Updated October 21, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs Plum
Charles Stanley Direct
Higher score in this comparison
Plum
Where Charles Stanley Direct and Plum differ
| Compare | Charles Stanley DirectReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | PlumReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1Lower | £2 |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | £0Lower |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | £0Lower |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Mobile app |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | ISA, SIPP, LisaCovers more |
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
- Founded is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: 1792 vs 2016.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: £1 vs £2.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Plum: £0 vs £10.
- Account fee is lower at Plum: £0 vs £60 to £600.
- Platforms: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Charles Stanley Direct Trading.
- Platforms: only Plum offers Mobile app.
- Account types: only Plum offers Lisa.
- Support channels: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Plum offers 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.
Plum
Plum suits beginners in the UK who want to start small and pay nothing to deal, with a minimum deposit of £2. The trade-off is a short market list, confined to stocks, etfs and funds, and an overall score of 6.5 that leaves the case resting on price rather than choice.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Account fees of £60 to £600 and stock trades at £10 sit in the dearer part of the group. | 9.3HigherCosts are the strongest suit: account fee £0, stock trade fee £0, management fee 0.15% to 0.6%. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 8.9Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.5 |
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 228 of 654 | 243 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 164 of 358 | 176 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 8 of 25 | 9 of 25 |
| Pensions and SIPPs | 5 of 23 | 6 of 23 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both.
What we checked
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
Plum
- withplum.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- finextra.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | Plum Fintech Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1792Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Not confirmed | 3.05% to 3.65% |
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Variable |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Access terms | Not confirmed | Same day access, no lock-in, no notice period |
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account kind | Not confirmed | Easy access |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.15% to 0.6% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Plum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1below the median | £2below the median | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600highest quarter | £0at the median | £0 |
Median across 24 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.
Plum
Pros
- Fractional shares are offered, so £2 is enough to hold a slice of a company rather than whole shares.
- Eligible money is covered by the protection scheme, with the ceiling given as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- The account types cover isa, sipp and lisa, so investing, retirement saving and a home deposit pot sit with the same provider.
Cons
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and funds, so there is no dealing in listed bonds, overseas currency or crypto through the account.
- Help runs on email and help centre only, so a stuck withdrawal or transfer has no phone route.
- Managed portfolios charge 0.15% to 0.6%, which takes a slice from every pot you hand over.
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
Plum
Who it suits
- Beginners in the UK who want to begin with £2 and see share dealing in plain terms.
- Investors building an ISA or pension habit on a phone, since access runs through Mobile app.
- Anyone happy with a market list of stocks, etfs and funds for a starter portfolio.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro is the place to check if the market list here, stocks, etfs and funds, is too tight for what you want to trade.
- bunq if you are starting from a €10 minimum rather than buying shares.
- cfi if you want no minimum deposit, since its floor is $0 against £2 here.
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Plum
What does it cost to trade and hold with Plum?+
Dealing is commission-free and the stock trade fee is listed as £0. The account fee is £0 and the monthly subscription is £0, so holding an account costs nothing. Managed portfolios are the exception, charging 0.15% to 0.6% on the money you put into them. That covers the charging picture on the investment side.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
Eligible investments sit under the protection scheme, and the stated ceiling is given as FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Cash held in the app is listed the same way under FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The figure is a limit rather than a promise of returns, and it applies to eligible money rather than to every balance on the account. Read the terms for the eligibility conditions before you rely on it.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Charles Stanley Direct
Plum