Winners Summary
Best broker for Australians - CMC Markets
| Company |
Overall |
 CMC Markets
|
 |
CMC Markets has long been a leader in Australia’s online investing landscape. It stands out for offering a broad range of Australian and international investment products, low-cost trading for small orders, and an excellent browser-based trading platform. Navigation can feel a bit clunky compared to competitors like IG, but the overall experience remains highly functional. I particularly like CMC’s chart pattern performance widget, which helps traders quickly evaluate technical setups across different assets.
- Tradeable assets: Australian shares, international shares, ETFs, warrants, mFunds, options, managed funds, LICs, bonds, IPOs
- Minimum deposit: $0
CMC Markets fees: Australian share trades under $1,000 are free for one buy order per stock per day. Beyond that, commissions are the greater of AUD $11 or 0.1% of the trade value. Standard platform access and real-time quotes are included.
CMC offers $0 commission trading on U.S., U.K., Canadian, and Japanese shares, though a 0.6% foreign exchange spread applies. Accounts are subject to an inactivity fee after 12 months without trading. A premium service tier is available, offering additional tools, streaming quotes, and discounted rates.
For more on CMC’s broader forex and CFD offerings, check out our review of CMC Markets on our sister site, ForexBrokers.com.
Best for professionals and global investors - Interactive Brokers
For Australians looking to invest beyond the local market, Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is my top choice. IBKR is geared toward professional traders and active investors who value advanced tools, broad market access, and competitive pricing. It offers access to more than 33 countries, making it ideal for Australians seeking true global diversification.
Platform flexibility is a core strength. Trader Workstation (TWS) caters to experienced traders with powerful tools, while the Client Portal and Desktop platforms provide simpler interfaces for everyday use. For a streamlined mobile experience, IBKR offers the Global Trader app and the ESG-focused Impact app. The main trade-offs are IBKR’s complexity, particularly around funding and currency conversions, and its heavy U.S. dollar orientation, though Global Trader and Impact help ease that burden for casual investors.
- Tradeable assets: stocks, options, futures, ETFs, CFDs, currencies, bonds, forex, indices, warrants
- Minimum deposit: $0
Interactive Brokers fees: Australian share trades cost 0.08% of the trade value, with a minimum commission of AUD $6 (including GST). Tiered pricing is available for very high-volume traders. While there are no deposit minimums or inactivity fees, a $500 minimum applies for accessing streaming data and certain research services.
Visit our full review of Interactive Brokers for a more general overview of its offerings in the United States and around the globe.
Best share trading platform - IG
| Company |
Overall |
 IG
|
|
For Australians seeking an intuitive yet powerful trading experience, IG’s web-based platform is hard to beat. Within minutes of logging in, I was able to create a multi-asset workspace offering a clear view of global markets, with crisp widget windows and customizable charts packed with popular indicators and drawing tools. A simple right-click on any market brings up a full trading window, charts, news, and order entry, making navigation both fast and efficient. While platforms like Interactive Brokers’ Trader Workstation offer more tools and others strip back features for simplicity, IG strikes an excellent balance between depth and usability.
- Tradeable assets: Australian shares, international shares, CFDs, forex, indices, commodities
- Minimum deposit: $0
IG fees: For Australian share trading, commissions start at the greater of $8 or 0.1% of the trade value for accounts with 0–2 trades in the prior month. This drops to $5 or 0.05% after three or more trades. IG’s ProRealTime charting package, which includes automated trading and advanced technical tools, costs $40 per month but is rebated with four or more trades. An inactivity fee of $18 per month applies after 24 months of no trading activity.
Trading U.S., German, U.K., or Irish shares incurs $0 commission if instant currency conversion is enabled, though a 0.7% currency spread applies.
Check out our review of IG to learn more about its various offerings and platforms from a forex-focused perspective.
Best broker for copy trading - eToro
eToro is a strong choice for Australians looking to trade both local and international markets, with the added advantage of copy trading. Known for its social investing features, eToro allows users to mirror the strategies of other investors, making it easier to discover opportunities and diversify portfolios. The platform is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), along with other top-tier regulators globally.
Australians can access more than 2,000 stocks listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and also trade global equities, forex, crypto assets, indices, commodities, and CFDs. Unlike many CFD-focused brokers, eToro offers both underlying ASX-listed shares for direct ownership and CFDs for leveraged trading, giving investors flexibility depending on their strategy.
