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There are dozens of stock trading apps available for Australians to buy and sell shares, ETFs, digital currencies and more. Many of these platforms now offer mobile apps, making it easier than ever to place a trade from anywhere.
But finding the best trading app for you is about understanding what you want to trade, how often you intend to place a trade and what types of tools are most important.
To make it easier to compare, we've sourced a list of the 10 top trading apps in Australia and highlighted some of their best (and not-so-great) features.
Best Australian stock trading apps for 2023
eToro: Best app for US trades (Finder Award winner)
Spaceship Voyager: Best investment app 2023 (Customer Satisfaction Awards)
Our best trading app methodology
We analysed 39 trading platforms that were available to Australians in 2023 to come up with the highest-rated investment apps. Finder's proprietary "best trading app" algorithm rates platforms by the following criteria:
Average user ratings on the App and Play Stores
Platform and brokerage fees
User-friendliness
Access to ASX and US markets
Live chat support
Average app sign-up time
Availability on iOS and Android devices
Biometric login option
Availability of PayID
Availability of advanced order types via the app
Access to company financial details via the app
App stock alerts
Only trading apps with more than 50 reviews in the App Store and Google Play stores were included in our list. For more information about how our algorithm works, head to our full methodology explainer.
1. eToro: Best trading app for US trades (Finder Award winner)
eToro's popular trading app is designed for both desktop and mobile (Android and iPhone). Its well-known for its copy trading feature where you can imitate the trades of top users or copy a portfolio of stocks selected by eToro. This year it won our best for US stocks category thanks to its low fees and great range of trading tools and research features.
Zero brokerage. There's no brokerage fee to trade ASX or global stocks.
Range of assets. Using the same account, you can trade stocks, derivatives, currencies and cryptocurrency.
Copy trading. You can copy the trades of top eToro traders as well as stock portfolios.
CFDs are risky. To access leverage, you're trading with CFDs, which are risky and complicated investment products.
Brokerage fee per trade: AU stocks: $0 US stock: US$0 UK stocks: £0 Inactivity fee: USD 10 per month if you don't log in for 12 months or more Currency conversion fee: 0.50% of trade value
2. CMC Markets Invest: Best app for ASX trades (Finder Award winner)
The CMC Markets' mobile app offers all the functionality of its desktop counterpart. You can buy and sell shares from your mobile using all order types, including conditional and linked orders. And you can view your current positions and order history, access market depth and up-to-date charts, and view your watchlists and portfolios.
$0 brokerage on global and ASX stocks. CMC charges no commissions to trade stocks listed in the US, the UK, Germany or Japan as well as 1 ASX stock trade per day of up to $1,000.
A wide range of order types. You can place, buy and sell orders as well as amend and cancel orders and use conditional and linked orders to manage your investments.
Information from the market and experts. Access to an extensive range of useful investment information to help you make the right trading decisions.
Customisable watchlists. It's easy to create and edit watchlists to monitor the performance of stocks.
Limited global markets. Only 4 global markets are commission-free to trade. Other global markets cost $59 per trade in brokerage.
Brokerage fees: AU stocks: $0 brokerage (for buy orders up to $1,000) and $11 or 0.10% (whichever is greater) for all other buy and sell orders. US stocks: US$0 UK stocks: £0 ETF brokerage fees: AU ETFs: $0 brokerage for trades up to $1,000 (applied to the first buy order per ETF per day). $11 fee for trades up to $10,000. $15 fee for trades equal to or greater than $15,000. US ETFs: US$0 Options: ASX: $33/contract US: Not available Other markets available: Details here Inactivity fee: $0 Currency conversion fee: 0.60% of trade value
3. IG: Best trading app for low-costs (Finder Award winner)
IG has a suite of trading apps designed to give you a solid mobile trading experience across a range of devices. There are separate apps optimised for use on iPhone, Android mobile, iPad, Android tablet and Windows tablet. IG is also rated our best low cost broker thanks to its low overall fees regardless of trade size, market or trade frequency.
It's free to download. The IG app is free to download and demo.
$0 brokerage global stocks. You pay $0 per trade commissions to trade globally.
It uses native designs. You can download a version of the app that has been specifically designed to suit your smartphone or tablet's operating system.
Not suitable for casual investors. The IG app is targeted more towards active traders than casual investors.
