How to open a share trading account

How to start investing

If you want to invest in shares, you'll need to sign up with a stockbroker or share trading platform.

You have two main choices here – you can sign up with a traditional full-service broker or you can do the trading yourself through an online share trading platform.

Online brokers allow you to buy and sell shares in publicly listed companies using your computer or mobile, often at a much lower cost than that charged by traditional brokers. You can set up an account within minutes and start trading as soon as you've deposited funds.

Our top picks for trading platforms

ASX trading

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Moomoo Share Trading

$100 Reward

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T&Cs apply

Trade ASX, US and Hong Kong stocks

Copy trading

Most Loved

eToro

$150 Reward

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Social trading features

Beginners

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Tiger Brokers

$120 Reward

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Easy-to-use mobile trading

• How we chose these brokers

  For our top picks, we compared our Finder partners using a proprietary algorithm. We update the list regularly. Keep in mind that our top picks may not be the best for your individual circumstances and we encourage you to compare for yourself. Read our full methodology to find out more.

Find a share trading account

6 of 6 results

Checked 6 October 2026

Finder Score	AU Trading Fee	US Trading Fee	Asset Class
Promoted 9.6 Excellent Moomoo Share Trading Finder Award	9.6 Excellent	$3.00	US$0.99	ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs	Trade major markets with built-in social trading tools.	$100 RewardT&Cs apply T&Cs apply Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 8.7 Great eToro Most Loved	8.7 Great	US$2.00	US$2.00	ASX shares, Global shares, US shares, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies	CFD service. Capital at risk. Trade a range of assets from a single account with access to social trading features.	$150 RewardT&Cs apply T&Cs apply Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 9.3 Excellent Tiger Brokers Finder Award	9.3 Excellent	$3.00	US$2.00	ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs	Deposit any amount and receive $20 to trade in Tiger Brokers. Plus 4x zero brokerage trades and no FX fees on the first $2,000 you exchange every month. T&Cs apply. + Finder Reward: Get this PLUS a $120 digital Visa gift card when you join Finder, sign up to Tiger Brokers, deposit $2,000 within 7 days and complete a qualifying BUY trade within 20 days. T&Cs apply.	Trade US, Asian and CHESS-sponsored ASX stocks, China A-class shares, plus US and Hong Kong options and ETFs.	$120 RewardT&Cs apply T&Cs apply Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.8 Excellent Webull Finder Award	9.8 Excellent	$1.00	$0.00	ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies	Earn up to 5,000 Qantas Points per month on international trades, plus 2,500 bonus points on your first international buy order with Webull. Min spend and T&Cs apply. + Finder Reward: Get this PLUS a $150 digital Visa gift card when you join Finder, sign up to Webull as a new customer, deposit at least $2,000 in a single transaction and place at least 1 BUY order for a US-listed stock or ETF during the promotion period. T&Cs apply.	Invest in over 15,000 shares, options, and $0 Brokerage on all U.S. and Australian Chess-Sponsored ETFs.	$150 RewardT&Cs apply T&Cs apply Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.3 Excellent IG Share Trading Finder Award	9.3 Excellent	$0.00	US$0.00	ASX shares, Global shares, US shares, UK shares, ETFs	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.9 Excellent CMC Invest Finder Award	9.9 Excellent	$0.00	$0.00	ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, mFunds, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies	Trade 40,000+ listed securities across the local markets and 15 major global exchanges.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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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.

Read the full methodology

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.

Why trade shares?

Share trading has historically been a popular and successful way to grow your wealth.

While the stock market can be volatile, the shares that make up stock market indices like the Australian ASX 200 or the US S&P 500 have offered investors reliable returns over the long-term.

Now this doesn't mean that every single company listed on an exchange will make money. In fact, the majority of companies that make up a stock index may underperform the market as a whole. But the market will generally manage a positive return overall.

To illustrate the point, Vanguard releases a yearly chart that shows what the return would be had you invested $10,000 for 30 years.¹

As you can see, despite multiple recessions, international conflicts and changing political administrations, you would still have made a substantial profit if you had invested during this period.

In fact, according to Vanguard's 2024 Index Chart, $10,000 invested on 1 July 1994 would have been worth $237,318 by 30 June 2024 if you had invested in US shares, or $135,165 if you had invested in Australian shares.

How do I choose an online share trading platform?

Different online share trading platforms come with a range of different features and markets they'll let you invest in. As such, you should carefully consider your needs and objectives before signing up. For example, if you want to buy Australian shares, you'll need to open an ASX share trading account. If you want to buy US stocks, you'll need a platform with access to Wall Street.

