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.
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, 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 brokerage options, Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct present unique investment offerings. Trading 212 supports share trading, ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts, which makes it a versatile choice for users who want a diverse portfolio. Conversely, Charles Stanley Direct not only offers share trading and investment trusts but also facilitates trading in funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds (gilts), making it suitable for traditional investors who desire comprehensive options, including advisor services.
When it comes to ratings, Trading 212 receives 4.5 stars for investment choices, taking the 16th spot among 21 brokers on UK.StockBrokers.com. Charles Stanley Direct scores a perfect 5 stars, ranking 6th for its extensive range of investment choices. These insights suggest that while Trading 212 is streamlined for those focused on specific trading activities like CFDs and ETFs, Charles Stanley Direct provides a wider array of investment possibilities, catering to a broader investment strategy.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | 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.
When comparing Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct, there's a distinct difference in the tools available for charting and analysis. Trading 212 provides a rich environment for chart enthusiasts, offering the ability to view corporate events on charts, utilize 27 drawing tools, and apply 106 technical indicators. It's well-suited for users who like detailed chart annotations since it allows adding notes. Additionally, Trading 212 offers a comprehensive browser-based trading platform with real-time market data, and the ability to set up alerts for stock price updates, ensuring traders are always informed.
On the other hand, Charles Stanley Direct offers a simpler approach to charting. It provides a single drawing tool and 14 technical indicators, but it stands out by allowing users to overlay both indexes and individual stocks onto charts, which can offer a broader perspective on market trends. Like Trading 212, Charles Stanley Direct also includes a browser-based platform with real-time market access, and price alert functionalities. For traders focused on comparing stocks and indexes directly on charts, Charles Stanley Direct may offer the tools they need. However, for those who prioritize in-depth charting capabilities, Trading 212 offers a more comprehensive suite of features.
| 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 | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct for retirement account offerings in the UK, both platforms provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making them viable options for tax-efficient savings. However, a key difference appears when considering Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs): Trading 212 does not offer SIPP accounts, whereas Charles Stanley Direct does, providing a comprehensive retirement planning tool for those who prioritize pension investments alongside ISAs. Ultimately, this could make Charles Stanley Direct a more suitable choice for UK investors seeking a broader range of retirement account options.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps of Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct, both platforms cater to iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility regardless of your device. However, Trading 212 stands out with a top-tier performance, earning a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranking 3rd out of 21 brokers, showcasing its user-friendly experience and features. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct is rated 3.5 stars, sitting at the 20th position, indicating room for improvement in their app's overall functionality and user satisfaction. UK investors seeking seamless trading on the go may find Trading 212's app a more compelling choice.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK, Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct both offer a range of educational resources, but they differ in several key areas. Trading 212 provides education on share trading and funds but not on retirement planning, while Charles Stanley Direct covers all three topics. Charles Stanley Direct also offers webinars archived for on-demand viewing, an option not available with Trading 212. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 garners a solid 4-star rating for beginner education, ranking 13th out of 21 brokers, while Charles Stanley Direct earns a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars, placing it 12th. Overall, Charles Stanley Direct appears more comprehensive for beginners, particularly those interested in retirement planning and flexible learning options.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features offered by Trading 212 and Charles Stanley Direct, both platforms provide valuable insights for UK investors, yet they have distinct offerings. Trading 212 allows investors to assess portfolio allocations by asset class and provides research on shares, ETFs, and CFDs. However, it lacks research reports for funds and bonds. On the other hand, Charles Stanley Direct delivers comprehensive research, including reports on funds and the ability to analyze portfolio allocations by asset class. Both offer research on shares and ETFs, while CFD and bond research are not covered by Charles Stanley Direct. Ultimately, your choice might depend on whether you prioritize extensive fund research or CFD insights.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | 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
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Charles Stanley Direct
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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When comparing online brokers, Trading 212 stands out by offering cryptocurrency trading options, while Charles Stanley Direct does not provide crypto trading services.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | 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) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| 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 | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Charles Stanley Direct | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Charles Stanley Direct Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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