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.
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 Saxo 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.
Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct both let UK investors trade shares and ETFs, buy funds, and deal in fixed income such as corporate bonds and government bonds (gilts), plus invest in investment trusts. Saxo also supports crypto trading and CFD trading, which Charles Stanley Direct does not. Information on spread betting for either provider isn’t listed. If you want professional guidance, Charles Stanley Direct offers adviser services, while Saxo does not.
In independent reviews of investment choice by UK.StockBrokers.com, both earn 5 out of 5 stars, with Saxo ranked #1 of 21 brokers and Charles Stanley Direct ranked #6. In short: pick Saxo if you need crypto and CFDs alongside a wide range of shares, ETFs, funds, bonds, and trusts; choose Charles Stanley Direct if you value the same broad range but prefer access to adviser help.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | 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 comparing trading tools, Saxo offers deeper charting, with 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators versus Charles Stanley Direct’s 1 drawing tool and 14 indicators. Neither platform shows corporate events on charts or lets you add notes, and both support stock overlays; however, only Charles Stanley Direct supports index overlays.
Both Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct provide a browser-based platform and price alerts. If live pricing matters, Charles Stanley Direct offers real-time market data, while Saxo does not. In short, Saxo suits those who want more chart studies and drawing options, whereas Charles Stanley Direct stands out for index overlays and live data.
| 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 | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | 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.
For UK beginner investors comparing education, Saxo vs Charles Stanley Direct is straightforward: Saxo hosts live client webinars and keeps an on-demand archive, alongside clear guides on share trading, funds and retirement. Charles Stanley Direct also covers share trading, funds and retirement and offers on-demand educational videos, but does not run live client webinars. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Saxo earns 5/5 stars and ranks 3rd out of 21 for beginner education, while Charles Stanley Direct earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks 12th out of 21.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | 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, both brokers provide comprehensive tools for UK investors. Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct offer research reports for funds, allowing users to make informed investment choices. They each enable investors to see portfolio allocation by asset class, helping you understand where your money is invested. Both platforms provide research on shares, ETFs, and funds, which is excellent for diversifying your investment knowledge. However, Saxo stands out by offering bonds research, a feature not available with Charles Stanley Direct, making it slightly more appealing for those interested in bond investments.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| 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.
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Charles Stanley Direct
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Online broker Saxo offers cryptocurrency trading, whereas Charles Stanley Direct does not.
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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 | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | $1 / £3 / €3 | £0 - £10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | $1 / £3 / €3 | £10 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | $1 / £3 / €3 | £10 | |
| 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 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £600 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £600 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | €20 minimum | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | €20 minimum | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | From $1 | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0.03/0.06/0.08% | £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 | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | 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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