Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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, Trading 212 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 - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £57.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 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 exploring online trading platforms, Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct offer a range of investment choices tailored to suit different needs. Both platforms support share trading and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), providing ample opportunities for investing in popular financial instruments. However, a key difference emerges with Trading 212's offering of Contract for Difference (CFD) trading, which Charles Stanley Direct does not support. On the other hand, Charles Stanley Direct has the edge when it comes to a broader array of investment options, including funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and access to advisor services—features absent from Trading 212.
While Trading 212 is rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, Charles Stanley Direct earns a full 5-star rating, reflecting its comprehensive range of offerings. Consequently, in rankings for investment choices among 18 brokers, Trading 212 holds the 16th position, whereas Charles Stanley Direct secures a commendable 6th place. These differences highlight priorities for investors: whether they prefer the diversified and advisory-rich environment at Charles Stanley Direct or the selective offerings with CFD trading available at Trading 212.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct, UK investors will find notable differences that suit varying trading styles. Trading 212 stands out with an impressive array of 27 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, allowing for in-depth chart analysis. Moreover, users can personalize their experience by adding notes directly to charts, although the platform lacks the ability to display corporate events or include index and stock overlays. This makes Trading 212 ideal for traders who prioritize detailed technical analysis over contextual data visualization.
Conversely, Charles Stanley Direct offers a more limited selection of charting tools, providing only 1 drawing tool and 14 technical indicators. However, it compensates for this by enabling the addition of both index and stock overlays, offering traders a broader context of market movements. While it lacks the feature to add notes to charts, Charles Stanley Direct does equip users with real-time market data and stock price alerts, ensuring timely trading decisions. Both platforms support browser-based trading, catering to traders seeking flexibility and prompt access to crucial market updates.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 14 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 1 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct, UK investors will find that both platforms provide options for Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), which are a tax-efficient way to save and invest. However, a significant distinction arises if you're considering options for retirement savings. Trading 212 does not offer Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) accounts, whereas Charles Stanley Direct does provide this option, allowing more flexibility for those looking to grow their pension pot. This makes Charles Stanley Direct a more comprehensive choice for individuals keen on managing both their ISA investments and retirement savings under one platform.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing online brokerages Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct, both offer iPhone and Android apps, making it convenient for UK investors to manage their portfolios on the go. Trading 212 shines with a perfect 5-star rating by UK.StockBrokers.com and holds an impressive #3 spot out of 18 brokers for mobile app performance. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct secures a 3.5-star rating and ranks #20, indicating a significant gap in user experience between the two. For those prioritizing high-quality mobile trading, Trading 212 clearly stands out as the more favorable option.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources from online brokers, Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct present distinct offerings. Trading 212 provides educational materials targeting share trading and funds but lacks webinars, both live and on demand, and offers no retirement education. Charles Stanley Direct shares similar educational content on shares and funds but stands out by offering on-demand webinar archives and retirement education. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranks 13th out of 18 brokers for beginner education, while Charles Stanley Direct scores slightly higher at 4.5 stars and ranks 12th.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct for market research features, each presents distinct advantages. UK investors will find that both platforms facilitate detailed analysis of shares and ETFs, along with portfolio allocation by asset class. However, Charles Stanley Direct stands out by providing comprehensive research reports for funds, a feature absent in Trading 212. On the other hand, Trading 212 offers research on CFDs, a tool not available with Charles Stanley Direct. Neither broker provides research reports for bonds. These differences cater to varied investor preferences, from those keen on fund insights with Charles Stanley Direct, to those looking to explore CFDs through Trading 212.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or Charles Stanley Direct? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct do not offer crypto trading, making them similar in terms of cryptocurrency availability for investors.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £10 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £10 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £57.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £138 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £414 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £1,380 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £90 - £102 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £60 - £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £600 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £600 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £25 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £25 | |
| ETFs - Fee | 0 | £10 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | £10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 minimum |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 14 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 1 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
Trading 212 Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
XTB Review
IG Group Review
eToro Review
Saxo Review
CMC Invest Review
Freetrade Review
Halifax Review
Vanguard Review