Share Trading comparison
CommSec vs tastytrade
CommSec and tastytrade are built for completely different investors. CommSec is Australia's dominant broker — CHESS-sponsored, full ASX access, and tightly integrated with CBA banking. tastytrade is a US-based options specialist with zero-commission US trades but zero ASX support. The biggest practical difference: CommSec lets you buy BHP and CBA on the ASX under your own HIN; tastytrade doesn't offer Australian shares at all.
Choose
CommSec
if…
- ›You want to trade ASX-listed shares and ETFs under your own HIN with CHESS sponsorship
- ›You need a full suite of Australian account types — SMSF, trust, company, joint, and kids accounts
- ›You want seamless integration with CBA banking, including instant transfers via CDIA
- ›You need Australian tax statements, DRP, and IPO access on local stocks
- ›You want phone support during Australian business hours and a local AFSL-regulated broker
Choose
tastytrade
if…
- ›You trade US options actively and want zero commission on US stocks and options
- ›You want a dedicated desktop trading platform alongside mobile apps
- ›You prefer to start trading with no minimum deposit and no brokerage fees on US trades
- ›You need a demo account to practise US options strategies before going live
- ›You're comfortable with a US-regulated custodian model and don't need CHESS or an Australian tax statement
Where they differ
| Fact | CommSec | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| ASX trading | Yes — full ASX shares and ETFs | No — ASX trading not offered |
| US brokerage | 0.12% (min $5 USD) | $0 USD |
| CHESS sponsorship | CHESS-sponsored (own HIN) | Custodian model (no HIN) |
| Minimum deposit | $500 AUD | $0 AUD |
| Fractional US shares | Yes | No |
Verdict
Choose CommSec for Australian shares under your own HIN; choose tastytrade for zero-commission US options trading.
Cost calculator
What would CommSec vs tastytrade actually cost you?
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All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | CommSec | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | custodian |
| Individual HIN | Yes | No |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | Yes | Yes |
| 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). | 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 | $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). | Not applicable — tastytrade does not offer ASX trading. |
| US brokerage minimum | US$5 | US$0 |
| US brokerage percentage | 0.12% | 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 | 1,995 | 2,017 |
| Parent / ownership | Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) | IG Group Holdings plc (LSE: IGG) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | US |
| Public company status | public | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $0 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | BPAY, Direct debit, Bank transfer (CDIA), Cheque, Cash deposit (CBA branch/ATM) | international wire (USD), ACH (US only), check (US only) |
| Settlement period | T+2 (ASX) / T+1 (US) | T+1 (US equities/ETFs, from May 2024) |
| Withdrawal time | Same-day to 1 business day (instant when funds in CDIA via real-time transfer) | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | No |
| 2FA support | SMS + authenticator | authenticator app |
| 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. | 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 | No | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | Yes | Yes |
| 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 |