Share Trading comparison
Bell Direct vs moomoo
The biggest practical difference here is ownership structure: Bell Direct is CHESS-sponsored with your own HIN, while moomoo is also CHESS-sponsored but backed by a global tech-driven broker. Where Bell Direct leans on its long-standing Bell Financial Group parentage and a broader product range (managed funds, bonds, IPOs), moomoo undercuts on costs with near-zero ASX brokerage and free market data.
Choose
Bell Direct
if…
- ›You want access to managed funds, bonds, and ASX IPOs — moomoo doesn't offer any of these
- ›You prefer a broker with a 17-year Australian track record and a parent company listed on the ASX
- ›You need joint accounts or kids/minor accounts — moomoo doesn't support either
- ›You're comfortable paying $27.50/month for market data and don't mind a $5 minimum brokerage on ASX trades
Choose
moomoo
if…
- ›You want the lowest ASX brokerage on the market — $3 minimum at 0.0003% vs Bell Direct's $5 minimum at 0.1%
- ›You want free real-time market data and a demo account to practise trading
- ›You trade US stocks heavily — moomoo's FX spread is just 0.003% compared to Bell Direct's 0.6%
- ›You prefer modern app features like auto-invest/DCA, after-hours trading, and video-based education
- ›You want Hong Kong market access — Bell Direct doesn't offer it
Where they differ
| Fact | Bell Direct | moomoo |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage minimum | $5 | $3 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.1% (up to $25,000) | 0.0003% (up to $10,000) |
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.6% | 0.003% |
| Market data fees | $27.50/month | $0/month |
| Product range | Managed funds, bonds, IPOs | Not offered |
Verdict
Choose Bell Direct for a full-service, CHESS-sponsored broker with broader product access; choose moomoo for rock-bottom costs and a slick trading app.
Cost calculator
What would Bell Direct vs moomoo actually cost you?
Punch in your trade size and frequency. We'll do the full brokerage + FX + fees maths.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Bell Direct | moomoo |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | chess |
| Individual HIN | Yes | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | No |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | Yes | — |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| US shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| Other markets supported | Hong Kong | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes | Yes |
| Options trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | Yes | No |
| IPO access | Yes | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 60% | 0.3% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | — | 0.3% |
| Holds USD account | Yes | Yes |
| FX currency switch trick | — | No |
| Market data fees | $27.5/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | $60 | — |
| Corporate action fees | Fail fee $110 or 0.11% daily for unsettled trades; corporate action handling generally pass-through via CHESS sponsorship | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $5 | $3 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 10% | 0.03% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $25,000 | $10,000 |
| ASX free trade conditions | — | No standard free trade conditions on ASX. Promotional sign-up rewards have offered free brokerage for limited periods to new clients. |
| US brokerage minimum | US$0 | US$0.99 |
| US brokerage percentage | — | 0% |
| Monthly platform fee | — | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | — | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | — | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | — | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $55 | $55 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Third Party Platform Pty Limited (trading as Bell Direct) | Futu Securities (Australia) Ltd |
| AFSL number | 314,341 | 224,663 |
| Year founded | 2,007 | 2,022 |
| Parent / ownership | Bell Financial Group Limited (ASX: BFG) | Futu Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: FUTU) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | — | $0 |
| Deposit methods | BPAY, Bank transfer (EFT), Direct credit | PayID, Bank transfer (OSKO/NPP) |
| Settlement period | T+2 (ASX), T+1 (US) | T+2 ASX; T+1 US |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days | 1-3 business days |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | Yes | Yes |
| Demo account | — | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | No | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA support | SMS | sms |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, online forms | Phone, Live chat, Email, In-app |
| Support hours (AU time) | Business hours, AET (typically Mon-Fri market hours) | 24/5 during US trading days; 9:30am-9:30pm AET weekends and holidays |
| Education content | basic articles | video + courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | Yes | — |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | Yes | Yes |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional orders | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | — | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | none | multiple |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | — | Yes |