Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs InvestEngine
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Charles Stanley Direct |  InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1Lower | £100 |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | £0Lower |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | £0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, FundsCovers more | ETFs |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Web, iOS, Android |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | ISA, SIPP, CorporateCovers more |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 0% |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Charles Stanley Direct scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only InvestEngine offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Founded is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: 1792 vs 2019.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: £1 vs £100.
- Stock trade fee is lower at InvestEngine: £0 vs £10.
- Account fee is lower at InvestEngine: £0 vs £60 to £600.
- Markets: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Stocks, Funds.
- Platforms: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Charles Stanley Direct Trading.
- Platforms: only InvestEngine offers Web, iOS, Android.
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.
InvestEngine
InvestEngine suits beginners who want their money spread across ETFs without picking shares themselves. Costs stay thin: an account fee of £0, a stock trade fee of £0 and a single portfolio management charge of 0.25%, with deposits and withdrawals free.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Ranks 126 of 138 brands on account fee and 159 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 9.0Higher |
| Offer | 8.8 | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.4 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 |
Available in 1 country for both.
The bill, worked out
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
Charles Stanley Direct
£540 to £1,080
48 × £10 + 1 × £60 to £600
InvestEngine
£0
48 × £0 + 1 × £0
InvestEngine costs £540 less.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Choosing between them
Pick Charles Stanley Direct if trust, minimum deposit, and markets matter most.
Pick InvestEngine if cost, stock trade fee, account fee, and account types matter most.
Feature by feature
| Markets | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 147 of 490 | 187 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 32 of 85 | 41 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 6 of 21 | 13 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 5 of 22 | 12 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | InvestEngine (UK) Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1792Lower | 2019 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1lowest quarter | £100above the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 0%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.
InvestEngine
Pros
- An account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 leave almost nothing to pay for holding or trading.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000, with the platform regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- The platform list covers Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares make small regular buys work.
Cons
- Shares are not among its markets (etfs), so the range stays on funds rather than a general dealing list.
- Support runs on email and help centre, with no phone number for urgent account questions.
- Cash waiting to be invested earns 0%.
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.
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a curated portfolio and can start from a minimum investment of £1.
- ISA and SIPP holders in the UK who would rather not pay an account fee.
- Investors who only need help by email and are happy to stay inside a single asset class.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for anyone who wants to open with a minimum deposit of $0 rather than £100.
- Vantage, for anyone who wants a smaller entry point, since its minimum deposit is $5.
- eToro, for traders who want share dealing, because shares are not among its markets (etfs).
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
InvestEngine
What does it cost to hold an InvestEngine account?+
The account fee is £0 and a stock trade costs £0, so buying and holding leaves most of the pot intact. The only ongoing charge is the portfolio management fee of 0.25%, which is taken on the portfolio rather than per trade. Cash left uninvested earns 0%.
Is my money protected if the platform fails?+
The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator named on the licence, and the platform states investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The account is run by InvestEngine (UK) Limited, a UK company, so UK rules and the protection scheme both apply to the account.