Commsec Pocket vs tastytrade
CommSec Pocket and tastytrade are built for completely different markets. Pocket is a stripped-down ASX ETF app from the Commonwealth Bank — cheap, simple, and CHESS-sponsored. tastytrade is a US options-and-equities broker owned by IG Group, designed for active traders who want zero-commission US stocks and sophisticated option strategies. The only thing they share is a $0 monthly fee.
- ›You want to buy ASX ETFs with brokerage as low as $2 on trades up to $1,000
- ›You value CHESS sponsorship and holding your own HIN on the ASX
- ›You want a simple, app-only experience with auto-invest (DCA) into a single ETF
- ›You're a CommBank customer who wants instant deposits from your CBA transaction account
- ›You need an Australian tax statement and CGT report at tax time
- ›You want to trade US stocks and ETFs with $0 commission and no minimum deposit
- ›You trade options — tastytrade is built around multi-leg option strategies with zero-commission opening trades
- ›You need a desktop trading platform with advanced order types (stop-loss, conditional orders) and after-hours trading
- ›You want free real-time US market data and a demo account to practice before going live
- ›You're comfortable with a custodian model (no HIN) and can work with US-market support hours
Where they differ
| Fact | Commsec Pocket | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Markets available | ASX ETFs only | US stocks, US ETFs, options, bonds |
| Brokerage on first $1,000 | $2 flat (0.2%) | $0 (US markets) |
| CHESS sponsorship | Yes — individual HIN | No — custodian model |
| Options trading | Not supported | Supported — zero-commission opening trades |
| Minimum deposit | $50 AUD | $0 AUD |
Pick CommSec Pocket for simple, cheap ASX ETF investing under your own HIN; pick tastytrade for zero-commission US stocks and options.
Common questions
How do Commsec Pocket and tastytrade compare on markets available?
Commsec Pocket: ASX ETFs only. tastytrade: US stocks, US ETFs, options, bonds.
How do Commsec Pocket and tastytrade compare on brokerage on first $1,000?
Commsec Pocket: $2 flat (0.2%). tastytrade: $0 (US markets).
How do Commsec Pocket and tastytrade compare on chess sponsorship?
Commsec Pocket: Yes — individual HIN. tastytrade: No — custodian model.
When is Commsec Pocket the better choice over tastytrade?
Pick Commsec Pocket if you want to buy ASX ETFs with brokerage as low as $2 on trades up to $1,000; you value CHESS sponsorship and holding your own HIN on the ASX; you want a simple, app-only experience with auto-invest (DCA) into a single ETF; or you're a CommBank customer who wants instant deposits from your CBA transaction account.
When is tastytrade the better choice over Commsec Pocket?
Pick tastytrade if you want to trade US stocks and ETFs with $0 commission and no minimum deposit; you trade options — tastytrade is built around multi-leg option strategies with zero-commission opening trades; you need a desktop trading platform with advanced order types (stop-loss, conditional orders) and after-hours trading; or you want free real-time US market data and a demo account to practice before going live.
Commsec Pocket or tastytrade — what's the verdict?
Pick CommSec Pocket for simple, cheap ASX ETF investing under your own HIN; pick tastytrade for zero-commission US stocks and options.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Commsec Pocket | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | custodian |
| Individual HIN | Yes | No |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | Yes |
| Company account | No | Yes |
| Trust account | No | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | No | Yes |
| Other markets supported | ||
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | No |
| Options trading | No | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | Yes |
| 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. | Standard US corporate action processing applies (dividends, splits, mergers). Mandatory corporate actions are processed at no fee; voluntary corporate actions (e.g. tender offers) may incur a fee per tastytrade's fee schedule. |
| 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. | Not applicable — tastytrade does not offer ASX trading. |
| US brokerage minimum | — | US$0 |
| US brokerage percentage | — | 0% |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | — |
| Off-market transfer fee | $54 | — |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Commonwealth Securities Limited | tastytrade, Inc. |
| AFSL number | 238,814 | — |
| Year founded | 2,019 | 2,017 |
| Parent / ownership | Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) | IG Group Holdings plc (LSE: IGG) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | US |
| Public company status | public | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $50 | $0 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $50 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | Linked CBA transaction account (CDIA, Smart Access, Streamline Basic, NetBank Saver, etc.) - direct debit | international wire (USD), ACH (US only), check (US only) |
| Settlement period | T+2 | T+1 (US equities/ETFs, from May 2024) |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days | International wire withdrawals to AU typically 3-5 business days |
| 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 | No |
| 2FA support | SMS + PIN | authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, in-app messaging | phone, email, live chat |
| Support hours (AU time) | Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm AET (phone) | Monday-Friday, approx. 7am-5pm US Central Time = approx. 10pm-8am AET (next day). Weekend support limited. No AU business-hours coverage. |
| Education content | structured courses | video + courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | No |
| Distribution component breakdown | No | No |
| 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 | No |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | Yes |