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 comparing CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct, both brokers accommodate UK investors with options for share and ETF trading, as well as investment trusts and fund trading. However, if you're interested in bond trading, Charles Stanley Direct provides access to both corporate and government bonds, unlike CMC Invest. Additionally, Charles Stanley Direct extends advisory services to guide your investment journey, a feature not offered by CMC Invest.
In terms of investment choices, Charles Stanley Direct holds a higher rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it 6th out of 21 brokers. CMC Invest, while also highly regarded with a respectable 4.5-star rating, ranks 14th. Evidently, Charles Stanley Direct's broader range of offerings and advisory services make it a well-rounded choice for those seeking comprehensive investment options in the UK market.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
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 | |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the online trading tools of CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct, UK investors will find distinct differences in their features and functionality. Charles Stanley Direct stands out with more advanced charting options, offering 14 technical indicators and the ability to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends. CMC Invest, however, does not provide these capabilities or drawing tools, putting it at a disadvantage for those who rely heavily on in-depth chart analysis. Both platforms, however, do provide real-time market data and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, ensuring traders can stay informed of market movements.
Charles Stanley Direct offers additional benefits for investors looking to deepen their analysis with features like stock and index overlays, a browser-based trading platform, and the ability to add personal notes directly onto charts. These features cater to users who require more from their trading experience. On the other hand, while CMC Invest lacks these enhancements, it might appeal to those who prefer a more straightforward platform for tracking real-time data and receiving stock alerts.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | 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 choosing an online broker in the UK, both CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct provide mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, offering the convenience to trade on the go. CMC Invest stands out with a higher UK.StockBrokers.com mobile app rating of 4.5 stars, compared to Charles Stanley Direct's 3.5 stars. Moreover, CMC Invest is ranked as the 11th best out of 21 brokers for mobile app offerings, while Charles Stanley Direct holds the 20th position. This suggests that CMC Invest may offer a more satisfying mobile trading experience for users seeking a higher-rated app solution in the competitive online broker landscape.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources of CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct, both brokers provide robust learning material for beginner investors, covering share trading, funds, and retirement topics. CMC Invest does not archive educational webinars for on-demand viewing, whereas Charles Stanley Direct offers this option, enhancing accessibility for learners. Regarding education ratings, CMC Invest receives 4 out of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Charles Stanley Direct scores slightly higher at 4.5 stars. In terms of ranking among 21 brokers, CMC Invest is placed at #15, and Charles Stanley Direct is ranked higher at #12, signaling a slight edge in beginner investor education.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | 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 CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct, UK investors will find both brokers offering research reports for funds. While both platforms excel in providing research for shares, ETFs, and funds, Charles Stanley Direct distinguishes itself by allowing users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with CMC Invest. However, for those interested in CFDs and bonds research, investors may need to seek alternatives, as neither broker provides these resources. Overall, both CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct cater well to research needs on shares, ETFs, and funds, with slight differences in portfolio management tools.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
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 |
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
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Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers, CMC Invest offers crypto trading while Charles Stanley Direct does not.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| 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 | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | 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) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | 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 | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | CMC Invest | 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 |
| Education | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | CMC Invest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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