Stake vs CommSec Australia 2026: Brokerage Fees, ETF Access and Which Platform Suits You

Quick answer: Stake is typically cheaper for active traders and US stock investors, charging $3 per ASX trade (up to $30,000) and US$3 per US trade. CommSec costs more per trade on most sizes ($5 up to $1,000, $10 to $3,000, $19.95 to $10,000). Both are CHESS-sponsored, so your ASX shares are registered in your name either way but offers a richer research suite, more market depth tools, and tighter integration with Commonwealth Bank accounts. Neither is objectively better — the right choice depends on how often you trade, what you trade, and how much support you need.

Choosing a stockbroker in Australia in 2026 isn't as straightforward as it used to be. Five years ago, CommSec was the dominant default for most retail investors. Today, a wave of low-cost platforms — led by Stake — has reshaped what Australians expect from a brokerage. Lower fees, cleaner interfaces, and US market access are now table stakes (pun intended). So how do these two platforms actually compare when you sit them side by side?

This article breaks down Stake and CommSec across every dimension that matters to most Australian investors: brokerage fees, ETF access, market coverage, platform quality, account types, and customer support. It also includes worked examples so you can see exactly what each platform costs in real terms.

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Brokerage Fees: The Headline Difference

This is where the platforms diverge most dramatically, and it's usually the first thing investors look at.

Stake Fees (ASX and US Markets)

Stake's fees, from its pricing page (checked 4 October 2026):

The $3 flat fee for ASX trades is one of the lowest headline rates in the Australian market. For small trades — say, $500 worth of shares — that's an effective brokerage rate of just 0.6%. For larger trades of $10,000, it drops to 0.03%.

The catch on US trades is the currency conversion fee. Converting AUD to buy US$1,000 of Apple shares costs about 0.55% (roughly A$8) on top of the US$3 brokerage. This is competitive but not free, and it compounds quickly if you're regularly moving money into US-denominated investments.

CommSec Fees (ASX and International)

CommSec's online brokerage is tiered by trade value, when you settle through a CommBank CDIA account (CommSec rates):

Settling to a non-CommBank account costs much more: $29.95 up to $9,999.99, or 0.31% above.

CommSec also offers CommSec Pocket, a separate app for beginners with 10 themed ETFs. Brokerage is $2 for trades up to $1,000 and 0.20% above, and CommSec is currently running $0 brokerage on Pocket ETFs until 31 March 2027 (CommSec Pocket). It isn't a full trading account.

For the full CommSec platform, the $19.95 standard trade fee is the number that stings most investors. A $5,000 ASX trade costs $19.95 on CommSec versus $3.00 on Stake — a $16.95 difference on a single transaction.

Worked Example: Annual Cost Comparison

Say you make 20 ASX trades per year, averaging $5,000 per trade:

That's a $339 difference annually. At smaller trade sizes the gap narrows — on $1,000 trades CommSec charges $5, so 20 trades cost $100 against Stake's $60 — real money, especially for investors who reinvest their savings. Over 10 years, at even modest portfolio growth, the compounding effect of keeping that $339 working for you adds up.

Use the ETF Calculator to model how lower brokerage costs can affect your long-term ETF investment outcomes.

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ETF Access: What Can You Actually Buy?

Stake ETF Access

Stake gives you access to all ASX-listed ETFs on its full platform — that includes Vanguard, iShares, BetaShares, VanEck and every other provider trading on the ASX. You can buy everything from broad market index funds like VAS (Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF) to sector-specific and thematic ETFs.

Stake's US market access also means you can buy US-listed ETFs directly — including funds like VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF), VOO (S&P 500), and hundreds of others that aren't available on the ASX. This is a genuine differentiator for investors who want access to US-listed products that have lower management fees or different compositions than their ASX equivalents.

Note: When buying US-listed ETFs through Stake, you're holding USD-denominated assets. Currency risk applies, and you'll pay FX conversion fees on each buy and sell.

