The best share trading platforms of 2021

Are you looking for the best online brokers in Australia? With activity in the stock market surging last year, there are now dozens of share trading apps to choose from in Australia in 2021 offering record low prices.

But picking a share trading platform is about more than just the fees. The best platform for you will depend on how often you trade, which markets you're investing in and how experienced you are.

To make it easier on you, we've compared some of Australia's top share trading platforms by looking at fees, features and available products. To get the best results, we compared 39 different features, including fees structures, support options, trading options and range of markets.

Best share trading platforms in Australia

These are the 10 best trading platforms of 2020/21 according to the latest information (last updated November 2020).

1. Best overall broker: CMC Markets
2. Best for cheap broker fees: IG
3. Best for beginners (ASX stock): ThinkMarkets
4. Best for beginners (US stocks): Stake
5. Best for active traders: Interactive Brokers
6. Best for long-term investing: CMC Markets
7. Best for international shares: CMC Markets
8. Best for ASX shares: CommSec
9. Best for US stocks: eToro
10. Best for penny stocks: Interactive Brokers

1. IG Share Trading

Best for cheap broker fees

• $0 brokerage fees for global shares
• Lowest ASX broker fees for active traders
• Wide range of markets available including stocks, forex and CFDs

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IG set a new standard for low fees in 2020 when it released $0 commission trading on global stocks and $5 brokerage on Australian shares. This update means IG now offers the lowest commission fees among brokers offering ASX and global stocks, but this is especially the case for high-frequency trading. For 30 trades of ASX shares a year, you pay just $150 in broker fees – most brokers we reviewed charge double this amount or more.

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2. CMC Markets Stockbroking

Best overall broker

• $0 Brokerage on global shares
• Trade shares, forex, CFDs and options
• Stocks from 15 global markets
• Access managed funds (mFunds)

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CMC Markets offers an extensive range of features and options to suit all traders, including CHESS-sponsored Australian shares, global share trading, forex and CFDs. You also get a range of trading tools including advanced charts, stock watchlists and conditional orders.

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3. eToro Share Trading (US stocks)

Best for US stocks

• Zero broker fees for US stocks
• Fractional shares
• Copy trading feature
• Easy for beginners

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eToro is well known for its social features that allow users to learn from each other and to imitate the trades made by successful traders. The platform launched US share trading in Australia in June 2020 alongside its CFD, forex and cryptocurrency trading features. It's a top choice for US stocks thanks to having zero brokerage fees, a low currency conversion rate and a range of trading features such as news updates and charting tools.

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4. CMC Markets Stockbroking

Best for long-term investors

• No inactivity fee
• No subscription fee
• Easy to pick up for beginners
• Access ASX CHESS-sponsored shares

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With no monthly subscription or inactivity fees for the standard account, CMC Markets users can buy and sell global and ASX shares just a few times a year without worrying about any penalty costs. Long-term investors can also access managed funds (mFunds), ETFs and keep up to date with news and market analysis.

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5. ThinkMarkets Share Trading

Best for beginners (Australian shares)

• $No monthly or inactivity fee for the basic account
• Easy-to-use platform
• Low brokerage costs
• Available on mobile

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ThinkMarkets' ASX mobile trading app is simple enough for beginners to get started, while also offering a range of useful features, such as company announcements, watchlists, alerts, portfolio tracking and limit orders. And if you're looking to get trained up, ThinkMarkets offers online classes and 'how-to' guides on stocks, forex and commodities trading.

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6. Stake

Best for beginners (US stocks)

• $0 brokerage on all US stocks
• No monthly or inactivity fee for the basic account
• Easy-to-use platform
• Offers fractional investing

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Stake is a great choice for total beginners thanks to its easy-to-use platform, low fees and low minimal investing. With Stake, you can only trade US stocks, but it's a nice starter for new traders because you pay $0 commissions on trades and you can invest as little as $10 at a time through fractional investing. The platform has a minimal, stylish design that will appeal to new and old traders.

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7. Interactive Brokers Australia

Best for active traders

• Cheap broker fees
• Long list of global markets
• Advanced trading features
• OTC stock trading available

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Interactive Brokers has an extensive range of trading tools for active traders, such as advanced charting, fractional shares and a long list of conditional order options. Its brokerage fees are among the lowest on the market for Australian and global share trading, especially for high-frequency traders, and users can also trade OTC stocks, forex, CFDs and commodities.

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8. CommSec Share Trading Account

Best for ASX shares

• No inactivity fee
• Offers managed funds
• Feature rich
• Access Australian IPOs
• Buy CHESS-sponsored shares

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Commbank's share trading app is Australia's most popular platform for a few good reasons. CommSec offers Australian CHESS-sponsored shares and ETFs starting at $10 a trade and it has no ongoing subscription or inactivity fees. It's not the cheapest broker on the market but it is feature rich when it comes to Australian stocks. Tools include broker analysis, watchlists, IPOs, stock filters and a long list of conditional (limit) orders.

