CMC Invest vs SelfWealth
The practical gap here is breadth versus price. CMC Invest gives you 15-plus global markets, options, managed funds and free real-time data, while SelfWealth is a leaner ASX-and-US broker with a cheaper flat trade and a USD account. Both are CHESS-sponsored on ASX shares, so your Australian holdings stay in your own HIN either way.
- ›Want to trade beyond ASX and US into the UK, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Europe
- ›Need options trading, managed funds or IPO access in the one account
- ›Value free real-time market data, research reports and structured education courses
- ›Prefer a desktop platform alongside the app for charting and order management
- ›Want zero brokerage on your first ASX buy each day up to $1,000
- ›Want the lowest flat ASX brokerage at $9.50 per trade
- ›Hold US stocks and want a USD account to avoid repeated currency conversion
- ›Trade outside ASX hours with overnight and after-hours order placement
- ›Want automated investing spread across multiple assets rather than one at a time
- ›Prefer no inactivity fee and a cheaper off-market transfer at $27.50
Where they differ
| Fact | CMC Invest | SelfWealth |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage minimum | $11 AUD | $9.50 AUD |
| US brokerage minimum | $0 USD | $9.50 USD |
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.006% | 0.6% |
| Markets supported | ASX, US plus 15 other countries | ASX, US and Hong Kong |
| Inactivity fee | $15 AUD | $0 AUD |
Pick CMC Invest for global reach and cheap US trades, SelfWealth for cheaper ASX brokerage and a USD account.
Common questions
How do CMC Invest and SelfWealth compare on asx brokerage minimum?
CMC Invest: $11 AUD. SelfWealth: $9.50 AUD. SelfWealth is cheaper per ASX trade.
How do CMC Invest and SelfWealth compare on us brokerage minimum?
CMC Invest: $0 USD. SelfWealth: $9.50 USD. CMC is free on US trades, SelfWealth charges a flat fee.
How do CMC Invest and SelfWealth compare on fx spread (aud/usd)?
CMC Invest: 0.006%. SelfWealth: 0.6%. CMC's spread is far tighter, a big deal for frequent US trades.
When is CMC Invest the better choice over SelfWealth?
Pick CMC Invest if want to trade beyond ASX and US into the UK, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Europe; need options trading, managed funds or IPO access in the one account; value free real-time market data, research reports and structured education courses; or prefer a desktop platform alongside the app for charting and order management.
When is SelfWealth the better choice over CMC Invest?
Pick SelfWealth if want the lowest flat ASX brokerage at $9.50 per trade; hold US stocks and want a USD account to avoid repeated currency conversion; trade outside ASX hours with overnight and after-hours order placement; or want automated investing spread across multiple assets rather than one at a time.
CMC Invest or SelfWealth — what's the verdict?
Pick CMC Invest for global reach and cheap US trades, SelfWealth for cheaper ASX brokerage and a USD account.
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 | CMC Invest | SelfWealth |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | mixed |
| Individual HIN | Yes | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | Yes | 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 | United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand | HK |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | No |
| Options trading | Yes | No |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | Yes | — |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.6% | 60% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.6% | — |
| Holds USD account | No | Yes |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | $59.95 | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $11 | $9.5 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.1% | — |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $1,000 | — |
| ASX free trade conditions | $0 brokerage on first ASX buy order per security per day for trades up to $1,000 (excludes margin loan settled trades and sells) | Selfwealth Premium subscribers ($29/month or $240/year) receive 10 complimentary trades annually; otherwise no free-trade conditions. |
| US brokerage minimum | US$0 | US$9.5 |
| US brokerage percentage | 0% | — |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $15 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $55 | $27.5 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | CMC Markets Stockbroking Limited | SelfWealth Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | 246,381 | 421,789 |
| Year founded | 1,989 | 2,012 |
| Parent / ownership | CMC Markets plc (LSE: CMCX) | Syfe (Svava Pte Ltd, Singapore) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | PayID, Bank transfer (EFT), BPAY | OSKO, BPAY, EFT/bank transfer |
| Settlement period | T+2 for ASX; T+1 for US | T+2 |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days | 1-2 business days |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | Yes | No |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | No |
| Free research reports | Yes | No |
| 2FA support | authenticator app | authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat | live chat, email, phone |
| Support hours (AU time) | Monday-Friday, business hours AET (approx 8am-6pm) | 10am-4pm AET, Monday-Friday (closed public holidays) |
| Education content | structured courses | basic articles |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | Yes | — |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | single asset | multiple |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | Yes |