Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Stanley Direct vs Halifax, 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, Halifax 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 Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £0 per year, while Halifax 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.
Charles Stanley Direct and Halifax offer a range of investment options for UK investors, making it easy to diversify your portfolio. For those interested in share trading, Charles Stanley Direct provides this opportunity, while Halifax does not. Both brokers, however, do not support cryptocurrency or spread betting. When it comes to ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, both platforms provide trading options, making them well-rounded choices for investors interested in these asset types.
Additionally, both brokers offer advisor services, providing guidance to investors who need it. In terms of ratings, Charles Stanley Direct and Halifax each receive a commendable five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices. Despite these similar ratings, Charles Stanley Direct edges out Halifax in the rankings, taking the 6th spot among 18 brokers, while Halifax is ranked at 7th. This slight difference might sway a discerning investor towards Charles Stanley Direct if share trading capability is a priority.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 of Charles Stanley Direct and Halifax, investors will notice significant differences. Both platforms provide browser-based trading and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, but Charles Stanley Direct stands out with several advanced features. It offers 14 technical indicators and one drawing tool for charting, while Halifax does not provide any. Additionally, Charles Stanley Direct includes options to add both index and stock overlays to charts, enhancing visual insight for traders—an option not available with Halifax. However, neither platform displays corporate events on charts or provides the ability to add personal notes.
Access to real-time market data is another distinguishing factor, with Charles Stanley Direct providing this feature, whereas Halifax lacks this capability. Both platforms offer a baseline trading experience, but Charles Stanley Direct clearly caters to users seeking more in-depth tools and market insights. As a UK investor exploring online brokerage options, considering the additional charting features and real-time data offered by Charles Stanley Direct could make a notable difference in your trading experience. Halifax serves well for straightforward trading needs but might fall short for those requiring more technical analysis tools.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 14 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 1 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers Charles Stanley Direct and Halifax for UK retirement account options, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP). This means that whether you're looking to save tax-efficiently with an ISA or take control of your retirement savings via a SIPP, both Charles Stanley Direct and Halifax provide these accounts to help meet your financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When evaluating mobile apps for online brokers Charles Stanley Direct and Halifax, both platforms offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, providing convenience for users on the go. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both apps are rated 3.5 out of five stars, indicating a comparable user experience in terms of functionality and accessibility. However, in terms of overall ranking among 18 brokers, Charles Stanley Direct is placed at 20th, while Halifax is slightly ahead at 18th position. This comparison suggests that while both apps receive similar user ratings, Halifax holds a marginally better rank for its mobile offering.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing educational resources for beginner investors between UK online brokers, Charles Stanley Direct stands out over Halifax. While neither offers live educational client webinars, Charles Stanley Direct provides recorded sessions for on-demand learning, a feature not available with Halifax. Additionally, Charles Stanley Direct covers key topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, providing comprehensive learning opportunities for novice investors. In contrast, Halifax lacks educational material on these essential subjects. Reflecting this, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Charles Stanley Direct significantly higher at 4.5 stars for beginner education, placing it 12th out of 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Halifax receives a less favorable rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 18th, making Charles Stanley Direct a more appealing choice for newcomers seeking to understand investment basics.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Charles Stanley Direct and Halifax in terms of market research capabilities, Charles Stanley Direct offers a more comprehensive suite of features. It provides research reports for funds and allows users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, whereas Halifax lacks these features. Both brokers offer research on shares, ETFs, and funds; however, neither provides insights into CFDs. While Charles Stanley Direct does not offer bond research, Halifax fills this gap, catering to those interested in fixed-income securities. Overall, Charles Stanley Direct delivers a broader range of tools for those looking to dive deep into their investment analysis.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Charles Stanley Direct or Halifax? 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
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Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Mobile App |
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In comparing online brokers Charles Stanley Direct and Halifax, neither platform offers cryptocurrency trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
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| Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £10 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £10 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £10 | £9.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £57.50 | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £138 | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £414 | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,380 | £1,176 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £90 - £102 | £64.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £60 - £600 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £600 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £600 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £600 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £25 | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £25 | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £10 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £10 | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 minimum | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 14 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 1 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Education |
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| Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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