Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

Compare online stock brokers in Australia (2024)

Use our table to compare the fees, features and markets offered by over 30 online brokers available to Australians.

Avatar

By

Kylie Purcell

Reviewed by

Elizabeth Barry

Updated

Fact checked
1 - 7 of 38
Updated regularly
Name Product Price per trade Inactivity fee Asset class International
eToro
Finder AwardExclusive
eToro
$0
US$10 per month if there’s been no log-in for 12 months
ASX shares, Global shares, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Finder exclusive: Get 12 months of investment tracking app Delta PRO for free when you fund your eToro account (T&Cs apply).
CFD service. Capital at risk.
Join the world's biggest social trading network when you trade stocks, commodities and currencies from the one account.
Go to site
More Info
IG Share Trading
Finder Award
IG Share Trading
US$0
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, US shares, UK shares, ETFs
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 and international shares, plus get access to 24-hour customer support.
Go to site
More Info
Moomoo Share Trading
Exclusive
Moomoo Share Trading
US$0.99
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Finder exclusive: Get an additional 30 days on top of the regular brokerage-free period for new accounts. T&Cs apply.
Trade shares on the ASX, the US markets and buy ETFs with Moomoo. Plus join a community over 20 million investors.
Go to site
More Info
CMC Invest
Finder Award
CMC Invest
$0
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, mFunds, ETFs
Yes
$0 brokerage on global shares including US, UK and Japan markets.
Trade up to 35,000 products, including shares, ETFs and managed funds, with access to 15 major global and Australian stock exchanges. Plus, buy Aussie shares for $0 brokerage up to $1,000. (Limited to one buy order per stock per trading day).
Go to site
More Info
Webull
Webull
US$0.25
$0
ASX shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Earn AUD$200 in free shares when you fund your new account with over AUD$1,000 and complete one buy trade. Plus, earn up to AUD$2,000 in trading vouchers when you fund over AUD$20,000. Enjoy a 5.3% p.a. yield on your US cash account with Moneybull. Offer valid until January 31, 2024 (T&Cs apply).
Trade ASX and US stocks and US options, plus gain access to inbuilt news platforms and educational resources. You can also start trading for less with fractional shares.
Go to site
More Info
Tiger Brokers
Exclusive
Tiger Brokers
US$2
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Finder exclusive: Get 10 brokerage-free trades for the US or ASX market for the first 180 days and US$50 fractional shares when you deposit at least US$500. Plus, all new customers get 1 free trade per month for the first 12 months. Offer valid until January 31, 2024 (T&Cs apply).
Get one brokerage-free trade per month for the first 12 months for US or ASX markets. T&Cs apply.
Go to site
More Info
Saxo Invested
Saxo Invested
US$1
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Access 22,000+ stocks on 50+ exchanges worldwide
Low fees for Australian and global share trading, no inactivity fees, low currency conversion fee and optimised for mobile.
Go to site
More Info
loading

Buy shares in

View more

Start comparing

Looking to start online share trading? There are a number of online platforms available, but it's important to compare them before you sign up.

This guide will teach you how online share trading platforms work, how you can make money from trading, what fees you'll pay and what all the investment terms mean.

How do online stock brokers work?

An online stock broker allows you to buy, sell and trade online shares. In order to trade shares online, you'll need to sign up for an account. Online trading platforms are available on a website or app, and depending on the broker will let you buy Australian or international shares.

Many platforms also let you trade other types of investments, such as index funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and more. You can also make use of online tools that let you copy high-profile investors, do-depth research on stocks and give you easy access to data to inform your trades.

A huge benefit of trading shares online is that it's cheaper than a full-service stockbroker.

When you buy shares online, you'll pay a brokerage fee for each transaction which typically ranges from $3 to $30 for ASX trades. This is opposed to $50 to $150 for full-service brokers.

What features should I look for with online stock broker platforms?

  • Advice and research options. Online brokers sometimes offer market news and updates as well as other research tools that will let you investigate the trading history of individual stocks.
  • Educational resources. If you're trying to learn how markets work or want some investing strategies, then educational resources can help.
  • Bank account integrations. Some services let you transfer money easily from your trading account to a transaction or savings account. Others offer linked debit cards to use with your accounts.
  • Access to Australian shares and global markets. Not all online platforms offer shares from every market. Check if the platform lets you invest where you want.
  • Investment options. Other products offered by some online brokers include forex, contracts for difference (CFDs), managed funds and options trading.
  • Strong customer support. Check what level of customer support is available, what hours it's available and if the support team is based locally in Australia. This is particularly important for new traders.

