Best Australia Trading Platforms & Brokers Regulated by ASIC

Written by Miro Nikolov

Miro Nikolov is the co-founder of TradingPedia.com and BestBrokers.com. His mission is to help people make profitable investments by giving them access to educational resources and analytics tools.

, | Updated: October 30, 2024

Our team of expert traders tested several regulated and trustworthy Australia trading platforms and compiled a toplist with the best among them. Each trading platform operating in Australia received a quality score based on several factors, including Trustpilot rating, regulation, fees and commissions, available trading platforms, customer service and more.

Australia is a country that does not go unaffected by the rapid development of trading, and some even describe it as a trading powerhouse because some of the biggest and most established brokers seek to enter its market. This is so as Australia’s regulatory climate is market-friendly, which encourages more and more brokers to eye it.

Although trading is tightly regulated in the country, the laws and regulations in place are not oppressive, and traders are offered access to a diverse range of instruments, leverage, and some of the most favorable trading conditions.

The number of brokers that accept traders from the jurisdiction increases by the minute, and as a result, traders might feel overwhelmed when the time comes to pick a brokerage that accommodates Aussie traders.

This article is created for traders who find it challenging to pick a platform that meets all their trading needs and requirements or simply do not know where to start with their search. Because of this, we have created a list of ten of the best brokers regulated and authorized by the ASIC. Additionally, we have provided in-depth information about the regulations traders need to be aware of before they dive into these activities.

Regulator	Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Maximum Leverage of Forex	30:1
Maximum Leverage of Stocks	5:1
Maximum Leverage of CFDs	20:1

The Best Australia Brokers

Naturally, all modern investors want to make sure that they will get access to the global markets in a quick and hassle-free manner, and because of this, they tend to invest quite some time while searching for a brokerage that meets all their requirements.

Which Australia-friendly broker traders will settle on depends exclusively on their needs and preferences, and to make things easier for them, we have compiled a list of ten of the most chosen brokerages that accept clients from the country.

While creating the list, we paid attention to the product range, fees, available payment methods, offered platforms, regulations, and leverage, to name a few.

