The best alternatives to Charles Stanley Direct are
- Hargreaves Lansdown - UK-based stockbroker
- DEGIRO - Dutch discount broker
- AJ Bell Youinvest - UK discount broker
- Interactive Investor - UK stockbroker
Let's see in a bit more detail how the Charles Stanley Direct alternatives compare to Charles Stanley Direct and each other:
| Charles Stanley Direct | Hargreaves Lansdown | DEGIRO | AJ Bell Youinvest | Interactive Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| Fees score | 3.9 stars | 2.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.2 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Account opening score | 4.9 stars | 4.3 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Web platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.9 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Markets and products score | 1.4 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.6 stars | 3.1 stars | 3.0 stars |
| Find out more | Find out more | Find out more | Find out more | Find out more |
Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to Charles Stanley Direct? There are many areas based on which Charles Stanley Direct can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to Charles Stanley Direct we mean these brokers are comparable in the following areas:
- The products they offer, meaning you can buy mostly the same things, i.e. stocks, CFDs, options, etc.
- The type of clients they target, i.e. beginners, experienced investors, or day traders.
Charles Stanley Direct alternatives recommendations
Brokers are different in a number of ways, which means each of them may be suitable for different people. Here's how they compare overall:
- Charles Stanley Direct is recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the uk market
- Hargreaves Lansdown is recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms
- DEGIRO is recommended for price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions
- AJ Bell Youinvest is recommended for beginners and investors with small and medium portfolios focusing on the uk market
- Interactive Investor is recommended for beginners and investors focusing on the uk market
Important factors of finding Charles Stanley Direct alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 71 online brokers in detail, which gives this comparison a solid starting point.
Not only that, but all of these brokers are reviewed using the exact same broker review methodology, which makes everything easily comparable. For each broker, we
- open a live account
- check over 100 criteria, with weighting based on readers' preferences
- refresh data regularly
Whether Charles Stanley Direct or one of its alternatives is the best choice for you is on the following five broker characteristics that most interest people:
Fees. There are different types of fees that your online brokerage may charge, and both the number and the size of these fees may vary significantly from broker to broker. Both of these aspects can impact your returns and your overall experience. Charles Stanley Direct is one of the cheaper brokers, so if this is an important consideration for you, make sure you pick a similarly low-cost Charles Stanley Direct alternative.
Deposit/withdrawal. The number of ways that you can deposit or withdraw money to or from your account matters a lot. For example, while you can make a deposit with a credit card at Charles Stanley Direct, this might not be the case at its alternatives.
Web trading platform. While online brokers are usually available on various platforms like mobile apps, tablet apps or desktop software, most people use them through their web platform in a browser. User-friendly trading platforms that offer many different resources can significantly increase your trading comfort.
Markets and products. A lot of people have specific products they would like to invest in. Knowing whether stocks, forex, mutual funds, and other products are available at the given Charles Stanley Direct alternative is a must.
Now let's dive into the details of how Charles Stanley Direct and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!
Charles Stanley Direct alternatives
Charles Stanley Direct
Charles Stanley Direct was founded in 1988 and it is a UK-based stockbroker. It is regulated by the top-tier Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It is also constituent of FTSE 100, a stock index of the biggest listed companies in the UK.
Charles Stanley Direct is considered safe because it has a long track record, it is listed on a stock exchange, and it is regulated by a top-tier regulator.
Recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the uk market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Great customer service | • Limited education |
| • Easy deposit and withdrawal | • Basic reserach tools |
Fees
Charles Stanley Direct has low fund fees, but the stock and ETF fees are average. It has low non-trading fees as well.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • Average stock and ETF fees |
| • Low fund fees |
| Charles Stanley Direct | Hargreaves Lansdown | DEGIRO | AJ Bell Youinvest | Interactive Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | - | $14.3 | $0.6 | $11.9 | $9.6 |
| UK stock | $13.8 | $14.3 | $2.4 | $11.9 | $9.6 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k
Account opening
As long as you have a UK passport Charles Stanley Direct's account opening process is quick and easy. If you don't have a UK passport, you have to send the photocopied documents by post which is less comfy.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Available only for UK residents |
| • Low minimum deposit | |
| • User-friendly |
| Charles Stanley Direct | Hargreaves Lansdown | DEGIRO | AJ Bell Youinvest | Interactive Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $24 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day |
Learn more about Charles Stanley Direct minimum deposit here.
