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.
For UK investors exploring online brokers, Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK offer distinct avenues in share trading, yet they diverge significantly in their investment options. Charles Stanley Direct provides a comprehensive range of investment opportunities, including share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate and government bonds, as well as investment trusts. It also extends advisor services, making it an option for those seeking guidance alongside their trading activities. On the other hand, Robinhood UK is more limited in scope, offering share trading while lacking access to crypto trading, ETFs, funds, bonds, investment trusts, and advisor services.
In terms of expert ratings, Charles Stanley Direct earns a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its diverse investment choices, securing a position as the 6th best broker out of 21 in this category. Conversely, Robinhood UK receives a lower assessment, with a 3-star rating and a ranking of 20th out of 21 brokers. For UK investors prioritizing a wide array of investment options, Charles Stanley Direct clearly stands out in this comparison.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| 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 Robinhood UK, it's clear that Charles Stanley Direct provides more features for chart enthusiasts. While both platforms offer browser-based trading and real-time market data, Charles Stanley Direct allows users to add index and stock overlays to charts, and it provides 14 technical indicators along with one drawing tool for enhanced analysis. Unfortunately, Robinhood UK does not offer such options for overlays or drawing tools, and it includes only three technical indicators, limiting its charting capabilities.
For traders keen on following market movements closely, Charles Stanley Direct also supports the creation of alerts for stock price updates, matching Robinhood UK's offering in this area. However, when it comes to incorporating corporate events like earnings or dividends into chart visualizations, neither platform provides this feature. Both platforms also lack the ability to add notes to charts, which could be a consideration for investors looking to annotate their analysis.
| 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 | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
When comparing Charles Stanley Direct to Robinhood UK for retirement account offerings, it's important to note the differences between these two online brokerages. Charles Stanley Direct provides both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), offering UK investors versatile options for saving and growing their money with tax efficiency. In contrast, Robinhood UK does not offer ISA or SIPP accounts, which might limit its appeal for those looking to benefit from the tax advantages associated with these types of UK retirement accounts. Therefore, Charles Stanley Direct emerges as a more comprehensive choice for UK-based investors seeking diverse options in their retirement planning.
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.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by Charles Stanley Direct and Robinhood UK, there are notable differences that UK readers should consider. Charles Stanley Direct provides a comprehensive learning experience, including archived webinars that you can view on demand. They cover essential topics like share trading, funds, and retirement, earning a respectable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. This puts them at the 12th position out of 21 brokers for beginner education. In contrast, Robinhood UK, offering education specifically on share trading, holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 20th. Their resources seem less developed, particularly in areas beyond share trading, such as funds and retirement. Thus, for more well-rounded educational support, Charles Stanley Direct has an apparent edge over Robinhood UK.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| 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, Charles Stanley Direct stands out in several areas. For UK investors seeking comprehensive research capabilities, Charles Stanley Direct offers in-depth reports for funds, alongside tools to view your portfolio allocation by asset class. Additionally, it provides research for shares, ETFs, and funds, giving users a broad spectrum of investment insights. On the other hand, Robinhood UK offers research for shares and ETFs but does not provide specific reports for funds or tools to assess portfolio allocation by asset class. Both platforms do not offer research support for CFDs or bonds, making Charles Stanley Direct a more suitable choice for those prioritizing extensive research resources across a wider variety of asset types.
| Feature |
Charles Stanley Direct
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
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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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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While Charles Stanley Direct does not offer crypto trading, Robinhood UK provides the ability to trade cryptocurrencies, making it a more comprehensive option for investors interested in digital assets.
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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 | ||
| 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 | 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 | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Charles Stanley Direct | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | Charles Stanley Direct | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| 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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