Charles Stanley Direct vs CMC Invest - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Charles Stanley Direct vs CMC Invest

Compare Charles Stanley Direct and CMC Invest side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Charles Stanley Direct

Charles Stanley Direct

UK long-term investors and fund holders

Charles Stanley Direct is a UK investment platform launched in 2013, offering stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, ISA…

VS
CMC Invest

CMC Invest

App-based long-term investors using ISAs and SIPPs

CMC Invest is an app-based investing platform with £0 commission, GIA, flexible ISAs, SIPP, stocks, ETFs and …

Head-to-head comparison

Charles Stanley Direct vs CMC Invest
Feature Charles Stanley Direct CMC Invest
Minimum deposit - £1
Stock trading fee £10 per online trade; telephone dealing 1% (min £25, max £100) £0 commission
Regulators FCA FCA
Best for UK long-term investors and fund holders App-based long-term investors using ISAs and SIPPs
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Bonds
-
Funds
Isa
Sipp
Investment Plans
-
Ready Made Portfolios
-
Business Account
-
Multi Currency
-

Pros & cons

Charles Stanley Direct

Charles Stanley Direct

Pros

  • FCA regulated with FSCS protection
  • Wide range of accounts: ISA, SIPP, Junior ISA, GIA, business account
  • Access to 12,500+ UK and international investments
  • No inactivity fee
  • No deposit or withdrawal fees
  • £50 trading credit every six months offsets dealing costs
  • In-house research and market commentary
  • Flexible ISA feature uncommon among competitors

Cons

  • No demo account
  • £10 per trade for shares, ETFs and investment trusts is among the highest of UK platforms
  • Annual platform fee minimum of £60 disadvantages smaller portfolios
  • Annual fee cap raised to £600 in 2024, increasing costs for mid-size portfolios
  • FX conversion charge of 1% on trades under £10,000
  • Bonds and gilts available by telephone only
  • No fractional shares
  • Basic mobile app lacks advanced charting and research tools
CMC Invest

CMC Invest

Pros

  • £0 commission on all in-app trades
  • Core plan has no monthly price plan fee
  • FX fee falls to 0.39% on Premium
  • USD and EUR wallets reduce repeat FX conversions
  • Uninvested cash earns up to 3.30% AER on Premium
  • Transfers can start in-app in as little as 30 seconds
  • Flexible ISAs allow same-year withdrawals and redeposits

Cons

  • Plus costs up to £6.99/month
  • Premium costs up to £10.99/month
  • Core FX fee is 0.99%
  • Failed payments or late settlement cost £25 plus interest
  • Paper documents cost £3 + VAT per document
  • UK share buys carry 0.50% stamp duty
  • UK share trades over £10,000 may add a £1 PTM levy
  • Mutual funds are only on Plus and Premium
Charles Stanley Direct

Charles Stanley Direct

Charles Stanley Direct is a UK investment platform launched in 2013, offering stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, ISA, SIPP and Junior ISA accounts with in-house research.

Visit Charles Stanley Direct Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

CMC Invest

CMC Invest

CMC Invest is an app-based investing platform with £0 commission, GIA, flexible ISAs, SIPP, stocks, ETFs and mutual funds. FX and plan fees vary by tier.

Visit CMC Invest Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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