CommSec ETF Access

CommSec's full platform also gives you access to all ASX-listed ETFs — no restriction there. For international access, CommSec offers US and international market trading through CommSec International. US brokerage is US$5 or 0.12% (whichever is greater) on the standard International Shares account, or US$9.95 or 0.20% on International Shares Plus (CommSec) — more than Stake's US$3 on most trade sizes.

For most Australian investors who want straightforward ETF investing, both platforms offer equivalent access to the ASX ETF universe. The key difference emerges if you specifically want US-listed ETFs — Stake is meaningfully better positioned here.

CommSec Pocket vs Stake: ETF Simplicity

If you're a complete beginner who just wants to invest in a handful of ETFs, CommSec Pocket is worth considering. Its $2 brokerage on trades up to $1,000 (currently $0 until 31 March 2027) suits small regular investing, and the simplified interface removes the confusion of a full brokerage platform. That said, you're limited to 10 themed ETFs, which restricts flexibility as your knowledge grows.

Stake doesn't have an equivalent micro-investing lite mode — it gives you the full market from day one, which suits investors who are ready to make their own decisions.

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Platform Quality and User Experience

Stake Platform

Stake's interface is clean, modern, and clearly built for a mobile-first generation of investors. The app is intuitive, trade execution is fast, and the watchlist and portfolio views are easy to read. The platform feels lightweight — which is mostly a compliment, though it does mean some advanced features are absent.

What Stake does well:

• Simple, uncluttered trade ticket interface
• Real-time US market data (free with account)
• Clean portfolio performance tracking
• Easy fractional share investing in US stocks

What Stake lacks:

• Limited charting tools compared to CommSec
• No fundamental research reports built in
• Thinner desktop experience compared to mobile

CommSec Platform

CommSec is a more mature platform with a correspondingly more complex interface. For experienced investors, this is a feature — for beginners, it can be overwhelming at first.

What CommSec does well:

• Deep market data: level 2 quotes, market depth, and historical price charts
• Integrated research: Morningstar reports, earnings calendars, company announcements
• CHESS-sponsored holdings (you're the registered owner on the ASX's clearing system)
• Strong desktop web platform
• CBA bank account integration (instant settlement using linked account)

What CommSec lacks:

• Higher brokerage fees
• Clunkier mobile app compared to Stake
• International platform (CommSec International) feels dated
• Steeper learning curve for new investors

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CHESS Sponsorship vs Custodial: Why It Matters

This is one of the most important differences between the two platforms, and it's frequently overlooked by new investors.

CHESS sponsorship means you are directly registered as the legal owner of your ASX shares on the ASX's Clearing House Electronic Subregister System. You get a unique HIN (Holder Identification Number), and your shares are held in your name, not the broker's.

Custodial model means the broker holds shares on your behalf, and you have a beneficial interest rather than legal title.

On ASX shares, both Stake and CommSec are CHESS-sponsored — each issues you your own HIN, so the shares are registered in your name (Stake, CommSec). Moving between them is a standard CHESS transfer.

CHESS only covers ASX-listed securities, so US shares bought through Australian brokers are generally held through a custodian instead.

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Research and Education

CommSec Research

CommSec's research offering is substantially stronger. Subscribers get access to:

• Morningstar research reports — analyst ratings, fair value estimates, competitive moat assessments
• Company announcements — directly integrated into each stock's page
• Earnings calendars and dividend schedules
• Charting tools — technical analysis overlays, comparative charting
• Market news — live ASX announcements, economic data releases

If you're the kind of investor who reads annual reports, compares P/E ratios, and wants all your data in one place, CommSec's research tools are genuinely useful.

Stake Research

Stake's built-in research is lighter. You get basic financial data (revenue, earnings, key ratios) and news feeds, but no Morningstar-equivalent deep dives. For US stocks, data quality is reasonable given the breadth of the market.

The tradeoff is deliberate — Stake's value proposition is low cost and simplicity. It expects investors to do their own research or supplement with external tools (like Simply Wall St, Tikr, or Macroaxis).

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Account Types Supported

Both platforms support the main entity types that Australian investors use. CommSec has a slight edge with trust and SMSF setups due to its longer track record and more established account management processes.

