Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown 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, Hargreaves Lansdown 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 - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £57.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown and Charles Stanley Direct are two popular online brokers in the UK that offer a wide range of investment options for users looking to diversify their portfolios. Both platforms provide access to share trading, ETF trading, funds trading, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. However, neither broker offers crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. Each platform also provides advisory services, adding value for those seeking professional guidance with their investments.
When it comes to their rating on investment choices, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Charles Stanley Direct have earned a commendable 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. Nevertheless, Hargreaves Lansdown edges out with a ranking of 4th out of 21 brokers, while Charles Stanley Direct is close behind in 6th place. This makes both brokers solid choices for UK investors, although Hargreaves Lansdown holds a slightly higher ranking in overall investment offerings.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of Hargreaves Lansdown and Charles Stanley Direct, investors will find several differences and similarities. Hargreaves Lansdown provides a more comprehensive charting experience, allowing users to display corporate events, such as earnings and dividends, directly on charts—a feature not available with Charles Stanley Direct. Charting enthusiasts might also prefer Hargreaves Lansdown for its 11 drawing tools compared to just one offered by Charles Stanley Direct. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown includes 15 technical indicators, slightly edging out Charles Stanley Direct's offering of 14.
Both platforms allow users to add stock and index overlays to charts and provide browser-based trading platforms where investors can create alerts for stock price updates and access real-time market data. However, neither platform offers the ability to add notes to charts, which could be a consideration for some users. These features offer a robust suite of tools for UK investors to manage their trading activities effectively.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing Hargreaves Lansdown and Charles Stanley Direct, both online brokers provide a solid array of retirement accounts that cater to UK investors. Hargreaves Lansdown offers Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), ensuring customers have options tailored to their savings and retirement needs. Similarly, Charles Stanley Direct matches these offerings, providing both ISA and SIPP accounts, making it easy for UK investors to manage and grow their retirement funds effectively. Whether you are planning to save with tax efficiency or aiming for a self-managed pension plan, both brokers present valuable choices for varied financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking reliable mobile trading platforms, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Charles Stanley Direct provide iPhone and Android apps, catering to a range of devices. Hargreaves Lansdown's app has earned a higher rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the #10 spot out of 21 brokers, which highlights its superior user experience and functionality. In comparison, Charles Stanley Direct's app is rated at 3.5 stars and ranked at #20, indicating room for improvement in its mobile service offerings. These insights are crucial for those choosing between these two brokers based on their mobile app performance.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK, Hargreaves Lansdown and Charles Stanley Direct each offer valuable educational resources but differ in certain aspects. Hargreaves Lansdown conducts live educational webinars, while Charles Stanley Direct does not, although Charles Stanley Direct provides the advantage of archiving these sessions for on-demand access. Both platforms provide comprehensive education on share trading, funds, and retirement, making them noteworthy options for those new to investing. However, according to UK.StockBrokers.com, Hargreaves Lansdown shines slightly brighter with a 5-star rating against Charles Stanley Direct's 4.5 stars, achieving a higher rank of #4 compared to Charles Stanley Direct's #12 out of 21 brokers for beginner education. Overall, Hargreaves Lansdown may be the superior choice for those prioritizing live educational interactions, while Charles Stanley Direct offers more flexible access to past webinars.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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.
When exploring market research features offered by online brokers, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Charles Stanley Direct demonstrate a comprehensive array of tools to aid investors. Both platforms provide in-depth research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds, allowing users to make informed investment decisions. Additionally, they enable investors to view portfolio allocations by asset class, offering a clear overview of their investments. However, neither broker offers research on CFDs, thus aligning their focus on more traditional investment options. This makes both platforms robust choices for UK investors seeking detailed market insights.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Hargreaves Lansdown or Charles Stanley Direct? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Hargreaves Lansdown to be a better trading platform overall.
As the U.K.’s biggest investment platform for individual investors, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of investment choices for either beginners or seasoned investors. However, its fees are generally more expensive than rival brokers, which can become an issue for large investment pots.
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Hargreaves Lansdown
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Charles Stanley Direct
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|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Charles Stanley Direct, both platforms do not offer cryptocurrency trading, focusing instead on a range of traditional investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | £0 - £10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | £10 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | £10 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | £57.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | £138 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | £414 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | £1,380 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £90 - £102 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | £25 minimum |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | 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) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 14 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 1 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | 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 | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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