8 Best Share Trading Platform Australia (2026): Compare Fees, Features & Brokers

Updated
coverImg
Source: DepositPhotos

In February 2026, the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) processed 61.3 million equity trades according to data from its official website.

With a total of 1,903 shares listed on the ASX by the end of this same month, including domestic and foreign issuers, Australian investors have an ample range of choices to engage in share trading.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the 8 best share trading platforms in Australia in 2026, comparing their key characteristics and features to help our readers make an informed choice.

Quick Comparison – Best Share Trading Platforms in Australia (2026)

Provider Name

Trade Type(s)

Pricing Structure

Minimum Investment

Standout Feature

#1 - Mitrade

CFDs only

Commission-free (spread-based)

$100

Advanced proprietary trading platform and share screener with technical filters.

#2 - eToro

Direct & CFDs

$2 flat fee (Direct) / 0.15% (CFDs)

$20

World-class social trading features.

#3 - Webull

Direct only

$1 or 0.03% (ASX) / $0 (US/HK)

$500

AI-powered chatbot that summarizes financial data and reports.

#4 - CMC Invest

Direct & CFDs

First $1,000 free, then $11 or 0.10%

Variable

Supports MT4 and TradingView webhooks.

#5 - Stake

Direct only

$3 flat fee (or 0.01% over $30k)

$500

SUPER program: Invest via tax-advantaged SMSF.

#6 - Moomoo

Direct only

$3 or 0.03% (ASX) / $0.99 (US)

$500

US Options access and fractional shares starting at $5.

#7 - IBKR

Direct & CFDs

0.08% (Direct) / 0.05% (CFDs)

$0

Access to 170+ global markets and 29 currencies.

#8 - CommSec

Direct only

$5 flat fee (for trades under $1,000)

$500

Long-dated local presence.

8 Best Share Trading Platforms in Australia (Detailed Reviews)

#1 - Mitrade

Mitrade

Overview

Mitrade is an Australian share trading platform offering access to both domestic and international equity instruments via contracts for difference (CFDs).

Key Features

  • Traders can choose between hundreds of shares offered by this provider.

  • Competitive spreads on share trading for both Australian and foreign instruments.

  • Proprietary trading platform offering advanced charting tools and indicators.

  • Its sophisticated share screener can be used to identify opportunities by filtering shares based on technical indicators like the RSI or MACD.

  • Access to a real-time news feed, top-notch educational resources, an economic calendar, and market sentiment indicators.

Fees & Commissions

Mitrade does not charge any fees on share trading. Instead, this CFD broker embeds its commission in the bid/ask spread of each instrument available within its platform.

For example, the floating bid/ask spread of Coles Group (COL.AU) currently stands at AUD $0.05.

In addition, traders are charged an overnight funding fee for keeping their positions open for more than 24 hours.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Highly regulated Australian-based share trading platform.

  • Proprietary trading tools featuring advanced indicators.

  • Ample list of available instruments to trade with.

  • No deposit or withdrawal fees.

  • Small minimum amount required to open an account.

Cons

  • CFDs are derivatives. Investors can’t buy shares directly with this broker.

Trade Popular Global Stocks
successIcoEnjoy simple and fast trading
successIcoFlexible leverage options available 
successIco Follow real-time trading strategies
bannerBg

#2 - eToro

eToro

Overview

eToro is a global trading platform with a license to operate in Australia. They offer access to over 10,000 different assets, including domestic and foreign shares.

With more than 40 million users globally and affordable trading costs, this share trading platform has earned its place in the Australian market.

Key Features

  • Flat fees on share trading at $2 per trade.

  • Supports ISA accounts.

  • eToro offers both direct share purchases and CFDs.

  • Investors can buy fractions of a share.

  • Robust trading tools, including a top-notch copy trading program.

Fees & Commissions

Direct share trading incurs a $2 flat fee per trade for Australian users. Meanwhile, shares bought on margin (by using leverage) pay a 0.15% commission of the trade value per operation.

For CFD trading, eToro collects the spread between the bid and ask price of each share. The typical spread is 0.15% as well. Overnight fees also apply for CFD positions held open to the next day.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Global platform regulated by top-notch jurisdictions and agencies, including the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).

  • Low minimum deposit of $20 required to open an account.

  • Flat fee for direct share purchases and 0.15% bid/ask spread on CFD trading for shares.

  • Attractive copy trading features.

Cons

  • Limited number of Australian shares available for trading.

#3 - Webull

Webull

Overview

Webull is a global share trading platform catering to more than 26 million users. This provider holds a license to operate lawfully in Australian soil as a registered Market Participant with ASX.

This broker offers access to Australian, U.S., and Hong Kong-listed shares, along with multiple other instruments. It only offers direct share trading, meaning that it primarily caters to investors, not traders.