Deposit and withdrawal
Depositing and withdrawing money is easy and free with debit card or bank transfer at Charles Stanley Direct. Unfortunately, accounts are only available in GBP.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Charles Stanley Direct | Hargreaves Lansdown | DEGIRO | AJ Bell Youinvest | Interactive Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
The web trading platform is user-friendly and delivers some of the basic functionalities. However, it lacks safe login, customizability, and advanced order types.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Price alerts | • Limited order types |
| Charles Stanley Direct | Hargreaves Lansdown | DEGIRO | AJ Bell Youinvest | Interactive Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.9 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.0 stars | 3.9 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 2.6 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - | - | - | - |
Learn more about Charles Stanley Direct's web trading platform in the detailed Charles Stanley Direct review.
Markets and products
Charles Stanley Direct's product selection covers only UK stocks, ETFs, and UK-based mutual funds. However, international stocks and bonds can be traded only offline. Options, futures, CFDs, and cryptos are missing completely.
| Charles Stanley Direct | Hargreaves Lansdown | DEGIRO | AJ Bell Youinvest | Interactive Investor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No | No | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Options | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| CFD | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Verdict
Charles Stanley Direct is a UK stockbroker regulated by the FCA and listed on the London Stock Exchange.
On the positive side, it has low fund fees. Customer service is great, you will get relevant answers within a short time. The deposit and withdrawal are easy and free.
It has some drawbacks though. You can trade only stock, ETF, and mutual funds online. Educational and research tools are limited.
As the minimum deposit is low and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to try Charles Stanley Direct.
| Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Charles Stanley Direct is a UK broker, regulated by the top-tier FCA. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100, a stock index of the biggest listed companies in the UK. |
| Fees score | 3.9 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the UK market |
Charles Stanley Direct alternatives
Hargreaves Lansdown
Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the biggest UK-based stockbrokers. It was founded in 1981 and is regulated by the top-tier Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In addition, it is a listed company and a constituent of the FTSE 100, a stock index of the biggest listed companies in the UK.
Hargreaves Lansdown is considered safe because it has a long track record, is regulated by a top-tier authority, and is listed on a stock exchange.
Recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Easy-to-use trading platforms | • High fees for stocks and ETFs |
| • High-quality educational tools | • Offline account opening for clients outside the UK |
| • Great customer service | • Only GBP base currency |
Fees
Hargreaves Lansdown has high trading fees for stocks and ETFs. On the plus side, the fund and bond trading fees are low and there is no inactivity fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • High stock and ETF fees |
| • No withdrawal fee | • Currency conversion fee |
| • Low fees for funds and bonds |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $28.9 | - |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $29.2 | $28.7 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Hargreaves Lansdown's account opening process is quick and easy as long as you're in the UK and they manage to electronically verify you. If this fails or you live outside the UK, you have to send the photocopied documents by post.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Offline account opening for non-UK clients |
| • No minimum deposit | |
| • Fully digital for UK clients |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $24 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Hargreaves Lansdown minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Depositing and withdrawing money is easy and free with a debit card or fast bank transfers at Hargreaves Lansdown. Unfortunately, accounts are available only in GBP.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Hargreaves Lansdown's web platform is great. It is user-friendly and easy to use. However, it lacks a two-step login and customizability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Good search function |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.7 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.9 stars | 3.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Hargreaves Lansdown's web trading platform in the detailed Hargreaves Lansdown review.
Markets and products
Hargreaves Lansdown offers a lot of funds, and you can access an average number of stock markets. You can trade with forex, CFDs and cryptos via IG, another broker. There are no options or futures.
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the biggest UK brokers and is regulated by a top-tier authority.
Its customer service is great, providing you with relevant answers within a short time. The web and mobile trading platforms are user-friendly and the educational tools are high-quality.
