Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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, IG offers better pricing than Charles Stanley Direct for share dealing.
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.
IG vs Charles Stanley Direct: both let you buy and sell UK and international shares, ETFs, and investment trusts. IG also offers crypto and CFD trading, while Charles Stanley Direct does not. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct provides access to funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds (gilts), plus advisor services—none of which are available with IG. Details on spread betting were not specified for either provider.
For investment choices, UK.StockBrokers.com rates both IG and Charles Stanley Direct at 5 stars. IG is ranked 6th out of 21 brokers, while a ranking for Charles Stanley Direct is not available. In simple terms, IG may appeal to active traders seeking markets like crypto and CFDs, whereas Charles Stanley Direct may suit long‑term investors who want funds, bonds, and optional advice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For charting and analysis, IG offers more depth than Charles Stanley Direct. IG lets you display corporate events on charts, add notes, and use 19 drawing tools alongside 33 technical indicators. Charles Stanley Direct does not show corporate events or support chart notes, and provides 1 drawing tool with 14 technical indicators. Both brokers support index and stock overlays.
On the practical side, both IG and Charles Stanley Direct provide a browser-based platform, real-time market data, and price alerts. If you want richer chart analysis and more ways to customise your view, IG is the stronger choice; if you prefer straightforward charts and core alerts, Charles Stanley Direct covers the basics.
| Feature |
IG
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
For UK investors seeking convenient online brokerage services, both IG and Charles Stanley Direct provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to those looking to optimize their retirement planning options. IG stands out with its extensive range of investment choices and user-friendly trading platform, ensuring seamless management of your ISA and SIPP accounts. Similarly, Charles Stanley Direct offers comprehensive tools and resources, supporting informed investment decisions across both ISA and SIPP accounts. Whether you prefer the advanced technology of IG or the personalized service from Charles Stanley Direct, both platforms offer solid options for managing your retirement savings effectively.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Comparing online broker IG with Charles Stanley Direct for UK investors: both offer iPhone and Android apps, but IG’s mobile app holds a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranks #2 out of 21 brokers for Mobile Apps, while Charles Stanley Direct’s app is rated 3.5 stars with no published ranking. If mobile trading is a priority, IG has the stronger showing.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK, IG stands out for education: it runs live client webinars and keeps them available on demand, with lessons on funds and retirement (but not share trading). IG holds a 5/5 beginner education rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranks #1 of 21. Charles Stanley Direct does not host live webinars but provides on-demand archived sessions and covers share trading, funds, and retirement, earning 4.5/5 stars, with no ranking listed.
| Feature |
IG
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
IG vs Charles Stanley Direct for market research: both let UK investors see portfolio allocation by asset class and offer research on shares and ETFs. Each provides research reports for funds, but only Charles Stanley Direct also offers in-platform funds research tools, while IG does not. IG lacks bonds research; bonds coverage for Charles Stanley Direct is not specified. For wider fund insights, Charles Stanley Direct has the edge, while both are comparable for core shares and ETF research.
| Feature |
IG
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, IG or Charles Stanley Direct? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.
IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.
| Feature |
IG
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Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
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In the IG vs Charles Stanley Direct comparison, only IG offers crypto trading, while Charles Stanley Direct does not.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | IG Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | IG | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £10 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £10 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | N/A | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | £600 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | £600 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 minimum |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | 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 | IG | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 14 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 1 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | IG | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | IG Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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