You're not alone. More than 1 in 3 Australians (38%) have bought shares, according to Finder data, and 17% want to invest more in 2025.1, 2
But how do you pick a trading platform when you're just starting out?
While there's no single trading platform that will fit all your needs or individual circumstances as a beginner investor, we hope our information and tools will allow you to compare options and help you find the best trading account for you.
Best trading platforms for beginners (2026)
Tiger Brokers (Finder Award winner) - Rated as the best platform for casual investors in Finder's 2025 Investment Awards with a Finder score of 9.3. Eligible users can claim a $120 Finder Reward.
Webull (Finder Award winner) - A triple winner in Finder's 2025 Investment Awards (Best Active Trader, Auto-investing & Mobile App) with a Finder score of 9.8. It features $0 brokerage on ETFs, auto-investing tools, and no minimum investment for global equities.
Sharesies (Finder Award Highly Commended) - Highly commended in two categories (Best Casual & Auto-investing Platform) in Finder's 2025 Investment Awards with a Finder score of 8.2. A beginner-friendly platform featuring no minimum investment limits on AU, US, and NZ shares via a custody model (non-CHESS).
Superhero share trading - A beginner-focused platform with a Finder score of 9.5. Known for its simple interface and low barrier to entry, allowing auto-investing into both Australian and US shares and ETFs from just $10 per trade.
Easy Equities Share Trading - A high-scoring platform (8.8 Finder score) that stands out for micro-investing. It features no minimum investment limits, allowing users to auto-invest into Australian and US shares and ETFs with just a few cents to dollar-cost average.
Betashares Direct (Finder Award winner) - Winner of the Best ETF Investing Platform in Finder's 2025 Investment Awards with a Finder score of 7.5. It offers $0 brokerage on all ASX-listed ETFs and top ASX 300 shares, with a low $10 minimum investment and auto-invest features.
How we selected the best trading apps for beginners
To help beginners out, we sourced a list of top brokers for beginners using Finder's proprietary algorithm. Here are some of the features we included in our methodology that we thought were important for beginner investors:
Low brokerage fees for small investment amounts. You want to build your investment portfolio over time and there's no better way than to start small and add consistently. As such, if you're a newer investor you might want to find a fund has low fees and allows for smaller trading limits
Low brokerage on just 1 trade or less per month. Lowering the fees you pay is a great way to increase your returns. But be warned, some accounts will charge you more if you don't constantly trade. Beginner investors should avoid these accounts.
Low brokerage for ETFs. If you're looking to buy low cost ETFs some brokers will charge you less. This can be advantageous for long-term, low volume ETF investors.
No inactivity fee. Again, lowering your fees is important. An easy way to avoid paying unnecessary fees is to make sure your broker isn't charging you for inactivity.
Fractional investing. If you're starting out small, finding a broker that lets you buy fractional shares can help you gain access to the market without having to save for an entire share.
An online demo. It might sound simple enough, but learning the basics of how to invest is important. As such, an online demo can help beginners get ahead.
Educational or training content. If you want to improve your investing skills, education and training content is a great place to start. Some brokers will provide this information for you.
User-friendliness. Our editorial team gave platforms a rating based on how easy they were to navigate and place a trade.
We've focused on things like educational resources, low fees, ease-of-use and features like auto-investing and fractional shares. However, if you're planning on just buying and holding stocks or ETFs, you may find another it's more cost effective to use another trading platform.
To find out more about how we selected our 'best trading platforms', head to our methodology guide. Keep in mind that we don't compare every product on the market.
Best share trading platforms for beginners
Tiger Brokers: Best for casual investors (Finder Awards 2025)
Tiger Brokers was named the best platform for casual investors in Finder's 2025 Investment Awards for good reason. It's great for beginners because it has an auto-invest feature, charges low fees and no minimum investment when you buy US stocks. We like that you can set up a regular deposits into US stocks from just US$2 and you're able to buy fractional shares (this means you can invest in part of a share, rather than whole shares). The app is simple to use and it has a handy AI chatbot that you can use to research companies or provide tips.
