Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro vs Charles Stanley Direct, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
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, eToro offers better pricing than Charles Stanley Direct for share dealing.
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.
Comparing eToro vs Charles Stanley Direct for UK investors: both let you buy and sell shares, ETFs, and investment trusts. Only eToro supports crypto trading and CFDs, which may appeal to active traders. Charles Stanley Direct, on the other hand, offers funds, corporate bonds, and UK government bonds (gilts), plus access to advisor services—features eToro does not provide.
On investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates eToro 4.5 out of 5 stars (ranked 15th of 21), while Charles Stanley Direct earns 5 out of 5 stars (ranked 6th of 21). In short, eToro suits those who want crypto and CFD trading alongside shares and ETFs, whereas Charles Stanley Direct better fits investors who prioritise funds, bonds, gilts, and optional advice.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Charles Stanley Direct
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | 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.
eToro vs Charles Stanley Direct: For charting tools, eToro offers far more depth, with 9 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, compared with Charles Stanley Direct’s 1 drawing tool and 14 indicators. UK investors who rely on technical analysis and hand-drawn levels will likely find eToro more capable.
Both brokers include a browser-based platform, real-time market data, index and stock overlays, plus price alerts. Neither lets you add notes to charts or show corporate events like earnings, splits, or dividends. If you want richer chart studies, eToro stands out; if you only need basics with alerts and real-time data, Charles Stanley Direct can still do the job.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Charles Stanley Direct
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|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
For UK investors considering online brokers for retirement accounts, eToro and Charles Stanley Direct provide different options. Both platforms offer stocks and shares ISAs, allowing you to invest tax-efficiently. However, when it comes to self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs), there's a clear distinction; eToro does not provide SIPP accounts, while Charles Stanley Direct does, making it a suitable choice for those looking to manage their retirement savings personally with a wider range of investment options. In summary, if your priority is an ISA, either broker is suitable, but for SIPPs, Charles Stanley Direct is the provider to choose.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors weighing their options for online brokers with mobile apps, eToro and Charles Stanley Direct both provide apps for iPhone and Android users. However, when it comes to app performance and user satisfaction, eToro shines with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 5th out of 21 brokers for its mobile offerings. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct receives a modest 3.5-star rating, placing it at a lower rank of 20th. Whether you're trading on the go with an iPhone or exploring investments via Android, eToro's mobile app may offer a more reliable and user-friendly experience compared to Charles Stanley Direct.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
UK beginners comparing eToro and Charles Stanley Direct for investor education will find both lack live client webinars, but only Charles Stanley Direct provides an on-demand webinar archive. Each offers share trading tutorials; however, Charles Stanley Direct also covers funds and retirement—topics eToro doesn’t. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, eToro earns 5 stars (ranked 11th of 21) and Charles Stanley Direct scores 4.5 stars (12th of 21). If you want broader topics and replayable sessions, choose Charles Stanley Direct; if you prefer a higher-rated, trading-focused learning path, eToro may suit.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers eToro and Charles Stanley Direct, there are some key differences to consider. While both platforms provide the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, as well as research on shares and ETFs, eToro falls short in some areas. Specifically, eToro does not offer research reports for funds or bonds. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct provides comprehensive research for funds, which includes the reports that eToro lacks. Therefore, if in-depth fund and bond research is important to you as a UK investor, Charles Stanley Direct might be the more suitable choice.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, eToro or Charles Stanley Direct? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found eToro to be a better trading platform overall.
eToro offers a wide range of assets and instruments and is well-known for its ‘social trading’ approach. It has among the lowest fees and best mobile app experiences of brokers we tested in the U.K., and offers a great starting point for those new to stock trading. Our analysis finds it better suited to short-term traders than long-term investors.
| Feature |
eToro
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Charles Stanley Direct
|
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| Overall Rating |
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eToro offers cryptocurrency trading, while Charles Stanley Direct does not, providing investors the opportunity to engage in digital asset transactions with eToro but not with Charles Stanley Direct.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | eToro | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | eToro Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | eToro | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | ||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | eToro | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | £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) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | N/A | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | £600 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | £600 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £0 | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | N/A | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 minimum |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | eToro | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 14 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 1 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | eToro | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | eToro | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | eToro Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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