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Regulators
ASIC
VFSC
Financial Services Authority of Seychelles
Platforms
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader
1. Fusion Markets
Min Deposit
$0
Fees
No deposit and cashout fees
Deposit Methods
Commissions
$2.25 per lot commission
0.45c for mini lots
Spread
average spreads of 0.0
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1
Leverage non-EU
Forex & Metals: 500:1
Index CFDs: 100:1
Cryptocurrencies: 10:1
Retail clients:
Major Forex 30:1
Minor Forex 20:1
Major Indices 20:1
Gold 20:1
Commodities (excluding Gold) 10:1
Shares 5:1
CFDs on Crypto 2:1
Instruments
Forex, precious metals, equity indices, share CFDs, cryptocurrency CFDs, and energy
All financial products involve risk and you should ensure you understand the risk involved as certain financial products may not be suitable for everyone. Trading in margin foreign exchange and derivatives carries a high level of risk and you may incur a loss that is far greater than the amount you invested. Past performance of any product described on this website is not a reliable indication of future performance.
Fusion Markets has established itself as a top choice for traders from Australia, and while creating it, the industry veterans that are behind it adhered to several simple principles. The award-winning broker gives its clients access to a slew of instruments, including energy, precious metals, Forex, cryptocurrency CFDs, equity indices, and share CFDs.
Instead of making trading even more complicated by giving traders a choice from too many account types, Fusion Markets prefers to make traders’ experience a no-frills one by allowing them to decide between Classic and Zero accounts.
One of the goals the broker has set is to radically lower the prices its clients will need to pay while trading, and the commission its users will need to pay is $2.25 per lot commission. The used technology also matters, and to deliver a seamless trading experience, Fusion Markets relies on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, two of the most frequently used platforms. To offer flexibility to its clients, the broker allows them to opt for WebTrader and the mobile trading apps.
It is an all-around broker that allows its clients to pick from a number of major currencies to set up their accounts into, including AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, JPY, SGD, THB, and USD. The available banking methods include Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, AstroPay, and Skrill. Depositing and withdrawing via cryptocurrencies is possible too. Although there is no minimum deposit requirement, users of the brokerage are advised to add at least $1,500 to their balance.
If traders cannot decide if the broker will live up to their expectations, they can first register for a demo account instead of going for a live account.
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Regulators
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA and SCB
Platforms
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and Capitalise.ai
2. Pepperstone
Min Deposit
$0
Fees
No deposit and withdrawal fees
Deposit Methods
Commissions
$6 round-trip for cTrader and TradingViewusers
MT4/MT5 Razor account commissions - AUD 0.04 (AUD 0.08 round turn) per 0.01 lots
AUD 3.50 (AUD 7 round turn) per 1 lot
Spread
0.0 pips for Razor accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1
Leverage non-EU
30:1 for retail clients
500:1 for professional clients
Instruments
Cryptocurrencies, Forex, commodities, shares, ETFs, indices, currency indices
*CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 86.5% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Operating since 2010, Pepperstone quickly evolved into one of the biggest and most preferred Forex brokers on a global scale. With several prestigious awards to its name, the broker gives its customers the opportunity to make the most out of each trading opportunity as they will benefit from flexible funding options, low costs, and several account types.
What matters most to traders is the diversity of instruments they will be given access to after they join the community of their broker of choice, and Pepperstone is well aware of this. Backed by lightning-fast execution and top-notch customer support, the broker gives its clients access to over 1,200 CFD instruments, including commodities, indices, shares, cryptocurrencies, and currency indices.
The broker goes the extra mile to provide its clients with tech-enabled trading in order to ensure that traders will have all the resources they need in order to take advantage of the opportunities the global markets provide. To this end, brokerage clients are given access to several trading platforms, including cTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and Capitalise.ai. The broker has ensured that there will be an account type to suit the requirements of all traders as they can opt for Razor and Standard accounts.
The broker gets oversight from multiple regulatory authorities, including BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, and SCB. Pepperstone caters to the Australian market and is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
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Regulators
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Financial Services Commission (FSC) (license number 000261/397)
Platforms
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
3. XM Group
Min Deposit
$5
Fees
No deposit fees
Inactivity fee
Deposit Methods
Commissions
No commission
Spread
As Low as 1 Pip for Standard and Micro accounts
As Low as 0.6 Pips for XM Ultra Low accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1
Leverage non-EU
30:1 for Australia
1000:1
Instruments
Forex, stocks, commodities, energies, equity indices, precious metals
Risk Warning: Margin forex and CFD trading involves significant risk to your invested capital. Our FSG and PDS should be considered before deciding to enter into any derivative transactions with Trading Point of Financial Instruments Pty Limited.
With over 30 industry awards to its name, XM is one of the Australia-facing brokers that provide superior and fair trading services to clients from over 190 countries. With over 1,000 tradable instruments across six asset classes, the broker allows its clients to trade Forex, metals, CFDs on stocks, and energies. Clients of the brokerage keep on returning to it because they are offered the chance to trade these instruments no matter the time or the place while using XM’s WebTrader.
The choice of available trading platforms includes MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 which come with a number of attention-grabbing features and tutorial videos made for inexperienced traders. XM’s trading account types include Micro, Standard, and XM Ultra Low that are designed to work well for traders of all experience levels. No matter which account type traders will pick, they might be pleased to know that AUD is among the base currency options.
The broker has also made it exceptionally easy for traders to find out everything they might need in order to start their trading experience on the right foot, as the Learning Center is overflowing with webinars, tutorials, and videos.
Additionally, total novices to the brokerage can make use of a demo account with $100,000 virtual balance, thanks to which they can get a feel for the offered services, without losing sleep about their funds.
With over 30 languages in the live chat, the broker clearly wants to make sure that all questions traders might have will be answered in next to no time. XM is not only a globally renowned broker but also a brand traders can trust as it is regulated by multiple authorities, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission included.
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Regulators
Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) AFSL no. 428901
Financial Sector Conduct Authority (“FSCA”) of South Africa
VFSC
Platforms
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
4. Vantage
Min Deposit
$50
Fees
No deposit fees
Deposit Methods
Commissions
$0 commission for Standard accounts
$1 per lot per side for Raw accounts
Spread
Spreads from 0.0 pips
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1
Leverage non-EU
30:1 for Australia
500:1
100:1
Instruments
Bonds, Forex, energy commodities, precious metals, cryptocurrencies, indices, soft commodities, ETFs, share CFDs
