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How we picked these
Finder Score for share trading platforms
We've scored over 30 share trading platforms assessing them for their core features, fees, customer experience and accessibility. Our experts give each platform a score out of 10.
Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
What's the best trading platform in Australia?
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 currencies 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 an app to trade US stocks, an app for ASX shares and another for currency 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 global currencies. 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 a 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 currencies, indices 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.
Order types. 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.
Customer support. Look for phone, email and live online chat support. Does it 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 3 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. 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.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involve substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances and obtain your own advice before making any trades.
Kylie Purcell is an experienced investments analyst and finance journalist with over a decade of expertise in a wide range of financial products, including online trading platforms, robo-advisors, stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. She is a sought-after commentator and regularly shares her insights on the AFR, Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, SBS and News.com.au. Kylie hosts the Investment Finder video series and actively contributes to the investment community as a judge and panellist. She holds a Master of Arts in International Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Economics, and ASIC-recognised certifications in securities and managed investments. See full bio
Kylie's expertise
Kylie has written 195 Finder guides across topics including:
Tom Stelzer is a journalist with 6 years of experience covering personal finance, specialising in investment and cryptocurrency. With a Master of Media Arts and Production and a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Technology Sydney, Tom provides expert analysis on digital assets and market trends, helping readers navigate the fast-evolving world of finance. See full bio
Hi
Ima beginner share Investor
I am looking for a Australian share platform that offers reasonable fees or nil to invest in shares on the medium to long term- i wish to invest in Australian stocks only with $2000 to $18000 AUD funds.
My strategy would be essentially buy and hold with very limited trading
can you recommend any platforms that are easy to use and don’t charge for non activity also or would suit this strategy
Thank you
Finder
KylieAugust 19, 2025Finder
Hi David, we can’t recommend any products to you however check out this guide: https://www.finder.com.au/share-trading/best-online-share-trading-platforms where we break down each of our highest rated trading platforms including fees (inc inactivity fees), features, pros and cons. One other point to consider is how much it will cost to sell your portfolio several years from now – a flat brokerage fee rather than a percentage fee can be more cost efficient.
RayApril 4, 2025
Hi I want to buy 100 shares in Carnival Cruise Line, I do not want buy other shares or trade in the stock market, how can I go about this purchase?
Thank you
Finder
KylieApril 10, 2025Finder
Hi Ray, Carnival Cruise stocks are listed on the NYSE, so you’ll need to sign up to a share trading platform that offers US stocks. You can find more information in our guide: https://www.finder.com.au/share-trading/buy-carnival-shares
Cheers,
BobMarch 26, 2025
I would like to open an account with a Banking group which will allow me to buy and sell shares at reasonable cost. This platform should keep my records for me for tax purposes and provide me with a comprehensive report at the end of the financial year. Which bank is best to provide this banking service?
Finder
KylieMarch 26, 2025Finder
Hi Bob,
I can’t say which the best platform is for you, however the following bank-affiliated share trading platforms all offer tax reporting services to some degree: Bendigo Invest Direct, CommSec, HSBC Online Share Trading, Macquarie Online Trading, nabtrade, St. George Directshares. You can use our comparison to compare the trade fees and other features. You can also use a portfolio tracker like Sharesight for record keeping and tax reporting purposes.
Good luck.
NadiaFebruary 12, 2025
I am interested in long-term investment in currency ( katar dinar)
Which platform is the right one to do that??
Finder
ThomasFebruary 13, 2025Finder
Hi Nadia,
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately you won’t be able to invest in the dinar via regular Australian share trading platforms or even most forex brokers.
If you’re looking to invest for the long-term, you may instead be able to find a money transfer service hat lets you convert another currency into dinar.
I hope that answers your question but please let me know if I can help with anything else.
Thanks,
Tom
GraemeJanuary 30, 2025
Hi, I am a pensioner that recently lost everything in a divorce. I have a small amount of savings and am willing to invest $5000 in a new mining company. I am told that Lithium is a safe investment provided the company is well established with sufficient funds backing. I have no idea about buy and trading so will need to go through a broker. My question is “Is lithium a reasonably safe investment or is there better.
