Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Stanley Direct vs Robinhood UK, 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, Robinhood UK 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 Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £0 per year, while Robinhood UK 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.
When comparing the investment choices offered by Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK, UK investors will find distinct differences. Charles Stanley Direct stands out with a wide array of options, including share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. Furthermore, they provide advisor services, enhancing the range of their offerings. In contrast, Robinhood UK only provides share trading and does not cater to investments in ETFs, funds, bonds, or investment trusts. This difference in variety and available services reflects in their UK.StockBrokers.com ratings, with Charles Stanley Direct receiving an impressive 5-star rating, while Robinhood UK is rated at 3 stars.
The rankings at UK.StockBrokers.com also highlight this disparity in investment choices, placing Charles Stanley Direct at a notable 6th position out of 21 brokers, whereas Robinhood UK is ranked 20th. Both platforms exclude crypto trading, spread betting, and CFD trading from their services. For UK investors prioritizing a broader range of traditional investment options and support services, Charles Stanley Direct emerges as the more comprehensive choice.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| 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 Robinhood UK, UK investors will find that both platforms lack the option to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts. Charles Stanley Direct distinguishes itself with one drawing tool and 14 technical indicators available for charting, while Robinhood UK offers none and three respectively. Although neither platform supports adding notes to charts, Charles Stanley Direct allows users to include index and stock overlays in their chart analysis, a feature Robinhood UK does not provide.
Both Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK supply browser-based trading platforms offering real-time market data and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates. However, Charles Stanley Direct provides more advanced charting features compared to Robinhood UK, appealing to those who favor in-depth technical analysis. Ultimately, your choice depends on whether you prioritize comprehensive chart tools or prefer a simpler platform for trading.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 14 | 3 |
| 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 the online brokerage options for retirement accounts in the UK, Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK offer distinct features tailored to different investor needs. Charles Stanley Direct provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making it a versatile choice for those looking to save for the future with tax-efficient options. In contrast, Robinhood UK does not offer ISAs or SIPPs, missing out on these popular retirement and savings account types. As such, Charles Stanley Direct might be the better fit for UK residents prioritizing long-term retirement planning through ISAs and SIPPs while Robinhood UK may be more appealing for users seeking a different investing experience without those specific account types.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile offerings of Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK, both provide iPhone and Android apps, ensuring convenient access for users on either platform. However, in terms of user satisfaction and features, Robinhood UK edges ahead with a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Charles Stanley Direct trails slightly with a 3.5-star rating. Additionally, in a ranking of 21 brokers for mobile apps, Robinhood UK is positioned more favorably at 13th place, compared to Charles Stanley Direct's 20th place. These insights suggest that Robinhood UK might offer a slightly more polished mobile experience for UK investors.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors looking for educational resources from an online broker in the UK, Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK offer different levels of support. While neither provider offers live educational webinars, Charles Stanley Direct stands out by offering archived webinars for on-demand viewing, a feature not provided by Robinhood UK. Both platforms cover the basics of share trading, but Charles Stanley Direct extends its educational offerings to include guidance on investment funds and retirement planning, areas that Robinhood UK does not address. Reflecting these differences, Charles Stanley Direct receives a higher beginner education rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 12th out of 21 brokers, compared to Robinhood UK's 3.5-star rating and 20th place rank.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK, UK investors will find notable differences in their offerings. Charles Stanley Direct provides extensive insights with research reports for funds and allows users to view portfolio allocation by asset class—features that Robinhood UK lacks. Both platforms offer research on shares and ETFs, but only Charles Stanley Direct extends this coverage to include funds, leaving Robinhood UK behind in this area. Neither platform offers research on CFDs or bonds, making them less ideal for those focused on these investment types.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Charles Stanley Direct or Robinhood UK? 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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Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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Both Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK do not offer crypto trading, making them similar in this aspect for UK investors seeking traditional investment platforms without cryptocurrency options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Charles Stanley Direct | Robinhood UK | |
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| Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Charles Stanley Direct | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Charles Stanley Direct | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 - £10 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £10 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £10 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £57.50 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £138 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £414 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,380 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £90 - £102 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £60 - £600 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £600 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £600 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £600 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £25 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £25 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £10 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £10 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 minimum | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Stanley Direct | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | Charles Stanley Direct | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 14 | 3 | |
| 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 | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Charles Stanley Direct | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Charles Stanley Direct | Robinhood UK | |
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| Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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