easyMarkets vs Interactive Brokers Australia
These two platforms aren't really competitors — they serve completely different purposes. easyMarkets is a CFD and options broker that doesn't offer any ASX or US shares, while Interactive Brokers Australia is a full-blown global brokerage with access to 30+ markets, real shares, ETFs, bonds, and fractional US stocks. If you want to actually own ASX shares under a CHESS-sponsored arrangement, easyMarkets isn't even an option.
- ›You want to trade CFDs and options on forex, indices, commodities or crypto without owning the underlying asset
- ›You want a low $25 minimum deposit and can fund via credit card, Skrill, Neteller or even crypto
- ›You want a built-in demo account and structured education courses to learn before trading
- ›You want zero monthly market data fees and free real-time data included
- ›You're comfortable with a Cyprus-headquartered group and a custodial (non-CHESS) model for CFD positions
- ›You want to buy and hold actual ASX shares, ETFs, US stocks or bonds under your own name
- ›You want access to 30+ global markets including Hong Kong, London, Tokyo and emerging markets
- ›You want fractional US shares, auto-invest/DCA with multiple sophistication levels, and a CGT calculator
- ›You want zero inactivity fees, zero monthly platform fees, and ASX brokerage from just $6
- ›You want a publicly traded parent company (NASDAQ: IBKR) with CHESS-equivalent custodial structure and full Australian tax statements
Where they differ
| Fact | easyMarkets | Interactive Brokers Australia |
|---|---|---|
| ASX shares supported | No | Yes |
| US shares supported | No | Yes |
| Minimum initial deposit | $25 AUD | $0 AUD |
| Inactivity fee | $25 AUD | $0 AUD |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | No (paid add-on) |
If you want to own real shares, choose Interactive Brokers. If you want CFD speculation, choose easyMarkets — they're not interchangeable.
Common questions
How do easyMarkets and Interactive Brokers Australia compare on asx shares supported?
easyMarkets: No. Interactive Brokers Australia: Yes.
How do easyMarkets and Interactive Brokers Australia compare on us shares supported?
easyMarkets: No. Interactive Brokers Australia: Yes.
How do easyMarkets and Interactive Brokers Australia compare on minimum initial deposit?
easyMarkets: $25 AUD. Interactive Brokers Australia: $0 AUD.
When is easyMarkets the better choice over Interactive Brokers Australia?
Pick easyMarkets if you want to trade CFDs and options on forex, indices, commodities or crypto without owning the underlying asset; you want a low $25 minimum deposit and can fund via credit card, Skrill, Neteller or even crypto; you want a built-in demo account and structured education courses to learn before trading; or you want zero monthly market data fees and free real-time data included.
When is Interactive Brokers Australia the better choice over easyMarkets?
Pick Interactive Brokers Australia if you want to buy and hold actual ASX shares, ETFs, US stocks or bonds under your own name; you want access to 30+ global markets including Hong Kong, London, Tokyo and emerging markets; you want fractional US shares, auto-invest/DCA with multiple sophistication levels, and a CGT calculator; or you want zero inactivity fees, zero monthly platform fees, and ASX brokerage from just $6.
easyMarkets or Interactive Brokers Australia — what's the verdict?
If you want to own real shares, choose Interactive Brokers. If you want CFD speculation, choose easyMarkets — they're not interchangeable.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | easyMarkets | Interactive Brokers Australia |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | — | custodian |
| Individual HIN | — | No |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | No | Yes |
| SMSF account | No | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | No | No |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | No | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | No | Yes |
| US shares supported | No | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | No | Yes |
| Other markets supported | US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, China (Stock Connect), South Korea, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | Yes |
| Options trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs supported | Yes | Yes |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | Yes |
| IPO access | No | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | — | 0.002% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | — | 0.002% |
| Holds USD account | Yes | Yes |
| FX currency switch trick | No | No |
| Market data fees | $0/month | — |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Corporate action fees | — | Corporate action processing is generally fee-free for standard events (dividends, splits, mergers). Some voluntary corporate actions and ADR pass-through fees apply per the published fee schedule. Mandatory reorganisations are processed at no charge. |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | — | $6 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | — | 0.08% |
| US brokerage minimum | — | US$1 |
| US brokerage percentage | — | 0.05% |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $25 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | — | $0 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | easyMarkets Pty Ltd | Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | 246,566 | 453,554 |
| Year founded | 2,003 | 1,978 |
| Parent / ownership | Blue Capital Markets Ltd (private, Cyprus-headquartered easyMarkets group) | Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBKR) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | private | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $25 | $0 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | Credit/Debit Card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Bank Wire Transfer, BPAY, Skrill, Neteller, POLi, Crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT) | Bank transfer (EFT), BPAY, International wire (SWIFT) |
| Settlement period | — | T+2 for ASX, T+1 for US equities |
| Withdrawal time | 1 business day to process; 3-10 business days for funds to arrive depending on method | 1-3 business days for AUD EFT; same day possible for AUD instant transfers within Australia |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | Yes | Yes |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | No |
| Free research reports | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA support | SMS + authenticator | authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat | phone, email, live chat, in-app secure message |
| Support hours (AU time) | 24/5 (Monday to Friday, around the clock during market hours) | 24 hours, Monday to Friday (Sydney) — local AU phone support during business hours; global desks cover overnight |
| Education content | structured courses | video + courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | No | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | No | No |
| CGT calculator / report | No | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | No | Yes |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional orders | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | No | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | none | multiple |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | No | No |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | Yes |