Charles Stanley Direct vs flatex - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Charles Stanley Direct vs flatex

Compare Charles Stanley Direct and flatex 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
flatex

flatex

German-market flat-fee investors

flatex is a German flat-fee online broker offering stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, CFDs, and free savings plans, …

Head-to-head comparison

Charles Stanley Direct vs flatex
Feature Charles Stanley Direct flatex
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee £10 per online trade; telephone dealing 1% (min £25, max £100) EUR 5.90 flat fee per order; additional exchange fees may apply
Regulators FCA BaFin
Best for UK long-term investors and fund holders German-market flat-fee investors
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
CFDs
-
Bonds
Funds
Isa
-
Sipp
-
Investment Plans
Ready Made Portfolios
-
Business Account
-
Demo Account
-

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
flatex

flatex

Pros

  • EUR 5.90 flat fee per trade regardless of order size
  • ETF and fund savings plans free of charge
  • No account, inactivity, custody, deposit, or withdrawal fees
  • Licensed German bank with BaFin regulation
  • Client cash covered by statutory deposit guarantee up to EUR 100,000
  • Securities held in segregated custody outside insolvency estate
  • Access to over 5,000 ETFs and funds

Cons

  • Platforms primarily in German, limiting accessibility for non-German speakers
  • flatex Trader 2.0 advanced platform costs EUR 15 per month
  • High FX conversion fee of 0.4% on non-EUR transactions
  • Bank transfer is the only deposit and withdrawal method
  • No options or futures trading
  • Crypto available only via ETPs and ETNs, not direct spot trading
  • Not available in most non-EU countries
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.

flatex

flatex

flatex is a German flat-fee online broker offering stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, CFDs, and free savings plans, regulated by BaFin as a licensed bank.

Visit flatex Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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