Charles Stanley Direct vs SoFi Invest - BrokerCue
BrokerCue

Select your country to see eligible brokers

Account eligibility and broker availability depend on your country of residence. Setting this now allows us to hide brokers that do not accept clients from your country.

Broker Comparison

Charles Stanley Direct vs SoFi Invest

Compare Charles Stanley Direct and SoFi Invest 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
SoFi Invest

SoFi Invest

Beginners and all-in-one investors

SoFi Invest is a US brokerage offering commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options, a 0.25% robo-advisor, fract…

Head-to-head comparison

Charles Stanley Direct vs SoFi Invest
Feature Charles Stanley Direct SoFi Invest
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee £10 per online trade; telephone dealing 1% (min £25, max £100) Commission-free
Regulators FCA FINRA, SIPC, SEC
Best for UK long-term investors and fund holders Beginners and all-in-one investors
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
-
Bonds
-
Options
-
Funds
Isa
-
Sipp
-
Investment Plans
-
Ready Made Portfolios
Business Account
-
Fractional Shares
-
Margin
-
Money Market Funds
-

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
SoFi Invest

SoFi Invest

Pros

  • Commission-free stock, ETF, and options trading
  • No per-contract or exercise fee on options
  • Fractional shares from $5
  • IPO access at offering price
  • 1% IRA contribution match
  • Robo-advisor with no minimum beyond $50
  • Integrated banking, lending, and investing in one app
  • Access to Certified Financial Planners

Cons

  • Robo-advisor charges 0.25% annual fee (was free before November 2024)
  • Crypto trades carry a 1% spread on every buy and sell
  • Inactivity fee of $25 after 6 months without a login
  • $25 outgoing wire transfer fee and $100 ACAT transfer-out fee
  • No forex or futures trading
  • Limited research and charting tools compared to full-service brokers
  • No tax-loss harvesting in the robo-advisor
  • Crypto selection limited to around 25-30 coins with no advanced order types
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.

SoFi Invest

SoFi Invest

SoFi Invest is a US brokerage offering commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options, a 0.25% robo-advisor, fractional shares, IPO access, and crypto trading in one platform.

Visit SoFi Invest Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Not the right match?

Line up any two brokers side by side, or browse the full list to find your next platform.

Compare another broker Browse all brokers