How do fees work with online stock broker platforms?

  • Broker fees. This is the fee that is charged every time you buy and sell shares. Brokers charge different fees depending on the product you're trading (for example, global shares, local shares and options), how often you trade in a month and the size of the trade.
  • Monthly fees. Some brokers charge ongoing subscription fees or additional inactivity fees if you don't make any trades within a certain period of time. This may or may not suit you depending on your trading requirements.
  • Foreign exchange fees. If you're interested in trading global stocks, you'll want to check what the foreign exchange (FX) fee is for converting your Australian dollars to the foreign currency of choice.

What can you invest in with an online stock broker?

An online stock broker lets you buy and sell assets on a number of exchanges, including the ASX.

This means you can buy shares, ETFs, LICs, REITs, bonds, hybrids and options through a broker. Depending on the broker, you will be able to buy Australian or international assets. Keep in mind the more you trade the more you'll pay in most instances, as you'll pay a brokerage fee every time you trade.

Why invest in stocks?

Investing is an effective way to make your money work harder for you, especially in a low-interest rate, high-inflation environment. Smart investing allows you to grow your wealth and beat inflation. At the same time, it comes with more risks.

Here are 5 reasons why you might want to invest:

  1. Diversify income streams. Investing can help you gain an additional revenue stream through dividends or share price appreciation (although you have to sell to realise these gains).
  2. Offset inflation. As you might've heard inflation has reached a 3-decade high. By default this means the money in your bank account buys less, reducing its impact. In order to beat rising inflation, you need your money to grow by more than the inflation rate. Shares can help with this.
  3. Compound benefits. Compounding is money on money. In the share market, this occurs when an investment generates earnings that continue to grow through its share price or when dividends are reinvested. Over time this snowballs, so if you doubled a $1,000 investment 3 times it would actually be worth $8,000.
  4. Allows you to benefit as the country does. The stock market and the economy aren't always directly related, but a thriving economy usually translates into a rising stock market. Investors in the market directly benefit as corporate earnings increase or consumers spend more.
  5. Set yourself up in retirement. Unfortunately for most, saving for an adequate retirement is out of reach, even as banks lift interest rates. As such, successful investing can help you live the life you want in retirement.

How do you make money from shares?

Investors in shares are fractional owners of a business, meaning they will profit based on the future outlook of the business or by getting part of the company paid to them.

There are 2 main ways to make money from share trading:

  • Capital growth. If you can sell your shares for a higher price than what you paid for them, you'll make a profit. This is known as capital growth, given that your initial capital (your shares) has increased in value.
  • Dividends. Some (but not all) companies pay regular dividends to their shareholders based on the amount of profit they make, which can provide an ongoing income stream plus tax advantages for certain investors. Dividend payments are a great form of passive income and it means investors may never need to sell their shares in order to make a profit. Some companies offer dividend reinvestment strategies allowing you to increase your holdings by giving you more shares.

Hypothetical example to illustrate how one might earn a profit from investing in stocks

Initial investment:

  • Let's assume you invest in a technology company, TechCo, purchasing 100 shares at $50 per share. The total investment would be $5,000 (100 shares x $50).

Scenario 1: Capital gains

  • Over the next six months, TechCo releases a groundbreaking new product, significantly boosting its market position. As a result, the stock price rises to $70 per share.
  • You decide to sell your shares at this price. The total sale value is $7,000 (100 shares x $70).
  • The profit from this transaction is $2,000 ($7,000 - $5,000), known as a capital gain.

Scenario 2: Dividends

  • Alternatively, suppose TechCo is a well-established company that pays dividends. Let's say it announces an annual dividend of $2 per share.
  • Owning 100 shares, you would receive $200 in dividends for the year (100 shares x $2).
  • This dividend income is in addition to any capital gains or losses from the sale of the shares.

Scenario 3: Combination of capital gains and dividends

  • Combining the above scenarios, if the stock price increased and you also received dividends, your total earnings would include both the capital gains from selling the stock at a higher price and the dividend income.

