Share Trading comparison
CommSec vs easyMarkets
CommSec is a full-service CHESS-sponsored ASX broker for buying and holding real shares, while easyMarkets is a CFD and options provider that doesn't support actual share ownership at all. If you want to own ASX or US stocks in your own name, CommSec is the only option here — easyMarkets is built for leveraged derivatives trading, not long-term investing.
Choose
CommSec
if…
- ›You want to buy and hold real ASX or US shares under your own HIN with CHESS sponsorship
- ›You need a wide range of account types — joint, trust, SMSF, company, and kids accounts
- ›You want zero monthly or inactivity fees and brokerage as low as $5 on ASX trades
- ›You need access to IPOs, managed funds, bonds, and dividend reinvestment plans
- ›You want a broker backed by Commonwealth Bank with 30 years of Australian market history
Choose
easyMarkets
if…
- ›You want to trade CFDs on margin with leverage — something CommSec doesn't offer at all
- ›You need a demo account to practise trading before committing real money
- ›You prefer a desktop trading platform alongside mobile apps
- ›You want to deposit with crypto, Skrill, Neteller, or credit card (CommSec is limited to bank transfers and BPAY)
- ›You trade mostly outside standard market hours and want 24/5 customer support
Where they differ
| Fact | CommSec | easyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| ASX share ownership | CHESS-sponsored, individual HIN | Not supported (CFDs only) |
| Minimum deposit | $500 | $25 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $25 after inactivity |
| Account types | Individual, joint, company, trust, SMSF, kids | Individual and company only |
| Deposit methods | BPAY, direct debit, bank transfer, cheque, cash | Cards, bank wire, BPAY, Skrill, Neteller, POLi, crypto |
Verdict
Choose CommSec if you want to own real shares; choose easyMarkets only if you want leveraged CFD trading.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | CommSec | easyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | — |
| Individual HIN | Yes | — |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | No |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | No |
| SMSF account | Yes | No |
| Kids / minor account | Yes | No |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | No |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | No |
| US shares supported | Yes | No |
| US ETFs supported | Yes | No |
| Other markets supported | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Japan, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Sweden | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes | No |
| Options trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | Yes |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | Yes | No |
| IPO access | Yes | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.55% | — |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.55% | — |
| Holds USD account | Yes | Yes |
| FX currency switch trick | No | No |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | $59.95 | — |
| Corporate action fees | Corporate actions (SPP, rights issue, takeovers, demergers, dividend payments) are not separately charged by CommSec. They are processed via the share registry/issuer. CommSec does not send trade confirmations for off-market events, so Sharesight/other tracker sync requires manual updates. Failed-settlement fees apply if payment is late ($10 minimum or 0.66% above $1,500). | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $5 | — |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.12% | — |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $25,000 | — |
| ASX free trade conditions | Conditional: $5 minimum requires linked CDIA (Commonwealth Direct Investment Account) or CommSec Margin Loan as the settlement account AND CHESS sponsorship with CommSec. Without CDIA linkage, brokerage starts at $29.95 for trades up to $9,999.99 and 0.31% above. Promotional $0 brokerage offers occasionally run for new customers (e.g. 30 free trades up to $50,000 each, May–Nov 2026 offer for new sign-ups). | — |
| US brokerage minimum | US$5 | — |
| US brokerage percentage | 0.12% | — |
| 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 | 1,995 | 2,003 |
| Parent / ownership | Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: 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 | $500 | $25 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | BPAY, Direct debit, Bank transfer (CDIA), Cheque, Cash deposit (CBA branch/ATM) | Credit/Debit Card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Bank Wire Transfer, BPAY, Skrill, Neteller, POLi, Crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT) |
| Settlement period | T+2 (ASX) / T+1 (US) | — |
| Withdrawal time | Same-day to 1 business day (instant when funds in CDIA via real-time transfer) | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA support | SMS + authenticator | SMS + authenticator |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat (in-app), secure mail (in-platform), social media (X, Instagram) | phone, email, live chat |
| Support hours (AU time) | Phone 8am-6pm Mon-Fri Sydney time (general & options); extended trading-hours support during ASX session. No 24/7 support. | 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 | No | No |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | Yes | No |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional orders | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | No | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | none | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | No |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | Yes |