Risk Warning: Trading derivatives carries significant risks. It is not suitable for all investors and if you are a professional client, you could lose substantially more than your initial investment. When acquiring our derivative products, you have no entitlement, right or obligation to the underlying financial assets. Past performance is no indication of future performance and tax laws are subject to change.
Vantage is an ASIC-regulated CFD broker that gives its clients a choice from over 1,000 tradable instruments. The broker has more than 10 years of industry experience and ranks among the most chosen trading service providers in Australia.
Offering premium-level services, Vantage has introduced account types that are suitable for all trading levels. Based on their experience, traders can go for Standard and Raw accounts. Traders who opt for a Pro account will be offered even greater benefits as they will get better execution speed, a personal account manager, tailor-made bonuses and special incentives. The choice of base currencies might not be the most extensive, but traders from Australia will have the opportunity to use their local currency.
Payments to and from the brokerage are executed with ease and without delays, and while moving funds around Vantage, traders can use Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, PayID, POLi, and BPay.
The broker has been recognized worldwide, and the slew of accolades the company has gone to prove this. The multi-asset broker allows its clients to venture into trading cryptocurrencies, Forex, soft commodities, precious metals, ETFs, share CFDs, bonds, and energy commodities.
Traders can access all these instruments on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Besides, the broker allows its clients to trade whenever and wherever they prefer while using the official MetaTrader apps. Traders can also gain access to their MT4 and MT5 trading accounts anytime and anywhere using WebTrader.
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Regulators
ASIC
CySEC
Platforms
MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
easyMarkets web platform
5. easyMarkets
Min Deposit
200 AUD for Standard accounts
3,000 AUD for Premium accounts
10,000 AUD for VIP accounts
Fees
No account fees
Deposit Methods
Commissions
No commission
Spread
Fixed spread for VIP, Standard, and Premium
Variable for MT5 users
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1
Leverage non-EU
30:1
Instruments
Shares, Forex, commodities, metals, indices, and cryptocurrencies
Trade Responsibly: CFDs and Options are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and Options work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Operating since 2001, easyMarkets is a broker that is regulated by the ASIC in the Asian Pacific Region and the CySEC in Europe. The trading service provider gives its clients quick and hassle-free access to a host of markets, and once they complete the registration process, they can take up trading cryptocurrencies, Forex, precious metals, commodities, shares, and indices. Users of the brokerage can trade all these through MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, easyMarkets’ Web app, or the dedicated apps.
Since its launch, the broker has been seeking to provide traders with a platform that is user-friendly and still powerful, and versatile enough to measure up to the requirements of seasoned traders. At easyMarkets, traders are promised to get a complete trading experience, and because of this, allows them to pick from several account types. Depending on their amount of skill, traders can go for VIP, Premium, or Standard accounts.
No matter which account type traders will pick, they will benefit from leverage of up to 30:1 and will not face extra fees or a commission.
Australian traders who settle on easyMarkets for their trading experience can make use of several unique tools, including Freeze Rate, Free Guaranteed Stop Loss, and dealCancellation. Other than these, there are a number of tools that will keep traders informed, including trading charts, trending news, live currency rates, inside viewer, and notifications.
Traders can improve their skills and knowledge all the time, thanks to the materials they will find on the broker’s website. Another way to find their way around the broker without risking any of their funds is to create a demo account first.
The choice of base account currencies is beyond extensive, and the good news is that Australian traders do not need to pay currency conversion fees as AUD is on the list of accepted account currencies.
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Regulators
ASIC
Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Platforms
MetaTrader 4
Next Generation Trading (NGT)
6. CMC Markets
Min Deposit
$0
Fees
No deposit and withdrawal fees
Deposit Methods
Commissions
0.1% on shares
Spread
From 0.7 for major Forex pairs
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1
Leverage non-EU
30:1
Instruments
Commodities, treasuries, cryptocurrencies, shares, ETFs, Forex, and indices
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 77% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
CMC Markets is an instantly-recognizable broker that caters to a wide array of markets, including the Australian. Authorized by the ASIC, the broker allows its clients to use several trading platforms and a number of tools. In addition to MetaTrader 4 and Next Generation Trading, traders can take advantage of powerful and advanced tools like autochartist.
Offering choice and simplicity, CMC Markets allows its clients to gain access to some of the world’s biggest markets and trade more than 10,000 instruments anytime and anywhere. The range of tradable products is sure to appeal to traders of all experience levels as they can go for trading Forex, commodities, shares, indices, treasuries, cryptocurrencies, and share baskets.
If traders want to attempt to brighten their future, they can go for trading shares. With over 35,000 shares on offer, traders will not be required to pay brokerage on the Japanese, UK, and US markets.
CMC Markets’ award-winning trading apps are suitable for traders who own iOS and Android-powered devices and provide mobile-optimized charting with over 40 technical indicators and drawing tools, along with full order ticket functionality.
Experienced traders can trade with the ALPHA advantage, thanks to which they will get premium brokerage rates, free access to the broker’s Pro platform and dynamic data, and priority servicing. If clients of CMC Markets want to better understand how trading works before they dive into it, they should take a look at the Education & Insights section. In case traders have questions, they should inspect the detailed FAQ section or get in touch with the customer support hosts via live chat or over the phone.
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Regulators
ASIC Licence No.
Platforms
MetaTrader 4
L2 Dealer
7. IG
Min Deposit
A$100/NZ$100 by credit/debit card
A$100/NZ$100 by PayPal
A$10 by BPAY
No minimum for EFT and international transfers
Fees
1% charge for Visa and 0.5% charge for Mastercard
Deposit Methods
Commissions
Commission fees from $7 or 0.08%
Spread
from 0.6 points on key FX pairs, 0.8 points on major indices, and 0.1 points on commodities
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
50:1
Leverage non-EU
50:1
30:1 for Australia
Instruments
Forex, indices, commodities, share CFDs, IPO trading, thematic and basket trading markets, options trading, futures, spot trading, cryptocurrencies, bonds, ETFs, and interest rates
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 78% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Options and turbo warrants are complex financial instruments and your capital is at risk. Losses may be extremely rapid.
With over 320,000 clients from various corners of the globe, IG is a top choice for a growing number of traders from Australia, and for a reason. The broker started operating in 1974, and today, it is one of the most recognizable providers of trading services that enables thousands of opportunities on shares, Forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, futures, and spot trading. The broker gives its clients access to over 17,000 markets, a diversity very few other brokerages can offer.
While trading with IG, you can decide between a number of specialist and core platforms, thus ensuring that there will be a platform to suit your requirements, no matter what your level of expertise is. No matter the platform traders will settle on, they will be offered fast execution of their trades, user-friendliness, and unlimited access to a massive range of markets.