Finder
SarahFebruary 4, 2025Finder
Hi Graeme, We’re not licenced to provide personal financial advice, but can give general guidance. If you wish to invest in a safe and balanced way, you may want to consider:
– A longer-term term deposit. You can get over 4.5% per year for up to 5 years.
– An ETF. This is a simple, cost-effective way of investing in shares, without being exposed to one single market or asset.
– Investing directly. As you mentioned, you’re interested in investing in lithium. This may suit your goals, investment timeline and risk profile, but note that diversifying into different investments may be a less risky and more balanced strategy for rebuilding your wealth.
With any investment, keep in mind whether you may need access to this money for an emergency, as this can influence the direction you go in. Hope this helps and best of luck!
Stake is a trading platform for Australians who want value for money when trading. Gain access to the cheapest CHESS-sponsored brokerage in Australia and $3 brokerage in the US.
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Hi
Ima beginner share Investor
I am looking for a Australian share platform that offers reasonable fees or nil to invest in shares on the medium to long term- i wish to invest in Australian stocks only with $2000 to $18000 AUD funds.
My strategy would be essentially buy and hold with very limited trading
can you recommend any platforms that are easy to use and don’t charge for non activity also or would suit this strategy
Thank you
Hi David, we can’t recommend any products to you however check out this guide: https://www.finder.com.au/share-trading/best-online-share-trading-platforms where we break down each of our highest rated trading platforms including fees (inc inactivity fees), features, pros and cons. One other point to consider is how much it will cost to sell your portfolio several years from now – a flat brokerage fee rather than a percentage fee can be more cost efficient.
Hi I want to buy 100 shares in Carnival Cruise Line, I do not want buy other shares or trade in the stock market, how can I go about this purchase?
Thank you
Hi Ray, Carnival Cruise stocks are listed on the NYSE, so you’ll need to sign up to a share trading platform that offers US stocks. You can find more information in our guide: https://www.finder.com.au/share-trading/buy-carnival-shares
Cheers,
I would like to open an account with a Banking group which will allow me to buy and sell shares at reasonable cost. This platform should keep my records for me for tax purposes and provide me with a comprehensive report at the end of the financial year. Which bank is best to provide this banking service?
Hi Bob,
I can’t say which the best platform is for you, however the following bank-affiliated share trading platforms all offer tax reporting services to some degree: Bendigo Invest Direct, CommSec, HSBC Online Share Trading, Macquarie Online Trading, nabtrade, St. George Directshares. You can use our comparison to compare the trade fees and other features. You can also use a portfolio tracker like Sharesight for record keeping and tax reporting purposes.
Good luck.
I am interested in long-term investment in currency ( katar dinar)
Which platform is the right one to do that??
Hi Nadia,
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately you won’t be able to invest in the dinar via regular Australian share trading platforms or even most forex brokers.
If you’re looking to invest for the long-term, you may instead be able to find a money transfer service hat lets you convert another currency into dinar.
You can learn more about money transfer services here.
I hope that answers your question but please let me know if I can help with anything else.
Thanks,
Tom
Hi, I am a pensioner that recently lost everything in a divorce. I have a small amount of savings and am willing to invest $5000 in a new mining company. I am told that Lithium is a safe investment provided the company is well established with sufficient funds backing. I have no idea about buy and trading so will need to go through a broker. My question is “Is lithium a reasonably safe investment or is there better.
Hi Graeme, We’re not licenced to provide personal financial advice, but can give general guidance. If you wish to invest in a safe and balanced way, you may want to consider:
– A longer-term term deposit. You can get over 4.5% per year for up to 5 years.
– An ETF. This is a simple, cost-effective way of investing in shares, without being exposed to one single market or asset.
– Investing directly. As you mentioned, you’re interested in investing in lithium. This may suit your goals, investment timeline and risk profile, but note that diversifying into different investments may be a less risky and more balanced strategy for rebuilding your wealth.
With any investment, keep in mind whether you may need access to this money for an emergency, as this can influence the direction you go in. Hope this helps and best of luck!