Tips for online stock trading

Here are some tips to help get you started:

  • Read the news. It's important to stay up to date with the broader economy and learn how major events such as national elections impact the share price of various companies.
  • Research companies before buying. If you want to buy shares in a company, research as much as you can about the company before making your final decision. It's a good idea to read the company's annual reports and meeting minutes to learn what's in the pipeline and what changes will be made that could affect their share price.
  • Read books. Like most skills, investing can be taught. Many of the top investors have written books, meaning you can learn from some of the best investment minds.
  • Upskill. It can be easy to lose a lot of money by making a poor investment decision or by simply clicking on the wrong button if you don't know what you're doing. Practise trading on a demo account first and consider taking an online investment course.
  • Consider blue chip companies. This is a good strategy for people new to the share market, as blue chip companies often have more stable returns, are less volatile and often pay dividends.
  • Diversify. Say you had $5,000 to invest in the share market. Rather than invest it all in one company, consider spreading it out across a few companies from different industries. Diversification will help lower your risk and ensure you don't have all your eggs in one basket.

Ask an expert: How do you pick the right stocks?

Michael McCarthy

Michael McCarthy
Director, Number13Black

Many investors spend hours reading reports and studying charts to select the “right” share, only to disregard the most important factor – themselves. Every individual’s circumstances are unique. We all have different investment goals, amounts to invest, time frames, existing investments and risk appetites. All of these should be taken into account when selecting a stock.

An exciting new technology start-up or a promising medical research group might suit an investor with a higher risk appetite and many years of investing ahead of them. On the other hand, an investor in or near retirement might prefer a more stable, well-known business that pays a reliable dividend. It’s up to you.

How to sign up with an online stock broker

If you're looking to sign up with a stock broker you'll need to follow 5 steps:

  1. Find a broker
  2. Sign up to the broker and verify who you are
  3. Link your bank account to your stock broker
  4. Submit application
  5. Start trading

When you decide on trading, you have two main options: online stock brokers and full-service brokers. An online broker is cheaper than a full-service broker but has the downside of having to do everything yourself, so you'll need to decide what works for you.

Is trading shares online safe? What are the risks?

As with any type of investment, there are risks to trading shares online. Some of the risks remain whether you trade online or not, for example, you can lose some or all of your investment. Other risks are with the online platform you choose to use.

Before you start using a platform, check whether the online broker has a good reputation and is a trusted provider in the community. There are several key details to look out for:

  • Reviews. Find out other users' experiences with the platform by reading customer reviews.
  • Experience. Find out how long it has been offering online share trading services. Is it backed by a large bank or financial institution?
  • Encryption. Reputable online trading platforms rely on encryption technology to protect your sensitive information. This means that when you log in to a broker's website, no one will be able to see any of the information transmitted between you and the broker.
  • Login information. Check out what information you will need to provide in order to log in to your account. While many providers only ask for a username and password, others may ask you to enter an additional security code.
  • Online checks. Does the provider offer online checks and restrictions to reduce the risk of fraud? For example, do you receive an SMS code that you will need to enter before trading or do you need to answer an online security question?
  • Previewing trades. When talking about online share trading security, it's also important to check that there are measures in place to prevent you from placing the wrong trade. For example, does the trading platform show you a preview screen outlining the full details of a transaction, such as the total cost and the total shares purchased, before placing a trade?
  • Processes for dealing with fraud. Next, check to see what will happen if you're a victim of fraud via your trading account. Does the provider have processes in place to reimburse you for any losses you suffer through no fault of your own if you are the victim of fraud? Are there any exclusions to when this cover applies?
  • Customer support. It's vital that if something ever goes wrong with a trade or you have a problem with your account, you can quickly access assistance from a company representative. Check to see when and how you can get in touch with the customer support team.

How to protect yourself when you trade online

  • Watch out for scams. Just as online share trading technology has grown more sophisticated, so too have the methods used by scammers to trick people into giving up their account details.
  • Keep your login details safe. This is an obvious tip, but one you should always remember. Never give your account login details to a third party and don't leave your computer unattended while you're logged in to your account.
  • Keep a copy of your records. Keep a record of all your online share trading transactions. Your records could be in a digital or hard-copy format, but should always be stored in a safe place. This will ensure you have evidence to refer to if something goes wrong with your account or if you suspect you may have been a victim of fraud.
  • Look after your computer. Make sure that you always keep your antivirus software up to date to protect your computer against malware and other viruses. In addition, check that you only ever log in to the trading platform via a secure internet connection.