Key Features

  • Ample selection of Australian and international shares.

  • CHESS-sponsored share trades processed and cleared by Australia’s top registrar.

  • Zero commissions on direct share purchases.

  • Auto-investing feature allows users to set automatic share purchases based on pre-defined parameters.

  • Premium trading tools available, including live data, access to financials, and Vega AI, a generative AI capable of summarizing key financial data from news to reports for individual shares.

Fees & Commissions

Flat fee of $1 per share trade for Australian equities or 0.03% of the trade value (whichever is higher). U.S. and Hong Kong share trades do not incurr any fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Top-notch trading platform for direct share purchases.

  • Low commission on Australian share purchases.

  • Long list of available U.S. and Asian shares.

  • Access to an AI-powered chatbot that offers insights on individual shares and the state of the market.

Cons

  • High minimum investment of $500 required to open an account.

#4 – CMC Invest

CMC Invest

Overview

CMC Invest is the proprietary trading platform of CMC Markets, a company with a 35-year track record that serves over 1 million customers globally. Its Australian subsidiary provides access to domestic and foreign equities.

It supports both direct share purchases and CFD trading, and it is a member of both the ASX and the Sydney Stock Exchange.

Key Features

  • Direct share purchases of Australian and foreign shares.

  • Advanced proprietary trading platform for active traders.

  • This provider also supports MetaTrader 4 and webhooks via TradingView.

  • CFD trading for a long list of instruments, including stock, indexes, and more.

  • CHESS-sponsored trades, processed by Australia’s top-notch registrar.

  • Zero-fee trades for the first $1,000 on direct purchases.

Fees & Commissions

CMC Invest follows a hybrid model for direct share purchases. The first $1,000 bought are exempt from paying any fees. After that, a $11 fee applies or 0.10% of the trade value (whichever is the highest).

Meanwhile, Alpha account holders get attractive discounts on trading fees. However, only investors with over $2.5 million in assets qualify for this program.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Top-notch broker with many years of positive track record.

  • Long list of supported equity instruments, including Australian and foreign shares.

  • Advanced proprietary share trading platform and support for third-party systems like MT4 and TradingView.

  • CMC’s Premium “Alpha” program for advanced traders offers discounts on trading fees.

Cons

  • High fees on direct share purchases, starting at $11 per security per day or 0.10% of the trade value (whichever is greater).

  • Minimum commission of AUD $7 per every CFD trade.

#5 - Stake

Stake

Overview

Stake is an investment platform designed for mobile devices that offers direct share purchases at a low cost. The app caters to more than 700,000 users and has received great ratings on the Google Play Store and App Store.

It offers access to more than 2,500 ASX-listed instruments, including Australian shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), along with access to a selected number of U.S.-listed instruments.

Key Features

  • This share trading platform charges A$3 per trade.

  • It offers CHESS-sponsored transactions for the highest transparency.

  • Its SUPER program allows investors to invest in shares by using a tax-advantaged account called an SMSF.

  • A minimum investment of $500 is required to open an account.

Fees & Commissions

Stake charges a flat fee of AUD $3 for every trade involving ASX-listed instruments like stocks or ETFs, or a 0.01% commission if the trade value exceeds AUD $30,000. Similarly, trading U.S. stocks generates a USD $3 fee or a 0.01% commission if that same threshold is exceeded.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Highly user-friendly Australian trading app focused on long-term investing.

  • Low fees for share trading.

  • Both domestic and international shares are available.

  • Access to tax-advantaged investment accounts via the SUPER program.

Cons

  • Stake is primarily an investment platform. It does not offer access to leveraged trading, margin accounts, or derivatives like CFDs or futures.

  • The minimum deposit to open an account is high compared to other providers.

  • This broker does not support desktop or web-based platforms.

#6 - Moomoo

Moomoo

Overview

Moomoo is a U.S.-based global share trading platform serving more than 28 million users and managing nearly $160 billion in assets for its customers.

The platform expanded to the Australian market in 2022 as trading gained popularity during and after the pandemic. Moomoo offers access to both domestic and international shares, allowing investors to execute trades at a competitive cost.

Key Features

  • Access to ASX, U.S., and Hong Kong-listed shares via its proprietary trading platform.

  • Low flat fees per trade for both shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

  • Supports CHESS-sponsored transactions, processed by Australia’s top-notch clearing house.

  • Sophisticated educational and research hub with hundreds of videos and written materials.

  • This provider supports fractional shares, allowing investors with a small investment budget to buy fractions of a stock starting at $5.

