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.
- ›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
- ›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 |
If you want to buy real ASX ETFs cheaply and simply, go CommSec Pocket. If you want leveraged derivatives, go easyMarkets.
Common questions
How do Commsec Pocket and easyMarkets compare on what you can trade?
Commsec Pocket: ASX ETFs only. easyMarkets: CFDs, forex, options — no ASX shares or ETFs.
How do Commsec Pocket and easyMarkets compare on chess sponsorship?
Commsec Pocket: Yes — you get your own HIN. easyMarkets: No — custodian model, no HIN.
How do Commsec Pocket and easyMarkets compare on minimum trade / deposit?
Commsec Pocket: $50 minimum purchase. easyMarkets: $25 minimum deposit.
When is Commsec Pocket the better choice over easyMarkets?
Pick 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; or you want a simple, no-fuss platform with zero monthly or inactivity fees.
When is easyMarkets the better choice over Commsec Pocket?
Pick 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; or you want to deposit using crypto, Skrill, Neteller, or BPAY — not just a CBA bank account.
Commsec Pocket or easyMarkets — what's the 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 |