It has some drawbacks though: it has high fees for stocks and ETFs, account opening for clients outside the UK is not fully digital, and there is only one base currency (GBP).
As there is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee, Hargreaves Lansdown is a good choice for opening a trading account.
| Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown is a UK broker, regulated by the top-tier FCA. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100, a stock index of the biggest listed companies in the UK. |
| Fees score | 2.8 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms |
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Charles Stanley Direct alternatives
DEGIRO
DEGIRO is a Dutch online discount broker. It is privately owned and was established in 2008 by former employees of another brokerage company.
DEGIRO is regulated by top-tier financial authorities such as the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). It is registered with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Amsterdam.
As of July 2020, DEGIRO no longer keeps a waiting list for new clients.
Recommended for price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • One of the lowest fees on the market | • Forex not available |
| • Regulated by multiple top-tier regulators | • Limited research and education |
| • Easy-to-use web and mobile platform | • No credit/debit card deposit |
Fees
DEGIRO has low trading and non-trading fees. In most asset classes, it is the best on the market. You can trade some ETFs for free once a month - a great deal for buy-and-hold investors.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Higher trading fees for Asian and smaller European stock exchanges |
| • Low non-trading fees | |
| • Low stock and ETF fees |
| DEGIRO | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $1.4 | - |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $5.3 | $28.7 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
DEGIRO no longer keeps a waiting list for new users, and no minimum deposit is required. The account creation process is once again fast and fully digital.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| DEGIRO | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $24 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in DEGIRO minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
DEGIRO deposits and withdrawals are free of charge via bank transfer. On the other hand, you cannot deposit funds using a credit or debit card.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free withdrawal | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Several account base currencies |
| DEGIRO | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
DEGIRO's web platform is simple and easy to use, even for beginners. On the negative side, you cannot set price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • No price alerts |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| DEGIRO | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.9 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.4 stars | 3.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about DEGIRO's web trading platform in the detailed DEGIRO review.
Markets and products
At DEGIRO, you can access many markets and trade a lot of different products. CFD and forex are not available, though.
| DEGIRO | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
DEGIRO is a good choice if you want a simple platform and don’t want to spend too much on fees.
Transaction costs are generally very low. DEGIRO also has one of the best trading platforms for Europeans. In addition, the account opening process is now fast again, as a recent temporary waiting list has been scrapped.
On the other hand, education and research tools are limited. We should also mention that there is no forex trading, and most clients can only deposit and withdraw by bank transfer.
All in all, DEGIRO is a great online broker. There is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee, so feel free to go ahead and give it a try.
| DEGIRO | |
|---|---|
| Summary | DEGIRO is a Dutch discount broker established in 2008. It is regulated by the Dutch FMA. As of March 25, 2020, DEGIRO introduced a waiting list for new customers. Longer than usual account opening times are expected. |
| Fees score | 5.0 stars |
| Recommended for | Price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions |
Charles Stanley Direct alternatives
AJ Bell Youinvest
AJ Bell Youinvest was founded in 1995 and it is one of the biggest discount brokers in the UK. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
AJ Bell Youinvest is considered safe because it has a long track record, is listed on a stock exchange, and is regulated by a top-tier regulator.
Recommended for beginners and investors with small and medium portfolios focusing on the uk market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast account opening | • Limited product offer |
| • Easy to use trading platforms | • Basic technical research tools |
| • Great customer service |
Fees
AJ Bell Youinvest has low fund fees, and the non-trading fees are reasonable as well. Deposit and withdrawal transfers are not charged. On the negative side, you have to pay custody fee based on your trading and asset volume.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • Custody fee |
| • No withdrawal fee | |
| • Low mutual fund fees |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $24.2 | - |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $24.5 | $28.7 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Quick, user-friendly and fully digital account opening process without a required minimum account balance. The downside: it's only available for UK residents.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Available only for UK residents |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $24 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in AJ Bell Youinvest minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Deposits and withdrawals are free and user-friendly at AJ Bell Youinvest. However, accounts are available only in GBP, and one-off deposits cannot be sent via bank transfer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | • Bank transfer is not available for one-off deposits |
| • No deposit fee |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
AJ Bell Yoinvest's web platform is great. It is user-friendly and well-designed. Two-step login is available and fee reports are clear. On the negative side, customizability is limited and price alerts are not available.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • No price alerts |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.8 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.3 stars | 3.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about AJ Bell Youinvest's web trading platform in the detailed AJ Bell Youinvest review.