Brokerage fee per trade: AU stocks: $5 or 0.05% if you make 3 or more trades in the previous month. $8 or 0.1% of your trade (whichever is higher) US stocks: US$0 UK stocks: £0 Other markets available: Details here Inactivity fee: if you make fewer than 3 trades during that time. Currency conversion fee: 0.70% of trade value
Syfe stands out among other trading apps because it offers ASX stocks, US stocks, cryptocurrencies and portfolio investing, all on the one app. While Syfe isn't the cheapest out there for either ASX or US trades, the fees are competitive and the app offers a solid all round experience for investors that favour simplicity.
Access ASX and US stocks
Low brokerage fees
Trade cryptocurrencies
Invest in ready-made portfolios
No global markets outside of the US
Limited trade tools
Brokerage fees: AU stocks: $4.99 for trades up to $20,000 and 0.025% for trades over $20,000 US stocks: US$1.49 ETF brokerage fees: AU ETFs: $4.99 for trades up to $20,000 and 0.025% for trades over $20,000 US ETFs: US$1.49 Inactivity fee: $0 Currency conversion fee: 60 bps of trade value
Douugh took the crown for 2 Finder Awards in 2023 - best mobile trading app and best trading platform for beginners. Douugh stands out because it charges no brokerage fees, offers auto-investing and lets you invest from just $1. Plus, it got the highest average user rating (4.8 stars) on the App and Play Stores out of all 39 brokers we assessed.
$0 brokerage trades for US stocks
Auto-investing feature
Easy to use platform
High user rating
No minimum investment
No Australian stocks or ETFs
Limited features or tools
Monthly platform fee of $2.50
Brokerage fee per trade: AU stocks: Not available US stocks: $4.99/28 days with unlimited trades ($0 if you make no trades) UK stocks: Not available Inactivity fee: $0 Currency conversion fee: 0.99% of trade value
Entering the market in 2018, Stake was the first trading platform in Australia to offer $0 brokerage trading on US stocks. While that fee is now US$3 a trade, it remains one of Australia's most popular trading apps. More recently it launched ASX trades for $3 brokerage, making it Australia's cheapest broker for CHESS-Sponsored ASX stocks
$3 brokerage for ASX CHESS-sponsored stocks
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Brokerage fees: AU stocks: $3 US stocks: US$3 Other markets: Details here ETF brokerage fees: AU ETFs: $3 US ETFs: US$3 Inactivity fee: $0 Currency conversion fee: 70 pips (US$0.70 for every AUD$100 exchanged)
7. Westpac Share Trading: Best rated app banking app
The Westpac Online Investing app is designed for iPhone, iPad and Android users and is optimised for use on smartphones. The trading-specific app allows you to trade shares, warrants, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and exchange traded commodities (ETCs). You can use the app to create editable watchlists, view live quotes and news, view all your holdings and set up a wide range of customised alerts. It also has the highest app rating among any of the major bank affiliated brokers.
You can trade more than shares. In addition to shares, the app allows you to trade warrants, ETFs and ETCs.
You can access live data to make investment decisions. Westpac Online Investing's mobile app allows you to access live quotes, charts, company announcements and news.
There are customisable alerts. You can receive alerts for everything from price movements and market-sensitive announcements to dividend dates.
Not for Windows phones. The app cannot be accessed through a Windows phone.
Brokerage fee per trade: AU stocks: $19.95 or 0.11% of trade value, whichever is greater US stocks: US$19.95 for trades up to US$5,000; US$29.95 for trades up to US$10,000; 0.31% for trades above US$10,000 Other markets: Details here Inactivity fee: $0 Currency conversion fee: 0.60% of trade value
Fintech specialist Revolut allows you to trade the US stock markets, metals and crypto for a low cost through its app. With incredibly low minimum deposits and 3 free trades a month before it starts charging brokerage, the app boasts some of the lowest costs around. The Revolut app .
First 3 trades are free, Cheap brokerage after that
You can invest in gold and silver
Easy to use app
Very limited trading tools
Lacks educational resources
No Australian stocks or ETFs
Brokerage fee per trade: AU stocks: Not available US stocks: $0 brokerage for the first 3 trades per month, after pay 0.25% of the trade value (minimum $1.99). Inactivity fee: $0 Currency conversion fee: No fee (0%), up to AUD$2,000 per rolling 30-day period (excludes transactions outside of exchange market hours). A 0.5% high-frequency fee applies for exchanges above this level
9. nabtrade: For the 4% p.a. high-interest cash account
nabtrade offers a host of research and educational tools to help traders stay ahead through their mobile devices. With a link to its banking product, nabtrade also makes it easier to move money from your investment account to an interest-earning cash account.
