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 AUD per ASX trade and $0 for US trades on its free plan. CommSec costs more per trade ($5–$19.95 for standard accounts) 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.

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 operates on a freemium model. Its free tier — called Stake Free — gives you access to ASX and US markets. The fee structure as at September 2026 is:

Market	Stake Free	Stake Standard (paid plan)
ASX trades	$3.00 flat per trade	$3.00 flat per trade
US trades	$0 per trade (FX fee applies)	$0 per trade
FX conversion (USD)	0.70%	0.50%
Instant deposits	0.50%	Included
Monthly subscription	$0	~$9/month

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 is the FX conversion fee on US trades. If you're buying $1,000 USD worth of Apple shares, you'll pay a 0.70% conversion fee (~$7 AUD) on top of the $0 trade fee. 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 pricing has two main tiers based on trade value:

Trade Value	CommSec Standard Brokerage
Up to $1,000	$5.00
$1,001 – $10,000	$19.95
$10,001 – $25,000	$29.95
Over $25,000	0.12% of trade value

CommSec also offers CommSec Pocket, a separate app aimed at beginner investors, with a flat $2 fee for trades under $1,000 and $11 for trades over $1,000. However, CommSec Pocket is limited to a curated set of seven ETFs only — it's not a full-service 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 $3,000 per trade:

Platform	Fee Per Trade	Annual Brokerage
Stake	$3.00	$60.00
CommSec	$19.95	$399.00

That's a $339 difference annually — 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.

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, which is powered by Pershing. However, the international trading platform is clunkier than Stake's interface, and brokerage fees for international trades are higher (typically USD $19.95 for US stocks and ETFs).

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. The $2 flat fee for trades under $1,000 is hard to beat for micro-investing, and the simplified interface removes the confusion of a full brokerage platform. That said, you're locked into just seven ETF themes (Australian shares, global shares, sustainability, cash, etc.), which limits 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.

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
No CHESS sponsorship for ASX holdings (Stake uses a custodial model — more on this below)
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

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. Technically, the shares are registered in the broker's name, and you have a beneficial interest. This is legal and regulated, but it introduces a layer of counterparty risk — if the broker goes insolvent, there's a more complex process to recover assets.

Feature	CommSec (Full Platform)	Stake (ASX)
CHESS Sponsored	✅ Yes	❌ No (custodial)
HIN issued	✅ Yes	❌ No
Shares in your name	✅ Yes	❌ No (beneficial interest)
Transfer to another broker	Straightforward	More complex

For long-term buy-and-hold investors — particularly those building significant wealth — CHESS sponsorship is a genuine advantage of CommSec. The difference is less meaningful for short-term traders or those investing smaller amounts, but it's a factor worth understanding.

Stake is an ASIC-regulated Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) holder, and client assets are held separately from Stake's own assets. But that's different from CHESS sponsorship, and investors should understand what they're signing up for.

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).

Account Types Supported

Account Type	CommSec	Stake
Individual account	✅	✅
Joint account	✅	✅
Company account	✅	✅
Trust account	✅	✅
SMSF account	✅	✅
Minor (under 18)	❌ (generally)	❌

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.

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.

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're comfortable with a custodial model — and understand the difference from CHESS sponsorship
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

Who Should Choose CommSec?

CommSec suits you if:

You want CHESS-sponsored holdings — direct legal ownership of your ASX shares matters to you
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stake safe to use in Australia?

Yes. Stake holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and is regulated by ASIC. Client funds are held in segregated accounts. However, unlike CommSec's CHESS-sponsored model, Stake uses a custodial structure — your ASX shares are held in Stake's name on your behalf. This is legal and regulated, but it's worth understanding before you commit large sums.

Can I transfer my shares from CommSec to Stake?

Transferring CHESS-sponsored shares from CommSec to a custodial broker like Stake is more complex than transferring between two CHESS-sponsored brokers. You may need to sell and repurchase, which could trigger a capital gains tax event. Speak with a tax professional before initiating any transfer. Use the Capital Gains Tax Calculator to estimate any potential CGT liability.

Does Stake offer dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs)?

As at September 2026, Stake does not offer automatic dividend reinvestment plans for ASX holdings. Dividends are paid as cash into your Stake account. CommSec supports DRPs for eligible ASX shares, which can be useful for compound growth strategies.

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 — at $3 per trade on Stake versus $19.95 on CommSec, regular ETF investors will save substantially with Stake over time. 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 seven thematic 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. However, given that SMSF trustees have strict legal obligations around record-keeping and asset ownership, many SMSF investors prefer CHESS-sponsored platforms for clarity of ownership. Always consult your SMSF auditor or financial adviser before choosing a broker for your fund.

What's the minimum investment on each platform?

Stake requires a minimum trade value of $50 AUD for ASX trades. CommSec's full platform has a minimum of $500 for ASX trades. CommSec Pocket allows trades from as little as $50 (for its seven ETF options only).

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

Brokerage fees and platform features are current as at September 2026 and change regularly — always verify the current figures directly with Stake and CommSec before making decisions.

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.