Markets and products
AJ Bell Youinvest has a limited product portfolio. It offers stock, ETF and fund, but lacks forex, options, futures, and CFDs. Bonds can be traded only on the phone.
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | No | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
AJ Bell Youinvest is one of the biggest UK discount brokers regulated by the top-tier FCA.
Fees are average and it has a fast and easy account opening process. The web and mobile trading platforms are user-friendly. Its customer service is great, you will get relevant answers within a short time.
It has some drawbacks though. You can trade only stock, ETF, and mutual funds and the technical research tools are limited.
As there is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to try AJ Bell Youinvest.
| AJ Bell Youinvest | |
|---|---|
| Summary | AJ Bell Youinvest is a UK direct-to-investor investment platform. AJ Bell is listed on the London Stock Exchange and regulated by the FCA. |
| Fees score | 3.2 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and investors with small and medium portfolios focusing on the UK market |
Charles Stanley Direct alternatives
Interactive Investor
Interactive Investor (ii) was founded in 1995 and incorporated in its current form in 2003. It is the second biggest UK stockbrokers, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
ii is considered safe because it has a long track record, and it is regulated by a top-tier regulator.
Recommended for beginners and investors focusing on the uk market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly trading platforms | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Fast and easy deposit and withdrawal | • Basic charting and analytic tools |
| • Great customer service | • Monthly account fee |
Fees
Interactive Investor has average trading fees and low non-trading fees. On the other hand, it charges a monthly account fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • Monthly account fee |
| • Low fund fees | |
| • No withdrawal fee |
| Interactive Investor | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $19.4 | - |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $19.7 | $28.7 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Opening an account with Interactive Investor is fast and fully digital. There is no minimum deposit. An account opening can be troublesome if you lived outside the UK during the past 3 years.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • No option to provide addresses outside the UK for the past 3 years |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| Interactive Investor | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $24 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days |
If you are interested more in Interactive Investor minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
The deposit and withdrawal are easy, quick, and in most cases, free. You can also use credit/debit cards for deposits. On the negative side, electronic wallets and credit/debit cards for withdrawal are missing.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • No credit/Debit card withdrawal |
| • Credit/Debit card deposit | |
| • Free withdrawal for non-instant GBP and EUR withdrawal |
| Interactive Investor | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Interactive Investor's web platform is user-friendly and easy to use. There are no two-step login option and the platform cannot be customized.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Good search function |
| Interactive Investor | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.8 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 2.6 stars | 3.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Interactive Investor's web trading platform in the detailed Interactive Investor review.
Markets and products
Interactive Investor offers stocks, ETFs, funds, and bonds. Funds and bonds cover only the UK market. Other asset classes, like forex, futures, or CFDs are available through partners.
| Interactive Investor | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Interactive Investor is one of the biggest UK brokers regulated by the top-tier FCA.
It has user-friendly and well-designed trading platforms. The deposit and withdrawal are easy and fast. Its customer service is great, you will get relevant answers within a short time.
It has some drawbacks though. The product offer covers only traditional products, like stock or funds and mostly on the UK market. The technical research tools are limited, and there is a monthly account fee.
As there is no minimum deposit and you can use great trading platforms, feel free to try Interactive Investor.
| Interactive Investor | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Interactive Investor is a UK-based direct-to-investor investment service. It is regulated by the top-tier FCA. |
| Fees score | 3.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and investors focusing on the UK market |
Charles Stanley Direct alternatives
Bottom line
Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to Charles Stanley Direct. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.
| Broker | Info | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Stanley Direct | UK-based stockbroker | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the UK market |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | UK-based stockbroker | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms |
| DEGIRO | Dutch discount broker | Price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | UK discount broker | Beginners and investors with small and medium portfolios focusing on the UK market |
| Interactive Investor | UK stockbroker | Beginners and investors focusing on the UK market |
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