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.
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.
When comparing investment options offered by Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct, both platforms provide share trading, trading of ETFs, funds, and investment trusts. However, neither platform supports crypto or spread betting. Where they differ is in the availability of bond trading; Charles Stanley Direct allows investment in both corporate and government bonds (gilts), while Bestinvest does not. Both brokers offer advisory services to help guide your investment decisions.
In terms of user ratings, Charles Stanley Direct holds a slight edge over Bestinvest. Rated 5 stars for investment choices by UK.StockBrokers.com, Charles Stanley Direct ranks 6th out of 18 brokers. In contrast, Bestinvest, though commendably rated at 4.5 stars, is placed 10th. This suggests Charles Stanley Direct may offer a more comprehensive range of investment options for UK investors seeking broader opportunities.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When choosing between Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct for trading tools, UK investors will find both platforms have their unique strengths. Bestinvest provides a more comprehensive charting experience with 9 drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, compared to Charles Stanley Direct's single drawing tool and 14 indicators. Additionally, Bestinvest allows users to take notes on charts and add stock overlays, offering a detailed customisation option for traders. However, while both platforms support browser-based trading and stock price alerts, only Charles Stanley Direct gives access to real-time market data, which is crucial for making timely trading decisions.
Furthermore, while both Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct fall short on displaying corporate events directly on their charts, there are key differences in overlay capabilities. Charles Stanley Direct allows for index overlays on its charts, something Bestinvest does not offer. Ultimately, Bestinvest may appeal more to those seeking detailed charting tools, whereas traders prioritising real-time data and index overlays might lean towards Charles Stanley Direct for their trading needs.
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | 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 UK online brokers Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct, both provide iPhone and Android accessibility, ensuring users can manage their investments on the go. Rated at 3.5 stars for their mobile app performance by UK.StockBrokers.com, both platforms offer solid mobile app experiences. However, Bestinvest edges ahead in rankings, coming in at 16th out of 18 brokers, while Charles Stanley Direct ranks 20th. This comparison indicates that while both brokers deliver comparable mobile functionality, Bestinvest might slightly appeal more to those prioritizing mobile app accessibility.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners seeking to delve into investing, both Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct offer solid educational resources. Bestinvest shines with its live educational webinars, a feature that Charles Stanley Direct lacks. However, both platforms provide archived webinars on-demand and cover key investment topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning. When it comes to ratings, UK.StockBrokers.com gives Bestinvest a superior 5-star rating for beginner education, placing it at an impressive 6th among 18 brokers. Charles Stanley Direct follows closely with a 4.5-star rating, ranking 12th. Ultimately, Bestinvest's comprehensive and accessible educational resources make it a compelling choice for novice investors.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
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 UK-based online brokers Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct, both platforms provide comprehensive research capabilities that cater to a range of investment needs. Each offers research reports for funds and shares, in addition to detailed insights on ETFs and portfolio allocation by asset class. However, neither Bestinvest nor Charles Stanley Direct includes research for CFDs or bonds. This similarity ensures that investors using either broker can access extensive market analyses and make well-informed decisions for most assets, except CFDs and bonds.
| Feature |
Bestinvest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| 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
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct do not offer crypto trading, highlighting a shared limitation for investors seeking to diversify their portfolios with cryptocurrency investments.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| 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 | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | Bestinvest | 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 | No | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Bestinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Bestinvest Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
Trading 212 Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
XTB Review
IG Group Review
eToro Review
Saxo Review
CMC Invest Review
Freetrade Review
Halifax Review
Vanguard Review