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9. CMC Markets Stockbroking

Best for international shares

• $0 brokerage fees for global stocks
• Low currency conversion fee
• Feature rich platform
• Trade global and ASX shares

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CMC Markets is ranked number 1 for international share trading thanks to its $0 brokerage global stock offering and feature rich platform. You can access up to 15 global markets, including the US, UK, Canada and Japan as well as Australia's ASX and Chi-X.

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10. Interactive Brokers Australia

Best for penny stocks

• Stocks from 33 countries
• OTC stock trading
• Fractional investing
• Conditional orders

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Interactive Brokers is one of the few online brokers to offer over the counter (OTC) stock trading here in Australia. IB also features advanced trading tools, global share trading and an extensive list of conditional order types.

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Sort by:

Name	Product	Standard brokerage fee	Inactivity fee	Markets	International
IG Share Trading Finder Award		AUD 8	AUD 50 per quarter if you make fewer than three trades in that period	ASX shares, Global shares, Forex, CFDs, Margin trading	Yes	$0 brokerage for US and global shares plus get an active trader discount of $5 commission on Australian shares. Enjoy some of the lowest brokerage fees on the market when trading Australian shares, international shares, forex and CFDs, plus get access to 24-hour customer support.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
eToro Share Trading (US stocks) Finder Award		USD 0	USD 10 per month if there’s been no login for 12 months	Forex, CFDs, US shares	Yes	Zero brokerage share trading on US stocks with trades as low as $50. Note: This broker offers CFDs which are volatile investment products and most clients lose money trading CFDs with this provider. Join the world’s biggest social trading network when you trade stocks, commodities and forex from the one account.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Superhero share trading		AUD 5	No	ASX shares, ETFs	No	Pay zero brokerage on all Australian ETFs. Trade ASX stocks with a flat $5 commission fee and a low minimum investment of just $100.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bell Direct Share Trading Finder Award		AUD 15	No	ASX shares, Options trading, mFunds, ETFs, Warrants	No	Invest in Australian shares, options and managed funds from the one account with no inactivity fee. Bell Direct offers a one-second placement guarantee on market-to-limit ASX orders or your trade is free, plus enjoy extensive free research reports from top financial experts.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
CMC Markets Stockbroking Finder Award		AUD 11	No	ASX shares, Global shares, Forex, CFDs, Options trading, mFunds, ETFs, Warrants	Yes	$0 brokerage on global shares including US, UK and Japan markets. Trade up to 9,000 products, including shares, managed funds, forex, commodities and cryptocurrencies, plus access up to 15 major global and Australian stock exchanges.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
SelfWealth Share Trading (Basic account)		AUD 9.5	No	ASX shares, US shares	Yes	Trade ASX and US shares for a flat fee of $9.50, regardless of the trade size. New customers receive free access to Community Insights with SelfWealth Premium for the first 90 days. Follow other investors and benchmark your portfolio performance.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
ANZ Share Investing		AUD 19.95	No	ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, mFunds, ETFs, Warrants	Yes	Earn 1 Qantas Point per AU$3 spent on brokerage fees on certain instruments. Access Morningstar reports, company announcements and and live pricing via ANZ’s share investing platform. Available for desktop and mobile.	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Westpac Online Investing Account		AUD 19.95	USD 63.50 per year on the global markets account	ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, ETFs	Yes	More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Important: Share trading can be financially risky and the value of your investment can go down as well as up. “Standard brokerage” fee is the cost to trade $1,000 or less of ASX-listed shares and ETFs without any qualifications or special eligibility. If ASX shares aren’t available, the fee shown is for US shares. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.

How to pick the best online broker

With dozens of share trading platforms in Australia, it's not easy to work out which one is best suited to you.

The best app for beginners is going to be very different to a platform that suits active or professional traders. Meanwhile, somebody that wants to invest in Australian shares and ETFs may have no interest in forex trading or international markets.

The fees can also change depending on how often you trade in a month, a quarter or a year. In fact, recent Finder research found that the average share trader could save approximately $1,048 in brokerage fees a year by switching to a more suitable broker (calculated on 7 trades per month of $1,000).

It may even save money to have more than one platform. For example, you could have one app to trade US stocks, one for ASX shares and another for forex markets.

What’s your trading style?

There are many different kinds of share traders. Once you know which category you fall into, you’ll be able to more easily pick the best share trading app for you. For example, there are casual traders, active traders and long-term investors.

This will influence the features you're looking for in an online broker. From the ease of use of the system through to the market research information available, it's important that the platform complements your trading needs.