Traders can have full confidence that they have signed with a highly regulated broker as IG is authorized by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, FCA, BaFin, and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), to name a few. When traders add funds to their accounts at IG, they can be sure that they are protected in a number of ways, and first and foremost, they are held in segregated accounts at regulated banks.
No matter if traders are returning users of the brokerage or they are new to it, they will be given access to a range of educational resources that are sure to help them improve their trading skills and take them to the next level. Expert analysis and the latest news will also be close at hand at all times, thus ensuring that traders will have all data they might need in order to make informed decisions.
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Regulators
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL 391441)
Platforms
MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
WebTrader
8. Eightcap
Min Deposit
500 AUD for Standard accounts
250 AUD for Raw accounts
Fees
No deposit and withdrawal fees
Deposit Methods
Commissions
No commission for Standard accounts
$3.5 Commission for Raw accounts
Spread
1.0 pips for Standard accounts
From 0.0 for Raw accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1
Leverage non-EU
30:1
Instruments
Forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, shares, commodities
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79.04% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Eightcap is another brokerage traders from Australia prefer to use because of its countless trading opportunities. It is regulated by the ASIC and is preferred by traders because of its unique trading tools, the personal service the broker offers, and low costs. As for the available trading platforms, Eightcap users can pick from MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and WebTrader. The range of tools is also worthy of attention, and while using the services of the broker, traders can make use of Cryptocrusher and AI-powered Economic Calendar.
While using the services of the brokerage, its users can venture into trading cryptocurrencies, shares, indices, and commodities. The maximum leverage traders will benefit from stands at 30:1, while the commission that will be charged if traders go for a Raw account is $3.5.
Before they take up with their trading experience, clients of the brokerage need to transfer some funds to the balance of their accounts, which is a quick and worry-free process. The deposit and cashout methods users of Eightcap can pick from include Mastercard, Visa, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal, BPay, bank transfers, POLi, and Worldpay, among others.
Traders can open their accounts and handle their payments in a number of currencies, including AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, NZD, CAD, and SGD. While the account funding is completed on the spot, cashouts might take up to two or three days to go through, depending on the selected payment method.
The award-winning broker has also ensured that there will always be someone to rely on when traders need assistance as Eightcap’s customer support team can be contacted via email, live chat, and over the phone.
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Regulators
Australian Securities and Investments Commission with License No. 335692
Platforms
MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
cTrader
9. IC Markets
Min Deposit
$200
Fees
No deposit and cashout fees
Deposit Methods
Commissions
$3.0 ($6.0 per lot round turn) cTrader
$3.5 ($7.0 per lot round turn) MetaTrader
No commission for Standard accounts MetaTrader
Spread
0.0 pips for Raw Spread accounts
0.6 for Standard accounts
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
30:1
Leverage non-EU
30:1 for Australia
500:1
Instruments
Forex, indices, bonds, cryptocurrencies, commodities, stocks, futures
Risk Warning: Trading Forex and CFDs carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Trading Forex and CFDs may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary. Please read and ensure you fully understand our Risk Disclosure.
IC Markets is a broker that is one of the largest and leading suppliers of Forex CFDs traders from Australia can access. The broker’s mission is to provide its clients with the lowest spreads possible during all market conditions, fast execution, and superior technology.
To ensure that its clients will be offered the ultimate trading conditions, the spreads for Raw Spread accounts start from 0.0 pips. While trading with the brokerage, Australians will benefit from flexible leverage options of up to 30:1. Additionally, hedging, scalping, and automated trading are all allowed at IC Markets.
IC Markets’ clients can make use of an array of advanced trading tools, and depending on their preferences and trading goals, they can go for market depth, one-click trades, spread monitor, and trade risk calculator.
The broker gives its clients access to superior trading platforms like cTrader, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Traders might want to register for an account with IC Markets as the broker will give them access to Raw Pricing with all three platforms. If traders are not yet ready to create an account, they can instead go for a demo account first. Thus, traders will get access to all platforms, products supported, and account types, and can go live when they feel ready.
The range of funding and withdrawal options is also worth considering, and while moving funds to and from their accounts, traders can opt for Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, BPay, POLi, Mastercard, Visa, wire transfer, and Broker to Broker payments. The list of accepted base currencies includes AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, NZD, JPY, HKD, and SGD. The provider of trading services has made sure that its clients will be able to transfer their funds securely, without extra fees, and without facing long delays.
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Regulators
Financial Conduct Authority
Australian Securities and Investment Commission
Securities Commission of the Bahamas
Platforms
MetaTrader 4
Cloud Trade
10. Trade Nation
Min Deposit
$0
Fees
No deposit and cashout charges
Deposit Methods
Commissions
No commission
Spread
From 0.14 pips
Withdrawal Methods
Leverage EU
200:1
Leverage non-EU
30:1 for Australia
200:1 under the Bahamas license
Instruments
Indices, Forex, commodities, energy and metals
Financial Spread Bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Trade Nation is a broker with a global reach, and Australia is on the list of countries from which the company accommodates customers. The most obvious reason why traders might pick Trade Nation over its rivals is that the broker introduces best-priced fixed spreads across a number of fan-favorite markets and does not charge a commission. The broker lets its clients discover some of the most popular markets, including indices, Forex, commodities, energies, and metals.
Clients of the brokerage are given the chance to plan a successful trading strategy with ease, thanks to the comprehensive package of intuitive and easy-to-use applications that are all accessible on Trade Nation’s proprietary platform. Drawing tools, charts, and technical analysis are all at hand. Risk management tools are on offer as well, and traders will benefit from stop orders.
In addition to MetaTrader 4, clients of the brokerage can use Cloud Trade, which is Trade Nation’s proprietary platform. This platform is designed to ensure that traders will be all set for success as it is exceptionally user-friendly and provides expert market insights and top-level customer support.
If they prefer, traders can access it on their portable devices, but before that, they will be required to download and install the dedicated app for iOS or Android-powered devices. If traders do not want to get their feet wet yet, they can first opt for a demo account.
Payments to and from Trade Nation will be a breeze and can be executed using POLi, Neteller, Mastercard, Visa, and Skrill. The accepted currencies include GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, ZAR, DKK, NOK, and SEK, and while adding funds to their accounts, traders do not need to comply with any minimum deposit requirements.

