CMC Invest vs Stake
The practical split is breadth versus cost. CMC Invest gives you CHESS-sponsored access to 15-plus global markets, options, managed funds and IPO access, while Stake is a cheaper, app-first operator focused on ASX and US shares with a real USD account and fractional US buys. CMC's $11 ASX minimum versus Stake's $3 is the number most people feel first.
- ›Want to trade beyond ASX and US into the UK, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Europe from one account
- ›Need options trading, managed funds or IPO access in the same platform
- ›Want joint, kids/minor and full family account structures alongside SMSF and trust
- ›Prefer phone and live chat support during AET business hours over email and in-app chat
- ›Want conditional orders, auto-invest and dividend reinvestment built in
- ›Want the lowest ASX brokerage, with a $3 minimum versus CMC's $11
- ›Want to hold USD in a real US dollar account and skip repeated FX conversions
- ›Want fractional US shares so you can buy part of a high-priced stock
- ›Trade US stocks overnight and want after-hours access
- ›Want free off-market transfers and no inactivity fee
Where they differ
| Fact | CMC Invest | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage minimum | 11 AUD | 3 AUD |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.001% of trade | 0.0001% of trade |
| Markets supported | ASX, US plus 15 other markets | ASX and US only |
| USD account | false | true |
| Inactivity fee | 15 AUD | 0 AUD |
Pick CMC Invest for global markets and options; pick Stake for cheaper ASX and US trades with a USD account.
Common questions
How do CMC Invest and Stake compare on asx brokerage minimum?
CMC Invest: 11 AUD. Stake: 3 AUD. Stake is materially cheaper on small ASX parcels.
How do CMC Invest and Stake compare on asx brokerage percentage?
CMC Invest: 0.001% of trade. Stake: 0.0001% of trade. Stake's rate is ten times lower above the threshold.
How do CMC Invest and Stake compare on markets supported?
CMC Invest: ASX, US plus 15 other markets. Stake: ASX and US only. CMC covers global exchanges Stake does not.
When is CMC Invest the better choice over Stake?
Pick CMC Invest if want to trade beyond ASX and US into the UK, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Europe from one account; need options trading, managed funds or IPO access in the same platform; want joint, kids/minor and full family account structures alongside SMSF and trust; or prefer phone and live chat support during AET business hours over email and in-app chat.
When is Stake the better choice over CMC Invest?
Pick Stake if want the lowest ASX brokerage, with a $3 minimum versus CMC's $11; want to hold USD in a real US dollar account and skip repeated FX conversions; want fractional US shares so you can buy part of a high-priced stock; or trade US stocks overnight and want after-hours access.
CMC Invest or Stake — what's the verdict?
Pick CMC Invest for global markets and options; pick Stake for cheaper ASX and US trades with 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 | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | mixed |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | United States |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | Yes |
| Options trading | Yes | No |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | No | Yes |
| IPO access | Yes | — |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.6% | 0.55% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.6% | — |
| Holds USD account | No | Yes |
| FX currency switch trick | — | Yes |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | $59.95 | — |
| Corporate action fees | — | Corporate actions (dividends, SPPs, rights issues, takeovers) are passed through where mandatory; Stake does not provide a DRP — investors must elect DRP directly with each company's share registry. No published per-event fee. |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $11 | $3 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.1% | 0.01% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $1,000 | $30,000 |
| 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) | No free-trade promotion ordinarily offered; brokerage waived for 12 months on transferred ASX holdings worth A$1,000+ |
| US brokerage minimum | US$0 | US$3 |
| US brokerage percentage | 0% | 0.01% |
| 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 | $0 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | CMC Markets Stockbroking Limited | Stakeshop Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | 246,381 | 548,196 |
| Year founded | 1,989 | 2,017 |
| Parent / ownership | CMC Markets plc (LSE: CMCX) | Privately held (Stakeshop AFSL Pty Ltd group); investors include AGL Energy's former CEO and various private investors |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $20 |
| Deposit methods | PayID, Bank transfer (EFT), BPAY | Bank transfer (Osko/PayID), Apple Pay, Google Pay, Debit card, Credit card |
| Settlement period | T+2 for ASX; T+1 for US | T+2 for ASX; T+1 for US |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days | 1-2 business days for AUD (Stake AUS); 2-3 US business days for USD (Stake Wall St) |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | Yes | No |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA support | authenticator app | authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat | Email, In-app chat, Help centre |
| Support hours (AU time) | Monday-Friday, business hours AET (approx 8am-6pm) | Business hours AEST/AEDT (approximately Mon-Fri); chat/email response varies |
| Education content | structured courses | structured courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | Yes | No |
| 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 | No |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | single asset | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | No |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | Yes |