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Fidelity International vs Charles Stanley Direct 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

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.

Fidelity International
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £1000 info
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
Charles Stanley Direct
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Fees

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.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

Fidelity International and Charles Stanley Direct are popular choices for UK investors, each offering a variety of investment account options to meet diverse needs. Both platforms provide access to share and ETF trading, making them suitable for those looking to invest in a broad array of equities and funds. However, neither platform offers crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, which might limit options for investors interested in these areas. Fidelity International also does not provide opportunities to trade corporate bonds or government bonds (gilts), which are available through Charles Stanley Direct. Additionally, both brokers offer investment trust trading and advisory services to assist investors in making informed decisions.

In terms of ratings, Charles Stanley Direct receives high praise with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, placing it 6th out of 21 brokers. Fidelity International follows closely with a 4.5-star rating, ranking 12th overall. The primary distinction between the two lies in Charles Stanley Direct's support for corporate and government bond trading, adding more diversity in investment options compared to Fidelity International. Whether you are looking for comprehensive advisory services or aiming to access a broader spectrum of investment types, these features are key considerations when choosing between these two brokers.

Feature Fidelity International logoFidelity International
Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No Yes info
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info Yes Yes
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

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 logoFidelity International
Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 21 14
Charting - Drawing Tools info 5 1 info
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes

ISAs and SIPPs

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.

Mobile App

Fidelity International and Charles Stanley Direct both offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, making it convenient for investors on the go. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Fidelity International's mobile app is rated 4 out of 5 stars, placing it at 15th out of 21 brokers for mobile app quality. Meanwhile, Charles Stanley Direct's app is rated slightly lower at 3.5 stars, ranking 20th among the same group. These ratings suggest that while both apps provide essential brokerage services, users might find a smoother experience with Fidelity International's offering.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

When comparing the beginner investment educational resources of Fidelity International and Charles Stanley Direct, UK investors will find notable differences. Fidelity International stands out by offering live client webinars, while Charles Stanley Direct does not. Both platforms, however, provide archived webinars for convenient on-demand viewing covering essential topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning. Fidelity International achieves a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its exceptional beginner investor education, ranking 7th among 21 brokers. Charles Stanley Direct follows closely with a respectable 4.5-star rating, holding the 12th position. Despite both platforms offering robust educational content, Fidelity International's slight edge in live interaction and top-tier ratings make it an attractive choice for those starting their investment journey.

Feature Fidelity International logoFidelity International
Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

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 logoFidelity International
Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes

Fidelity International vs Charles Stanley Direct Winner

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 logoFidelity International
Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Fidelity International or Charles Stanley Direct?

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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Compare

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Overall Rating Fidelity International Charles Stanley Direct
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review Fidelity International Review Charles Stanley Direct Review
Winner check_circle
Investments Fidelity International Charles Stanley Direct
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
Funds info Yes Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info No Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No Yes info
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info Yes Yes
Trading Fees Fidelity International Charles Stanley Direct
Minimum Deposit info £1000 info £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £1.50 or £7.50 £0 - £10 info
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £1.50 or £7.50 £10
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £1.50 or £7.50 £10
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £127.50 £57.50
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £108 or £180 £138
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £144 or £360 £414
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £270 or £990 £1,380
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £105 £90 - £102
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £90 - £875 £60 - £600
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £500 - £1,000 £600
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £1,000 - £2,000 £600
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £2,000 £600
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info N/A £25
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info N/A £25 info
ETFs - Fee info £7.50 £10 info
Investment Trusts - Fee info £7.50 £10
Telephone Dealing Fee info £30 £25 minimum
Broker Screenshots Fidelity International Charles Stanley Direct
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools Fidelity International Charles Stanley Direct
Web Platform info Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 21 14
Charting - Drawing Tools info 5 1 info
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Research Fidelity International Charles Stanley Direct
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes
Education Fidelity International Charles Stanley Direct
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Overall Summary Fidelity International Charles Stanley Direct
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review Fidelity International Review Charles Stanley Direct Review
Winner check_circle
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