Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs Freetrade
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Charles Stanley Direct |  Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £10 | £0Lower |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | £0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | App, Web |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | ISA, SIPP, JisaCovers more |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.99% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1% |
Same on both: Minimum deposit (£1), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Charles Stanley Direct scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Founded is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: 1792 vs 2016.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Freetrade: £0 vs £10.
- Account fee is lower at Freetrade: £0 vs £60 to £600.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Bonds.
- Platforms: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Charles Stanley Direct Trading.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers Jisa.
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.
Freetrade
Freetrade suits UK beginners who want to buy shares, ETFs, bonds and funds without paying a dealing charge or an annual account fee. Regulation sits with the Financial Conduct Authority and holdings are covered by the FSCS, though a currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies and support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Ranks 126 of 138 brands on account fee and 159 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 9.0HigherStock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.1HigherA UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.5 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Charles Stanley Direct | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Charles Stanley Direct | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Jisa | No | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 |
Available in 1 country for both.
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 147 of 490 | 171 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 32 of 85 | 36 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 6 of 21 | 9 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 5 of 22 | 8 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo account |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | Freetrade Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1792Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Freetrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1lowest quarter | £1lowest quarter | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.99%highest quarter | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 1%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 34 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.
Freetrade
Pros
- Dealing commission of £0 and an account fee of £0 keep the running cost of an ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA low.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, with protection stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- Fractional shares and a demo account let you size positions in small amounts and practise before committing money.
Cons
- A currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies whenever you hold investments in more than one currency.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed for account or transfer questions.
- The account range is limited to isa, sipp and jisa, so there is no general investment account for shares outside a wrapper.
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.
Freetrade
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a stocks and shares ISA or Junior ISA with small monthly amounts
- Long-term investors who want to hold a simple share and ETF portfolio without a dealing charge
- SIPP holders who prefer an app and web platform to a phone-only service
Who should look elsewhere
- People who need a general investment account outside a tax wrapper
- Investors who trade frequently in several currencies, because the 0.99% conversion fee applies each time
- Anyone who wants to speak to support by phone, as support runs on email, chat and help centre only
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Freetrade |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
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.
Freetrade
How much does it cost to buy shares on Freetrade?+
The dealing charge is £0 and the account fee is £0. Those two cover the trading and holding side of a stocks and shares ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA. The charge that appears is currency conversion at 0.99%, which only shows up if part of your portfolio sits in another currency.
Who regulates Freetrade and is my money protected?+
Freetrade Limited is regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with register reference 783189. Protection for eligible holdings is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which is the ceiling the scheme pays if the firm cannot return your money. It covers firm failure rather than market losses.