Compare share trading platforms in Australia

If there's one smart deal you’ll want to lock in on the stock market, it's finding a great online share trading platform for your investing needs. Start comparing trading accounts below!

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Share account comparisons on Mozo

Mozo may receive payment if you click products on our site. We don’t compare the entire market, but you can search our database of 37 online share trading accounts.
Last updated 22 October 2024 Important disclosures
  • Share Trading

    $3.00

    $0.00

    Trade more than 22,000 shares, ETFs and options across the Australian, US and Hong Kong markets on the moomoo Australia platform. And only pay from A$3 for local CHESS-sponsored trades and US$0.99 for all US trades. Other fees apply. Earn up to 6.8% p.a. introductory rate for 30 days, applicable to up to AU$80,000 on uninvested cash, and get 10 free stocks with eligible deposits (T&Cs apply)

    Small trade brokerage conditions: 0.03% the transaction amount, minimum $3.00 per order

    Details Close

  • Share Investing

    Standard

    $0.00

    $0.00

    CMC Markets Invest makes it easy to trade with a handy web and mobile platform, competitive pricing and thousands of securities. Buy Australian and US shares from $0 brokerage (T&Cs apply - see website for full details).

    Small trade brokerage conditions: Trades up to $1,000

    Details Close

  • Share Trading

    $7.70

    $0.00

    Buy and sell with a low $7.70 flat fee per trade and access to all ASX Shares and ETFs to invest in with GO Markets. Enjoy dedicated local customer support, a regulated Australian company for trading ASX Shares and ETFs. Plus, enjoy $0 Brokerage on your next 15 trades! (T&Cs apply).

    Small trade brokerage conditions: Trades under $100,000

    Details Close

  • Share Trading

    -

    $0.00

    5000+ stocks and 19 exchanges all on the eToro app. Invest in ETFs with $0 commission and stocks with just US$2 per trade. Join the world’s leading social trading platform, trusted by 30+ million users worldwide.

    Small trade brokerage conditions: $2 USD brokerage fee for stock trades, 0.5% FX fee applies.

    Details Close

  • Share Trading

    0.03%

    $0.00

    Trade more than 22,000 shares, ETFs and options across the Australian, US and Hong Kong markets on the moomoo Australia platform. And only pay from A$3 for local CHESS-sponsored trades and US$0.99 for all US trades. Other fees apply. Earn up to 6.8% p.a. introductory rate for 30 days, applicable to up to AU$80,000 on uninvested cash, and get 10 free stocks with eligible deposits (T&Cs apply)

    Large trade brokerage conditions: 0.03% the transaction amount, minimum $3.00 per order

    Details Close

  • Share Investing

    Standard

    0.1%

    $0.00

    CMC Markets Invest makes it easy to trade with a handy web and mobile platform, competitive pricing and thousands of securities. Buy Australian and US shares from $0 brokerage (T&Cs apply - see website for full details).

    Large trade brokerage conditions: The greater of $11 or 0.10% for trades over $1,000

    Details Close

  • Share Trading

    0.05%

    $0.00

    Buy and sell with a low $7.70 flat fee per trade and access to all ASX Shares and ETFs to invest in with GO Markets. Enjoy dedicated local customer support, a regulated Australian company for trading ASX Shares and ETFs. Plus, enjoy $0 Brokerage on your next 15 trades! (T&Cs apply).

    Large trade brokerage conditions: Trades over $100,000

    Details Close

  • Share Trading

    %

    $0.00

    5000+ stocks and 19 exchanges all on the eToro app. Invest in ETFs with $0 commission and stocks with just US$2 per trade. Join the world’s leading social trading platform, trusted by 30+ million users worldwide.

    Large trade brokerage conditions: $2 USD brokerage fee for stock trades, 0.5% FX fee applies.

    Details Close

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Share trading Awards

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Share trading resources

Reviews, news, tips and guides to help find the best share trading account for you.

How do online share trading platforms work?

Online share trading platforms - also called online stock brokers or investment apps - are online tools that let you buy, sell and trade shares on the stock market. Depending on the platform you use, you can access anything from Australian and international shares to ETFs, index funds and more.

All you have to do is sign up for an account, add funds by connecting to your bank account - and you’re ready to start trading. There are usually some minor fees, typically falling into one of two categories: a monthly fee that includes free trades, or a per-trade fee without any monthly charge.

Lately, more and more platforms have entered the market offering fee-free trading, but these often come with trade-offs, like fewer features, limited customer support or in-platform ads.

What can you invest in using an online share trading platform?

Unless you're using a service that specialises in more niche investments, most online stock brokers will allow you to buy, sell, and trade individual Australian stocks on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Many investment apps also offer a broader range of options beyond just Australian shares. Here's what you might find, depending on your provider:

  • Australian shares. Stocks in Australian companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

  • International shares. Stocks in international companies listed on foreign exchanges.

  • Index funds. Shares in funds that mirror the performance of a specific market index (such as the ASX).

  • Exchange-traded funds (ETF). Shares in funds that invest in a mix of assets.

  • Options and derivatives. Financial contracts that let you bet on the future price of assets like stocks or commodities.

  • Bonds. Interest-bearing loans to governments or companies.

  • Cryptocurrency. Digital currency like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

  • Commodities. Investments in physical resources like gold, oil or wheat.

It’s uncommon for a single provider to offer the entire range of investment types, so it’s important to choose a platform that aligns with your specific investment style and investment goals - and that’s what we’ll get into next.

How to choose the best online stock broker for your investment style

There are dozens of online share trading apps out there, but not all are created equal. In fact, many platforms target particular types of investors. 

