Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs Charles Stanley Direct, 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, Charles Stanley Direct offers better pricing than Saxo 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 - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £57.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year.
36 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year.
120 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Saxo would cost £0 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct 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 navigating the eclectic world of online investing, Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct present noteworthy options, each catering to a diverse array of financial interests. Both platforms offer share trading, ETF trading, funds trading, and the ability to invest in corporate and government bonds, making them versatile choices for portfolios. Additionally, both brokers provide investment trusts trading; however, only Charles Stanley Direct enhances its offerings with advisor services. Although neither Saxo nor Charles Stanley Direct facilitates crypto trading or spread betting, Saxo stands out with its provision for CFD trading, a feature not available with Charles Stanley Direct.
When evaluating the broader spectrum of investment choices, both brokers are awarded a five-star rating by UK.StockBrokers.com. Nevertheless, Saxo edges ahead, securing the top spot in their rankings among 21 brokers for investment options, while Charles Stanley Direct maintains a respectable sixth position. Whether you prefer a platform with comprehensive investment opportunities like Saxo or one that includes the guidance of advisor services like Charles Stanley Direct, both brokers offer robust capabilities to suit varying investment strategies.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | 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 UK investors seeking advanced trading tools, Saxo offers a more comprehensive suite compared to Charles Stanley Direct. While neither Saxo nor Charles Stanley Direct enable displaying corporate events on charts, Saxo provides a significantly greater set of drawing tools with 20 options, compared to just 1 offered by Charles Stanley Direct. Both platforms provide similar capabilities such as stock overlays, index overlays, and real-time market data. However, Saxo extends its functionality by allowing users to add notes directly to charts, a feature missing in Charles Stanley Direct.
When it comes to technical analysis, Saxo leads with 64 available indicators, dwarfing the 14 offered by Charles Stanley Direct. Both platforms support browser-based trading and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates. These features make both Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct accessible for traders who need timely information and the convenience of browser accessibility, yet Saxo stands out with its richer charting tools and capabilities. Whether you are an advanced trader or a beginner, Saxo offers more flexibility to tailor your trading experience.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing Saxo to Charles Stanley Direct for UK investors looking into retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). This similarity allows users of either broker to benefit from tax-efficient savings through ISAs and the flexibility of managing their pension funds with SIPPs. While both brokers provide these essential account types, prospective investors should also consider other factors such as fees, available investment options, and user experience to make an informed decision that best suits their financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps of Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct, both brokers offer options for iPhone and Android users. Saxo shines with a top ranking for its mobile app, securing the #1 spot out of 21 brokers and earning a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct's mobile app is ranked #20, with a moderate rating of 3.5 stars. This makes Saxo's app a premier choice for those seeking a seamless mobile trading experience in the UK.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources between Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct, each has unique offerings. Saxo provides educational client webinars, both live and on-demand, and is highly rated by UK.StockBrokers.com with a 5-star rating, ranking 3rd out of 21 brokers. However, Saxo lacks educational resources on share trading, funds, and retirement. Conversely, Charles Stanley Direct does not host live webinars but compensates by providing on-demand access. It excels in offering educational content on share trading, funds, and retirement topics. It holds a slightly lower 4.5-star rating and ranks 12th according to UK.StockBrokers.com. For UK beginners, choosing between Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct may depend on whether live webinars or specific investment topics like shares and retirement are more important to their learning journey.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct, UK investors will find that both platforms offer comprehensive research reports for funds and provide insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. Additionally, they both facilitate research on shares, ETFs, and funds, providing valuable information for making informed investment decisions. However, Saxo takes a broader approach by including research on CFDs and bonds, while Charles Stanley Direct does not offer these specific research options. Overall, both brokers excel in offering detailed market data, but Saxo provides a slightly wider range of research tools.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Saxo or Charles Stanley Direct? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Saxo to be a better trading platform overall.
Saxo’ trading platform is highly sophisticated and offers a huge range of international shares and funds. The biggest downside is the cost, as its charges are higher than its U.K. competitors. It's best suited for experienced investors rather than beginners.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Charles Stanley Direct
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When comparing online brokers Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct, neither platform offers crypto trading options, presenting a neutral ground for investors primarily interested in digital assets.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £0 - £10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £10 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £10 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | £57.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | £138 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | £414 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | £1,380 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | £90 - £102 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £800 | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 to £1,000 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,998 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £1,000 | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | €20 minimum | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | €20 minimum | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | From $1 | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | From $1 / £3 / €10 | £10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 minimum |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 14 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 1 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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