- Australia
Compare Forex Brokers
Easily compare FX brokers in Australia to get a comprehensive overview of fees, features, and more.
Compare Fees
Explore Features
Last Updated: October 5th
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our comparisons or reviews, which are based on our independent research and analysis. Always verify details directly with the provider before making any decisions. Full disclosure Here.
- Pepperstone
- IG
- Vantage Markets
- Plus500
- AvaTrade
- CMC Markets
- Saxo Markets
Pepperstone
Features:
- Access to a wide range of CFDs including forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, commodities, and shares.
- No commission on select instruments.
- Multiple trading platforms, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView.
- Razor-sharp spreads starting from 0.0 pips on major forex pairs.
- Fast execution and deep liquidity.
- 24/5 trading on various instruments, including US shares.
- Support for professional and retail traders.
- Comprehensive market analysis and education tools.
Account Minimum: 0 USD
Offer: No Active Offer
Pepperstone is a global broker offering CFD trading across a variety of financial markets, including forex, cryptocurrencies, commodities, indices, and shares. It is known for its low spreads and fast execution, catering to both retail and professional traders. With multiple platforms such as MetaTrader, cTrader, and TradingView, it supports advanced trading strategies. Pepperstone emphasizes deep liquidity and reliable trading conditions. The broker is regulated in seven jurisdictions and provides a range of educational resources for both novice and experienced traders.
- Tight spreads and no commissions on certain trades.
- Variety of powerful trading platforms including MetaTrader and cTrader.
- Fast and reliable execution with deep liquidity.
- Suitable for both retail and professional traders.
- Extensive educational materials and market analysis.
- No mention of bonuses or promotional offers.
- CFDs are high-risk instruments and may not suit all investors.
- Specific fee structures are not prominently detailed on the site.
View Pepperstone on TrustPilot
Commission Free Trading Available
IG
Features:
- Trade CFDs across over 17,000 markets including forex, shares, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
- Access to Australian and international share trading with low commissions.
- Offers a range of platforms including MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, and TradingView.
- Commission-free trading on US and UK shares with competitive rates on Australian shares.
- Extended trading hours on over 110 key US stocks.
- Award-winning mobile and web-based platforms.
- Free demo accounts with AUD $20,000 of virtual funds.
- 24/5 customer support and access to educational resources.
Account Minimum: 250 GBP
Offer: Commission free trading on select assets.
IG is a leading provider of CFD and share trading services, offering access to over 17,000 markets globally. With low commissions on shares and powerful trading platforms, IG caters to both casual and professional investors. The platform allows for flexible trading on mobile or desktop, and traders can benefit from real-time data, advanced charting tools, and comprehensive educational resources. IG also supports commission-free trades on select markets and offers 24/5 customer support.
- Access to a wide range of markets and instruments, including global stocks and CFDs.
- Competitive pricing with commission-free trading on US and UK shares.
- Multiple advanced trading platforms.
- Extensive educational resources and demo accounts for beginners.
- Award-winning customer service and trading platforms.
- No explicit bonuses or promotions for new clients.
- Trading CFDs carries significant risk, especially with leverage.
- Complex features may require a learning curve for inexperienced traders.
View IG on TrustPilot
Vantage Markets
Features:
- Trade over 1,000 CFDs across forex, shares, indices, commodities, ETFs, bonds, and cryptocurrencies.
- Commission-free trading for US Stock CFDs.
Competitive spreads starting from 0.0 pips. - Access to multiple platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, and Vantage’s proprietary app.
- Fast execution with deep liquidity.
Comprehensive educational resources including webinars, articles, and courses.
Demo accounts with virtual funds for risk-free practice. - 24/5 dedicated customer support.
Account Minimum: 50 USD
Offer: None
Vantage is a global, multi-asset CFD broker offering access to over 1,000 financial instruments. Known for competitive pricing, fast execution, and multiple trading platforms, Vantage caters to both novice and experienced traders. It offers advanced trading tools, educational resources, and demo accounts to help users refine their strategies. The broker prioritizes transparency, providing clear information on spreads and trading fees. Vantage has also garnered awards for its brokerage services in Australia.
- Wide variety of markets and instruments, including forex and cryptocurrencies.
- Commission-free trading on select US Stock CFDs.
- Multiple advanced trading platforms.
- Extensive educational materials for all levels of traders.
- Fast execution with competitive spreads.
- No clear mention of promotional bonuses for new clients.
