Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs Police Friendly
Charles Stanley Direct
Police Friendly
Higher score in this comparison
Where Charles Stanley Direct and Police Friendly differ
| Compare | Charles Stanley DirectReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Police FriendlyReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1Lower | £50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, FundsCovers more | Stocks, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | ISA, Lisa, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Not confirmed |
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
- Police Friendly scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Police Friendly offers Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Founded is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: 1792 vs 1893.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: £1 vs £50.
- Markets: only Charles Stanley Direct offers ETFs.
- Account types: only Charles Stanley Direct offers SIPP.
- Account types: only Police Friendly offers Lisa, Jisa.
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.
Police Friendly
Police Friendly runs a UK stock and shares ISA, LISA and JISA range from £50, run by Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited. It suits savers building a tax sheltered pot in stocks and funds who value a named legal entity and FSCS cover, and who can leave the money invested.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Account fees of £60 to £600 and stock trades at £10 sit in the dearer part of the group. | 8.7HigherOpening a stocks and shares ISA, LISA or JISA needs £50, and a non qualifying withdrawal carries 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.0Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 9.2 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 228 of 654 | 210 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 164 of 358 | 153 of 358 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 8 of 25 | 7 of 25 |
Pick Charles Stanley Direct if, pick Police Friendly if
Pick Charles Stanley Direct if minimum deposit and markets matter most.
Pick Police Friendly if offer matter most.
Feature by feature
| Markets | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| Lisa | No | Yes |
| Jisa | No | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1792Lower | 1893 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1below the median | £50above the median | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600highest quarter | Not confirmed | £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.
Police Friendly
Pros
- Three tax sheltered options in one place: an ISA, a LISA and a JISA
- Low entry point at £50 to open
- Stocks and funds available to invest through stocks and funds
Cons
- A non qualifying withdrawal is hit by 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals
- Investments are limited to stocks and funds, with no wider market list given
- Support runs on email and phone only
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
Police Friendly
Who it suits
- UK savers building a tax sheltered pot for the long term
- Parents saving for a child through the JISA account type
- Savers who want a named legal entity behind the account
Who should look elsewhere
- People trading shares frequently, since investable markets run to stocks and funds
- Anyone likely to need the money early, because of 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals
Current offers
Police Friendly
Current offer
Bonus
Open a Lifetime ISA - Earn up to GBP50 in Gift Cards: Up to GBP50 gift card
Pay GBP100 or more per month, or GBP50+ with Escalator; GBP30-99 gets GBP25; quote AUTUMN26
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Police Friendly
What accounts can I open with Police Friendly?+
You can open an individual savings account, a lifetime individual savings account or a junior individual savings account. The range is listed at isa, lisa and jisa. The account runs under Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited.
How much do I need to put in to start?+
The minimum deposit is £50, which is a low starting point for a tax sheltered account. Once the account is open you can invest that money in the assets listed at stocks and funds.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Charles Stanley Direct
Police Friendly