Share Trading comparison
Commsec Pocket vs easyMarkets
CommSec Pocket is a simple, low-cost ETF investing app backed by the Commonwealth Bank and CHESS sponsorship. easyMarkets is a CFD and forex broker — it doesn't offer ASX shares or ETFs at all. The biggest practical difference is that one lets you buy real Australian ETFs under your own HIN, and the other is a derivatives trading platform.
Choose
Commsec Pocket
if…
- ›You want to invest in ASX-listed ETFs with brokerage as low as $2 on trades up to $1,000
- ›You want CHESS sponsorship and your own HIN so you hold the underlying assets directly
- ›You want to set up automatic regular investments into a single ETF
- ›You want a simple, no-fuss platform with zero monthly or inactivity fees
- ›You're a CBA customer who wants seamless transfers from a linked transaction account
Choose
easyMarkets
if…
- ›You want to trade CFDs, forex, or options — instruments that CommSec Pocket doesn't offer
- ›You want 24/5 customer support and a demo account to practice before trading
- ›You want desktop trading software alongside mobile apps
- ›You want to deposit using crypto, Skrill, Neteller, or BPAY — not just a CBA bank account
- ›You need stop-loss and conditional order types for risk management on leveraged trades
Where they differ
| Fact | Commsec Pocket | easyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| What you can trade | ASX ETFs only | CFDs, forex, options — no ASX shares or ETFs |
| CHESS sponsorship | Yes — you get your own HIN | No — custodian model, no HIN |
| Minimum trade / deposit | $50 minimum purchase | $25 minimum deposit |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $25 after period of inactivity |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes (single ETF) | No |
Verdict
If you want to buy real ASX ETFs cheaply and simply, go CommSec Pocket. If you want leveraged derivatives, go easyMarkets.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Commsec Pocket | easyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | — |
| Individual HIN | Yes | — |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | No |
| Company account | No | Yes |
| Trust account | No | No |
| SMSF account | No | No |
| Kids / minor account | No | No |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | No |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | No |
| US shares supported | No | No |
| US ETFs supported | No | No |
| Other markets supported | ||
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | No |
| Options trading | No | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | Yes |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | No | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| Holds USD account | — | Yes |
| FX currency switch trick | — | No |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | — | $0 |
| Corporate action fees | Corporate actions (rights issues, SPPs, takeovers) are administered via the underlying ETF issuers/share registries since holdings are CHESS-sponsored under the investor's HIN; CommSec does not charge a separate corporate action fee. | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $2 | — |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.2% | — |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $1,000 | — |
| ASX free trade conditions | Promotional $0 brokerage offer on Pocket ETF trades from 20 April 2026 to 17 July 2026 inclusive, available to all CommSec Pocket customers. | — |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $25 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $54 | — |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Commonwealth Securities Limited | easyMarkets Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | 238,814 | 246,566 |
| Year founded | 2,019 | 2,003 |
| Parent / ownership | Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) | Blue Capital Markets Ltd (private, Cyprus-headquartered easyMarkets group) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $50 | $25 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $50 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | Linked CBA transaction account (CDIA, Smart Access, Streamline Basic, NetBank Saver, etc.) - direct debit | Credit/Debit Card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Bank Wire Transfer, BPAY, Skrill, Neteller, POLi, Crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT) |
| Settlement period | T+2 | — |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days | 1 business day to process; 3-10 business days for funds to arrive depending on method |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | Yes |
| Demo account | No | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | No | Yes |
| Free research reports | No | Yes |
| 2FA support | SMS + PIN | SMS + authenticator |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, in-app messaging | phone, email, live chat |
| Support hours (AU time) | Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm AET (phone) | 24/5 (Monday to Friday, around the clock during market hours) |
| Education content | structured courses | structured courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | No |
| Distribution component breakdown | No | No |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | No |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | Yes | No |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | No | Yes |
| Conditional orders | No | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | single asset | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | No |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | Yes |