Strong research and educational tools
Earn interest on cash in a high-interest cash account
Invest in Australian and global shares
Not the cheapest broker around
Lacks some of the more advanced trading tools
Brokerage fee per trade: AU stocks: Trade size: Up to $1,000, brokerage (inc. GST) will be $9.95 Trade size: $1,000 to $5,000, brokerage (inc. GST) will be $14.95 Trade size: $5,000.01 to $20,000.00, brokerage (inc. GST) will be $19.95 Trade size: Over $20,000.00, brokerage (inc. GST) will be 0.11% of trade value Trade size: Over the phone, brokerage (inc. GST) will be $59.95 or 0.55% of trade value (whichever is greater) US stocks: Online trading: 0.12% minimum US$19.80 – 0.08% minimum US$9.50 Offline trading 0.50% minimum US$60 US$29.95 for trades up to US$10,000; 0.31% for trades above US10,000 Other markets: Details here Inactivity fee: $0 Currency conversion fee: No fee (0%)
10. Spaceship Voyager: Best investment app 2023 (Customer Satisfaction Awards)
Spaceship is a micro-investment app where you can invest in one of 3 high-growth stock portfolios of your choice. It’s Australia’s top investment app for 2023 as judged by customers in Finder’s Customer Satisfaction Awards where platforms are rated by performance, fees, customer service and user experience.
Invest from as little as a few cents
Set up automatic investments
Ethical investment option
Invest in high quality global growth companies
You can't buy individual stocks or ETFs
Monthly and management fees can quickly add up
No conservative portfolio option - all 3 are high growth
$2/month + a management fee of 0.15% or 0.50% depending on the portfolio you choose
How do trading apps work in Australia?
Stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are listed on various stock exchanges around the world. To buy stocks from these exchanges, you’ll need a stock broker to act on your behalf. This is where trading platforms come in.
Trading platforms and apps let you enter buy or sell orders of stocks, which are then executed by a broker.
It’s worth noting that stock brokers and trading platforms partner with different exchanges, so the types of stocks you’ll be able to trade depend on which platform you choose to go with.
Some trading platforms partner with just 1 or 2 exchanges such as Wall Street’s NYSE or NASDAQ, while others like Interactive Brokers connect you to dozens.
Here in Australia, we have the aptly named Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), but there are many others around the world, including the New York (NYSE) and London (LSE) stock exchanges.
In Australia, most trading apps let you trade Australian stocks on the ASX while others only offer US-listed stocks. There are also a few global trading apps that offer stocks listed in other markets and these include Interactive Brokers, CMC Markets and eToro.
How to find the best trading app for you
When it comes to choosing a trading app, there's no one best option that'll suit everyone's needs.
Instead, it's best to compare fees and features, choosing the app that aligns with your personal needs at the lowest price.
Here's what to consider when choosing a new trading app:
ASIC-regulated (see below)
User-friendliness
What investments do you want to trade: shares, ETFs or options
Where you want to trade: apps will only grant you access to specific markets, so keep where you want to trade in mind when choosing an app
Investors should prioritise simplicity, security and cost-effectiveness when choosing a trading platform. This might involve researching a platform's user interface and security features, as well as its fees and commission structures.
Before you do anything else, you'll want to make sure the trading app you are signing up to is regulated by The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and holds an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL).
Unfortunately, fake or scam trading platforms that can appear legitimate are a growing problem. According to consumer watchdog ACCC, Australians lost $1.5 billion to investment scams in 2022 alone.
The best measure you can take to protect yourself is to check the trading app you're signing up to has an AFSL number that is registered with ASIC. At Finder, we only feature AFSL licensees in our investment guides and comparison tables.
Fractional shares – although if you want to buy CHESS-sponsored shares, you won't be able to buy them in fractions
User-friendly features
Auto or micro-investing features
Copy trading
What fees do trading apps charge?
The cost of investing in stocks can be very different depending on which exchange the stocks are listed in. For example, stocks listed in Australia can be more expensive to trade than stocks listed in the United States, where greater competition has seen fees drop dramatically over the last few years.
Here are the main fees to look out for when buying and selling stocks through a trading app:
Brokerage (aka commission) fees: This is charged by the broker every time you place a buy or sell order and can range from 0% to 1% of your trade
Custody fees: Some brokers (typically in the US) charge an annual custody fee to hold stocks under your name
Currency conversion fee: If you are trading stocks listed in foreign currencies, you'll typically be charged a fee for converting your funds into the currency of the stock you wish to trade.
Inactivity fee: Some brokers charge a fee if your account has been inactive for a certain length of time.