Low brokerage on ASX and US stocks
Low minimum deposit of $2
Easy-to-use app
Only US stocks available on auto-invest
Limited educational resources
Brokerage fees: AU stocks: $3.00 per trade up to $10,000, 0.03% of trade amount after that US stocks: US$2.00 for trades of up to 200 shares, US$0.01 per stock after that UK stocks: Not available Other markets available: Details here ETF brokerage fees: AU stocks: $3.00 per trade US stocks: US$2.00 UK stocks: Not available Other markets available: Details here Options: ASX: Not available US: Choice of Fixed or Tiered plans
Fixed Brokerage Plan • US$3 per order (for up to 4 contracts) • US$0.75 per contract (for 5 or more contracts)
Tiered Brokerage Plan Rates apply based on monthly volume, with a minimum fee of US$3 per order. • US$0.90 per contract for the first 50 contracts • US$0.75 per contract for the 51st–100th contract • US$0.55 per contract for the 101st–300th contract • US$0.50 per contract for the 301st–500th contract • US$0.45 per contract for the 501st–1,000th contract • US$0.40 per contract for the 1,001st–10,000th contract • US$0.35 per contract for the 10,001st–50,000th contract • US$0.25 per contract for the 50,001st–100,000th contract • US$0.15 per contract for 100,001 or more contracts
HK: • HK$18 per order for trades valued at HK$6,000 or less. • 0.3% of trade value for trades over HK$6,000. • Regulatory fees apply
Webull has an intuitive platform that is packed with features to satisfy both new and experienced investors. We like that it has an auto-investment feature so that you can dollar-cost average into the market. Paired with $0 brokerage ETF trades, this makes it a top pick for ETF investors. While there's a $500 minimum investment for Australian shares and ETFs, there is no minimum investment to buy global equities.
Cheap brokerage ($0 for ETFs)
In-built news platform and strong educational resources
Allows you to trade fractional shares
$0 commission trades for the first month
Trade stocks from ASX, US and Hong Kong
Beginners may be overwhelmed
$500 minimum to buy ASX shares is higher than some others
Limited markets
Brokerage fee per trade: AU stocks: $0.0003 X trade value (min $1.00) US stocks: US$0.00025 X trade value (min $1.00) UK stocks: Not available Other markets available: Details here ETF brokerage fees: AU stocks: $0.00 US stocks: US$0 UK stocks: Not available Other markets available: Details here Options: ASX: Not available US: US$0.50 Inactivity fee:
New Zealand platform Sharesies is a regular high scorer at Finder for beginner investors. The platform is super easy to use (fun too), there's no minimum investment amount and you can set up recurring deposits into Australian, US or New Zealand shares and ETFs. It's worth noting that Sharesies does not offer CHESS-sponsored shares, however this means you get the option to invest very small amounts into Australian shares, unlike with other brokers.
Access to Australian and international shares and ETFs
Easy to use
No minimum investment
Cheaper brokerage available elsewhere
Limited global markets
No CHESS-sponsorship
Brokerage fees Sharesies offers 2 fee structures to choose from - ‘pay as you go’ and ‘monthly’ plans.
Pay as you go: 1.9% transaction fee on investments, capped. Aussie Shares: $6 AUD per transaction US Shares: US$5 per transaction NZ shares: NS$25
Monthly Plans: $5/month: Covers up to $500 orders with fees included. $10/month: Covers up to $1,000 orders with fees included. $20/month: Covers up to $3,000 orders with fees included.
Superhero was one of the first Australian trading platforms to target younger (non-boomer) and new investors, which gives it a special place on this list in my books. The desktop platform and the app are simple to use and great for beginners navigating different types of stocks and ETFs. Plus, you can auto-invest into both Australian and US shares and ETFs starting from just $10 per trade.
Low brokerage fees
Invest from just $10
Auto-invest feature
No monthly fees
Minimal trading features
Can't trade outside the US or ASX markets
No CHESS-sponsorship
Brokerage fees: AU stocks: $2.00 for trades up to $20,000, 0.01% for trades over $20,000 US stocks: US$2.00 UK stocks: Not available ETF brokerage fees: AU ETFs: $2.00 for trades up to $20,000, 0.01% for trades over $20,000 US ETFs: US$2.00 Inactivity fee: AUD$0.00 Currency conversion fee: 65 pips
While Easy Equities might not have made a name for itself yet in Australia, we couldn't help but be impressed by its super low fees and its suite of handy features. For example, it has no minimum investment size, meaning you can start trading from just a few cents into Australian and US and stocks and ETFs. We also like that it has an auto-investment option, which is great for dollar-cost averaging into the market.