- Tradeable assets: stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex, CFDs, indices, commodities, metals
- Minimum deposit: $50 for Australian clients, but can range from $50 to as much as $10,000 depending on your country of residence
eToro fees: ASX stock trading incurs a $2 commission per trade. Fees for international shares vary, ranging from $0 on certain exchanges to around $2, depending on the market.
View our full review of eToro to learn more about its various offerings and platforms.
Best bank for share trading - CommSec
| Company |
Overall |
 CommSec
|
 |
CommSec, the share trading arm of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, is a solid option for Australians who want simple platform access paired with bank-backed security. The web platform is easy to navigate and includes access to Goldman Sachs research, a valuable addition for serious investors. Charts are adequate for casual traders, though more advanced investors may find them limiting. I found CommSec’s investor education, particularly the Stock’d section, well-organized and confidence-building, offering practical guidance through stories and bite-sized lessons.
CommSec Pocket, the broker’s mobile app, targets beginners by limiting choices to a curated list of seven ETFs. It's well-suited for first-time investors, though the lack of fixed-income ETF options could make building a diversified portfolio harder in today’s interest rate environment.
A key advantage is CommSec’s default CHESS-sponsored model, meaning investors directly own their shares rather than holding them under custodian arrangements. This distinction is highly valued in the Australian market.
- Tradeable assets: Australian shares, international shares, ETFs, warrants, options
- Minimum deposit: $500
CommSec Pocket fees: $2 per trade for transactions up to $1,000; 0.2% for trades above $1,000. ETFs charge annual management fees ranging from 0.05% to 0.68%. The Pocket app has no account fees, and the minimum investment is $50.
CommSec fees: Standard online trades of $1,000 or less are charged a flat $10 commission. Trades between $1,001 and $10,000 cost $19.95; $10,001 to $25,000 are $29.95; and trades above $25,000 are charged 0.12% of the trade value. While CommSec offers CHESS sponsorship and a trusted platform, its layered pricing structure can make costs add up quickly for active traders.
International share trading is available in 13 countries, with a 0.6% foreign exchange spread applied to deposits and withdrawals rather than on each trade, a cost-saving advantage.
If you will be opening an account with a large deposit and want to trade at CommBank, check for eligibility for CommSec One, which provides a dedicated service team and access to a feature-rich trading program, IRESS ViewPoint.
Strong research presentation - Westpac Share Trading
| Company |
Overall |
 Westpac
|
|
Westpac Share Trading offers Australians access to a broad selection of investment markets while maintaining CHESS sponsorship for direct share ownership. Investors can trade across 25 exchanges, with a strong focus on research and education. A Morningstar Premium subscription is available for $20 per month, providing comprehensive company reports and analyst opinions. ESG-conscious investors will appreciate Westpac’s integration of Sustainalytics data, making it easier to factor environmental, social, and governance considerations into investment decisions.
The platform aggregates a wide range of company information, news, and research opinions, with additional features like peer company comparisons and clear explanations of chart indicators which are useful for both technical and value-focused investors.
- Tradeable assets: Australian shares, international shares, ETFs, bonds, warrants, options
- Minimum deposit: $500 (minimum trade size when purchasing shares)
Westpac fees: Westpac has a minimum trade size of $500 and a minimum trade fee of $19.95 or 0.11%, whichever is greater. Small investors should be wary of that trade fee. If you invest $500 in a stock and sell it at the same price, you’ll be down by close to $39.90, a loss of 8%.
Trading platforms tested
In addition to our top picks above, we explored two additional stock brokers for Australians.
Pearler: Pearler’s noteworthy strength is its ability to help you systematically invest for the long term, even with very little money. Trades are a flat $6.50 and currency conversion is 0.5%. There is a list of commission-free ETFs (provided you hold for at least a year). Pearler is a CHESS participant. The minimum initial investment is $500.
Superhero: Superhero charges $0 to buy ETFs on the ASX and a flat $5 for all other ASX trades. The minimum trade size is $100. US shares are $0. The minimum trade size is $10 and currency conversion is 0.7%. There’s no account minimum.
Best Share Trading Platforms in Australia (Summary)
| Online Broker |
Best For |
Mobile App |
International Stocks |
Cost ($10,000 trade) |
Overall Rating |
| CMC Markets |
Best Overall |
Yes |
Yes |
$11 |
5 Stars |
| Interactive Brokers |
Best for Professionals |
Yes |
Yes |
$8 |
5 Stars |
| IG Group |
Best Trading Platform |
Yes |
Yes |
$8 |
5 Stars |
| CommSec |
Best Bank for Share Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
$19.95 |
4 Stars |
| Westpac |
Strong Research Presentation |
Yes |
Yes |
$19.95 |
4 Stars |
FAQs
How do you choose an online broker in Australia?
