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 with Charles Stanley Direct for account investment choices, both platforms offer a range of options, including share trading, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts. However, Charles Stanley Direct stands out by also offering the trading of corporate and government bonds, along with providing advisor services, which CMC Invest does not offer. Neither platform supports crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading.
In terms of customer ratings and rankings, CMC Invest holds a solid rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, positioning it at #14 among 21 brokers evaluated. On the other hand, Charles Stanley Direct is rated higher with 5 stars, securing a #6 ranking. This highlights Charles Stanley Direct as a slightly more comprehensive option for those seeking diverse investment opportunities.
| 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 |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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 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 considering beginner investor educational resources, both CMC Invest and Charles Stanley Direct offer educational content on share trading, funds, and retirement, making them suitable choices for new investors seeking foundational knowledge. However, a key difference is in their webinar offerings; CMC Invest lacks both live and on-demand webinars, while Charles Stanley Direct provides archived educational webinars for convenient, self-paced learning. In terms of expert ratings, UK.StockBrokers.com scores CMC Invest at 4 stars for beginner education, ranking it 15th out of 21 brokers. Meanwhile, Charles Stanley Direct is slightly ahead with a 4.5 star rating, placing it in 12th position, suggesting a potentially better educational experience for newcomers. UK readers exploring investment platforms should weigh these distinctions when choosing the most suitable option for their learning preferences.
| 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 |
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|
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
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Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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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.
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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 | 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) |
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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 | 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 | |
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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