Not ideal
Wonky pricing info…. Creaky trading platform…. I don’t want to have to call when the app and website are not functioning - too often. Not ideal.
Avoid
The app throws error messages constantly, and is missing basic functionality such as reading messages. Avoid
Stock issues
There have been some detailed issues with the share displays (complaint rejected, ts&cs say they don't guarantee it will work!) but the main problem is that Charles Stanley Direct does not get itself on the subscriptions list for new stock issues by smallcaps, eg Gelion @15p, now 21p to buy.
Not great
Stupid app wipes login credential every time it updates and login credentials are not saved in passwords.
Had to do password recovery multiple times as a result. Will be moving away from them as a result.
Had to do password recovery multiple times as a result. Will be moving away from them as a result.
Now will not load my account
For some years this app gave me the basic information I wanted. Now it just hangs on loading my data so is of no use at all. The two stars are for the past.
Disappointing app
Since the latest app update was installed it no longer allows me to sign into my account, just presented with a spinning wheel. Disappointing that the app was lacking so many features that competitors have and won’t even allow me to access my accounts now.
Just stopped working?
Keep getting “error occurred: something went wrong try again later” message. Been happening for few days now
No longer functioning
Since 30/1/25 this app no longer functions. Avoid. Every attempt to open it comes up with “Something went wrong. Please try again later”
No longer works.
Used to work fine but now doesn’t work with iOS 18.3 on iPhone or iPad. Won’t get beyond face recognition
Update
Deleted the app and reloaded and now works fine again
Update
Deleted the app and reloaded and now works fine again
Improved but still issues
While the previous instability of the app appears to have been largely remedied, a new issue has recently appeared.
Since upgrading my iOS software, the rotation option in the app to show expanded details of the portfolio no longer works. Rotation lock is off on my phone so seems to be an app/iOS compatibility problem. Expanded view was useful so hoping this gets sorted soon.
UPDATE: Jan 2025: finally had enough. High fees and poor app not good enough. In the process of transferring my ISA elsewhere.
Since upgrading my iOS software, the rotation option in the app to show expanded details of the portfolio no longer works. Rotation lock is off on my phone so seems to be an app/iOS compatibility problem. Expanded view was useful so hoping this gets sorted soon.
UPDATE: Jan 2025: finally had enough. High fees and poor app not good enough. In the process of transferring my ISA elsewhere.
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Inconsistent reporting
Regularly shows incorrect changes on the app. Classic case yesterday Aviva rises by 4.55% in value, app says 0.9%, since closing and still reports such at 7.30am the next day. As usual you raise the issue months ago and message back saying IT and provide aware but still no resolution.
Charles Stanley app
This app does not work for the benefit of the customer very limited functionality so might as well use the web site until I transfer to another provider
Limited functionality
I’ve become increasingly frustrated by the lack of features in this app, and have started switching my holdings to competitors. Key issues are:
➡️ There is no way to pay in or withdraw money in the app - you have to do it on the website.
➡️ The buy/sell functionality for individual funds exists in the app, but is very very hard to discover (mysterious purple floating icon).
➡️ Getting clear analytics on fund and portfolio performance in the app is effectively impossible if you hold more than a couple of funds - you can look at them individually, but not comparatively, and you can’t get a quick view of portfolio composition. For all this, you need to use the website.
➡️ Searching and comparing funds on the website is also often an exercise in frustration. Know the SEDOL? Who cares! The search function won’t find it. Want to see compare fund charges? You have to manually click through to the information page on each fund.
➡️ There is no way to pay in or withdraw money in the app - you have to do it on the website.
➡️ The buy/sell functionality for individual funds exists in the app, but is very very hard to discover (mysterious purple floating icon).
➡️ Getting clear analytics on fund and portfolio performance in the app is effectively impossible if you hold more than a couple of funds - you can look at them individually, but not comparatively, and you can’t get a quick view of portfolio composition. For all this, you need to use the website.
➡️ Searching and comparing funds on the website is also often an exercise in frustration. Know the SEDOL? Who cares! The search function won’t find it. Want to see compare fund charges? You have to manually click through to the information page on each fund.
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👎
Doesn’t allow me to log in just says details are incorrect even though they aren’t
Can't see price changes
The information is all there but when I look at my portfolio the first thing I want to see is the day's change. Like it used to be in newspapers!
Unlucky - you have to drill into each holding and swipe. Charles Stanley are considering this feature, have been for a while.
Unlucky - you have to drill into each holding and swipe. Charles Stanley are considering this feature, have been for a while.
Low functionality but visually appealing
The older app was far better for live changes and you had more options to illustrate your portfolio and in what order the information was presented. Now constantly the information is limited, standardised and often delayed. Now need to log into the website for the same functionality. A retrograde step sadly.
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Response from developer
Hi, thanks for getting in touch. We appreciate your feedback on the new app and we will share this with the wider team. If you need any further assistance, please contact the helpdesk with the reference code #437 on info@cs-d.co.uk or visit www.charles-stanley-direct.co.uk/FAQ for more ways to get in touch.
Phone app log on not working again
Since the last few updates I’m having real issues logging into the phone app. It’s so glitchy. Some days it works others it doesn't. My details keep been rejected although they haven’t been changed and I can log on using my laptop just fine. So frustrating… what’s going on?
Poor upgrade
I have used the predecessor to this app for some time. OK this iPad update is prettier but it ends there. It has very limited functionality. The most irritating aspect for me is the poor visibility of the associated cash accounts. I cannot tell what dividends have been received and are due to be transferred to my bank account as there is only a single figure for cash on the account and no ability to drill down. Regular investments and corporate actions are not visible. Individual investments can be analysed but there are no tools for analysing an entire portfolio. Searching for new investments is abismal unless you know the formal stock codes. For instance, a search for ftse100 ETF returned hundreds of results with the top 2 being Chinese and the first UK equity fund coming in at number 41. CS really should have waited rolling the update out until it was somewhere near complete.
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A much improved experience
I had the old app and it was really not very user friendly. This new version of the app is much clearer, easier to use and better all round. Like all new apps, it will take a little while to get used to fully, but it’s a much better app now than it was before.
Nice App
Returned to CS after a long break and the updated App is very nice. Works well for me and UI is good. Nice and easy which is great for retail investors like me.
