nabtrade vs Tiger Brokers
The biggest difference between nabtrade and Tiger Brokers is cost. Tiger Brokers charges as little as $3 on ASX trades and near-zero FX spreads, while nabtrade starts at $9.95 with a 0.8% FX spread. But nabtrade is a CHESS-sponsored bank-owned broker with a HIN in your name, whereas Tiger Brokers uses a custodian model despite offering a HIN — a distinction that matters for control of your holdings.
- ›You want true CHESS sponsorship with an individual HIN — your shares are registered directly on the ASX in your name
- ›You need a full-service broker with access to managed funds, bonds, and international markets including the UK, Germany and Hong Kong
- ›You prefer the backing of a Big Four bank (NAB) and the ability to link accounts instantly for deposits and withdrawals
- ›You want a minor/kids account to invest on behalf of children
- ›You're comfortable paying higher brokerage for the peace of mind that comes with a traditional, ASIC-regulated bank-owned platform
- ›You want the lowest possible cost — $3 ASX trades and near-zero FX spreads on US stocks
- ›You trade US stocks frequently and want a dedicated USD account (no forced FX conversion on every trade)
- ›You want fractional US shares so you can buy a slice of expensive stocks like Amazon or Google
- ›You want to automate your investing with a DCA/auto-invest feature into individual stocks or ETFs
- ›You value a modern trading experience with a desktop platform, demo account, and after-hours US trading
Where they differ
| Fact | nabtrade | Tiger Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage minimum | $9.95 | $3.00 |
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.8% | 0.0055% |
| CHESS sponsorship model | CHESS (individual HIN) | CHESS (individual HIN) |
| USD account | No | Yes |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | Yes |
Go with nabtrade for CHESS certainty and bank-grade safety; pick Tiger Brokers for dramatically lower costs and modern features.
Common questions
How do nabtrade and Tiger Brokers compare on asx brokerage minimum?
nabtrade: $9.95. Tiger Brokers: $3.00. Tiger is significantly cheaper on standard ASX trades.
How do nabtrade and Tiger Brokers compare on fx spread (aud/usd)?
nabtrade: 0.8%. Tiger Brokers: 0.0055%. Tiger's FX cost is negligible; nabtrade's is steep for US stock investors.
How do nabtrade and Tiger Brokers compare on chess sponsorship model?
nabtrade: CHESS (individual HIN). Tiger Brokers: CHESS (individual HIN). Both offer a HIN, but Tiger operates a custodian model in practice — verify before committing.
When is nabtrade the better choice over Tiger Brokers?
Pick nabtrade if you want true CHESS sponsorship with an individual HIN — your shares are registered directly on the ASX in your name; you need a full-service broker with access to managed funds, bonds, and international markets including the UK, Germany and Hong Kong; you prefer the backing of a Big Four bank (NAB) and the ability to link accounts instantly for deposits and withdrawals; or you want a minor/kids account to invest on behalf of children.
When is Tiger Brokers the better choice over nabtrade?
Pick Tiger Brokers if you want the lowest possible cost — $3 ASX trades and near-zero FX spreads on US stocks; you trade US stocks frequently and want a dedicated USD account (no forced FX conversion on every trade); you want fractional US shares so you can buy a slice of expensive stocks like Amazon or Google; or you want to automate your investing with a DCA/auto-invest feature into individual stocks or ETFs.
nabtrade or Tiger Brokers — what's the verdict?
Go with nabtrade for CHESS certainty and bank-grade safety; pick Tiger Brokers for dramatically lower costs and modern features.
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 | nabtrade | Tiger Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | chess |
| Individual HIN | Yes | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | Yes | No |
| 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 | United Kingdom (LSE), Germany (Xetra), Hong Kong (HKEx) | Hong Kong, China A-shares |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | Yes |
| Options trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | Yes | No |
| IPO access | Yes | Yes |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 80% | 0.55% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 80% | — |
| Holds USD account | No | Yes |
| FX currency switch trick | — | No |
| Market data fees | $19.95/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | $59.95 | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $9.95 | $3 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 11% | 0.03% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $20,000 | $10,000 |
| ASX free trade conditions | — | New clients receive zero-brokerage on up to 4 trades per month on ASX/US stocks, ETFs or options (minimum brokerage waived; third-party fees still apply). |
| US brokerage minimum | US$9.95 | US$2 |
| US brokerage percentage | 11% | 0.01% |
| Monthly platform fee | — | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | — | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | — | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $55 | $50 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | WealthHub Securities Limited | Tiger Brokers (AU) Pty Limited |
| AFSL number | 230,704 | 300,767 |
| Year founded | 2,012 | 2,020 |
| Parent / ownership | National Australia Bank Limited (ASX: NAB) | UP Fintech Holding Limited (NASDAQ: TIGR) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | Direct credit / EFT, BPAY, Internal transfer from linked NAB account | PayID, PayTo, Bank transfer (direct credit) |
| Settlement period | ASX T+2; US T+1; UK/Germany/HK T+2 | T+2 (ASX), T+1 (US) |
| Withdrawal time | Instant to linked NAB accounts; 1 business day to other Australian banks | 1-2 business days (Tiger review) plus bank processing; can arrive same day |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | Yes |
| Demo account | No | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | — |
| 2FA support | SMS + PIN | authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | Phone, Email, Secure messaging (via NAB Internet Banking) | phone, email, live chat, in-app |
| Support hours (AU time) | Mon-Fri 8am-6pm AEST/AEDT (contact centre typically 9am-5pm) | Phone: 9am-5pm weekdays (AET). Live chat: 9am-8:30pm weekdays. Email: ongoing. |
| Education content | structured | structured courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | 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 | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | none | single asset |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | Yes |