Commsec Pocket vs Marketech Focus
CommSec Pocket is built for simplicity and low-cost ETF investing, while Marketech Focus is a more traditional broker aimed at active traders who want order types and SMSF capability. The biggest practical difference is cost: Pocket charges $0 brokerage on ETFs during its promo period and has no monthly fees, whereas Marketech Focus charges $20/month plus $20/month for market data and higher brokerage.
- ›You want the cheapest way to buy ASX ETFs — $0 brokerage during the current promo, then just $2 on trades up to $1,000
- ›You're happy investing only in ASX ETFs and shares, with no need for US stocks or other markets
- ›You want to start small — minimum initial deposit is just $50 and subsequent purchases start at $50
- ›You prefer a simple, app-only experience with auto-invest (DCA) into a single ETF each month
- ›You're already a CBA customer and want seamless direct debit from your existing transaction account
- ›You need stop-loss and conditional orders — Marketech Focus supports both; CommSec Pocket does not
- ›You want to trade on Cboe Australia or the NSX, not just the ASX
- ›You need an SMSF account structure, which Marketech Focus offers and CommSec Pocket doesn't
- ›You value desktop trading software alongside the mobile app — Pocket is mobile-only
- ›You want detailed distribution component breakdowns in your tax statements for managed fund-like ETF reporting
Where they differ
| Fact | Commsec Pocket | Marketech Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $20/month |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $20/month |
| ASX brokerage (minimum) | $2 (or $0 promo) | $5 |
| Minimum initial deposit | $50 | $500 |
| Order types | Market & limit orders only | Market, limit, stop-loss & conditional orders |
Choose CommSec Pocket for dirt-cheap ETF investing; choose Marketech Focus if you need advanced orders, SMSF, or desktop trading.
Common questions
How do Commsec Pocket and Marketech Focus compare on monthly platform fee?
Commsec Pocket: $0/month. Marketech Focus: $20/month. Marketech Focus charges $240/year before you even place a trade.
How do Commsec Pocket and Marketech Focus compare on market data fees?
Commsec Pocket: $0/month. Marketech Focus: $20/month. Pocket includes basic data for free; Focus charges extra for market data.
How do Commsec Pocket and Marketech Focus compare on asx brokerage (minimum)?
Commsec Pocket: $2 (or $0 promo). Marketech Focus: $5. Pocket is cheaper on every trade under ~$10,000.
When is Commsec Pocket the better choice over Marketech Focus?
Pick Commsec Pocket if you want the cheapest way to buy ASX ETFs — $0 brokerage during the current promo, then just $2 on trades up to $1,000; you're happy investing only in ASX ETFs and shares, with no need for US stocks or other markets; you want to start small — minimum initial deposit is just $50 and subsequent purchases start at $50; or you prefer a simple, app-only experience with auto-invest (DCA) into a single ETF each month.
When is Marketech Focus the better choice over Commsec Pocket?
Pick Marketech Focus if you need stop-loss and conditional orders — Marketech Focus supports both; CommSec Pocket does not; you want to trade on Cboe Australia or the NSX, not just the ASX; you need an SMSF account structure, which Marketech Focus offers and CommSec Pocket doesn't; or you value desktop trading software alongside the mobile app — Pocket is mobile-only.
Commsec Pocket or Marketech Focus — what's the verdict?
Choose CommSec Pocket for dirt-cheap ETF investing; choose Marketech Focus if you need advanced orders, SMSF, or desktop trading.
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 | Commsec Pocket | Marketech Focus |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | chess |
| Individual HIN | Yes | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | — |
| Company account | No | — |
| Trust account | No | — |
| SMSF account | No | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | No | — |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| US shares supported | No | No |
| US ETFs supported | No | No |
| Other markets supported | Cboe Australia, NSX (National Stock Exchange of Australia) | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | — |
| Options trading | No | No |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | No | — |
| costs hidden | ||
| Holds USD account | — | No |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $20/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 | $5 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.2% | 3% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $1,000 | $16,667 |
| 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 | $20/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $240/year |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | — |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $54 | — |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Commonwealth Securities Limited | Marketech Online Trading Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | 238,814 | 337,927 |
| Year founded | 2,019 | 2,021 |
| Parent / ownership | Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) | Australian-owned private company; AFSL backing from Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd; trade execution via OpenMarkets Australia Limited |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $50 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $50 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | Linked CBA transaction account (CDIA, Smart Access, Streamline Basic, NetBank Saver, etc.) - direct debit | Bank transfer (to Macquarie CMA), Direct credit |
| Settlement period | T+2 | T+2 |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days | Same-day to 1 business day (via Macquarie CMA) |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | Yes |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Free real-time market data | No | No |
| Free research reports | No | Yes |
| 2FA support | SMS + PIN | — |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, in-app messaging | email, support portal |
| Support hours (AU time) | Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm AET (phone) | — |
| Education content | structured courses | basic articles |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | No | Yes |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | No |