Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs Deriv
Charles Stanley Direct vs Deriv: the differences
| Compare |  Charles Stanley Direct |  Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1 | $5 |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74% |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Markets: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Funds.
- Markets: only Deriv offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Charles Stanley Direct Trading.
- Platforms: only Deriv offers Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader.
- Support channels: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Email, Phone.
- Support channels: only Deriv offers Help centre.
Our verdict on each
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.
Deriv
Deriv suits beginners and day-traders who want a $0 stock trade fee, a $5 minimum deposit and a demo account to practise on. Most retail accounts here lose money, at 74%, so the cheap entry is not a reason to trade lightly.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Ranks 126 of 138 brands on account fee and 159 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 8.9HigherAn inactivity fee of $25 is the weak spot, against $0 at Vantage. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 8.9Higher |
| Trust | 9.3 | Not confirmed |
Sources behind this comparison
Charles Stanley Direct
- charles-stanley-direct.co.uk: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingbrokers.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneytothemasses.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Deriv
- deriv.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokeranalysis.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxempire.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- fxleaders.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 155 of 471 | 160 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Day traders, Beginners |
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1792 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Deriv | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | £60 to £600highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25highest quarter | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74%above the median | 72.05% |
Median across 47 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
Deriv
Pros
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so no second broker is needed
- demo account, mobile app and crypto covers a demo account and a mobile app alongside Deriv Trader and Deriv MT5
- Built for beginners and day traders (day traders and beginners) rather than experienced traders only
Cons
- An inactivity fee of $25 applies to dormant balances, against $0 at Vantage
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone line or live chat listed
- Deriv reports that 74% of retail accounts lose money, above the 70.15% site median
Who each suits
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.
Deriv
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a demo account and a small minimum deposit before going live
- Day-traders who want stocks, etfs and forex in a single account
- Traders already comfortable with charting platforms, since Deriv MT5 is one of the platforms listed (Deriv MT5 and Deriv Trader)
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone leaving money parked for long: Vantage lists an inactivity fee of $0
- Traders who want futures in the same account: the markets at eToro, stocks, etfs and forex, include them
- Traders who want the smallest possible entry: CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Deriv |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Deriv
What does it cost to open a Deriv account?+
The minimum deposit is $5, so the account opens on a small balance. Stock trades are charged at $0, which sits inside a commission-free model, so no commission is added per trade. Beginners and day traders are the stated audience.
Will I be charged if my account sits idle?+
Yes. Deriv charges an inactivity fee of $25 on an account left unused, which is the main cost trap here. Vantage lists an inactivity fee of $0 by comparison, so a dormant balance is cheaper elsewhere. Move money you are not using rather than leaving it parked.
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