Trading Regulation in Australia

The trading landscape in Australia is constantly evolving and new trading capabilities are brought in all the time. Trading is a thriving activity in that jurisdiction, but all trading services providers who want to operate legally in the country are subject to rigorous control.

Australia’s legislation states that all brokers that cater to traders from the country need to apply for a license from the ASIC. If traders are not sure whether their broker of choice is authorized to accept Aussie traders, they should check ASIC’s register of regulated brokers.

If a brokerage is found to offer its services to traders from Australia without the needed license, its website will be blocked. This helps ensure greater levels of protection and safety for traders. Because of this, traders are advised to stick to domestically regulated brokers as while using the services of overseas brokerages, they will not be offered the same high levels of protection in case their security is breached.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is the integrated corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit regulator. It is an independent regulatory body established under the administration of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 that is also known as the ASIC Act.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission licenses and regulates financial services providers to ensure that they operate fairly, efficiently, and honestly. Additionally, the commission oversees trading on futures markets, derivatives, and equity markets that are domestically licensed.

Under the provisions of the ASIC Act, the regulatory body needs to maintain and constantly improve the performance of the financial system, as well as all entities that are part of it. Additionally, the regulator needs to ensure that investors and consumers can confidently participate in the financial system and are properly informed. The responsibilities of the ASIC also include taking actions to enforce and give effect to the law.

Since 2021, the ASIC has strengthened the protections of Aussie traders by reducing the CFD leverage for retail clients after the Product Intervention Order came into effect. The main purpose of the order is to curb the size and speed at which retail clients incur losses while trading CFDs. Australia decided to follow pace with the United Kingdom and the European Union, where similar decisions to restrict the exposure and sensitivity to the market volatility were also made.

The aim of the introduced restrictions is to limit the retail clients’ CFD losses. The order imposes limits on leverage for retail clients to range between 2:1 and 30:1. The order also makes it a must for brokers to offer negative-balance protection and places a ban on some of the inducements that are typically offered to traders. Thus, traders will no longer be offered rebates, trading credits, or free gifts.

Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) is one more authority that operates in the country, and its purpose is to provide an independent and fair resolution of financial complaints.

Forex Trading Regulation in Australia

Trading Forex is legal in Australia, and the number of traders who are in this type of venture is constantly on the rise. The vast majority of brokers that are accessible in Australia allow their clients to dive into Forex trading, which gives traders dozens of options to pick from.

The main purpose of the 20-254MR ASIC Product Intervention Order was to provide greater control over CFD trading and ensure better protections for traders who venture into such activities. The Order described minor and major currency pairs, and when the former is concerned, these consist of any of the following currencies: Australian dollar, British pound, Canadian dollar, Euro, Japanese yen, Swiss franc, or US dollar. Minor currency pairs are the ones in which none of the above-mentioned currencies are included.

In order to work in compliance with the Products Intervention Order of the ASIC, Aussie-friendly brokers are not allowed to offer leverage on major currency pairs that is higher than 30:1. When minor currency pairs are concerned, the maximum leverage brokers are allowed to offer is 20:1.

Stocks Trading Regulation in Australia

Along with international trading, Australians often seek to dive into trading stocks. The providers of credit and financial services, the financial markets, and registered companies, all fall under the oversight of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). The maximum allowed leverage ratio for CFDs referencing shares or other assets is 5:1.

In addition to the restrictions that are posed on the maximum leverage ratios and the availability of various inducements, the Order also states that close-out arrangements need to be used as a circuit breaker in order to close-out one or several CFD positions that might result in the loss of traders’ investment.

The ASIC’s Product Intervention Order also aims at protecting traders against negative account balances. To achieve this, the CFD losses of retail clients need to be limited to the funds they have in the balance of their trading accounts.

CFDs Trading Regulation in Australia

Traders from that jurisdiction are typically given access to a wide variety of instruments, and Australians can legally participate in trading CFDs.Under the provisions of the Product Intervention Order, CFD products such as index, gold, commodity, stocks, and cryptocurrency, among others, need to carry lower leverage when compared to Forex.

As was the case with Forex trading, the maximum leverage brokers are allowed to offer to their clients who prefer to trade indexes is also determined by the provisions of the 20-254MR ASIC Product Intervention Order. Thus, the CFD leverage offered to retail clients cannot exceed a ratio of 20:1. Yet, these limits only apply to a major stock market index. The maximum leverage ratio for a minor stock market index is 10:1.

The list of major stock market indices includes the CAC 40, DAX, Dow Jones Industrial Average, EURO STOXX 50 Index, FTSE 100, NASDAQ-100 Index, NASDAQ Composite Index, Nikkei Stock Average, S&P 500 and S&P/ASX 200.

Crypto assets CFDs are also covered in the provisions of the order, and the maximum allowed ratio for these is 2:1.

Australia ranks among the countries that recognize trading as a legitimate income-generating activity, and in view of this, traders are required to report their profits that will be subject to tax. Although no specific rules are set for Forex trading, the rules applied are the ones that are set out for stock markets. Traders will only be required to pay taxes if they have made profits within the tax assessment year, and capital gains are taxed at traders’ marginal rate.

The ceiling on the tax rate on investment earnings is 15%, while the ceiling on capital gains is 10%. A capital gains discount will only be available if traders have held the investment for more than 12 months.

Trading Regulation in Australia FAQ

1. Which is the regulatory body that oversees trading activities in Australia?

2. Can Aussie traders legally venture into trading Forex?

3. Do I need to pay taxes on my profits while trading?

4. Which brokers offer the highest leverage to Aussie traders?

5. Are brokers authorized by the ASIC allowed to offer inducements to their clients?

Funding and Withdrawing from Australia Trading Account

In order to make the trading experience of their clients a breeze in every aspect, most brokers that cater to Australians tend to enable their users to fund their live accounts and cash out their winnings conveniently and easily.

The range of the accepted deposit and withdrawal methods varies between the Aussie-oriented brokerages but typically, traders are allowed to execute their payments through digital wallets, bank transfers, credit, and debit cards. The processing times and whether extra fees are charged depend on the broker traders from the jurisdiction will opt for.

Fortunately for traders, with most brokers, AUD is on the list of the supported base currencies, so they will not be required to pay a conversion fee each time they want to deposit or withdraw funds.

Depositing at Australia Trading Accounts

Credit and debit cards branded by Mastercard and Visa are among the deposit methods that are available at most, if not all, brokers that accommodate traders from Australia. Digital wallets are also hugely preferred by Aussie traders, and this is to be expected since they are known for their lightning-fast processing times. If we add their cost-efficiency, it is easy to see why they are so immensely popular. Depending on the broker traders will choose to use, they might be allowed to add funds to their accounts via PayPal, Neteller, or Skrill.