For example, some investment apps are designed for frequent traders who need advanced tools and a fee structure that is optimised for high-value trades. Others may target beginners who might prefer a low-cost, straightforward platform with helpful resources. Still others may target niche investors looking for exotic investments.

That’s why finding the right match is so important. To do that, start by identifying your investment style:

  • Frequent trader. You’ll want a platform with low per-trade fees, fast execution and advanced charting tools.

  • Long-term investor. Look for a platform with minimal ongoing costs, a wide range of ETFs and index funds, and lots of research tools.

  • Beginner. You’ll want a user-friendly platform with educational resources and strong customer support.

  • Diversified investor. If you plan to invest in a variety of asset classes, choose a broker that offers access to everything from shares to bonds, ETFs and even cryptocurrencies.

In the end, the right stock trading platform should complement your investment style. When you find the right fit, investing will go so much smoother. 

The best online share trading platforms in Australia

Now that you’ve identified your investment style, you might want to check out the best share trading platforms as identified by our 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Awards! There you’ll find award-winning platforms for the active investor, casual investor, ETF investor and more. 

What are brokerage fees?

Brokerage fees are the fees you pay to the online share trading platform for buying and selling shares. There are a few ways brokerage fees can be applied:

  • Flat fee. Some platforms charge a fixed fee (as low as around $3) for every trade regardless of the value of the trade. Good for large, infrequent trades.

  • Percentage fee. Others charge you a percentage of the trade’s value. Good for smaller, more frequent trades.

  • Monthly fee. Some platforms offer unlimited trading for a monthly fee. So while this isn’t technically a brokerage fee, it’s still how the platform recoups costs from frequent traders.

  • No fee. Some newer online brokers are offering fee-free trades with no monthly fees. However, they may recoup their costs through premium upgrades or by serving you ads.

To find the most cost-effective solution, it's important to understand how a platform's fees align with your trading habits.

What’s the cheapest online trading account?

Here are some share trading apps offering some of the cheapest brokerage fees in the Mozo database today:

Brokerages with the cheapest small trade brokerage fees in our database are:

Brokerages with the cheapest small trade brokerage fees in our database are:

Before you sign up for any of these, make sure they have the investment options you want, and be on the lookout for other fees like foreign exchange fees or monthly fees.

Tips for trading shares in Australia

Share trading comes with risk, but luckily there are steps you can take to minimise that risk. Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Do your research: Research the company or industry, its history on the market, and what experts expect to see from it in the future. This is the foundation of making smart investments that will work for you, instead of against you.

  • Diversify your portfolio: Having shares across multiple different industries, companies and markets minimises the chance of suffering losses in all of them at once. Alternatively, look for built-in diversity in the form of ETFs, which provide a ‘basket’ of shares, or an index fund, which tracks a particular index like the ASX.

  • Don’t overextend your budget: It’s better to start slow and set yourself a conservative budget so that if you make an investment misstep, it won’t eat into your savings buffer, or cause you to fall behind on your bills.

  • Look into low-risk investment strategies: Low-risk strategies like dollar-cost averaging (DCA) can help mitigate risks and maximise potential returns in a fluctuating market.

With these tips in your toolkit, you're all set to navigate the ups and downs of share trading. So, dive in, stay smart, and happy investing!

Picture of Brad Buzzard
Brad Buzzard
RG146
Senior Money Writer

Brad brings over 25 years of experience in writing and consumer research to Mozo, using his RG146 certification for Generic Knowledge and Superannuation Brad has a knack for translating complex policies, to deliver practical guidance on financial matters. Brad has been featured in The Australian, B&T, Mumbrella, and Asia Insurance Review, and his insights have influenced the strategies of some of the world's biggest brands including McDonalds and Proctor & Gamble.

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Jack Dona
RG146
Money writer

Jack is RG146 Generic Knowledge certified, with a Bachelor of Communications in Creative Writing from UTS, and uses his creative flair to cut through the financial jargon and make home loans, insurance and banking interesting. His reader-first approach to creating content and his passion for financial literacy means he always looks for innovative ways to explain personal finance. Jack's research and explanations have been featured in government publications, and his work is regularly featured alongside major publications in Google's Top Stories for Insurance.

Common share trading FAQs answered

Online share brokers vs full service brokers: what’s better?

When you’re looking for a service to buy and sell shares through there are two options, broadly speaking. Which one is better for you will depend on the share trading experience you’re after.

A full service broker offers you advice and recommendations for what stocks to buy and where to invest your money. While that means you get the benefit of their expertise, full service brokers will almost always be the more expensive option.

On the other hand, if you opt for an online broker, you’ll be in charge of choosing your shares yourself and you won’t get any advice. However, online services often come with lower fees. Some also include access to share market publications, analytics and reports which will allow you to do your own research.

What does it mean to place an order?

A share trading order is how you buy or sell shares. There are a few different share trading orders which can be handy if you don’t have time to monitor your investments and market movements all day, every day. Here are three of the main types of orders:

  • Market order. This means you’re buying or selling shares at the best possible price at the time your order reaches the market. Keep in mind that if the price of shares changes between the time you place the order and when your broker executes it, the price may be higher or lower than you were expecting.

  • Limit order. This means that you’ve agreed to buy or sell shares once they reach a certain price point. For example, if you’re buying shares the order will only be executed once the price drops to the amount you’ve nominated - or lower - and vice versa for selling.

  • Stop-loss order. As the name suggests, a stop-loss order is designed to limit the amount you could lose if shares you hold start falling in value. If your shares fall to a nominated value, then the stop-loss order is executed as an order to sell them at the best possible price.