- CFDs involve high risk, and trading with leverage increases the potential for losses.
- The platform may be complex for beginner traders.
View Vantage Markets on TrustPilot
Plus500
Features:
- CFD trading on over 2,800 instruments including shares, indices, forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and ETFs.
- No commissions, with fees mainly derived from bid/ask spreads.
- Access to multiple markets globally with leverage up to 1:30.
- Offers a free demo account with virtual funds for practice trading.
- Intuitive trading platforms available on both web and mobile.
- Fast execution and 24/7 dedicated support in multiple languages.
- Advanced risk management tools and alerts.
Account Minimum: 0 USD
Offer: No Active Offer
Plus500 is a global provider of CFD trading, offering access to a wide range of financial instruments without commission. It is known for its user-friendly platforms, fast execution, and extensive market options. The broker provides free demo accounts for new traders to practice and offers tools such as risk management and real-time alerts. Licensed and regulated by various global authorities, Plus500 ensures that client funds are protected in segregated accounts, emphasizing security and compliance.
- No commission on trades with tight spreads.
- Extensive market access, including global shares and cryptocurrencies.
- User-friendly platform with both mobile and desktop availability.
- Free demo account for practicing trading strategies.
- Advanced risk management tools.
- CFDs are high-risk instruments, particularly with leverage.
- No explicit bonuses or promotions for new customers.
- Some instruments may not be available in all regions due to regulatory restrictions.
View Plus500 on TrustPilot
AvaTrade
Features:
- CFD trading across forex, stocks, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices, and options.
- Offers multiple platforms, including MetaTrader 4/5, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, and AvaSocial.
- Tight spreads and fast execution with up to 30:1 leverage.
- Free demo account with AUD $10,000 virtual funds.
- Risk management tools, including AvaProtect™.
- Educational resources: eBooks, webinars, tutorials for all experience levels.
- Regulated by 9 international jurisdictions, including ASIC.
- 24/7 crypto trading and 24/5 multi-language customer support.
Account Minimum: 100 AUD
Offer: Cash bonus on qualified deposits
AvaTrade is a well-established global broker providing CFD trading on a wide range of instruments, including forex, stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, and options. Known for its strong regulatory oversight across 9 jurisdictions, AvaTrade prioritizes security, risk management, and client success. The broker offers various trading platforms and tools suitable for both beginner and advanced traders. AvaTrade also provides rich educational content, from tutorials to webinars, making it an ideal platform for those looking to improve their trading skills.
- Regulated in multiple jurisdictions, ensuring high levels of security.
- Wide range of assets and instruments for trading.
- Multiple trading platforms, including options for social trading.
- Comprehensive educational resources and risk management tools.
- Free demo account for practice trading.
- No specific bonus or promotional offers mentioned.
- CFDs are high-risk and may not be suitable for all investors.
- Minimum deposit of AUD $100 may be a barrier for some new traders.
View Tastytrade on TrustPilot
CMC Markets
Features:
- Over 45,000 global stocks and ETFs available for investment.
- Commission-free trading on US, UK, Canada, and Japan shares.
- Access to over 12,000 CFDs across forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and more.
- Advanced trading platforms: CMC NextGen, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and mobile apps.
- Real-time market data, analysis tools, and educational resources.
- Award-winning service with over 50 global platform and service awards.
- Free demo accounts for both CFD and share investing.
- 24/5 customer support with a focus on user experience.
Account Minimum: 0 USD
Offer: $0 commissions on most online US-listed stock, ETF, mutual fund, and options trades.
CMC Markets is a leading provider of share trading and CFD trading services, offering access to thousands of global markets. With platforms designed for both retail and professional traders, CMC Markets ensures fast execution, competitive pricing, and a range of advanced tools. Investors can trade shares, ETFs, and CFDs on various asset classes, supported by award-winning customer service. CMC Markets emphasizes flexibility, education, and market accessibility through its proprietary and MetaTrader platforms.
- Wide selection of global stocks, ETFs, and CFDs.
- Zero commission on shares from select countries.
- Multiple award-winning platforms.
- Extensive educational resources and tools for all levels of traders.
- 24/5 dedicated customer support.
- No explicit bonuses or promotions for new clients.
- CFDs are high-risk and may not be suitable for all investors.
- Advanced features may be overwhelming for beginner traders.
View CMC Markets on TrustPilot
Saxo Markets
Features:
- Access to over 60,000 instruments, including stocks, ETFs, forex, bonds, options, and futures.