POLi is a payment processor that is tailor-made for the needs and requirements of Australians. It is a leading payment processor among traders from the country, and as such, it can be found on the banking pages of a great deal of Australia-facing brokers. Aside from its wide availability, traders prefer to use POLi also because deposits through it are executed in real time, meaning that they can start trading forthwith.

The Australian electronic bill payment BPay is also frequently available on the list of accepted deposit options. While using the payment method, traders can wrap up their payments using their online banking app. Cryptocurrencies might also be included in the list of accepted deposit and cashout methods of some Aussie-friendly brokers.

Just like the range of payment processors traders can use, the deposit minimums and maximums are also broker-specific. With a lot of brokers that welcome traders from the jurisdiction, there is no minimum deposit requirement. With a considerable share of the brokers that accept clients from the country, traders are given the opportunity to deposit as much as they prefer.

While looking for a premium Aussie-friendly broker, traders will see that it is not uncommon for brokerages to offer fee-free deposits. Additionally, when adding funds to their accounts, traders will rarely face any delays, no matter the preferred payment processor. Yet, the only exception are deposits via credit cards.

If this is the first time traders make a deposit using their credit card, they should keep in mind that certain delays might occur because of the security verification. If traders go for an EFT payment, they might need to wait up to three working days until their funds are accessible in their accounts.

Common Deposit Methods Offered by Australia Brokers
Type of Method	Usual Limits per Transaction	Processing Timeframes	Processing Fees
Visa	$0 – $50,000/No upper limit	Instant	Free of charge
Mastercard	$0 – $50,000/No upper limit	Instant	Free of charge
PayPal	$0 – $50,000/No upper limit	Instant	Free of charge
Neteller	$0 – $50,000/No upper limit	Instant	Free of charge
Skrill	$0 – $50,000/No upper limit	Instant	Free of charge
POLi	$5- No upper limit	Instant	Free of charge
BPay	$10- No upper limit	Instant	Free of charge
PayID	$10 – No upper limit	A few hours	Free of charge
EFTs	No minimum and maximum deposit requirements	Up to 3 days	Free of charge
Bank transfer	$50- No upper limit	Instant	Depends on the broker
Broker-to-Broker Transfer	$50-no upper limit	3 to 5 business days	Subject to bank transfer fees

Withdrawing from Australia Trading Accounts

As traders might expect, the range of cashout methods is narrower, when compared to the list of payment processors that can be used when topping up their accounts. Cashouts are usually processed via Visa and Mastercard-branded debit cards or digital wallets like PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill. Traders should bear in mind that, in most cases, the broker will return the preferred amount using the payment processor traders opted for when depositing.

Traders need to be more patient while withdrawing their funds as the processing times for cashouts via debit cards is between three to five days. Digital wallets serve as the most time-efficient payment method because withdrawals requested through PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill will clear within one day at the most. The speed at which cashouts are processed might be further slowed down as all requests are first reviewed and approved by the representatives of the brokerage. Occasionally, this process takes up to two or three days, but some brokers promise to review the requests of their clients within up to one day.

As for the upper limit on cashouts, traders are advised to inspect the terms and conditions section of their broker as while some trading service providers place limits on the amount their clients can withdraw per transaction, others restrict the amount they can withdraw per day.

Even though some brokers allow their clients to make withdrawals when they have open positions, traders should be aware that certain limitations might be in place in order to guarantee the security of their accounts.

One more question traders might be asking is whether they will be allowed to cancel their cashout requests. This only depends on their broker of choice, but usually, if their request is still pending, traders from the jurisdiction might be allowed to cancel it. Yet, if it is already processed, the withdrawal request cannot be canceled.

Common Withdrawal Methods Offered by Australia Brokers
Type of Method	Usual Limits per Transaction	Processing Timeframes	Processing Fees
Visa	$0- No upper limit	3 to 5 days	Free of charge
Mastercard	$0- No upper limit	3 to 5 days	Free of charge
Neteller	$0- No upper limit	Up to one day	Free of charge
Skrill	$0- No upper limit	Up to one day	Free of charge
PayPal	$0- No upper limit	Up to one day	Free of charge
EFTs	$0- No upper limit	Up to 3 days	Free or charge
Same day bank transfers	$2,000 minimum withdrawal amount	If requested until 11 am, they are processed the same day	Depends on the broker
Bank transfer	$30/$50 – No upper limit	2 to 5 business days	$15-$30

Australia Trading Platforms

There are a number of factors that might influence the decisions of traders when they are looking for a top-quality Australia-friendly broker. The available tradable instruments, accepted deposit and cashout methods, offered leverage, and the extra fees traders might face are only some of the factors that might make them pick one brokerage over another.