Australian brokers work hard to stand out against one another beyond branding and marketing. What really matters, though, is the trading experience you receive once you are a client with a funded account.
Here’s a list of tips to keep in mind to help you select the right online broker the first time:
- Read the trading costs' fine print. And budget enough time, too. Share trading fees can vary by trade amount, security type, quantity and exchange, among other factors. Before selecting a broker, view the full commissions structure and see how it fits into your portfolio size and trading frequency.
- Make sure your broker offers the asset class you want to trade. If you only trade Australian stocks, then no problem; any broker will service you. However, if you want to trade international stocks, options, forex, or futures, you will need to do some research and select a broker that supports those offerings.
- For active traders, read the fine print to compare potential service benefits. Discounted trades are just one perk of being an active trader. Some brokers will increase the quality of the market data being streamed into the account. Others will grant access to better research tools or offer dedicated customer support.
- Customer service. When contacting a brokerage for account-related inquiries, all investors look for fast connection times and helpful representatives to assist them. Like all businesses, support quality and timeliness can vary. For a quick gauge, once you narrow down to two brokers, call both on the phone and ask them several questions. This speedy exercise may reveal a lot about what to expect as a client.
What is the best share trading platform in Australia?
CMC Markets is my pick for the best share trading platform in Australia due to its combination of low-cost trading, a diverse range of investment products, and a user-friendly browser platform. It’s particularly appealing for small trades, offering free buy orders on Australian stocks under $1,000 per day, and provides access to international markets with competitive fees. While navigation can feel clunky compared to IG, CMC’s unique chart pattern performance widget and optional premium features add real value for active traders.
What is the best trading platform for beginners in Australia?
The best share trading platform for beginners in Australia is IG. Its web platform is intuitive to use, logically laid out, and easy to customize for personal needs. Traders may pay as little as $5 a trade and, with only four trades a month, get an advanced real time charting package.
What online stock broker has the cheapest share trading fees in Australia?
Social trading leader eToro currently offers $0/share trading and no recurring account fees. It's hard to beat free. Interactive Brokers is also a low-cost broker with comprehensive trading tools and a wide choice of trading platforms.
What Australian stock brokers offer forex trading?
All the brokers reviewed here offer forex trading of varying depth to Australians. For a full list of regulated forex brokers, read our guide to the Best Australian Forex Brokers on on our sister site, ForexBrokers.com. Here are our forex broker reviews.
Our testing
Why you should trust us
Sam Levine, CFA, CMT, formerly a lead writer for StockBrokers.com, has over 30 years of investing experience and actively trades stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and options on futures. He's held roles as a portfolio manager, financial consultant, investment strategist and journalist. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) designations and served on the board of directors of the CMT Association.
Blain Reinkensmeyer, co-founder of StockBrokers.com, has been investing and trading for over 25 years. After having placed over 2,000 trades in his late teens and early 20s, he became one of the first in digital media to review online brokerages. Today, Blain is widely respected as a leading expert on finance and investing, specifically the U.S. online brokerage industry. Blain has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fast Company, among others. Blain created the original scoring rubrics for StockBrokers.com and oversees all testing and rating methodologies.
How we tested
- We used our own brokerage accounts for testing.
- We collected thousands of data points for each broker.
- We tested each online broker's website, desktop platforms, and mobile app, where applicable.
- We maintained strict editorial independence; brokers cannot pay for inclusion or a higher rating.
Our research team meticulously collected data on every feature of importance to a wide range of customer profiles, including beginners, casual investors, passive investors, and active traders. We carefully track variables like margin rates, trading costs, fees, and platform features and use them to help rate brokers across a range of categories measuring ease of use, range of investments, research, education, and more.
At StockBrokers.com, our reviewers use a variety of computing devices to evaluate platforms and tools. Our reviews and data collection were conducted using the following devices: iPhone SE running iOS 17.5.1, MacBook Pro M1 with 8 GB RAM running the current MacOS, and a Dell Vostro 5402 laptop i5 with 8 GB RAM running Windows 11 Pro.
Each broker was evaluated and scored on over 200 different variables across seven key categories: Range of Investments, Platforms & Tools, Research, Mobile Trading, Education, Ease of Use, and Overall. Learn more about how we test.
Charles Schwab
Interactive Brokers
Fidelity
E*TRADE
Merrill Edge
TradeStation
tastytrade
eToro
