestinvest’s 4.5 stars. This higher rating reflects Charles Stanley Direct’s broader selection, demonstrated by their ranking at #6 out of 21 brokers for investment choices, surpassing Bestinvest, which holds the #10 position. Whether you prioritize ratings, bond trading, or broad support, both platforms offer compelling options for investors navigating the UK market.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | 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 available from Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct, several differences stand out. Bestinvest allows users to display an array of corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, offering a more detailed view of stock performance. In terms of charting tools, Bestinvest provides users with a choice of nine drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, making it a versatile platform for technical analysis. Additionally, users can enhance their trading experience by adding notes and stock overlays to charts. This is complemented by a browser-based trading platform that supports real-time stock price alerts, enhancing the overall user experience.
On the other hand, Charles Stanley Direct has a more limited selection of charting tools, offering only one drawing tool and 14 technical indicators. While it lacks the ability to display corporate events directly on charts, it does provide index overlays, which Bestinvest does not. Both platforms support stock overlays and offer alerts for stock price updates. Notably, Charles Stanley Direct provides real-time market data, which may appeal to traders who require immediate information. Both platforms offer browser-based trading, but the depth and variety of tools available on Bestinvest tend to cater more to users seeking comprehensive analytical capabilities.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct are two popular online brokers in the UK, both offering a range of retirement accounts to suit different financial goals. When it comes to Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), both Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct provide this tax-efficient option, allowing you to save and invest up to an annual limit without paying income tax or capital gains tax on your returns. For those considering a self-invested personal pension (SIPP) to save for retirement, both brokers also offer this flexible account type, which gives you control over your investments with potential tax advantages. Whether you choose Bestinvest or Charles Stanley Direct, both platforms support your retirement planning needs with accessible ISA and SIPP options.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct, both brokers provide iPhone and Android apps, ensuring accessibility for users on different devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both apps receive a respectable 3.5-star rating out of five. However, Bestinvest holds a slight edge in rankings, coming in at number 16 out of 21 brokers for mobile app performance, while Charles Stanley Direct trails at number 20. This indicates that while both apps perform similarly in terms of user satisfaction, Bestinvest is slightly better regarded in overall rankings.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, both Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct offer a wealth of information, including webinars that help users get to grips with the basics. These webinars are available for viewing on demand, ensuring flexible learning. Both platforms cover essential investment topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning, making them an excellent starting point for novice investors. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Bestinvest edges ahead with a perfect 5-star rating for its educational offering and is ranked #6 out of 21 brokers, while Charles Stanley Direct follows closely with a 4.5-star rating and a #12 ranking. This makes Bestinvest a slightly more favored choice for beginners looking to delve into investment education.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| 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 Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct, both online brokers provide comprehensive offerings for UK investors. Each platform offers research reports for funds, allowing users to gain insights into their investments. They also both allow investors to see their portfolio allocation by asset class, helping users understand their investment distribution. Additionally, Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct offer research across shares, ETFs, and funds. However, neither platform currently provides research for CFDs or bonds, leaving these areas uncovered for investors seeking information on these specific investment types.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Bestinvest or Charles Stanley Direct? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Bestinvest to be a better trading platform overall.
Bestinvest is a very good broker that should appeal to a wide range of investors. Fees are competitive, particularly if you invest in funds or US shares, and the investment options are extensive. The Bestinvest platform is relatively easy to use and the offer of a free 45 minute session with a financial coach can be a useful starting point for newer investors. Bestinvest is also a great option for a Junior SIPP, as it is one of very few UK brokers offering children’s pensions and with a low entry point.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
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Charles Stanley Direct
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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Both Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct currently do not offer cryptocurrency trading, positioning themselves as traditional online brokers focusing on other investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £0 - £10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £10 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 - £4.95 | £10 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £144.75 | £57.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £119.40 - £179.40 | £138 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £238.20 - £357.60 | £414 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £654 - £714 | £1,380 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £60 or £120 | £90 - £102 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £100 - £1,000 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £4.95 | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £4.95 | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £4.95 | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £4.95 | £10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | £25 minimum |
| Broker Screenshots | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 36 | 14 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 1 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Education |
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| Review | Bestinvest Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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