Best Trading Platforms in Australia for 2026

Desktop trading platforms: Platform flexibility is a core strength. While the advanced Trader Workstation (TWS) caters to experienced traders with powerful tools, it is also the most complex and is best avoided unless you have the time and patience to learn it. The web-based Client Portal and IBKR Desktop platforms provide simpler interfaces that will suit most traders’ everyday needs.

Mobile trading platforms: For a streamlined mobile experience, the main IBKR Mobile app is a great way to access your account and manage orders on the fly, alongside the Global Trader and ESG-focused Impact apps. The main trade-offs are IBKR’s complexity, particularly around funding and currency conversions, and its heavy U.S. dollar orientation, though the simpler apps help ease that burden for casual investors.

The Impact Lens tab within Interactive Brokers' web-based Client Portal provides a comprehensive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dashboard. Investors receive an overall Portfolio Impact Score (graded as a "B" in this example) and can track how well their investments align with personalized values such as sustainable product lifecycles, ocean life, and ethical leadership.

Range of investments: Australian clients can trade ASX-listed shares and ETFs, U.S. stocks and ETFs (including NYSE and Nasdaq-listed securities), options, futures, currencies, bonds, and funds, all from a single account. IBKR’s multi-currency “universal account” structure means you can hold AUD, USD, and other currencies simultaneously, which is a genuine advantage when trading internationally. ASX holdings are held under a nominee and custodial model rather than directly in your HIN, though you remain the beneficial owner with full economic rights.

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. For U.S. shares, IBKR charges US$0.005 per share (minimum US$1 per order), with automatic FX conversion adding just 0.03% above the interbank rate, making it one of the most cost-efficient pathways available to Australian retail investors. While there are no deposit minimums or inactivity fees, a $500 balance applies for accessing streaming data and certain research services.

• Tradeable assets: stocks, options, futures, ETFs, CFDs, currencies, bonds, forex, indices, warrants
• Minimum deposit: $0
• Trading platforms: Trader Workstation (TWS) for advanced traders; Client Portal and IBKR desktop app for everyday investing; IBKR app, Global Trader app, and Impact app for mobile

Steven's take

"IBKR is the clear front-runner for Australian investors trading global shares. The combination of razor-thin FX costs, deep market access, and no platform fees is hard to match. Caveat: onboarding takes more effort, and a $500 balance is required for streaming data."

Steven Hatzakis
Director of Online Broker Research

Visit our full review of Interactive Brokers for a more general overview of its offerings in the United States and around the globe.

Global trading: For U.S. share trading, Webull connects Australian clients to over 10,000 NYSE- and Nasdaq-listed stocks, ETFs, and ADRs. U.S. securities are held in custody via Apex Clearing, with clients holding beneficial ownership. Webull also provides access to Hong Kong and China Connect markets. This is a range of markets that few platforms at this price point can match.

Trading platform: The trading platform is where Webull really distinguishes itself, offering dedicated desktop apps for Windows and macOS, alongside a mobile suite. The mobile app features detailed charting with 50+ technical indicators, real-time quotes, a paper trading simulator, and social community features for idea discovery. The desktop platform (also available via browser) offers more screen real estate for multi-chart layouts and Level 2 data. There is also Vega AI, an AI chat tool that can analyze your watchlist and perform tool calling, such as pulling data for related securities. For active traders who want low costs and advanced tools without paying for a professional-grade setup, Webull is a compelling choice.

Webull fees: The fees for ASX shares are AUD 0.03% of trade value per trade value (minimum AUD $1), and Australian ETF trades are free. U.S. shares cost 0.025% per order (minimum US$1), with a 0.50% FX conversion fee applied on AUD/USD conversions. While that FX cost is higher than that of Interactive Brokers, it remains competitive against most Australian retail platforms. U.S. options cost USD $0.50 per contract, and an off-market transfer fee of AUD $55 applies.

