Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs InvestEngine
Charles Stanley Direct
Higher score in this comparison
InvestEngine
Charles Stanley Direct vs InvestEngine: the differences
| Compare | Charles Stanley DirectReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | InvestEngineReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| 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).
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 8.7.
- 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 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.
InvestEngine
InvestEngine suits UK beginners who want a small, set-and-forget ETF pot with nothing charged for holding or trading. The account fee is £0, the minimum deposit is £100 and the only recurring charge is a management fee of 0.25%. The trade-off is that you hold ETFs and nothing else.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Account fees of £60 to £600 and stock trades at £10 sit in the dearer part of the group. | 9.0Higher |
| Offer | 8.7 | 8.8HigherAccount fee of £0, stock trade fee of £0 and a minimum deposit of £100. |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.3 |
Pick Charles Stanley Direct if, pick InvestEngine if
Pick Charles Stanley Direct if minimum deposit and markets matter most.
Pick InvestEngine if cost, stock trade fee, account fee, and account types matter most.
Side by side, item by item
| 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 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 228 of 654 | 298 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 164 of 358 | 217 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 8 of 25 | 15 of 25 |
| Pensions and SIPPs | 5 of 23 | 11 of 23 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Sources behind this comparison
Charles Stanley Direct
- charles-stanley-direct.co.uk: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingbrokers.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneytothemasses.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
InvestEngine
- investengine.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- blog.investengine.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.investengine.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
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 | £1below the median | £100above the median | £15 |
| 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 | 2.875% |
Median across 44 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.
InvestEngine
Pros
- No account fee at £0 and no stock trade fee at £0
- Fractional shares and a mobile app let you invest small amounts regularly
- Choose from ISA, SIPP and corporate accounts
Cons
- A management fee of 0.25% still applies, unlike a free commission-free brokerage
- Markets are limited to ETFs, so individual shares are not an option
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone line
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
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want to start small and add to the same pot each month
- Savers putting money into an ISA or SIPP for the long term
- Anyone who would rather hold a diversified basket than pick single shares
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want to buy and sell individual shares
- Anyone who wants to speak to support by phone, since support runs on email and help centre only
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | InvestEngine |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
InvestEngine
What does it cost to hold an InvestEngine account?+
The account fee is £0 and the stock trade fee is £0, so there is nothing charged for keeping the account open or for dealing. The one recurring cost is a management fee of 0.25% on the money you hold. Deposits and withdrawals are free.
What is the smallest amount I can invest?+
The minimum deposit is £100, and the smallest investment the platform advertises is £1. Fractional shares are supported, so you can hold a slice of a fund rather than a whole unit. That keeps the starting point low even though the opening deposit is set higher than at many rivals.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Charles Stanley Direct
InvestEngine