Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Charles Stanley Direct vs Raisin
Charles Stanley Direct
Higher score in this comparison
Raisin
What sets them apart
| Compare | Charles Stanley DirectReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | RaisinReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1Lower | £100 |
| Account fee | £60 to £600 | £0Lower |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Bezirksamt Friedrichshain Kreuzberg (financial investment intermediary register, registration D F 107 QQ43 76) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Account types | ISA, SIPPCovers more | ISA |
| Stock trade fee | £10 | Not confirmed |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Charles Stanley Direct Trading | Not confirmed |
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.
- Regulators: only Charles Stanley Direct offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Raisin offers Bezirksamt Friedrichshain Kreuzberg (financial investment intermediary register, registration D F 107 QQ43 76).
- Founded is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: 1792 vs 2012.
- Raisin is available in 9 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Charles Stanley Direct: £1 vs £100.
- Account fee is lower at Raisin: £0 vs £60 to £600.
- Account types: only Charles Stanley Direct offers SIPP.
- Support channels: only Raisin 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.
Raisin
Raisin is a savings marketplace with an easy-access account, an ISA and no monthly charge, so it suits UK savers who want one place to hold cash. Its headline rate of 4.15% sits above the 3% median across the site, and the minimum deposit starts at £100.
Score breakdown
| Area | Charles Stanley Direct | Raisin |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Account fees of £60 to £600 and stock trades at £10 sit in the dearer part of the group. | 8.8HigherAccount fee and monthly fee are £0 and £0, and the headline rate of 4.15% sits above the site median of 3%. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 8.9Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.7 |
Which one suits you
Pick Charles Stanley Direct if trust, minimum deposit, and account types matter most.
Pick Raisin if cost and account fee matter most.
Licences and countries
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Raisin |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 124412 | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for Raisin: 9.
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
Raisin
- raisin.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Charles Stanley Direct | Raisin |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 228 of 654 | 280 of 654 |
| Stocks and shares ISAs | 8 of 25 | 12 of 25 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Raisin |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No monthly fee |
| Legal entity | Raymond James Wealth Management Limited | Raisin SE |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Germany |
| Founded | 1792Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more |
Savings
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Raisin |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Not confirmed | 4.15% |
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Variable |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Access terms | Not confirmed | Easy access savings account on the Raisin UK marketplace: top up and withdraw at your convenience, no fixed term |
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account kind | Not confirmed | Easy access |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Raisin |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Charles Stanley Direct | Raisin | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1below the median | £100above the median | £15 |
| Stock trade fee | £10highest quarter | Not confirmed | £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.
Raisin
Pros
- The account fee and monthly fee are £0 and £0, so holding cash costs nothing
- The headline rate of 4.15% is above the site median of 3%
- The account is easy access, so you can top up and withdraw with no fixed term
Cons
- Protection on investments is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, well below the FSCS up to GBP 85,000 that covers savings
- The rate is variable, so the headline figure can move
- The minimum deposit of £100 is above the €0.88 median across the site
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
Raisin
Who it suits
- UK savers who want a variable rate and no monthly charge
- Anyone holding an ISA who values easy access over a fixed term
- Savers comfortable choosing a marketplace rather than a single bank's savings account
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage or eToro readers who want to pick and trade investments rather than hold savings
- Vivid Plus readers who want a multi-currency account with a card
- Anyone whose balance sits above the protection on investments
Current offers
Raisin
Current offer
Bonus
Earn up to $1,000 cash bonus: up to $1,000
New customers only, qualifying balances, code STACK
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Charles Stanley Direct | Raisin |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Finland | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| Poland | No | Yes |
| Spain | No | Yes |
8 of 10 countries where either is available.
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.
Raisin
What rate does Raisin pay on its easy-access savings account?+
The easy-access account pays a variable rate of 4.15%. Because the rate type is variable, that figure can change, so the headline number is a starting point rather than a promise. The account carries no fixed term.
Is there any monthly or account fee at Raisin?+
No. The account fee is £0 and the monthly fee is £0, so there is no monthly charge on the easy-access account. The account kind is easy access, which suits a no monthly fee model.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Charles Stanley Direct
Raisin