Some of the main things to consider include the following:

• Trading experience. Some online share trading platforms, for example CommSec and Selfwealth, are designed to suit retail investors rather than institutional investors and traders. Other trading platforms have special features geared towards highly experienced traders, such as advanced charting tools, speedy execution of trades and live market data. However, these features may come at a cost and may not add much value if you are a less experienced trader.
• Available markets. Some share trading platforms only provide access to companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), while others will also allow you to place trades on international markets. Some trading platforms will also provide access to other trading instruments, such as forex and contracts for difference (CFDs).
• The fees involved. There are 2 main costs you need to consider when choosing a share trading platform: the brokerage fee and the ongoing fee. The brokerage fee applies each time you place a trade and is usually around $10–$25, depending on the size of the trade. Newer providers are coming into the market and are looking to compete on price. Ongoing subscription fees are charged monthly and vary depending on the provider and the account features you select.
• Trading resources. From educational tutorials to research and investment advice, check what tools a platform offers to help you make informed trading decisions.
• Customer service. If you ever have a problem or need help with a trade, check to make sure you will be able to access prompt and helpful customer support.

Expert insight

"Investors should prioritise simplicity, security and cost-effectiveness when choosing a trading platform... Finally, make sure the platform has an AFSL (Australian Financial Services Licence) for that peace of mind that it is being regulated by ASIC."

Chris Brycki

Founder, Stockspot

How to open a share trading account as a beginner

The exact process for opening a share trading account varies depending on the trading platform you select. However, you'll generally need to complete the following steps when signing up:

1. Choose a broker. Research a range of options to find the online stockbroking provider that offers all the features you want at an affordable price. Some providers also offer a choice of share trading platforms – for example, a free web-based platform for casual investors and a more complicated software package with a monthly subscription fee for experienced traders.
2. Choose your membership level. Some providers offer a choice of membership tiers, each with a different level of features and a different ongoing fee. For example, you may need to choose between a bronze, silver or gold trading account.
3. Provide your details. You'll need to provide your full name and a valid form of photo ID as well as your email address, phone number, residential address and Tax File Number (TFN).
4. Link your bank account. You'll need to supply details of the bank account that will be used to finance your trades and you may be required to deposit a minimum amount. Some share trading platforms will also require you to open a cash management account with a specific financial institution before you can start trading.
5. Submit your application. Your application to open a share trading account will usually be processed within 1–2 business days.
6. Start trading. Once your application has been approved, you can log in to your account and start trading.

It’s also worth pointing out that it can be a lot easier to open a share trading account if you're an existing customer of the same financial institution – for example, if you’re a CommBank customer opening a CommSec share trading account. In this case, you won’t have to provide your name, contact information or proof of ID.

Finder survey: Are Australians currently invested in the stock market (outside of super)?

Frequently asked questions

• Do I need to be an Australian resident to sign up for a share trading account?

  This depends on the share trading platform you select. Some are only open to Australian residents while others accept customers from all over the world.

• How can I buy shares online in Australia?

  Check out our step-by-step guide to buying shares online for all the information you need to get started.

• Can I place trades over the phone?

  Yes, many online share brokers also offer a phone trading service.

• Do I need to open a share trading account to buy shares?

  Not necessarily. You can buy shares in a float (also known as an initial public offering or IPO) by filling out an application form in the prospectus and paying by cheque, while it's also possible to purchase shares through a managed fund. You may even be able to purchase shares in the company you work for as part of an employee share scheme.

• Do I need to buy shares through a broker?

  Not necessarily. As per the above question, you can also buy shares through an IPO, managed fund or employee share scheme.

• Can I open a joint share trading account?

  Yes, many platforms will allow you to open a joint account.

• Do the Big Four banks all have their own share trading platforms?

  Not all of them. CommBank, NAB and Westpac each have their own platform: CommSec, nabtrade and Westpac Share Trading. ANZ Share Investing has closed, and its customers were moved to CMC Markets Invest in 2023.

• How much do you need to invest to earn $1,000 a month?

  You can earn returns from dividend stocks, though these are only paid out twice yearly. As an example, if your shares paid an average dividend yield of 3.5% a year, you would need to have about $343,000 invested to earn $1,000 per month ($12,000 a year) in dividends, though this would depend on the stocks.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

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Tim Falk is a writer for Finder, writing across a diverse range of topics. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, Tim has reported on everything from travel and personal finance to pets and TV soap operas. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio