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Charles Stanley Direct vs Webull 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

January 23, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Charles Stanley Direct vs Webull, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Charles Stanley Direct
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
Webull
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: No
  • SIPP: No

Fees

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, Webull 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 - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £57.50 per year, while Webull would cost 0.025% of trade value per year.

12 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £138 per year, while Webull would cost 0.025% of trade value per year.

36 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £414 per year, while Webull would cost 0.025% of trade value per year.

120 trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £1,380 per year, while Webull would cost 0.025% of trade value per year.

3 fund trades per year - Charles Stanley Direct would cost £0 per year, while Webull would cost £0 per year.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

For investors in the UK exploring online broker options, Charles Stanley Direct and Webull both bring unique offerings to the table. Charles Stanley Direct supports share trading, allowing users to actively participate in the stock market. Although neither platform facilitates crypto or spread betting, Charles Stanley Direct shines when it comes to a varied selection of investment choices such as trading in ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. They also offer advisor services, making them a comprehensive choice for long-term investors. In contrast, while Webull allows share trading, it does not extend its offerings to ETFs, funds, or bonds, making it a more straightforward platform for certain trades.

Charles Stanley Direct's robust selection of investment offerings earn them a strong reputation, with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices and a ranking of 6th out of 18 brokers. Webull, on the other hand, receives a 3-star rating and is ranked 21st in the same league. For UK investors seeking a wide range of investment vehicles and expert advisory services, Charles Stanley Direct could be the more promising option compared to Webull's more limited portfolio.

Feature Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Webull logoWebull
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
ETFs info Yes No
Funds info Yes No
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes info No
Investment Trusts info Yes No
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info Yes No
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

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Trading Tools

When examining trading tools, Charles Stanley Direct and Webull cater to different needs among UK investors. Webull excels in chart customisation, allowing users to display corporate events directly on charts and add notes, features not available with Charles Stanley Direct. Moreover, Webull offers an impressive 17 drawing tools compared to Charles Stanley Direct’s single option. However, Charles Stanley Direct edges ahead with a wider array of technical indicators, providing 14 compared to Webull's 12. Both platforms support index and stock overlays, although Webull lacks index overlays, contrasting with Charles Stanley Direct's offering.

Both platforms are accessible via browser-based trading and supply real-time market data, ensuring timely information for effective trading decisions. Additionally, users of either service can set alerts for stock price changes, aiding in efficient market monitoring. While Charles Stanley Direct focuses on technical indicators and overlays, Webull offers a richer visualisation experience with flexible charting features, catering to those who value comprehensive graphical analysis.

Feature Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Webull logoWebull
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 14 12
Charting - Drawing Tools info 1 info 17
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info No Yes info
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes Yes info
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No

ISAs and SIPPs

When comparing Charles Stanley Direct to Webull for retirement accounts, UK investors will find that Charles Stanley Direct offers more options. If you're considering opening an Individual Savings Account (ISA) or a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP), Charles Stanley Direct caters to your needs by providing both these account types. This is particularly beneficial for UK investors aiming to tax-efficiently save for their future. Conversely, Webull does not offer ISA or SIPP accounts, limiting its appeal for those specifically interested in retirement-focused saving plans available in the UK. Therefore, for those prioritizing a diverse range of retirement account options, Charles Stanley Direct stands out as a more favorable choice.

Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.

Mobile App

When it comes to mobile trading, both Charles Stanley Direct and Webull offer apps for iPhone and Android users, making it easy to trade on the go. However, Webull stands out, earning a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its mobile experience, while Charles Stanley Direct receives a 3.5-star rating. In terms of ranking among 18 brokers, Webull holds the 8th spot, suggesting a smoother user experience and wider features. In contrast, Charles Stanley Direct is ranked 20th, indicating there might be areas for improvement in its mobile offering. Overall, Webull appears to provide a more highly regarded mobile app experience for UK investors.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, Charles Stanley Direct stands out over Webull. While neither broker offers live webinars, Charles Stanley Direct allows users to access archived educational webinars on demand, a feature not available with Webull. Both brokers provide learning opportunities about share trading and funds, but Charles Stanley Direct sets itself apart by also covering retirement education, which Webull lacks. Rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com and ranked 12th out of 18 brokers for beginner education, Charles Stanley Direct offers a more comprehensive learning experience than Webull, which is rated 3.5 stars and ranked 19th. For UK investors starting their financial journey, Charles Stanley Direct offers a stronger educational foundation.

Feature Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Webull logoWebull
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When it comes to market research features, Charles Stanley Direct stands out for UK investors by offering a comprehensive range of resources. It provides research reports for funds and lets users view portfolio allocation by asset class, which Webull does not. Both platforms offer shares research, but Charles Stanley Direct goes further with research on ETFs and funds, areas where Webull lacks support. Neither platform offers research on CFDs or Bonds, ensuring that while Charles Stanley Direct provides extensive research tools, both services have their limitations.

Feature Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Webull logoWebull
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Bonds info No No
Research - Funds info Yes No
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes No

Charles Stanley Direct vs Webull Winner

Which broker is better overall, Charles Stanley Direct or Webull? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Charles Stanley Direct to be a better trading platform overall.

Feature Charles Stanley Direct logoCharles Stanley Direct
Webull logoWebull
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Mobile App 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Charles Stanley Direct or Webull?

When comparing online brokers Charles Stanley Direct and Webull, potential investors should note that as of now, neither platform offers cryptocurrency trading options.

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Overall Rating Charles Stanley Direct Webull
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Mobile App 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review Charles Stanley Direct Review Webull Review
Winner check_circle
Investments Charles Stanley Direct Webull
ISA info Yes No
SIPP info Yes No
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
Funds info Yes No
ETFs info Yes No
Bonds - Corporate info Yes No
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes info No
Investment Trusts info Yes No
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info Yes No
Trading Fees Charles Stanley Direct Webull
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £0 - £10 info 0.025% info
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £10 0.025% info
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £10 0.025%
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £57.50 0.025% of trade value info
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £138 0.025% of trade value info
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £414 0.025% of trade value info
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £1,380 0.025% of trade value info
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £90 - £102 N/A
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £60 - £600 £0
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £600 £0
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £600 £0
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £600 £0
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info £25 N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info £25 info N/A
ETFs - Fee info £10 info N/A
Investment Trusts - Fee info £10 N/A
Telephone Dealing Fee info £25 minimum N/A
Broker Screenshots Charles Stanley Direct Webull
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools Charles Stanley Direct Webull
Web Platform info Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 14 12
Charting - Drawing Tools info 1 info 17
Charting - Notes info No Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info No Yes info
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes Yes info
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Research Charles Stanley Direct Webull
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - Funds info Yes No
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Bonds info No No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes No
Education Charles Stanley Direct Webull
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Overall Summary Charles Stanley Direct Webull
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Mobile App 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review Charles Stanley Direct Review Webull Review
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