Share Trading comparison
Interactive Brokers Australia vs Sharesies
Interactive Brokers and Sharesies sit at opposite ends of the investing spectrum. IBKR is a global brokerage powerhouse built for serious traders, offering access to 150+ markets with rock-bottom fees. Sharesies is a beginner-friendly app that makes small-dollar investing easy, with fractional ASX shares and simple subscription plans — but you pay for that simplicity through higher ongoing costs.
Choose
Interactive Brokers Australia
if…
- ›You trade frequently and want ASX brokerage as low as $6 or 0.08% (whichever is lower)
- ›You need access to international markets beyond Australia, NZ and the US — IBKR covers 30+ countries
- ›You trade options, CFDs or bonds, which Sharesies doesn't support at all
- ›You want a true multi-currency account with near-zero FX spreads (0.002%) and no withdrawal or transfer fees
- ›You run a SMSF, trust, company or joint account — Sharesies only offers individual and kids accounts
Choose
Sharesies
if…
- ›You want to buy fractional shares on the ASX — IBKR doesn't offer this
- ›You're starting with small amounts and prefer a simple subscription model ($5–$20/month) that bundles brokerage
- ›You want dividend reinvestment (DRP) included, which IBKR doesn't offer
- ›You're setting up a kids' account with the $2/month plan
- ›You prefer a clean mobile app with no desktop software and want to avoid complex trading tools
Where they differ
| Fact | Interactive Brokers Australia | Sharesies |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage (minimum) | $6 | $0 (but 1.9% of trade, capped at $6) |
| US brokerage (minimum) | US$1 (0.05%) | US$0 (but 1.9% of trade, capped at US$5) |
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.002% | 0.6% |
| Account types | Individual, joint, company, trust, SMSF | Individual and kids only |
| Markets available | 30+ countries | Australia, NZ and US |
Verdict
Choose Interactive Brokers for low-cost, multi-market power; choose Sharesies for simple, small-dollar investing with fractional ASX shares.
Cost calculator
What would Interactive Brokers Australia vs Sharesies actually cost you?
Punch in your trade size and frequency. We'll do the full brokerage + FX + fees maths.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Interactive Brokers Australia | Sharesies |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | custodian | custodian |
| Individual HIN | No | No |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | No |
| Company account | Yes | No |
| Trust account | Yes | No |
| SMSF account | Yes | No |
| 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 | NZ |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | Yes |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes | Yes |
| Options trading | Yes | No |
| CFDs supported | Yes | No |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | Yes | No |
| IPO access | No | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.002% | 0.6% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.002% | 0.6% |
| 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. | No fee for receiving DRP shares ('You don't pay a Sharesies transaction fee when you receive shares through a DRP'). Sharesies handles corporate actions via the Voting & Corporate Actions Policy; specific fees for rights issues, SPP, takeovers not separately listed in pricing schedule. |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $6 | $0 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.08% | 1.9% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | — | $315.79 |
| ASX free trade conditions | — | Pay-as-you-go: 1.9% per buy/sell order, capped at AU$6 for ASX, US$5 for US, NZ$25 for NZ. Monthly plans cover transaction fees on a set volume: $5/mo plan ($54/yr) covers $500 AUD buy/sell + $1,000 AUD auto-invest; $10/mo plan ($108/yr) covers $1,000 AUD buy/sell + $3,000 AUD auto-invest; $20/mo plan ($216/yr) covers $3,000 AUD buy/sell + $8,000 AUD auto-invest. Kids plan $2/mo covers $500 buy/sell + $1,000 auto-invest. Once monthly cover used up, pay-as-you-go applies. No truly free trade option. |
| US brokerage minimum | US$1 | US$0 |
| US brokerage percentage | 0.05% | 1.9% |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $0 | $50 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd | Sharesies Australia Limited |
| AFSL number | 453,554 | 529,893 |
| Year founded | 1,978 | 2,021 |
| Parent / ownership | Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBKR) | Sharesies Group Limited (New Zealand) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $1 |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer (EFT), BPAY, International wire (SWIFT) | PayID, OSKO, direct credit, card |
| Settlement period | T+2 for ASX, T+1 for US equities | T+2 ASX/NZX, T+1 US |
| Withdrawal time | 1-3 business days for AUD EFT; same day possible for AUD instant transfers within Australia | 1-2 business days for settled funds; longer if recently sold (T+2 settlement plus 1-2 days reconciliation plus 1-2 days bank transfer) |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | Yes | No |
| Demo account | Yes | No |
| Free real-time market data | No | No |
| Free research reports | Yes | No |
| 2FA support | authenticator app | authenticator_app |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat, in-app secure message | email, in_app |
| Support hours (AU time) | 24 hours, Monday to Friday (Sydney) — local AU phone support during business hours; global desks cover overnight | Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 4 PM AEST |
| Education content | video + courses | basic_articles |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | No | Yes |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | multiple | multiple_assets |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | No | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | Yes |