The available trading platforms and tools might also tip the scales in favor of one broker over another. MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are two of the most frequently offered trading platforms across the Aussie-friendly brokers. These are far from being the only options, as traders might also be allowed to opt for platforms like DupliTrade and TradingView.

Along with these platforms, some brokers also promote their own platforms that have various advantages. There are a number of Australia-facing brokers that boast proprietary software that is exceptionally user-friendly and normally allows even greater customization.

MT4 and MT5

MetaTrader is one of the world’s most commonly used trading platforms which works equally well across desktop and portable devices. MT4 is preferred by traders who are interested in trading Forex and comes with an extensive array of features, including interactive charts, automated trading systems, advanced charting tools, and copy trading. Scripts, algorithmic trading, and custom indicators are also on offer. If traders want to explore the opportunities the platform offers without risking their funds, they can first register for a demo account.

The platform is exceptionally user-friendly and intuitive, and even total novices to trading will be able to navigate it with ease. The platform is designed to work well for seasoned traders and total novices alike, and it is equipped with a wide array of helpful features, including real-time quotes, one-click trading, and news feeds. One more great benefit of MT4 is that it has a built-in programming language called MQL4. This means that Aussie traders can design their own Expert Advisors or tailor existing ones.

The platform makes it possible for traders to gain access to the preferred markets anytime and anywhere after they download and install one of the dedicated apps or while using WebTrader.

MetaTrader 4’s successor MetaTrader 5 might be the perfect choice for modern traders. It is a multi-asset trading platform that makes it possible for Aussie traders to trade Forex, futures, and stocks. Traders from the jurisdiction might pick MT5 over the other trading platforms brokers offer because it enables copy trading and provides superior tools for comprehensive price analysis. Using algorithmic trading applications is also among the opportunities the platform offers.

TradingView

With some brokers that accept clients from Australia, traders might be allowed to use TradingView. The platform is employed by 50 million users from various parts of the globe and helps them spot opportunities across global markets. The platform comes with a full range of powerful features, and TradingView keeps traders covered no matter if they want to analyze price patterns with lengthy scripts or prefer to look up the most recent stock prices.

The assets traders can gain access to on the platform include bonds, futures, indices, Forex, cryptocurrencies, and stocks, among others. All TradingView offers is findable on desktop and portable devices, and if traders prefer to have the freedom to trade no matter the time or the place, they can get the dedicated apps from the App Store or Google Play.

Aussie traders might want to give the platform a try because it comes with more than 90 intelligent drawing tools, pre-built studies, and tools for in-depth market analysis. With TradingView, traders will get more than 15 customizable chart types and customizable timeframes, including seconds and range bars.

DupliTrade

DupliTrade is a user-friendly trading platform that makes it possible to duplicate the actions of experienced traders directly into your account, thus allowing you to maximize your trading opportunities. The platform is suitable for traders of all experience levels, and the lightning-fast execution speed is one of the biggest benefits of employing DupliTrade.

The platform takes traders’ experience to the next level, as it gives traders access to a rich portfolio of successful strategies. It is designed to suit the requirements of traders of all experience levels as the platform is exceptionally easy to use and understand, thus making it a breeze for total novices and seasoned traders to wrap their heads around it.

The strategies on offer are introduced by successful traders who are selected on the basis of their trading record and proven history. It is important to note that not everyone can become a DupliTrade strategy provider, and all accounts displayed on the platform are real ones.

When they access the platform, traders will be presented with a list of the selected strategy providers. The strategies on offer will allow traders to build and improve their portfolios as they represent different trading methods and styles.

cTrader

cTrader Another powerful trading terminal traders from Australia might be given access to is cTrader. The multi-asset platform facilitates trading CFDs and Forex. The trading terminal is preferred because it offers level II pricing, lightning-fast entry and execution, rich charting tools, and advanced order types. What makes the platform a perfect choice for total novices is that it boasts an intuitive user interface designed to replicate the institutional trading environment. This is not to say that the platform is unsuitable for seasoned traders as it is designed to balance simple and complex functionality.

Traders can download and install the Forex and CFD platform on portable and desktop devices and enjoy a premium trading experience at all times. The platform gives traders quick and easy access to charting, trading, and technical analysis tools. Additionally, while using the platform, traders can opt for cTrader Copy and cTrader Automate. The latter is a native algorithmic trading feature with powerful backtesting and optimization tools, while the former is a versatile copy trading service.

The platform supports both live and demo accounts, and depending on the broker, traders might be allowed to go for a live account with zero balance directly from cTrader. No matter if traders will opt for a demo or a live account, they will be allowed to decide between netting and hedging trading accounts, which are the two industry-standard account types.

Best Australia Trading Platforms