- Multiple platforms: SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO, and SaxoInvestor for different levels of traders.
- Competitive commissions with no hidden fees and transparent pricing.
- Direct access to 50+ global exchanges.
- Award-winning platforms with advanced tools and data analysis.
- Educational resources including webinars, tutorials, and market insights.
- Multi-currency accounts allowing users to hold and trade in different currencies.
- 24/5 customer support and account management.
Account Minimum: 0 USD
Offer: No Active Offer
Saxo Markets is a global investment platform offering access to a wide range of financial products and markets. Known for its transparent pricing and award-winning platforms, Saxo caters to both retail and professional investors. The broker offers a variety of trading tools and market insights, ensuring clients can make informed decisions. Saxo also provides multi-currency accounts, enabling traders to manage international investments seamlessly.
- Access to a vast range of instruments and markets.
- No platform or inactivity fees.
- Multiple platforms catering to different trading styles.
- Comprehensive educational resources.
- Strong regulatory oversight and secure trading environment.
- No explicit bonuses or promotions for new customers.
- Some advanced features may be overwhelming for beginners.
- Specific fees for certain products can be complex to navigate.
View Saxo Bank on TrustPilot
Frequently Asked Questions
When selecting a forex broker in Australia, consider factors like spreads, fees, platform options, regulation, customer support, and market access. For example, Pepperstone and Vantage Markets offer competitive spreads starting from 0.0 pips and access to multiple trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 and TradingView. Also, check for ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) regulation, as it’s crucial for ensuring a broker’s compliance with Australian financial standards.
Trading fees can vary significantly among brokers. Typical fees include spreads, commissions, and swap rates. Some brokers offer commission-free trading but may have wider spreads, while others charge a small commission with tighter spreads. Always compare the total cost of trading to find the most cost-effective broker for your needs.
Australian brokers provide various platforms to cater to different trading styles. Pepperstone, Vantage Markets, and AvaTrade offer popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) for advanced technical analysis. CMC Markets offers its proprietary NextGen platform, while Saxo Markets features SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO, which are designed for both beginners and professional traders.
Leverage allows traders to control larger positions with a smaller capital outlay, but it also increases risk. Plus500 offers leverage up to 1:30, in line with ASIC regulations for retail traders. Pepperstone and Vantage Markets provide competitive margin rates, especially for professional accounts, allowing for more flexibility in trading strategies. Always consider your risk tolerance when using leverage in forex trading.
Yes, profits from FX trading in Australia are subject to capital gains tax (CGT) or may be treated as personal income, depending on the nature of your trading activity. It’s advisable to consult a tax professional to understand how your profits will be taxed.
Yes, most brokers offer free demo accounts, which are essential for practice and strategy testing. IG, CMC Markets, and AvaTrade provide demo accounts with virtual funds, allowing users to explore the platform features risk-free. This is especially useful for beginners who want to familiarize themselves with trading tools before committing real funds.
Some Australian FX brokers allow trading of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, typically in the form of CFDs (Contracts for Difference). It’s essential to check whether the broker offers crypto trading and understand the risks involved.
What to look for?
Here are some tips and important information to consider when choosing a brokerage account.
How do spreads and commissions vary among these brokers?
Spreads and commissions can significantly impact trading costs. Pepperstone offers razor-sharp spreads starting from 0.0 pips on major forex pairs, while Vantage Markets provides competitive spreads with commission-free trading for U.S. stock CFDs. Brokers like Plus500 derive their fees from bid/ask spreads with no additional commissions, whereas Saxo Markets offers transparent pricing with competitive commissions for advanced traders.
What is slippage in Forex trading?
Slippage occurs when an order is executed at a price different from the one expected. This can happen during periods of high volatility when there are rapid price movements. Slippage can be positive or negative, depending on the direction of the price movement relative to the order.
How are forex brokers regulated in Australia?
In Australia, forex brokers must be regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which sets high standards for transparency and financial security. Brokers like Pepperstone, CMC Markets, and AvaTrade operate under ASIC regulation, ensuring a secure trading environment for Australian traders. Always verify a broker’s ASIC license on the regulator’s official website before opening an account.
How much money do I need to start trading Forex?
The amount needed to start trading Forex depends on the broker and the account type. Many brokers offer micro accounts with minimum deposits as low as $50 or even less. However, trading with a small balance can limit your ability to use proper risk management.