Picture not described

Want to learn more about share trading?

How the stock market works

Frequently asked questions

Latest share trading news

Q4 tech giants’ reveal: Impact of Tesla, Apple, Google + more on ASX

Q4 tech giants’ reveal: Impact of Tesla, Apple, Google + more on ASX

Explore the Magnificent Seven Q4 earnings and their broader impact on Australian investors and the ASX. Collectively, the group includes NVIDIA, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, Microsoft, Apple and Tesla.

Read more…
Top super funds of 2023 revealed: Is yours on the list?

Top super funds of 2023 revealed: Is yours on the list?

Some super funds surfed to double-digit returns in 2023 battling against the odds. Here's what you should know about it.

Read more…
S&P 500 hits record highs: Good news for ASX 200 investors?

S&P 500 hits record highs: Good news for ASX 200 investors?

Australian investors should take a note on S&P 500's record highs influence on the ASX 200. Here's what you should know about it.

Read more…
ASX 200 slumps to 4-week low: Is now time to buy?

ASX 200 slumps to 4-week low: Is now time to buy?

The Australian stock market's (ASX 200) notable decline this week stems from multiple factors, signalling investor caution amid economic uncertainties and evolving market trends.

Read more…
US SEC approves Bitcoin ETFs: What does it mean for Australian investors?

US SEC approves Bitcoin ETFs: What does it mean for Australian investors?

Navigating the new era of Bitcoin investments: A guide for Australian investors as eleven spot bitcoin ETFs get the regulatory approval.

Read more…
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, 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 involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.

Read more on this topic

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy and 6. Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

22 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    JarvisJuly 12, 2019

    Hi! What is the best platform that has a stock screener for fundamental and technical analysis and has a good charting software? Thanks!

    Reply
      AvatarFinder
      FayeJuly 12, 2019Finder

      Hi Jarvis,

      Thanks for contacting Finder.

      You may refer to our list of online share trading platforms. On that page is a comparison table you can use to find the right platform for you. You can press the name of the brand to be redirected to our review page to know if the features you are looking for are present. When you are ready, press the ‘Start investing’ button to open an investment account. Please read the Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions.

      I hope that helps.

      Kind Regards,
      Faye

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    stuJune 13, 2019

    how do i transfer stock from one broker to another

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      NikkiJune 14, 2019

      Hi Stu,

      Thanks for getting in touch!

      To transfer from one broker to another will depend on who your bank is. Following, you would need to fill out a broker to broker transfer form.
      Fill out your details as well as the details of the holding, then complete and sign the Declaration Section. Email the form to your bank’s department handling this matter. Normally, this type of process is free of cost. The transfer process will be dependent on your bank as well.

      Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.

      Best,
      Nikki

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    CharlesMarch 28, 2019

    We just want to make a one of sale of shares. What are our best options?

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      NikkiMarch 29, 2019

      Hi Charles,

      Thanks for getting in touch! As per the information above, there are two main ways to make money from share trading: Capital Growth and Dividends and you can read more information on this above. While we review share trading – we are not in the position to recommend the best platform for you but there are a few ways to help you find the best options as seen below:

      – Brokers
      – Availability of advice and research options
      – Integration with bank accounts
      – Access to other markets
      – Customer support

      Hope this helps!

      Best,
      Nikki

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    HamishOctober 17, 2018

    Hello I had an etrade account but I can no longer log in to check it….can you help as Etrade had been sold off??

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      JoelOctober 17, 2018

      Hi Hamish,

      Thanks for leaving a question on Finder.

      The E*TRADE Australia has already been stopped and is now replaced by ANZ Share Investing. If you are looking to access your ETrade account, please contact ANZ directly for instructions on how to do it step by step.

      Please send me a message if you need anything else. :)

      Cheers,
      Joel

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    GirlieMay 6, 2018

    Why are there so many different terms and conditions requiring a check mark when setting up an account with CMC

    Reply
      AvatarFinder
      JeniMay 7, 2018Finder

      Hi Girlie,

      Thank you for getting in touch with finder.

      As a friendly reminder, while we do not represent any company we feature on our pages, we can offer you general advice.

      The reason for this is because buying and selling shares involves a certain amount of terms and conditions and this is something that online traders need to be aware of in order to open an account.

      I hope this helps.

      Have a great day!

      Cheers,
      Jeni

      Reply
Go to site