Fees & Commissions

Moomoo charges AUD $3 per trade for ASX-listed instruments or 0.03% of the trade value (whichever is greater). Meanwhile, U.S.-listed shares can be traded for USD $0.99, while trading Hong Kong shares costs HK $3 per transaction or 0.03% of the ticket value.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Heavily regulated US-based share trading platform with a large user base.

  • Moomoo is licensed to operate in Australia and offers specific products for locals, like SMSF and access to ASX-listed shares.

  • Active traders can access the U.S. options market via this provider’s proprietary trading platform.

  • Competitive fees for trading Australian and foreign shares.

  • Access to high-quality research materials and tools.

Cons

  • The platform requires a minimum initial share purchase of AUD $500 to activate the account.

#7 – Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers

Overview

Interactive Brokers is one of the largest global share trading platforms, with licenses to operate in dozens of countries and 49 years in the business. IB currently caters to more than 4.4 million users and has been available for Australians since 1997.

This broker manages over $20 billion in capital for its customers and processes more than 4 million daily trades through its proprietary IBKR trading platform.

Key Features

  • Access to instruments listed in more than 170 different financial markets, including Australian shares.

  • Investment and trading accounts can be funded by using more than 29 different currencies.

  • Extensive list of proprietary trading interfaces and systems catering to both beginner and advanced traders.

  • Top-notch trading and analysis tools accessible to all users.

  • Straightforward percentage-based commissions for trading ASX-listed shares.

  • Access to foreign shares, CFDs, and other instruments for active traders.

Fees & Commissions

For trades below AUD $300,000, Interactive Brokers charges a 0.08% commission for ASX-listed shares with a minimum of $5.5 per order. Meanwhile, Australian shares can also be traded via CFDs, incurring a 0.05% commission per trade.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Publicly-listed broker with nearly five decades and a positive track record in the financial markets.

  • IB provides access to both domestic and foreign shares at a competitive cost.

  • This provider does not require a minimum deposit to activate an account for individual investors.

  • The IBKR platform provides access to financial instruments listed in more than 170 different markets, including shares, CFDs, ETFs, futures, options, and more.

  • Superannuation Fund accounts are available with this broker.

Cons

  • Trading commissions are a bit higher than the average.

#8 - CommSec

CommSec

Overview

CommSec is an online broker based in Australia, with more than 30 years in business and a solid footprint in this market.

It has the advantage of being a “local” alternative to investors, offering access to both domestic and foreign shares with flat trading fees starting at $5.

Key Features

  • CommSec offers access to more than 2,000 ASX-listed shares via any of its trading interfaces.

  • This provider charges a flat fee of $5 for trade values below AUD $1,000.

  • Foreign shares can also be traded through its platform. Currently, a long list of U.S., Canadian, European, and Asian shares can be traded with this broker.

  • The minimum trade required to activate an account is AUD $500.

  • CommSec supports tax-advantaged accounts like SMSFs and offers CHESS-sponsored trades.

  • Eligible users get access to borrowed funds through margin accounts to boost their portfolio’s performance.

Fees & Commissions

Trading costs for ASX-listed shares start at $5 per trade. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks can be traded for $5 per trade or a 0.12% commission (whichever is greater).

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Australia-based share trading platforms with decades of experience in the local markets.

  • CommSec provides access to foreign shares and ETFs as well.

  • Tax-advantaged investment accounts are available.

  • Competitive flat trading fees.

Cons

  • The minimum deposit to activate an account is high at AUD $500.

  • CFD or futures trading is not available with this provider.

  • Trading fees for Australian shares are a bit high at AUD $5 compared to other service providers in this list.

Share Trading vs CFD Trading – What’s the Difference?

Feature

Share Trading

CFD Trading

Asset Ownership

Yes. Users take legal ownership of the physical shares.

No. Users trade a financial derivative that settles based on the price difference between the initial price and the closing price of the underlying asset.

Leverage

None. Users pay 100% of the trade value upfront.

Yes. Funds are borrowed to execute trades.

Market Direction

The account grows only when share prices rise (Long only).

CFDs can be used to take either long or short positions.

Dividends

Full. Paid directly to you; often includes Franking Credits.

Adjusted. The account balance is adjusted to reflect the impact of the dividend.

Shareholder Rights

Includes voting rights and attending AGMs.

None.

Trading Costs

Brokerage commission per trade.

Spreads, commissions, and overnight funding fees.

Risk

The maximum loss is the total amount invested.

Losses can exceed your initial deposit due to leverage.

Open a Trading Account

     Trade Stocks with an ASIC-regulated broker. Fast AUD funding via PayID. ”  

How to Start Share Trading in Australia

With so many platforms available to engage in share trading in Australia, users have ample alternatives and can easily open an account to get started.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for beginners in case you feel a bit lost.

