Share Trading comparison
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.
Choose
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
- ›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
Choose
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
- ›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 |
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.
Cost calculator
What would Marketech Focus vs Westpac Online Investing 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 | 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 |