Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Fidelity International 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, Fidelity International 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 - Fidelity International would cost £127.50 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £57.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £108 or £180 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year.
36 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £144 or £360 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year.
120 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £270 or £990 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £1000 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 considering online brokers for investment options, UK investors often compare Fidelity International and Charles Stanley Direct. Both platforms offer share trading and the ability to trade ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, making them suitable for diversified portfolios. However, neither broker provides opportunities for crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. A distinctive feature is Charles Stanley Direct's capability to trade corporate and government bonds (gilts), which might appeal to those aiming for a bond-focused strategy, unlike Fidelity International, which lacks these specific offerings.
In terms of ratings, Fidelity International receives a commendable 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices but is ranked 12th out of 18 brokers. Charles Stanley Direct, with its broader range of available investments like bonds, earns a full 5-star rating and holds the 6th position. Both platforms also offer advisory services, making them suitable for investors seeking expert guidance. Aspiring investors might prefer Charles Stanley Direct for its wider variety of bond selections, whereas Fidelity International remains a strong contender with excellent ratings in other areas.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
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 | Yes | 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 provided by Fidelity International and Charles Stanley Direct, a UK investor will find distinctive features in each. Fidelity International stands out with the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, offering additional context for traders. However, Charles Stanley Direct does not provide this feature. Both brokers allow the addition of index and stock overlays on charts, but Fidelity International offers more customization in terms of drawing tools and technical indicators, with 5 drawing tools and 21 technical indicators compared to Charles Stanley Direct's 1 drawing tool and 14 technical indicators.
In terms of platform functionality, both brokers support browser-based trading and provide the ability to set price alerts for stocks, ensuring traders stay informed about market movements. Fidelity International, although lacking in real-time market data, equips investors with a broad range of charting tools, while Charles Stanley Direct compensates with real-time data access, keeping investors abreast of the latest market fluctuations. Neither platform allows for adding notes to charts, leaving traders to use other methods for personal annotations.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When planning for retirement, both Fidelity International and Charles Stanley Direct offer attractive options for investors in the UK. Fidelity International provides ISA and SIPP accounts, enabling savers to grow their investments with tax efficiency. Similarly, Charles Stanley Direct also offers both ISA and SIPP accounts, providing a range of investment choices for those preparing for their financial future. Choosing between the two largely depends on personal preferences and specific services desired, but both firms cater to those looking for flexible and beneficial retirement savings solutions.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
In the UK, both Fidelity International and Charles Stanley Direct offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, giving investors flexibility to manage their portfolios on the go. Fidelity International's app is highly rated by UK.StockBrokers.com, receiving a solid 4-star rating, and is ranked 15th out of 18 brokers for mobile app performance. Meanwhile, Charles Stanley Direct's app holds a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 20th. This comparison highlights Fidelity International's stronger app performance, which may be an important consideration for investors who prioritize mobile access and ease of use.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing educational resources for beginner investors, Fidelity International and Charles Stanley Direct both provide foundational knowledge in areas like share trading, funds, and retirement. Fidelity International stands out with live and on-demand webinars that cater to various learning preferences, a feature Charles Stanley Direct lacks. Both platforms archive webinars for convenient access. In terms of expert ratings, Fidelity International scores a perfect 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 7th out of 18 brokers for beginner education, while Charles Stanley Direct earns 4.5 stars, ranking 12th. This positions Fidelity as a slightly more comprehensive choice for new investors seeking educational support in the UK.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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.
For UK investors seeking comprehensive market research, both Fidelity International and Charles Stanley Direct provide valuable resources, including research reports for funds and insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. They each offer detailed research on shares, ETFs, and funds, providing investors with essential data to make informed decisions. While both platforms fall short on CFDs research, Fidelity International has an edge by also offering valuable research on bonds, which Charles Stanley Direct does not. When comparing the two, Fidelity International's inclusion of bond research could be a deciding factor for investors interested in a broader range of investment options.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Fidelity International or Charles Stanley Direct? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Fidelity International to be a better trading platform overall.
Fidelity offers thousands of investments to choose from and also offers financial advice for those wanting more direction. It's best suited to traditional investors who hold a range of accounts through the platform, enjoy the great research material available and who may also use Fidelity for financial advice. The platform can be expensive for those with portfolios of less than £20,000 and those with portfolios above £40,000.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
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Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Website |
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Neither Fidelity International nor Charles Stanley Direct offers cryptocurrency trading, making them both unsuitable choices for investors looking to trade digital assets.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Fidelity International | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1000 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £0 - £10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £10 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £10 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £127.50 | £57.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 or £180 | £138 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £144 or £360 | £414 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £270 or £990 | £1,380 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £105 | £90 - £102 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £90 - £875 | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £1,000 - £2,000 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £2,000 | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £7.50 | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £7.50 | £10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | £25 minimum |
| Broker Screenshots | Fidelity International | 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) |
| Platforms & Tools | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 14 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 1 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Fidelity International | 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 | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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