User-friendly platform
Low commission and no inactivity fees
The EasyLearn series helps educate newer investors
Lacks customer service features, including live chat
Limited trading tools
No CHESS shares
Brokerage fees AU stocks: 0.10% of the trade size US stock: 0.25% of the trade size Inactivity fee: $0 Currency conversion fee: 2.50%
We rated Betashares Direct as the top choice for ETF investing in Australia as of 2025. Not only does it offer $0 brokerage on ASX-listed ETFs, it also has an auto-invest feature that lets you set up recurring deposits into your ETF of choice. We also like that it charges $0 brokerage on Australian stocks in the top S&P/ASX300 index (top 300 Australian public companies) and there's a minimum investment of just $10. These features make it a great choice for both new investors and everyday ETF investors.
$0 brokerage on ASX ETFs and 300 top stocks
Auto-investing feature
Ready made managed portfolios available
Minimum investment of $50 for auto-invest
No CHESS-sponsorship
No global stocks (ASX only)
Brokerage fees: AU stocks: $0.00 US stocks: Not offered UK stocks: N/A Other markets available: Details here
ETF brokerage fees: AU stocks: $0.00 US stocks: N/A UK stocks: N/A Other markets available: Details here Options: ASX: Not available US: N/A Inactivity fee:
Currency conversion fee:
How to pick an investment platform as a beginner
There are many different ways to trade and invest in Australia, and beginner investors should try to work out what works best for them prior to signing up to a new broker.
There are two broad types of investor - active traders and passive investors.
The category you fall into will greatly determine what type of broker you should sign up with.
As a beginner, you're likely want to start as a passive investor, but you should ask yourself the following questions before signing up:
Am I an active trader or investor?
There's a few key differences between trading and investing.
Traders try to make money from short-term price movements, while investors try to buy quality businesses for the long-term. Active trading is incredibly complex and comes with more risk, while investing is more suited to beginner and inexperienced investors.
Regardless, you would need a broker that matches your style.
For traders, low brokerage fees and advanced trading options may be a higher priority than other features. For example, sophisticated charting tools may be more important than an inactivity fee.
Investors who might only buy shares once or twice a year, features like CHESS-sponsorship, no activity fees and low trading fees might be more valued.
How will I place trades?
Will you be placing all your trades online, via a mobile app or over the phone? Some platforms are app or online-only, whilst others may only offer limited functionality on mobile.
What markets do I want to invest in?
Some investors choose to focus exclusively on the Australian market while others want broad exposure to the world. Before signing up to a broker it is important to know which markets they support, and the fees they charge for investing in global markets.
How much money am I trading?
Brokers fees will largely vary depending on how much you are investing. This means you should find a broker that matches your needs. If you have a small balance, you might want to find a platform with low or even $0 brokerage. If you have a large balance, you might favour a platform that offers flat fees.
What about micro investing?
If you're looking to dip your toes in the water, you might also want to consider a micro-investing platform that lets you invest as many times as you want with no minimum investment amounts in return for a recurring monthly or annual fee.
However, while micro-investing apps are designed for beginners, they probably aren't the most cost-effective option over the longer term. You may be better off using a platform with low or even $0 brokerage and investing that way.
Expert insight: Finding the platform that fits
"Some platforms' minimum investment is higher than others, so look for one that aligns with your budget. Also keep an eye out for features which support the way you want to invest, such as if you want to be more hands-on or automate your investments in the background."
Please note that the specific investments available to trade, such as individual stocks, will vary between platforms and if you have a certain investment in mind it's worth checking which platforms list it when comparing.
Trading platforms in Australia (2025 update)
Variety of trading platforms. There are over 35 ASIC-regulated share trading platforms available to Australians, with at least 10 of them having launched after 2020. The platforms cater to a range of investors, from casual traders to active day traders and long-term investors.
Fees and charges. Most platforms charge a brokerage fee for each transaction, with additional fees like monthly fees or inactivity fees also being common. The average brokerage fee to purchase $1,000 of stock from an ASX-listed company is around $11, and for US stocks, it's approximately $10.70, with several platforms now offering $0 brokerage fees for US stocks.
