Share Trading comparison
Halo Technologies vs tastytrade
Halo Technologies and tastytrade both launched in 2017, but they serve completely different investors. Halo is a full-service Australian platform with ASX trading, managed funds and CHESS custody — but charges a $159/month platform fee. tastytrade is a US-focused broker with zero commissions and zero platform fees, but it doesn't support ASX trading at all. The real choice comes down to whether you need local market access or you're happy going all-in on US stocks and options.
Choose
Halo Technologies
if…
- ›You trade ASX shares and ETFs — Halo supports them; tastytrade does not.
- ›You want CHESS custody (via a custodian model) and an Australian tax statement for simpler EOFY reporting.
- ›You need managed funds, trust or SMSF accounts, or dividend reinvestment plans.
- ›You trade US shares but also want access to UK, European and Asian markets from a single platform.
- ›You're willing to pay $159/month for a premium all-in-one platform with local support hours.
Choose
tastytrade
if…
- ›You trade US stocks, ETFs or options only and want zero brokerage and zero monthly fees.
- ›You want free real-time US market data — tastytrade includes it; Halo charges $19/month.
- ›You're an active options trader — tastytrade was built for options; Halo doesn't offer options.
- ›You want to start with no minimum deposit and no ongoing platform or inactivity fees.
- ›You prefer video-based education and a demo account to learn before you trade.
Where they differ
| Fact | Halo Technologies | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform fee | $159/month | $0/month |
| US brokerage | $15 or 0.12% | $0 |
| ASX trading | Supported ($15 or 0.12%) | Not supported |
| Options trading | Not offered | Supported (core feature) |
| Real-time market data | $19/month | Free |
Verdict
Pick Halo if you need ASX trading and a full Australian wrapper; pick tastytrade for zero-cost US and options trading.
Cost calculator
What would Halo Technologies 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 | Halo Technologies | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | custodian | custodian |
| Individual HIN | No | No |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | No |
| Kids / minor account | — | 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 | US (NASDAQ, NYSE), UK, Europe, Japan (NIKKEI), Asia Pacific, 30 exchanges total | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes | No |
| Options trading | — | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | — | Yes |
| IPO access | — | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.5% | — |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.5% | — |
| Holds USD account | — | Yes |
| FX currency switch trick | — | No |
| Market data fees | $19/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | — | $0 |
| Corporate action fees | — | 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 | $15 | — |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.12% | — |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $12,500 | — |
| ASX free trade conditions | Promotional offer: $0 brokerage on trades up to $250,000 (per landing page /0-brokerage-on-trades-up-to-250000); standard FSG schedule remains $15/0.12%. Conditions not fully disclosed publicly. | Not applicable — tastytrade does not offer ASX trading. |
| US brokerage minimum | US$15 | US$0 |
| US brokerage percentage | 0.12% | 0% |
| Monthly platform fee | $159/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $2,508/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | — | $0 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | HALO Technologies Pty Ltd (ABN 54 623 830 866); ultimately wholly owned by HALO Technologies Holdings Limited ABN 73 645 531 219 | tastytrade, Inc. |
| AFSL number | 484,264 | — |
| Year founded | 2,017 | 2,017 |
| Parent / ownership | HALO Technologies Holdings Limited (ASX:HAL) — ultimate parent; publicly listed | IG Group Holdings plc (LSE: IGG) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | US |
| Public company status | public | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | — | $0 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | — | $0 |
| Deposit methods | AUD bank transfer / direct credit (to HALO trust account) | international wire (USD), ACH (US only), check (US only) |
| Settlement period | — | T+1 (US equities/ETFs, from May 2024) |
| Withdrawal time | — | International wire withdrawals to AU typically 3-5 business days |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | — | Yes |
| Demo account | — | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | No | Yes |
| Free research reports | No | No |
| 2FA support | — | authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat | phone, email, live chat |
| Support hours (AU time) | — | Monday-Friday, approx. 7am-5pm US Central Time = approx. 10pm-8am AET (next day). Weekend support limited. No AU business-hours coverage. |
| Education content | basic articles | video + courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | No |
| Distribution component breakdown | — | No |
| CGT calculator / report | — | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | — | Yes |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional orders | — | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | — | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | multiple | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | No |
| After-hours / overnight trading | — | Yes |