Ask yourself the following questions to determine your trading style:

How often will I trade? If you buy or sell shares once or twice a month (or even less), you’re a casual investor. You may want to avoid brokers that have an inactivity fee or charge higher broker fees for less frequent trades.

If you intend to buy and sell shares multiple times in a day, you’re an active trader. You’d want to look for platforms that offer low brokerage for high-frequency trading and an extensive range of trading features, such as charting tools and order options.

Am I a trader or an investor? Traders try to make money from share price movements by buying and selling stocks frequently – often several times in a day or week.

Investors use the "buy and hold" strategy by targeting quality companies they think will rise over a long time-frame and possibly offer dividends. They may only buy and sell a few times in a year. Investors may find the inactivity fee more important than a stock analysis feature.

For traders, a low brokerage fee and advanced features are key. They might find the stock analysis feature more important than an inactivity fee.

How will I place trades? Will you be placing all your trades online, via a mobile app or over the phone? Make sure the app offers your preferred choice and check the fees.

What will I be trading? Do you want to trade Australian shares, US shares or other international markets? Some online brokers also offer other markets such as forex, CFDs and cryptocurrencies. Depending on what your priorities are, you may wish to get a broker that offers all of the above or several different brokers– one for each market.

How much money am I trading? Do you intend to invest one lump sum of $5,000 into the stock market or would you prefer to make several small trades of a few hundred dollars? Brokerage fees sometimes differ depending on the amount you’re buying and selling per month, per year or by trade.

How to compare online brokers

There are plenty of things you'll need to consider when looking at different platforms. Of course, it all comes down to how you're intending to use it.

Here are some of the key features to look at when comparing online share trading platforms:

• The broker fees. Almost every online trading platform will charge you a brokerage fee (also called a commission fee) when you buy or sell shares, ranging from around $10 to $30 per trade. These fees may be calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount for larger trades and may also be lower depending on how frequently you trade.
• Monthly fees. Some providers charge ongoing subscription or inactivity fees where you’re charged if you make too few trades. This will especially be the case where a platform offers an extensive range of features for advanced traders.
• What can you trade? Some trading platforms will not only give you access to Australian shares but also international shares. Others will also allow you to trade CFDs, forex, indices, currencies and much more, so look for this functionality if it's important to you.
• Ease of use. Share market trading can be complicated and often requires you to respond quickly to market changes. With this in mind, look for a platform that allows you to make fast and precise trades with minimum fuss.
• Access to market data. Does the platform offer dynamic, real-time or delayed market updates? Some platforms offer research and broker analysis on individual stocks that can come in handy.
• Trade options. Consider the options available when you're buying or selling shares. Can you place orders at market and/or at limit and are other order types such as stop/loss orders an option to add more flexibility to your trading?
• Reporting. Check what reporting tools each platform offers to help you track how your trades are performing, record dividends and pass on any relevant information to the ATO at tax time.
• Margin loans. If you're looking to borrow money to build your portfolio, check to see whether the platform provider offers margin loans.
• Customer support. Look for phone, email and live online chat support. Do they offer customer service 24/7 if you're having trouble placing a trade?
• Education. Some platforms also feature a range of educational tools and resources, such as how-to guides and webinars, to help you get more out of your trading account.
• Security. How secure is the platform and what measures are in place to ensure the safety of your funds?

What fees will I pay to trade shares?

There are three main fees that commonly apply when you use online share trading platforms – brokerage fees, monthly fees and foreign exchange fees if you trade global shares.

Brokerage fees vary greatly between providers but typically start at around the $10 to $20 range. For large transactions, fees of around 0.1% and up usually apply. If you’re planning on making lots of trades, you’ll want to keep an eye out for a platform that offers low per-trade fees.

Some providers will not charge any monthly fees at all. However, more advanced trading platforms and those that offer premium services will often charge a monthly fee that could be as high as around $80 per month. A number of brokers will waive this fee if you perform more than a certain number of trades each month.

Finally, remember that many brokers offer different membership levels – for example gold, silver and platinum – which offer different features and therefore attract varying fees.

• Brokerage fees. Brokerage fees (also called commission fees) are the charges that apply to each buy and sell transaction of stocks and ETFs, and they usually vary depending on the size of your buy or sell order or how often you trade.
• Ongoing fees. These apply monthly or annually, but not all providers will charge ongoing fees. This may depend on how frequently you trade, for example, inactivity fees are often charged if you don't place any trades within a certain period of time.
• Withdrawal fees. Some brokers charge a fee to withdraw money from your account.
• Foreign exchange fees. If you want to buy US or other global shares, you'll need to pay an exchange fee when you deposit money into your account to convert your Australian dollars to the applicable currency.