Share Trading comparison
Interactive Brokers Australia vs nabtrade
Interactive Brokers and nabtrade sit at opposite ends of the trading spectrum. IBKR is a global low-cost powerhouse built for active traders, while nabtrade is a bank-owned broker that prioritises simplicity, CHESS-sponsored ASX holdings and integration with NAB banking. The biggest practical difference: IBKR is dramatically cheaper on brokerage and FX, but holds your ASX shares in custody; nabtrade costs more but gives you an individual HIN.
Choose
Interactive Brokers Australia
if…
- ›You trade frequently and want ASX brokerage from $6 and US brokerage from just $1 USD
- ›You need access to 30+ global markets and can hold USD, EUR, GBP and other currencies natively
- ›You want near-zero FX spreads (0.00002%) instead of the 0.8% charged by most Australian brokers
- ›You trade options, futures or CFDs and need a professional-grade platform with conditional orders
- ›You want to automate investing with a DCA plan and buy fractional US shares
Choose
nabtrade
if…
- ›You want your ASX shares held under your own HIN via CHESS sponsorship — not in a custodian arrangement
- ›You're a NAB customer who values instant transfers to a linked NAB account and integrated banking
- ›You want to invest in managed funds, access IPOs, and reinvest dividends automatically via DRP
- ›You prefer a simpler, more guided experience with free real-time ASX data included
- ›You're opening a minor/kids account, which IBKR doesn't offer
Where they differ
| Fact | Interactive Brokers Australia | nabtrade |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage (minimum) | $6 | $9.95 |
| CHESS sponsorship | Custodian (no individual HIN) | CHESS-sponsored (individual HIN) |
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.00002% | 0.8% |
| Monthly market data fee | $0 (but real-time data costs extra) | $19.95/month (or free with qualifying activity) |
| International markets | 30+ countries including US, Canada, Europe, Asia | US, UK, Germany, Hong Kong |
Verdict
Choose Interactive Brokers for low-cost global trading; choose nabtrade for CHESS-sponsored ASX investing with NAB banking simplicity.
Cost calculator
What would Interactive Brokers Australia vs nabtrade actually cost you?
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All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Interactive Brokers Australia | nabtrade |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | custodian | chess |
| Individual HIN | No | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | No | Yes |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| US shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | Yes | 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 | United Kingdom (LSE), Germany (Xetra), Hong Kong (HKEx) |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes | No |
| Options trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs supported | Yes | No |
| Managed funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds supported | Yes | Yes |
| IPO access | No | Yes |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.002% | 80% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.002% | 80% |
| Holds USD account | Yes | No |
| FX currency switch trick | No | — |
| Market data fees | — | $19.95/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | — | $59.95 |
| 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 | $9.95 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.08% | 11% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | — | $20,000 |
| US brokerage minimum | US$1 | US$9.95 |
| US brokerage percentage | 0.05% | 11% |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | — |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | — |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | — |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $0 | $55 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd | WealthHub Securities Limited |
| AFSL number | 453,554 | 230,704 |
| Year founded | 1,978 | 2,012 |
| Parent / ownership | Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBKR) | National Australia Bank Limited (ASX: NAB) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer (EFT), BPAY, International wire (SWIFT) | Direct credit / EFT, BPAY, Internal transfer from linked NAB account |
| Settlement period | T+2 for ASX, T+1 for US equities | ASX T+2; US T+1; UK/Germany/HK T+2 |
| Withdrawal time | 1-3 business days for AUD EFT; same day possible for AUD instant transfers within Australia | Instant to linked NAB accounts; 1 business day to other Australian banks |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | Yes | No |
| Demo account | Yes | No |
| Free real-time market data | No | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA support | authenticator app | SMS + PIN |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat, in-app secure message | Phone, Email, Secure messaging (via NAB Internet Banking) |
| Support hours (AU time) | 24 hours, Monday to Friday (Sydney) — local AU phone support during business hours; global desks cover overnight | Mon-Fri 8am-6pm AEST/AEDT (contact centre typically 9am-5pm) |
| Education content | video + courses | structured |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional orders | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | multiple | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | No | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | No |