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.
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.
When choosing between Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct for your investment needs, both platforms offer a range of trading options appealing to UK investors. Both Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct support share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, providing varied options for enhancing your investment portfolio. However, Saxo stands out with the additional availability of CFD trading, a feature not mentioned for Charles Stanley Direct. Furthermore, Charles Stanley Direct offers advisor services, which might be beneficial if you're seeking professional investment guidance.
Rated five stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, both Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct are top contenders in the financial landscape. However, Saxo boasts a prestigious first-place ranking out of 21 brokers, signaling its leading status in offering diverse investment choices. Charles Stanley Direct also excels in this regard, ranking sixth, which underscores its capability to offer a solid range of investment options. Whether you prioritize a supportive advisor service or a comprehensive array of trading avenues, both platforms serve as reliable choices for UK investors.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Charles Stanley Direct
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | 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.
For UK investors comparing Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct in terms of trading tools, there are notable differences and similarities. Saxo provides an enriched charting experience with the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature not available with Charles Stanley Direct. Saxo outshines in drawing and technical capabilities, offering 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators, while Charles Stanley Direct provides only 1 drawing tool and 14 indicators. Both brokers allow index and stock overlays on charts, but only Saxo enables adding notes to charts, offering traders enhanced customization and insight recording.
Both Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct offer easy access to their services through browser-based trading platforms and support the creation of alerts for stock price updates, enhancing timely investment decisions. Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct ensure traders stay informed with real-time market data, making them both strong contenders for investors focused on staying updated. However, the depth of tools and abilities Saxo offers makes it more suited for those who want a broader range of features for in-depth chart analysis.
| 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 | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| 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.
For UK investors looking to start their journey, Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct both offer dependable educational resources. While Saxo provides live webinars that can be accessed on demand, Charles Stanley Direct similarly offers this feature, enhancing flexibility for new learners. When it comes to covering various investment topics, Charles Stanley Direct stands out by offering educational resources on share trading, funds, and retirement, whereas Saxo does not specialize in these areas. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Saxo is highly rated with 5 stars for beginner education, ranking 3rd out of 21 brokers, whereas Charles Stanley Direct, with a rating of 4.5 stars, is positioned 12th. This comparison highlights Saxo's superior beginner education rating, although Charles Stanley Direct provides a more comprehensive range of investment topics for novices.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | 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 online brokers Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct for UK investors, both platforms provide comprehensive research reports for funds, allowing users to make informed investment decisions. Portfolio allocation by asset class is also supported by both brokers, ensuring a clear view of investments. Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct offer research on shares, ETFs, and funds, giving investors ample information on these asset types. However, Saxo stands out by providing research on CFDs and bonds, a feature not available with Charles Stanley Direct. For investors seeking extensive market insights, both brokers have strong offerings, but Saxo provides added depth in certain areas.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | 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.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Charles Stanley Direct
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|---|---|---|
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When comparing online brokers Saxo and Charles Stanley Direct in terms of cryptocurrency trading options, Saxo offers crypto trading while Charles Stanley Direct does not, making Saxo a better choice for investors interested in digital currencies.
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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 | ||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | 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 | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| 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 | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| 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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