Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Invest 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, CMC Invest 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 - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £57.50 per year.
12 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year.
36 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year.
120 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year.
3 fund trades per year - CMC Invest 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 choosing between CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct for your investment needs in the UK, it's important to consider the available options each offers. Both platforms allow you to trade shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts. However, unlike CMC Invest, Charles Stanley Direct extends its offerings to include government and corporate bonds, as well as providing advisory services, catering to those seeking a wider range of investment products and professional guidance.
In terms of performance, Charles Stanley Direct earns a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, ranking 6th among 18 brokers. In comparison, CMC Invest, while commendable with a 4.5-star rating, stands at 14th place. If access to diverse investment options and higher-rated services matter most to you, Charles Stanley Direct might be the preferred choice. Nonetheless, for those content with the core offerings of shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, CMC Invest remains a strong contender.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
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 | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct, there are several differences to note. Both platforms lack the ability to display corporate events, like earnings and dividends, directly on charts and neither offers the feature to add notes. However, Charles Stanley Direct stands out by providing 14 technical indicators and the ability to add both index and stock overlays to charts, options that CMC Invest does not offer. Charles Stanley Direct also provides a browser-based trading platform, yet both offer real-time market data and the capability to create alerts for stock price updates.
For those who value chart analysis, Charles Stanley Direct offers a richer experience with one drawing tool and enhanced overlay features, providing more detailed insights for traders. CMC Invest, while limited in charting capabilities, covers basic needs with real-time data and price alerts, which some traders might find sufficient depending on their strategy. Ultimately, traders seeking more comprehensive charting features may prefer Charles Stanley Direct for its additional analysis tools, while those looking for essential functionalities in a simpler setup might lean towards CMC Invest.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
For UK investors exploring retirement account options, both CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct present solid choices with similar offerings. Each platform provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing users to grow their investments tax-efficiently. Additionally, Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) are available with both brokers, offering flexibility in retirement planning and potential tax advantages. Whether prioritizing ISAs or SIPPs, investors can find comprehensive solutions with either CMC Invest or Charles Stanley Direct.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing mobile app offerings, both CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct provide iPhone and Android apps for their users. However, CMC Invest outshines Charles Stanley Direct in terms of user ratings and rankings. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, CMC Invest earns a commendable 4.5-star rating for its mobile app, securing the 11th spot out of 18 brokers assessed. On the other hand, Charles Stanley Direct receives a 3.5-star rating, placing it at the 20th position in the same evaluation. This distinction highlights a more favorable user experience with CMC Invest's mobile platform for UK investors seeking efficient trading on their smartphones.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, both CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct offer comprehensive material on share trading, funds, and retirement. However, there are notable differences that could influence your decision. While neither platform provides live webinars, Charles Stanley Direct does offer the advantage of archived webinars available for on-demand viewing, setting it apart in convenience. Despite both brokers receiving favorable ratings on UK.StockBrokers.com, Charles Stanley Direct edges out with a slightly better score of 4.5 stars over CMC Invest's 4 stars. Furthermore, in a ranking of 18 brokers for beginner education, Charles Stanley Direct is at the 12th spot, whereas CMC Invest is positioned at 15th, suggesting a marginal lead in overall educational offerings for budding investors.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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 CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct for market research features, both brokers provide useful insights for investors in the UK. Each platform offers research reports for funds and delivers detailed analysis on shares, ETFs, and funds, equipping you with the information needed to make informed decisions. Although neither provides research on CFDs or bonds, Charles Stanley Direct stands out by allowing investors to view portfolio allocation by asset class, an option not available with CMC Invest. This capability can be particularly beneficial for those looking to assess diversification within their portfolios.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
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 | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, CMC Invest or Charles Stanley Direct? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found CMC Invest to be a better trading platform overall.
CMC Invest offers commission-free trading of U.K.-listed shares and U.S. equities via a mobile app only. Though a newer entrant to the U.K. share dealing market and currently somewhat limited, it’s powered by global contender CMC Markets, making it likely that its offerings will expand.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct do not offer crypto trading options, making them similar in this aspect for investors seeking traditional asset opportunities without cryptocurrency involvement.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | CMC Invest Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | CMC Invest | 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 | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £10 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £10 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £57.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £138 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £414 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £1,380 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £120 | £90 - £102 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £120 | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £120 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £120 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £120 | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £0 | £25 minimum |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Platforms & Tools | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 14 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 1 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | CMC Invest | 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 | No | Yes |
| Education | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | CMC Invest 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