Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs Dodl
Charles Stanley Direct
Higher score in this comparison
Dodl
Where Charles Stanley Direct and Dodl differ
| Compare | Charles Stanley DirectReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | DodlReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1Lower | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | £0Lower |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Dodl app |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | ISA, SIPP, LisaCovers more |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.75% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | free deposits and withdrawals |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.8% |
Same on both: Markets (Stocks, ETFs, Funds), Regulators (Financial Conduct Authority), 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. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Charles Stanley Direct scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: £1 vs £25.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Dodl: £0 vs £10.
- Platforms: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Charles Stanley Direct Trading.
- Platforms: only Dodl offers Dodl app.
- Account types: only Dodl offers Lisa.
- Support channels: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Dodl offers Chat, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
Charles Stanley Direct
Charles Stanley Direct suits UK savers who want a self-run ISA and SIPP held with a regulated broker. Minimum deposits start at £1, and holdings sit under FSCS up to GBP 85,000, so small regular investors get a low entry point and covered money.
Dodl
Dodl suits UK beginners who want a low-cost way into markets without a dealing desk. It runs an ISA, SIPP and LISA in one app, charges £0 to trade shares, and answers to the Financial Conduct Authority with investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, so getting started is cheap.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Account fees of £60 to £600 and stock trades at £10 sit in the dearer part of the group. | 8.9Higher |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.2HigherA £25 entry point, 0.75% on currency conversion and commission free and low fees dealing across the ISA, SIPP and LISA. |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.6 |
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 228 of 654 | 268 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 164 of 358 | 194 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 8 of 25 | 10 of 25 |
| Pensions and SIPPs | 5 of 23 | 7 of 23 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free, Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | AJ Bell |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1792 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Dodl | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1below the median | £25above the median | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.75%above the median | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.8%highest quarter | 2.875% |
Median across 77 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Charles Stanley Direct
Pros
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with holdings covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- Minimum deposit of £1 keeps the entry point small for regular investors.
- Available account types are isa and sipp, so tax-sheltered saving and pension investing sit with the same broker.
Cons
- Account fees of £60 to £600 a year apply regardless of balance, so a small pot pays the same as a large holding.
- Stock trades cost £10, against a typical €0 across the brands compared, so frequent dealing costs more.
- Support runs on email and phone only, so there is no listed chat channel or branch counter for anything else.
Dodl
Pros
- Commission-free dealing: £0 to buy or sell shares, with free deposits and withdrawals either side of the balance.
- An ISA, SIPP and LISA sit alongside stocks, etfs and funds in a single app, so wrappers and dealing stay in one place.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
Cons
- Foreign exchange costs 0.75%, so currency conversion is the charge that bites anyone buying shares outside sterling.
- Help runs on email, chat and help centre, with no phone route among them, so a complex dispute has to be put in writing.
- The market list is stocks, etfs and funds, which leaves out bonds, commodities and currency pairs.
Who each suits
Charles Stanley Direct
Who it suits
- UK savers feeding regular amounts into an ISA and a SIPP, with a minimum deposit of £1 to start
- Investors who pick their own funds and shares rather than handing money to a managed portfolio
- Long-term holders who put regulation and FSCS up to GBP 85,000 ahead of the lowest dealing cost
Who should look elsewhere
- Active traders, who will find the free dealing at CFI cheaper than stock trades at £10
- Readers who want live chat, since help here runs on email and phone only
- Anyone chasing a wider asset list than stocks, etfs and funds
Dodl
Who it suits
- Beginners in the UK who want their first ISA or SIPP and do not want commission on a share dealing.
- Investors who keep a cash buffer alongside a portfolio and want interest on the part that is not invested.
- Pension savers who prefer one app for the SIPP, the ISA and the general account rather than several providers.
Who should look elsewhere
- Forex traders, who should look at CFI: it opens from a $0 minimum, and currency markets sit outside the stocks, etfs and funds on offer here.
- Anyone after a euro bank account rather than a UK wrapper: bunq's minimum deposit is €10, and that product sits outside the isa, sipp and lisa range here.
- Readers after credit rather than investments: Fiesta Credito MX is supervised by CONDUSEF, a different market from the Financial Conduct Authority's.
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Dodl |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Charles Stanley Direct
What does it cost to run an account at Charles Stanley Direct?+
The account fee runs £60 to £600 a year, and that charge applies whichever wrapper the account uses. Dealing costs sit on top, with stock trades priced at £10. Readers who trade rarely will feel the annual charge more than the dealing cost, so the wrapper choice and the balance size matter most here.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £1, so you can start with a small amount or a regular monthly payment. On minimum deposit the brand ranks 83 of 218 brands in the comparison, which places the entry point in the lower-cost part of the field.
Dodl
What does it cost to trade shares at Dodl?+
Dealing is commission free: £0 to buy or sell shares, and the same rate on the ISA, SIPP and LISA accounts. commission free and low fees describes the pricing. That dealing fee puts Dodl at position 1 of 166 brands ranked on stock trade fees on this site.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £25, low enough to start with a small amount and add to it later. On this site that ranks position 131 of 218 brands on minimum deposit, so it sits in the middle of the field rather than at the bottom of it.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Charles Stanley Direct
Dodl