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Customer Support

CommSec has a well-established support team accessible by phone during business hours, live chat, and an extensive help centre. Given it's backed by the Commonwealth Bank — one of Australia's largest financial institutions — there's a level of institutional reliability that comes with the territory.

Stake's support is primarily email and in-app chat. Response times can be slower, particularly during high-volume trading periods. For investors who want to pick up the phone and talk to a human quickly, CommSec wins this category outright.

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Who Should Choose Stake?

Stake suits you if:

• You prioritise low brokerage costs — $3 per ASX trade is hard to beat for regular traders
• You want US stock and ETF access — Stake's US platform is genuinely excellent and well-integrated
• You mainly invest via mobile — Stake's app experience is superior
• You're an experienced investor who doesn't need hand-holding from the platform's research tools
• You trade frequently — every dollar saved in brokerage stays in your portfolio

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Who Should Choose CommSec?

CommSec suits you if:

• You value deep research tools — Morningstar reports, advanced charting, and market depth data
• You're a CBA customer — instant settlement between your CBA account and CommSec is seamless
• You trade less frequently — the fee difference becomes less significant if you only place a few trades per year
• You manage complex structures — SMSF, trusts, or company accounts with compliance requirements
• You want phone support — CommSec's customer service infrastructure is more robust

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stake safe to use in Australia?

Stake holds an Australian Financial Services Licence and is regulated by ASIC. Its ASX shares are CHESS-sponsored, so they're registered in your name under your own HIN, the same as at CommSec.

Can I transfer my shares from CommSec to Stake?

Yes. Both are CHESS-sponsored, so ASX shares can be moved between them with a broker-to-broker CHESS transfer, without selling. Because you keep the same beneficial ownership, a transfer like this isn't a sale for capital gains tax purposes. Use the Capital Gains Tax Calculator to estimate any potential CGT liability.

Does Stake offer dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs)?

Not through the app — dividends are paid into your Stake account by default. Because your ASX shares are on your own HIN, you can join a company's DRP directly with its share registry, such as Computershare or MUFG Corporate Markets (Stake).

Which platform is better for buying Vanguard ETFs like VAS or VDHG?

Both platforms give you full access to ASX-listed Vanguard ETFs including VAS, VDHG, VGS, and others. The main difference is cost — a $5,000 purchase costs $3 on Stake and $19.95 on CommSec, though for purchases up to $1,000 CommSec's $5 is close to Stake's $3. The underlying ETF holding is identical regardless of which broker you use to purchase it.

Does CommSec Pocket count as a full CommSec account?

No. CommSec Pocket is a separate, simplified app limited to 10 themed ETFs. It is not interchangeable with a full CommSec trading account. If you want access to individual shares, a full range of ETFs, or international markets, you need to open a standard CommSec account separately.

Can I use Stake for my SMSF?

Yes, Stake supports SMSF accounts, and as with CommSec, ASX holdings are CHESS-sponsored in the fund's name. Always consult your SMSF auditor or financial adviser before choosing a broker for your fund.

What's the minimum investment on each platform?

On both Stake and CommSec, your first purchase of any ASX share or ETF must be at least $500 — the ASX minimum marketable parcel (Stake). CommSec Pocket allows investments from $50 in its 10 ETFs.

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Related Calculators and Guides

• ETF Calculator — Model the long-term growth of ETF investments with different contribution amounts and return assumptions
• Capital Gains Tax Calculator — Estimate your CGT liability when selling shares or ETFs
• Income Tax Calculator — See how dividends and investment income affect your overall tax position
• Savings Rate Calculator — Calculate how much of your income you're investing and how that affects your financial independence timeline
• FIRE Calculator — Plan your path to financial independence using your investment portfolio

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Brokerage fees and platform features were checked against Stake and CommSec's own pricing pages on 4 October 2026 and change regularly — always verify the current figures directly with Stake and CommSec before making decisions.

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This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Individual circumstances vary. Consult a registered tax agent or licensed financial adviser before making decisions based on this information.