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.
Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct are both highly regarded online brokers in the UK, each offering a wide range of investment options for their customers. For those interested in share trading, both platforms have got you covered. Additionally, they each support trading of ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. However, if you're keen on CFD trading, Saxo might be the choice for you, as Charles Stanley Direct does not offer this service. It's important to note that neither broker supports crypto trading or spread betting.
While Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct both receive a commendable five-star rating for their investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, they differ in their rank among 18 brokers—Saxo takes the top spot at number one, while Charles Stanley Direct holds the sixth position. The difference in ranking might be influenced by Saxo's availability of CFD trading and the absence of advisor services, which Charles Stanley Direct does offer to its clients. Overall, both brokers provide a comprehensive suite of options to cater to a variety of 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.
For UK investors considering online brokerage services, Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct both provide mobile apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. While both brokers offer the convenience of mobile trading, Saxo distinguishes itself with a top ranking in mobile app performance by UK.StockBrokers.com, achieving a perfect 5-star rating. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct's mobile app holds a 3.5-star rating and a lower overall ranking. Among 18 brokers evaluated, Saxo claimed the number one spot for mobile apps, whereas Charles Stanley Direct placed twentieth, indicating a more streamlined and user-friendly experience with Saxo's app.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing educational resources for beginner investors between Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct, there are several key differences to consider for those in the UK. Saxo offers live client webinars, which is an advantage over Charles Stanley Direct; however, both platforms provide webinars that are archived for on-demand viewing. While Saxo lacks education focused on share trading, funds, and retirement, Charles Stanley Direct offers resources in these areas, making it a more diversified educational option for those specific topics. In terms of overall beginner education quality, Saxo edges ahead with a five-star rating and ranks third among 18 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct holds a slightly lower rating of 4.5 stars and is ranked twelfth. Overall, Saxo presents stronger overall beginner educational support, despite some gaps in specific topic coverage that Charles Stanley Direct provides.
| 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 |
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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education 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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