Marketech Focus vs Westpac Online Investing
Marketech Focus and Westpac Online Investing both offer CHESS-sponsored ASX trading, but they're built for very different investors. Marketech Focus charges a flat $20/month fee in exchange for rock-bottom ASX brokerage (0.03% above $5). Westpac charges no monthly fee but its brokerage is steeper (0.11% minimum $4.95), and it throws in US and international markets, options, and managed funds that Marketech simply doesn't offer.
- ›You trade ASX shares or ETFs frequently and want the cheapest per-trade cost — 0.03% above $5 is hard to beat
- ›You're happy paying a $20/month platform fee because your trading volume makes the low brokerage worthwhile
- ›You want a CGT report and distribution component breakdown built in, without needing third-party software
- ›You only trade Australian markets and don't need US shares, options, or managed funds
- ›You prefer a desktop platform alongside the mobile app for serious screen-based trading
- ›You want zero monthly platform fees and only pay when you trade — better for infrequent or buy-and-hold investors
- ›You need US and international share trading (18 markets) with a single login and a USD account
- ›You want options trading, managed funds, bonds, and IPO access all in one place
- ›You're already a Westpac banking customer and want seamless transfers between your transaction account and trading account
- ›You value free real-time market data and structured educational courses over raw low brokerage
Where they differ
| Fact | Marketech Focus | Westpac Online Investing |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform fee | $20/month | $0/month |
| ASX brokerage (minimum / rate) | $5 or 0.03% | $4.95 or 0.11% |
| US & international shares | Not supported | 18 markets including US, UK, Europe, Asia |
| Free real-time market data | Not included ($20/month extra) | Included at no cost |
| Options & managed funds | Not offered | Options trading and managed funds available |
Choose Marketech Focus if you trade ASX frequently on a budget; choose Westpac if you want a full-featured, fee-free platform with global access.
Common questions
How do Marketech Focus and Westpac Online Investing compare on monthly platform fee?
Marketech Focus: $20/month. Westpac Online Investing: $0/month.
How do Marketech Focus and Westpac Online Investing compare on asx brokerage (minimum / rate)?
Marketech Focus: $5 or 0.03%. Westpac Online Investing: $4.95 or 0.11%.
How do Marketech Focus and Westpac Online Investing compare on us & international shares?
Marketech Focus: Not supported. Westpac Online Investing: 18 markets including US, UK, Europe, Asia.
When is Marketech Focus the better choice over Westpac Online Investing?
Pick Marketech Focus if you trade ASX shares or ETFs frequently and want the cheapest per-trade cost — 0.03% above $5 is hard to beat; you're happy paying a $20/month platform fee because your trading volume makes the low brokerage worthwhile; you want a CGT report and distribution component breakdown built in, without needing third-party software; or you only trade Australian markets and don't need US shares, options, or managed funds.
When is Westpac Online Investing the better choice over Marketech Focus?
Pick Westpac Online Investing if you want zero monthly platform fees and only pay when you trade — better for infrequent or buy-and-hold investors; you need US and international share trading (18 markets) with a single login and a USD account; you want options trading, managed funds, bonds, and IPO access all in one place; or you're already a Westpac banking customer and want seamless transfers between your transaction account and trading account.
Marketech Focus or Westpac Online Investing — what's the verdict?
Choose Marketech Focus if you trade ASX frequently on a budget; choose Westpac if you want a full-featured, fee-free platform with global access.
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 | Marketech Focus | Westpac Online Investing |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | chess |
| Individual HIN | Yes | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | — | Yes |
| Company account | — | Yes |
| Trust account | — | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | — | Yes |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| US shares supported | No | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | No | Yes |
| Other markets supported | Cboe Australia, NSX (National Stock Exchange of Australia) | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Portugal, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | — | No |
| Options trading | No | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds supported | No | Yes |
| IPO access | — | Yes |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | — | 65% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | — | 65% |
| Holds USD account | No | Yes |
| Market data fees | $20/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | — | $50 |
| Corporate action fees | — | Corporate action processing (rights issues, takeovers, SPPs) is generally free for CHESS-sponsored clients — Westpac/AUSIEX passes elections to issuers/registries. Specific fees only apply in exceptional circumstances per the FSG. |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $5 | $4.95 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 3% | 11% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $16,667 | $28,000 |
| ASX free trade conditions | — | No free brokerage offered. Lower brokerage tiers ($4.95 minimum) require settlement via linked Westpac Cash Investment Account; settling via other-bank accounts incurs $29.95 / 0.29% minimum. |
| US brokerage minimum | — | US$4.95 |
| US brokerage percentage | — | 11% |
| Monthly platform fee | $20/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $240/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | — | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | — | $50 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Marketech Online Trading Pty Ltd | Australian Investment Exchange Limited (AUSIEX); Westpac Securities Limited issues the branded service |
| AFSL number | 337,927 | 241,400 |
| Year founded | 2,021 | 2,010 |
| Parent / ownership | Australian-owned private company; AFSL backing from Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd; trade execution via OpenMarkets Australia Limited | Brand: Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC); operator AUSIEX is wholly owned by Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (TSE: 4307) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | private | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer (to Macquarie CMA), Direct credit | Westpac Cash Investment Account (linked), External bank Direct Credit, BPAY, Internal transfer between Westpac accounts |
| Settlement period | T+2 | T+2 (ASX), T+1 (US) |
| Withdrawal time | Same-day to 1 business day (via Macquarie CMA) | Same-day to 1 business day for Westpac-to-Westpac transfers; 1-2 business days to external bank accounts |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | Yes | No |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Free real-time market data | No | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA support | — | SMS + authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | email, support portal | phone, email, live chat, in-app |
| Support hours (AU time) | — | Phone: 8am-7pm Sydney time Mon-Fri (domestic); 24 hours on US trading days for international; Live chat: 9:30am-5pm Sydney time Mon-Fri |
| Education content | basic articles | structured courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | Yes | 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 | No | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | none | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | No |