Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Stanley Direct vs Revolut, 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, Charles Stanley Direct offers better pricing than Revolut 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 Revolut would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year, while Revolut would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year, while Revolut would cost £47.88 per year.
120 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year, while Revolut would cost £540 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £0 per year, while Revolut would cost £0 - £540 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 Revolut are two options for UK investors seeking online broker services. Charles Stanley Direct offers a broad range of investment choices, including share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate and government bonds, and investment trusts. Additionally, it provides advisor services to help guide your investments. This wide array of offerings has earned Charles Stanley Direct an impressive 5-star rating for investment choices on UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 6th out of 21 brokers.
Revolut, a versatile financial platform, also offers share trading and adds cryptocurrency trading to its services, appealing to those interested in digital assets. However, it doesn't provide the options to trade ETFs, funds, bonds, or investment trusts, nor does it offer advisory services. As a result, Revolut receives a 3.5-star rating for investment choices, placing it 19th in the same ranking. Both platforms have unique strengths depending on the investor's preference for traditional securities or innovative digital trading options.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Revolut
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | 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 Charles Stanley Direct and Revolut, the differences become clear. Charles Stanley Direct offers a range of advanced charting features, including index and stock overlays, with a single drawing tool and 14 technical indicators to enhance your analysis. Though it doesn't display corporate events or allow note-taking on charts, it compensates with its browser-based platform, facilitating easier access to real-time market data and creating stock price alerts.
Conversely, Revolut's trading tools are more basic, as it lacks drawing tools, technical indicators, and chart overlays. While it does provide real-time market data and the ability to create stock price alerts, it doesn't offer a browser-based trading platform. For UK investors looking for more sophisticated charting capabilities and comprehensive data, Charles Stanley Direct clearly offers a more developed suite of tools compared to Revolut.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Revolut
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 14 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 1 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
When comparing retirement account offerings for UK investors, Charles Stanley Direct and Revolut present different options. Charles Stanley Direct provides both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), giving users the flexibility to save and invest for retirement with tax advantages. In contrast, Revolut currently does not offer ISA or SIPP accounts, which might limit options for those specifically looking to invest within these frameworks. Charles Stanley Direct may be more suitable for individuals prioritizing traditional retirement savings vehicles, whereas Revolut would suit users more interested in its other financial and banking services.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors exploring mobile trading options, Charles Stanley Direct and Revolut both provide apps for iOS and Android devices. While both platforms ensure accessibility via smartphones, user ratings and rankings differ significantly. UK.StockBrokers.com rates Revolut's app at 4 stars, placing it 14th among 21 brokers for mobile experience, highlighting its higher user satisfaction. On the other hand, Charles Stanley Direct garners a 3.5-star rating, ranking 20th, which may impact its appeal to those prioritizing seamless mobile functionality. Investing with Revolut might offer a more user-friendly experience if app performance is a key consideration.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors looking to enhance their knowledge, Charles Stanley Direct and Revolut offer differing educational resources. Charles Stanley Direct provides a more comprehensive learning experience with archived webinars available on-demand and covers topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. In contrast, Revolut does not offer archived webinars or specific content on these investment subjects. When evaluated by UK.StockBrokers.com, Charles Stanley Direct receives a rating of 4.5 stars for its beginner education resources, placing it at 12th out of 21 brokers. Meanwhile, Revolut is rated at 3.5 stars and ranks 21st, highlighting the more extensive educational support that Charles Stanley Direct offers to beginners compared to Revolut.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Revolut
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When it comes to market research features, Charles Stanley Direct stands out for offering detailed insights across various investment options, including research reports for funds, shares, and ETFs, as well as providing a clear view of portfolio allocation by asset class. In comparison, Revolut offers a more limited selection of research features. While it provides the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class and research on shares, it doesn’t extend the same depth of resources into research reports for funds, ETFs, or other investment types like CFDs and bonds. For investors keen on comprehensive research tools, Charles Stanley Direct may offer a more insightful experience than Revolut.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Revolut
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Charles Stanley Direct or Revolut? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Charles Stanley Direct to be a better trading platform overall.
Charles Stanley Direct allows you to invest in a wide range of products, including stocks and ETFs, using various accounts like tax-advantaged ISAs and SIPPs. However, fees are more expensive than similar platforms, although clients receive £50 worth of credit every six months to bring down the overall trading cost.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
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Revolut
|
|---|---|---|
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While Charles Stanley Direct does not offer crypto trading, Revolut provides the service to its users.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Stanley Direct | Revolut | |
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| Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | Revolut Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Charles Stanley Direct | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | ||
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Charles Stanley Direct | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 - £540 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £10 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £10 | 0.25% or £1 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £10 | 0.25% or £1 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £57.50 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £138 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £414 | £47.88 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,380 | £540 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £90 - £102 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £60 - £600 | £0 - £45 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £600 | £0 - £45 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £600 | £0 - £45 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £600 | £0 - £45 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £25 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £25 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £10 | N/A | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £10 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 minimum | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Stanley Direct | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | Charles Stanley Direct | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | 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 | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Charles Stanley Direct | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | ||
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Stanley Direct | Revolut | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Charles Stanley Direct | Revolut | |
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| Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | Revolut Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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