Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Stanley Direct vs Fidelity International, 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 - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £57.50 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £127.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £108 or £180 per year.
36 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £144 or £360 per year.
120 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £270 or £990 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £0 per year, while Fidelity International would cost £1000 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 choosing between Charles Stanley Direct and Fidelity International for online brokerage services, investors have a range of options to consider. Both platforms support share and exchange-traded funds (ETF) trading, in addition to offering funds and investment trusts. Additionally, neither Charles Stanley Direct nor Fidelity International provides crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. A key distinction is in bond trading, as Charles Stanley Direct offers both corporate and government bonds (gilts), whereas Fidelity International does not.
Advisor services are available on both platforms, ensuring that investors can receive professional guidance. As for industry recognition, Charles Stanley Direct boasts a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, though it is not ranked among the top 18 brokers. Fidelity International, on the other hand, is rated slightly lower at 4.5 stars for investment choices but holds a rank at #12 out of 18 brokers. These ratings highlight Charles Stanley Direct's broader spectrum of investment offerings compared to Fidelity International's strong overall service.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Fidelity International
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools offered by Charles Stanley Direct and Fidelity International, users will find notable differences in functionality and features. Charles Stanley Direct falls short compared to Fidelity International when it comes to displaying corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts. However, both platforms allow users to add index and stock overlays to charts and maintain robust browser-based trading platforms. When it comes to technical indicators, Charles Stanley Direct provides 14, while Fidelity International offers a more comprehensive set with 21 indicators. Additionally, Fidelity International excels in providing five drawing tools compared to just one available on Charles Stanley Direct.
Both Charles Stanley Direct and Fidelity International allow users to create alerts for stock price updates, helping traders stay informed about market changes. However, Charles Stanley Direct does have a unique advantage in offering real-time market data, an edge over Fidelity International in this area. Although neither platform supports adding notes to charts, both provide reliable tools that cater to different aspects of trader preferences, from technical analysis to timely market updates.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Fidelity International
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 14 | 21 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 1 | 5 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing online brokers Charles Stanley Direct and Fidelity International, both provide options for ISA and SIPP retirement accounts, making them suitable for individual savings plans and self-invested personal pensions. These investment services cater to individuals looking to grow their savings with tax-efficient accounts. Whether choosing Charles Stanley Direct or Fidelity International, users can confidently select either platform for managing and investing in their retirement accounts. Both brokers offer user-friendly platforms that cater to a wide array of investment needs, ensuring an accessible and efficient experience for individuals planning their financial futures.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing online brokers Charles Stanley Direct and Fidelity International, both offer mobile apps available for iPhone and Android users, ensuring easy access to trading platforms on-the-go. Charles Stanley Direct's app receives a rating of 3.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Fidelity International's app fares slightly better with a 4-star rating, reflecting a more favorable user experience. Although Charles Stanley Direct's rank for mobile apps is not available, Fidelity International holds the 13th position among 18 brokers, showcasing its competitiveness in providing mobile trading solutions.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to beginner investor educational resources, Charles Stanley Direct and Fidelity International both offer solid options, though there are some differences. Fidelity International provides live educational client webinars, while Charles Stanley Direct does not. However, both platforms allow you to access archived webinars on demand, covering essential topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. Although Charles Stanley Direct boasts a respectable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its beginner education, Fidelity International edges out with a perfect 5-star rating and is ranked #6 out of 18 brokers, showcasing its comprehensive educational resources.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Fidelity International
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Charles Stanley Direct and Fidelity International, both online brokers shine in several areas, offering comprehensive research reports for funds. They also provide users with insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, making it easy to manage diverse investments. Both platforms support research on shares, ETFs, and funds, ensuring investors have access to necessary data for informed decisions. However, neither broker offers research on CFDs, presenting a slight limitation for those interested in this area. A notable difference arises in bond research; Fidelity International delivers this feature, while Charles Stanley Direct does not, potentially giving Fidelity a slight edge for bond investors.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Fidelity International
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Charles Stanley Direct or Fidelity International? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Charles Stanley Direct to be a better trading platform overall.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Fidelity International
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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Both Charles Stanley Direct and Fidelity International do not offer crypto trading, providing investors with a focus on traditional investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Stanley Direct | Fidelity International | |
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| Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | Fidelity International Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Charles Stanley Direct | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Charles Stanley Direct | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £1000 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £10 | £1.50 or £7.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £10 | £1.50 or £7.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £10 | £1.50 or £7.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £57.50 | £127.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £138 | £108 or £180 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £414 | £144 or £360 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,380 | £270 or £990 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £90 - £102 | £105 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £60 - £600 | £90 - £875 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £600 | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £600 | £1,000 - £2,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £600 | £2,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £25 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £25 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £10 | £7.50 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £10 | £7.50 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 minimum | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Stanley Direct | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Charles Stanley Direct | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 14 | 21 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 1 | 5 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Charles Stanley Direct | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Stanley Direct | Fidelity International | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Charles Stanley Direct | Fidelity International | |
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| Education |
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| Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | Fidelity International Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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