Updated October 13, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs Mitrade
Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Charles Stanley Direct vs Mitrade: the differences
| Compare |  Charles Stanley Direct |  Mitrade |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | ASIC, CIMA, CySEC, FSC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Mitrade trading platform |
| Minimum deposit | £1 | Not confirmed |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Mitrade offers ASIC, CIMA, CySEC.
- Mitrade is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Markets: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Funds.
- Markets: only Mitrade offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Charles Stanley Direct Trading.
- Platforms: only Mitrade offers Mitrade trading platform.
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.
Mitrade
Mitrade centres on CFDs covering forex, gold, oil and major indices through its own trading platform. It is an EU regulated broker within Mitrade Group and suits retail investors in Europe who want mobile and desktop CFD trading with segregated funds and negative balance protection.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | Mitrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Ranks 126 of 138 brands on account fee and 159 of 161 on stock trade fee. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.3 | 9.9Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Charles Stanley Direct | Mitrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | Mitrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 155 of 471 | 378 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Mitrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1792 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Mitrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1below the median | Not confirmed | £20 |
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
Median across 19 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.
Mitrade
Pros
- Licensed and regulated by CySEC as an EU regulated broker
- Client funds held in segregated accounts with reputable banks
- Negative balance protection limits losses to account balance
Cons
- CFD focused range which does not suit long term physical investors
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.
Mitrade
Who it suits
- Retail investors wanting mobile CFD trading
- Europeans seeking an EU regulated CFD provider
Who should look elsewhere
- Long term investors wanting direct share ownership
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Mitrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Mitrade
What does Mitrade offer to retail investors?+
Mitrade offers CFD trading on global financial markets through its own trading platform. Investors can trade from desktop and through apps for iOS and Android. A demo account allows practice before trading live markets.
Which markets does Mitrade cover?+
Mitrade covers CFDs across forex, gold, oil and indices such as DAX. The range also spans stocks, ETFs and crypto as CFDs. The platform displays buy and sell prices with daily changes and charts to support strategy.
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