- Trade global stocks and ETFs from $0 brokerage
- Practice with $20K of virtual funds
Best investment and stock trading apps in Australia (2024)
The 9 best investment apps in Australia have high user ratings, low fees and are user-friendly.
- Trade Australian and global stocks
- Quality research and trading tools
- Pay $0 trade fees on AU, US, Hong Kong and European stocks
- Access the NASDAQ and S&P500
- Advanced technical tools
- Low-cost US options trading
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 2024
- eToro: Best app for US trades (Finder Award winner)
- CMC Invest: Best app for ASX trades (Finder Award winner)
- IG Trading app: Best app for low costs (Finder Award winner)
- Syfe: Best app for beginners
- Douugh: For auto-investing on the go
- Stake: Cheapest for CHESS-sponsored stocks
- Westpac Online Investing: Best app rating among the banks
- Revolut: For gold and silver trading
- nabtrade: For the 4% p.a. high-interest account
- 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)
- 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.
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 Invest: Best app for ASX trades (Finder Award winner)
- $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.
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)
- 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.
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
4. Syfe: Best trading app for beginners
- 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
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
5. Douugh: For auto-investing on the go
- $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
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
6. Stake: Cheapest for CHESS-sponsored stocks
- $3 brokerage for ASX CHESS-sponsored stocks
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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
- 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.
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
8. Revolut: For gold and silver trading
- 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
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
- 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
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)
- 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
I use Interactive Brokers as my primary trading platform. It allows me to manage accounts AUD, CAD and USD, as well as trade stocks, options and funds on global markets.— Alanna Glenn, lead publisher (money)
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 Invest 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
- Educational resources
- Trading and other fees
- Extras and rewards that the trading app provides
- Minimum investment features
- Whether your broker is CHESS sponsored (you can see a list of CHESS-sponsored brokers here)
- Auto invest/round-up features
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.
Chris Brycki
Founder, Stockspot
ASIC-regulated trading apps
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.
How beginners can choose trading apps
There's also no single best share trading platform for beginners. Instead, you could compare the following:
- Low fees
- Educational resources
- Low minimum deposits
- 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.
Compare other share trading apps
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.
Share trading platform news: January 2024
- Australian trading platform Superhero has added a new AI feature that quickly summarises ASX company announcements selected by users.
- 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.
- CommSec has launched a new global trading platform that lowers its fees for US stocks to US$5 per trade.
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?
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Ask an Expert
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