Step 1: Choose a Licensed Broker

Users must choose an ASIC-regulated platform that fits their individual preferences. They can pick between a Full-Service Broker (for expert advice) or an Online Trading Platform (for lower fees). 

These brokers should support as many markets as possible (ASX or international) and ideally offer CHESS-sponsored transactions for direct purchases.

Step 2: Open and Verify the Account

Verify the Account

Users must complete an online application by providing their personal details, including a Tax File Number (TFN). They will have to go through a "Know Your Customer" (KYC) check by uploading a digital copy of their ID.

Step 3: Fund the Account

Transfer capital into the new trading account using methods like PayID, Osko, or Bank Transfer. 

While some platforms allow users to start with very small amounts (especially for share trading), the industry-standard for a first trade on the ASX is generally AUD $500.

Step 4: Research and Place Your First Trade

Use the available analysis tools to identify and trade the most promising shares in the Australian market or overseas. 

shares in the Australian market

Once ready, users must enter the ticker symbol (e.g., WTC for WiseTech), indicate the number of shares they would like to buy, and select a Limit Order (to set a specific price) or a Market Order (to buy instantly) to execute the trade.

Start Trading Stock in 3 Simple Steps
1
Open an Account
2
Fund Your Account
3
Trade Global Stocks
bannerBg
FAQ

1. What is the difference between direct share trading and CFD trading in Australia?

The primary difference is ownership. When you trade direct shares, you legally own the asset and are entitled to dividends and voting rights. With CFD trading, you are speculating on price movements without owning the stock.

2. Why are CHESS-sponsored trades important for Australians?

CHESS sponsorship is a high priority for local investors as it means shares are registered in your name with a unique HIN (Holder Identification Number).

3. Can investors use their Superannuation (SMSF) accounts to trade shares on these platforms?

Yes. Several modern Australian share trading platforms now cater specifically to Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSF).

* The content presented above, whether from a third party or not, is considered as general advice only.  This article should not be construed as containing investment advice, investment recommendations, an offer of or solicitation for any transactions in financial instruments.

goTop
quote
Related Articles
placeholder
OpenAI Introduces Lowest-Cost ChatGPT Subscription in India with UPI Payment OptionOn Tuesday, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Go, its most affordable AI subscription tier, targeting the price-sensitive Indian market. Nick Turley, OpenAI’s Vice President and Head of ChatGPT, announced the launch via an X post, highlighting that users can pay through India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Author  MitradeInsights
Aug 19, 2025
On Tuesday, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Go, its most affordable AI subscription tier, targeting the price-sensitive Indian market. Nick Turley, OpenAI’s Vice President and Head of ChatGPT, announced the launch via an X post, highlighting that users can pay through India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
placeholder
Oracle's Weak Earnings Prompt Concerns Over AI Spending, Pressuring Nvidia and Industry RivalsOracle's disappointing earnings and soaring expenses have raised fears about AI spending sustainability, causing Nvidia and other related stocks to decline amidst heightened competition and concerns over mounting debt.
Author  MitradeInsights
Dec 11, 2025
Oracle's disappointing earnings and soaring expenses have raised fears about AI spending sustainability, causing Nvidia and other related stocks to decline amidst heightened competition and concerns over mounting debt.
placeholder
MicroStrategy Shares are Performing Better than Bitcoin In 2026, But How?MicroStrategy stock is up nearly 3% at press time, trading above $137 as markets opened on March 9. Strategy just announced another 17,994 BTC purchase for $1.28 billion.The stock trades 57% lower ove
Author  BeincryptoBeincrypto
Mar 10, Tue
MicroStrategy stock is up nearly 3% at press time, trading above $137 as markets opened on March 9. Strategy just announced another 17,994 BTC purchase for $1.28 billion.The stock trades 57% lower ove
placeholder
OpenAI Considers Funding Brain Implant Startup to Challenge Musk’s Neuralink – ReportsOpenAI and its co-founder Sam Altman are preparing to back a new startup aiming to rival Elon Musk’s Neuralink in the development of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, multiple sources revealed on Tuesday.
Author  MitradeInsights
Aug 13, 2025
OpenAI and its co-founder Sam Altman are preparing to back a new startup aiming to rival Elon Musk’s Neuralink in the development of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, multiple sources revealed on Tuesday.
placeholder
What to Expect From NVIDIA Stock Price in April 2026?NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock price trades at $177.64 on the 2-day chart, up 5.31% over the past days but still down 6% year-to-date. April sits at a unique inflection for the stock. The Iran conflict c
Author  BeincryptoBeincrypto
Apr 08, Wed
NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock price trades at $177.64 on the 2-day chart, up 5.31% over the past days but still down 6% year-to-date. April sits at a unique inflection for the stock. The Iran conflict c