Subscription fees: Some brokerage firms in Australia charge an account maintenance or subscription fee to access advanced features
There are many other types of fees you can be charged, such as an account closure fee, a money transfer fee and even a fee if you don’t place enough trades in any given month. Make sure to do your homework before signing up.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
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.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
ETF provider Betashares has launched a $0 brokerage investment platform that lets you buy units in individual ASX-listed ETFs or auto-invest into ETF portfolios.
The criminal trial against Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of disgraced crypto exchange FTX, starts in the first week of October. SBF is alleged to have defrauded customer funds for his own use in business operations and political donations.
Interactive Brokers Australia has been slapped with an $832,500 fine by ASIC for failing to identify suspicious trading activity by one of its clients.
Sharesies has introduced a new monthly fee structure of $5, $10 or $20 per month for unlimited trades up to a certain amount. Alternatively, you can still pay as you go.
Tiger Brokers has launched an AI-powered chat bot called TigerGPT. While the feature is still in beta mode, Tiger says the AI bot will be able to access live stock data and subscription-only investment data.
Why you can trust Finder's share trading experts
We're free
Our comparison tables are completely free to use. We link you directly to the brokers' secure application page. On a regular basis, we update the fees and conditions of all share trading platforms in our database.
We're experts
We've researched and rated 40+ trading platforms and brokers as part of our Finder Awards. We've published 100+ guides, and our in-house experts regularly appear on Sunrise, 7News, and SBS News.
We're independent
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by a bank, insurer, or broker. That means our opinions are our own, and you can compare nearly every share trading platform and broker in Australia on Finder.
We're here to help
Since 2016, we've helped over 300,000 Australians find the right stockbroking account by comparing fees and account features. We'll never ask for your personal information. We're here to help you make a decision.
Have you had these questions about share trading apps?
There are many great apps that do not allow you to place trades but still offer a wide range of useful features for Australian share market investors, such as share market news, company reports, financial analysis and much more. However, all the apps listed above do allow you to place trades.
The application process varies between trading platforms, but you will typically have to provide your name, contact details, proof of ID and bank account information. You can sign up via the share trading app or the provider’s online trading website.
You can sign up to some of Australia's best rated trading apps by clicking on the 'Go to site' buttons above and following the steps. Signing up through Finder does not cost you anything and you may also receive exclusive deals through the Finder site.
Most share trading apps are free to download and some even have demo accounts that you can practice on before trying the real deal (such as eToro and IG). Typically when you trade stocks, you'll be charged a brokerage fee. However, some investment apps now offer $0 brokerage deals, such as CMC Markets, eToro, IG and Douugh. This doesn't mean they're entirely free – you'll typically still need to pay a currency conversion fee for overseas trades and sometimes account fees.
Neither answer is wrong as it all depends on your own needs. Generally speaking, if you're looking for a new broker, you can compare based on fees, features, ease of use and addressable markets.
Kylie Purcell is the senior investments editor and analyst at Finder. She has completed a Certificate of Securities and Managed Investments (RG146) and specialises in investment products including online brokers, robo-advisors, stocks and ETFs.
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Please note that we are unable to suggest personalized recommendation as to which trading share app is the best for you as each app has their own functionalities and each user has their own preferences. You may read forums and reviews instead on the most helpful trade sharing app people have been using.
Our page discusses a comprehensive guide you may refer to in choosing a share trading app and it also has some reviews on the available mobile trading apps you can choose from. Kindly go through this page to review the pros and cons of some apps.
— CommSec app
— nabtrade IRESS mobile
— Westpac Online Investing
— CMC Markets Stockbroking Mobile Platform
— Bell Direct Mobile App
— IG trading app
— HSBC Online Share Trading
Additionally, you may check the reviews on play store or app store for each app to see their users’ feedback.
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Which app is the best for trading shares in Australia? What app lets me choose my own bank to withdraw funds from and cheaper broker fee?
Hello Rod,
Please note that we are unable to suggest personalized recommendation as to which trading share app is the best for you as each app has their own functionalities and each user has their own preferences. You may read forums and reviews instead on the most helpful trade sharing app people have been using.
Our page discusses a comprehensive guide you may refer to in choosing a share trading app and it also has some reviews on the available mobile trading apps you can choose from. Kindly go through this page to review the pros and cons of some apps.
— CommSec app
— nabtrade IRESS mobile
— Westpac Online Investing
— CMC Markets Stockbroking Mobile Platform
— Bell Direct Mobile App
— IG trading app
— HSBC Online Share Trading
Additionally, you may check the reviews on play store or app store for each app to see their users’ feedback.
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Ron