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 it comes to choosing an online broker, Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct both offer a variety of investment options, though with some differences. Both platforms support share trading, providing access to equities for investors. They also allow the trading of ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) and investment trusts. However, only Charles Stanley Direct enables trading in corporate bonds and government bonds (gilts), which may appeal to those interested in fixed-income securities. Neither broker offers options such as crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, aligning with the conservative route of traditional investment choices.
Both Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct provide advisor services, assisting clients in tailoring their investment strategies. Bestinvest is rated 4.5 out of five stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, while Charles Stanley Direct scores a perfect 5 stars, reflecting a slightly broader range of investment options. Without current rankings among 18 brokers, both platforms present strong, reliable choices for UK investors, each offering unique benefits to cater to different investment needs.
| 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 it comes to charting tools, Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct each have their strengths and limitations, appealing differently to traders. Bestinvest stands out with a more extensive set of charting tools, offering nine drawing tools compared to just one from Charles Stanley Direct, as well as 36 technical indicators, significantly more than Charles Stanley Direct's 14. Bestinvest also allows users to add notes to charts, although it lacks features like displaying corporate events and index overlays, which Charles Stanley Direct does include. Both platforms enable adding stock overlays to charts and offer browser-based trading platforms, providing a flexible online trading experience.
For traders who need timely data, Charles Stanley Direct offers real-time market data, giving users up-to-the-minute information, a feature not available with Bestinvest. Both platforms can set alerts for stock price updates, keeping investors informed of crucial market changes. Choosing between Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct will largely depend on whether an investor values more comprehensive charting and note-taking capabilities or prioritizes up-to-date market data and event overlays.
| 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 both provide solid options for those looking to manage their retirement savings online. Each offers an Individual Savings Account (ISA), allowing you to invest tax-efficiently in a wide range of assets. Additionally, both platforms support Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), giving you control over your retirement investments with the flexibility to choose from thousands of funds, shares, and other financial products. With their comprehensive offerings of both ISA and SIPP accounts, Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct cater to individuals seeking user-friendly and robust online investment solutions.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of online brokers Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct, both provide options for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of device preferences. Users turn to reviews for reassurance, and UK.StockBrokers.com rates both Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct's mobile apps at 3.5 out of 5 stars. However, neither of the brokers is ranked within the top 18 for mobile apps by the same source, indicating an opportunity for improvement in mobile functionality. Investors looking for a balanced mobile experience might find both brokers offer similar possibilities in terms of app availability and user satisfaction.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources, Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct both provide robust offerings with some distinctions. Bestinvest stands out by offering live educational client webinars and the ability to access these sessions on demand, a feature shared by Charles Stanley Direct. Both brokers deliver comprehensive education on share trading, funds, and retirement. Bestinvest receives high praise from UK.StockBrokers.com with a perfect 5-star rating for beginner education resources, slightly surpassing Charles Stanley Direct's commendable 4.5-star rating. However, neither broker's ranking among 18 peers is specified. For newcomers seeking a strong educational foundation, Bestinvest's live webinars may tilt the scale in its favor, while Charles Stanley Direct remains a close contender with its own quality offerings.
| 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 Bestinvest and Charles Stanley Direct, both online brokers offer comprehensive research reports for funds, along with the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, empowering investors with detailed insights into their investments. Each platform provides robust research options for shares, ETFs, and funds, making them accessible and valuable tools for investors looking to make informed decisions. However, neither Bestinvest nor Charles Stanley Direct offer research on CFDs or bonds, which may be a consideration for those interested in these specific financial instruments.
| 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 |
IG Group Review
Saxo Review
eToro Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Trading 212 Review
XTB Review
CMC Invest Review
Vanguard Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
Halifax Review
Freetrade Review
