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.
eToro vs Charles Stanley Direct: both let you buy and sell UK and global shares, ETFs and investment trusts. eToro also offers crypto and CFD trading, which Charles Stanley Direct does not. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct supports funds, corporate bonds and gilts (UK government bonds), and provides access to adviser services; eToro does not offer these. Information on spread betting is not provided for either.
For investment choice ratings, UK.StockBrokers.com scores eToro 4.5/5 (ranked 11th of 21) and Charles Stanley Direct 5/5 (ranking not listed). In short, pick eToro if you want crypto and CFDs alongside shares and ETFs; choose Charles Stanley Direct if you need funds, bonds, gilts and optional advice.
| Feature |
eToro
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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.
UK investors comparing eToro and Charles Stanley Direct will find both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, but UK.StockBrokers.com rates eToro higher overall: eToro’s mobile app scores 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 21, while Charles Stanley Direct’s app earns 3.5 stars with no published ranking. If you prioritise a top-rated mobile experience, eToro stands out; if you simply need dependable access on iOS and Android, both cover the essentials.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners comparing education, eToro and Charles Stanley Direct both cover share trading, but only Charles Stanley Direct includes learning on funds and retirement. Neither hosts live client webinars; however, Charles Stanley Direct provides archived webinars to watch on demand, while eToro does not. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, eToro is rated 5/5 stars and ranks 7th of 21 for beginner education, while Charles Stanley Direct scores 4.5/5 stars with no published rank. Pick Charles Stanley Direct if you want broader topics and on-demand sessions, or eToro if you prefer a higher star rating.
| 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 is a global investing platform best known for its social and copy trading features, wide range of stocks and instruments, and a polished mobile app experience.
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eToro
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Charles Stanley Direct
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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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| 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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