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.
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 Robinhood UK 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.
For UK investors comparing investment choice, both Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK offer share dealing, and neither supports crypto or CFD trading. Charles Stanley Direct goes further with access to ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, gilts, and investment trusts, plus optional adviser services. By contrast, Robinhood UK does not offer ETFs, funds, bonds, or investment trusts.
Reflecting this wider range, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Charles Stanley Direct 5 out of 5 stars for investment choices, while Robinhood UK scores 3 out of 5. If you want simple share dealing, Robinhood UK may suffice; if you prefer a broader menu of investments and the option of advice, Charles Stanley Direct is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Mutual 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.
For UK investors comparing mobile apps, both Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK offer iPhone and Android support. UK.StockBrokers.com rates Charles Stanley Direct’s app at 3.5 out of 5 stars, while Robinhood UK scores 4 out of 5, indicating a slight edge for Robinhood UK. Mobile app rankings out of 21 brokers are not available for either provider, but these ratings help signal overall user satisfaction for iOS and Android users in the UK.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investor education, Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK both skip live client webinars, but only Charles Stanley Direct offers an on‑demand archive. Each provides guidance on share trading, while Charles Stanley Direct also covers funds and retirement, which Robinhood UK does not. UK.StockBrokers.com rates Charles Stanley Direct 4.5/5 for beginner education versus 3.5/5 for Robinhood UK, and no ranking is available for either among the 21 brokers reviewed.
| 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 examining the market research features offered by Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK, there are noticeable differences for UK investors. Charles Stanley Direct provides comprehensive research reports for funds and enables users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, features not available with Robinhood UK. Both brokers offer research on shares and ETFs, but Charles Stanley Direct goes a step further by providing research for funds, a feature absent in Robinhood UK offerings. However, when it comes to bonds research, neither Charles Stanley Direct nor Robinhood UK provides this service. For investors seeking in-depth analysis and a detailed understanding of fund investments and portfolio distribution, Charles Stanley Direct appears to offer a more informative experience.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | 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
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|---|---|---|
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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 | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| 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) | |||
| 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 | £60 - £600 | £0 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £600 | £0 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £600 | £0 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £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 | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | 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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