Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
ActivTrades vs Charles Stanley Direct
Where ActivTrades and Charles Stanley Direct differ
| Compare |  ActivTrades |  Charles Stanley Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | £1 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £10 |
| Account fee | $0 | £60 to £600 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Funds |
| Regulators | FCA, SCB, CMVM, FSC, BACEN | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Platforms | ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Charles Stanley Direct Trading |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84% | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- ActivTrades scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only ActivTrades offers FCA, SCB, CMVM.
- Regulators: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Markets: only ActivTrades offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Funds.
- Platforms: only ActivTrades offers ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Charles Stanley Direct Trading.
Our verdict on each
ActivTrades
ActivTrades suits active share and CFD traders who want broad market access with commission free dealing and flexible platform choice for everyday orders. Minimum deposit sits at $0, stock trade fee sits at $0 and retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, so careful risk controls remain essential.
Charles Stanley Direct
Charles Stanley Direct suits UK savers who want a pension or ISA wrapper from a long established provider rather than a trading app. Investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and a SIPP account fee runs £60 to £600 a year.
Score breakdown
| Area | ActivTrades | Charles Stanley Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherAccount fee sits at $0 so holding costs stay contained | 8.4Ranks 126 of 138 brands on account fee and 159 of 161 on stock trade fee. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCoverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex across shares and leveraged products | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.5HigherOversight includes FCA, SCB and CMVM with FCA cover for reassurance | 9.3 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | ActivTrades | Charles Stanley Direct |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | ActivTrades | Charles Stanley Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | ActivTrades | Charles Stanley Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 1 of 471 | 155 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ActivTrades | Charles Stanley Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1792 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ActivTrades | Charles Stanley Direct | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 3.3%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 47 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
ActivTrades
Pros
- Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing under commission free
- Minimum deposit sits at $0, below eToro at $50
- Funding terms read Free deposits and withdrawals for deposits and withdrawals
Cons
- Retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, above the CFD median at 72.05%
- Currency conversion on funding costs 0.5% for balances held in other currencies
- Cash interest sits at 3.3%, which limits appeal for cash heavy portfolios
Charles Stanley Direct
Pros
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- A minimum deposit of £1 keeps the first contribution small, and it ranks 82 of 213 on our minimum deposit data.
- The group has been running since 1792, so the name sits behind a long investment history.
Cons
- A SIPP account fee of £60 to £600 a year is the heaviest cost here, and the stock trade fee of £10 is higher than the $0 eToro lists.
- Support runs on email and phone only, with no live chat listed.
- The listed account types are isa and sipp, so there is no general investment account or joint option here.
Who each suits
ActivTrades
Who it suits
- New traders starting modestly with entry at $0 and practice via crypto, demo account and fractional shares
- Share traders wanting dealing at $0 across stocks, ETFs and forex with platform choice
- CFD traders wanting structured support via email, chat and phone where funding reads Free deposits and withdrawals
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders wanting crypto led dealing with very low cash entry may prefer Kraken at $1
- Traders wanting social and copy features may prefer eToro despite higher entry at $50
Charles Stanley Direct
Who it suits
- SIPP holders who self-invest in funds and shares and want a familiar name with Financial Conduct Authority oversight.
- ISA investors who want to top up an existing holding without a large first payment, given the £1 minimum.
- People who prefer phone and email contact, since support runs on email and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, where the stock trade fee is listed as $0, if you trade often rather than hold a pension.
- CFI, whose minimum deposit is listed as $0 in US dollars, if your budget is set in sterling.
- Vantage, whose minimum deposit is $5 in US dollars, if you want to start with a larger first payment.
Country by country
| Country | ActivTrades | Charles Stanley Direct |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
ActivTrades
What does ActivTrades charge for stock trades?+
Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing. The pricing model is described by commission free, which helps keep ticket costs predictable for equity orders. Spreads and conversion charges can still apply on leveraged trades, so review order previews and statements before dealing.
Is ActivTrades regulated and safe?+
Oversight comes via FCA, SCB and CMVM, including FCA cover alongside other regional entities. Eligible balances carry protection at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Protection applies under scheme rules and by entity, so confirm which entity serves your account during signup and keep account records.
Charles Stanley Direct
What does it cost to run a Charles Stanley Direct account?+
A SIPP carries an annual account fee of £60 to £600 and each stock trade costs £10. The account opens from a minimum deposit of £1, so the entry point is small, but the yearly charge is the number that shapes the total cost of holding. Both fees are quoted in pounds.
Is Charles Stanley Direct regulated, and is my money protected?+
The account is run by Raymond James Wealth Management Limited and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under licence 124412. Investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which is the scheme limit the provider publishes. That protection sits with the UK regulator, so eligible claims run through the UK compensation system.
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