• Tradeable assets: ASX shares, US stocks and ETFs, Hong Kong shares, options (US-listed)
• Minimum deposit: $0
• Trading platforms: Webull app (iOS and Android); Webull desktop (browser-based)

Webull’s browser-based platform provides a customizable, data-rich workspace for active traders. This view highlights the "Assistant" panel's "Movements" tab, which enables users to quickly filter for market gainers and losers across varying timeframes. The layout seamlessly integrates a real-time S&P 500 candlestick chart, a live financial news feed, and a dedicated quote panel displaying key market statistics.

Global trading: A bonus for ASX investors is that all Australian share holdings are CHESS-sponsored and registered directly under your HIN rather than held under a third-party custodian. This means you retain full portability and can transfer your shares to another broker without selling. When you open a Standard account with CMC Invest, your money is held in an ANZ Client Money Management account with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group. For international shares, CMC provides access to 15 markets, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Japan, and beyond.

CMC Invest 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. For all other markets, a $59.00 or 0.59% fee applies per trade, whichever is greater. CMC charges no inactivity or platform fees for the standard account. As part of its Alpha premium service tier, premium support, additional tools, and discounted rates are available if you spend more than AUD $3,000 per year, have more than AUD $2.5m in holdings, or have over AUD $1m in international trading volume.

• Tradeable assets: Australian shares, international shares, ETFs, warrants, mFunds, options, managed funds, LICs, bonds, IPOs
• Minimum deposit: $0
• Trading platforms: CMC Invest (web and mobile); advanced charting with pattern performance widget; real-time data included in standard account

Note that CMC Invest is CMC's platform for share trading and ETFs. For more on CMC’s broader forex and CFD offerings, check out our review of the CMC Markets platform on our sister site, ForexBrokers.com.

Accounts and trading platforms: Free foreign currency sub-accounts allow you to hold multiple currencies and avoid repeated conversion costs. The trading platforms, Totality Edge (formerly SaxoTraderGO on web and mobile) and Totality Apex (formerly SaxoTraderPRO on desktop), offer institutional-grade charting, options pricing tools, and risk analytics that set them apart from retail-focused competitors.

Totality fees: ASX brokerage starts at 0.08%, with a minimum of AUD $3 for a custody account and a minimum of AUD $14.90 for a HIN account. For international shares, including US stock trading, Totality charges 0.08% per order (minimum US$1) on Classic pricing. FX conversion is capped at ±0.45% above the mid-rate. Additionally, international holdings incur an ongoing custody fee of 0.12% per annum on the Classic tier and 0.06% per annum on the First tier, which is worth factoring in for long-term investors. Fortunately, the broker does not charge an inactivity fee.

• Tradeable assets: ASX shares, international stocks and ETFs, options, futures, forex, bonds, commodities
• Minimum deposit: $0 (minimum trade sizes apply per product)
• Trading platforms: Totality Edge (web and mobile); Totality Apex (desktop, advanced)

For more on Totality’s broader forex and CFD offerings (via Saxo), check out our review of Saxo on our sister site, ForexBrokers.com.

Global trading: ASX shares and global equities from markets including the U.S., U.K., Germany, and others are accessible from the same account. IG’s share holdings are held via Citi in a direct custody arrangement rather than under CHESS sponsorship in your own HIN, so it is worth understanding that distinction if you value portability. One of IG's core strengths is in its research offering. It provides integrated news, analyst ratings, earnings calendars, and an excellent mobile app that makes it a strong choice for investors who want context alongside their trades.

IG fees: IG now charges $0 commission on both Australian and international share trades placed online. A 0.7% currency conversion fee applies when buying foreign stocks.

• Tradeable assets: Australian shares, international shares, CFDs, forex, indices, commodities
• Minimum deposit: $0
• Trading platforms: IG web platform; IG mobile app

Check out our review of IG to learn more about its various offerings and platforms from a forex-focused perspective.

Range of investments: Australians can access more than 2,000 stocks listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and 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.

eToro fees: ASX stock trading incurs a $2 commission per trade. For Australian clients, fees for international shares on all other exchanges also incur a commission of $2.

• 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
• Trading platforms: eToro web platform; eToro mobile app

For more information about eToro's CFD and crypto offering, visit our eToro forex review on our sister site, ForexBrokers.com.