Introduction of new features: Several Australian trading platforms have introduced innovative features aimed at beginners, such as enhanced educational resources and simplified trading interfaces. These enhancements are designed to make the trading process more accessible and less intimidating for those new to the market.
What type of fees will I pay?
There are a few fees you may need to pay when investing through a share trading platform:
Brokerage fees. This is the fee that is charged every time you buy and sell shares. Brokers charge different fees depending on the product you're trading, the size of the trade you make and how often you trade per month.
Monthly fees. Some brokers are more aimed at active traders and will charge a subscription or inactivity fee for those who trade less. This may or may not suit you depending on your trading requirements.
Foreign exchange fees. This one is for investors buying shares overseas. If you're interested in trading global stocks, you'll want to check what the foreign exchange (FX) fee is for converting your Australian dollars to the foreign currency of choice. Currency conversion fees can have a big impact on the overall cost of your trades.
It's important to try and keep the amount of fees you pay to a minimum, as fees will eat into the money you have to invest and lower your potential returns. There are now a few trading platforms that offer brokerage-free trading on certain assets. This means you can invest without having to pay any trading fees.
These platforms include CMC Invest, Webull, Vanguard, Betashares Direct, IG, Bendigo Invest Direct and Superhero.
This varies greatly depending on the broker you choose. Some will let you start trading from as little as 1 cent, while others will need you to have a minimum of $500. If you are looking to buy CHESS-sponsored shares, you will need at least $500 before starting.
According to the Finder Share Trading Platform Awards, the best trading account for beginners is Sharesies, thanks to its low fees, low minimum investment and auto-invest feature. However, it largely depends on your individual style and needs. Generally speaking a low cost broker with an easy to use platform will work for most new investors.
In order to start trading stocks in Australia, you'll need to first sign up with a broker or online trading platform. Once you've created your account, you'll need to deposit funds and then can begin trading.
If you're just starting out, it can be a good idea to go with a share trading platform that offers a free demo account where you can trade with dummy money. This way you can get familiar with the platform and the stock investing process without having to risk real money. Once you're comfortable, you can then start investing with your own money.
The best thing to do as a beginner may be to sign up with a trading app that offers a free demo account. This way you can get experience buying and selling shares without having to risk real money. Once you're ready to start investing properly, you should then start with small investments at first.
According to our latest analysis, Sharesies is the best trading app for beginners in Australia.
Many trading platforms now offer beginner-friendly features like educational resources, fractional shares, micro-investing and auto-investing to help beginners get started investing.
You can, but it will again depend on the broker you choose. Syfe, Superhero, Douugh, Pearler and eToro are all examples of platforms where you can start investing with less than $100.
Pearler is Australia's most trusted share trading platform according to Finder's Customer Satisfaction Awards, earning a score of 4.30 out of 5. Stake was named the most-trusted platform in the previous year's award.
Cameron Micallef is a personal finance journalist with eight years of experience, specialising in investing, property and household bills. He has written for Smart Property Investment, nestegg and Investor Daily. Cameron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies and Commerce, as well as a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification (RG146), ensuring compliance with ASIC standards.
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Kylie Purcell is an experienced investments analyst and finance journalist with over a decade of expertise in a wide range of financial products, including online trading platforms, robo-advisors, stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. She is a sought-after commentator and regularly shares her insights on the AFR, Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, SBS and News.com.au. Kylie hosts the Investment Finder video series and actively contributes to the investment community as a judge and panellist. She holds a Master of Arts in International Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Economics, and ASIC-recognised certifications in securities and managed investments.
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hey what type of auto trading suits a beginner that just wants to not be a stockbroker but wants to invest $50 an let the algorythem do the trades
Finder
KylieJuly 4, 2023Finder
Hi Eugene, the right platform for you will depend on your preferences and circumstances. However if you prefer to invest small amounts without selecting the assets yourself, you could choose a robo-advisor or invest into a ready-made portfolio. Platforms that offer pre-made portfolios include eToro, Douugh, CommSec Pocket and Spaceship.
LouisJune 22, 2023
I have invested with Trytrade but they have disappeared with my money. Now I would like to find another platform where I won’t have anything to do just put the money and let the platform works for me as it was with Trytrade.
Finder
KylieJuly 4, 2023Finder
Hi Louis,
I’m sorry to hear about your losses with Trytrade. To avoid scam investment platforms, make sure the company is registered with your local regulator – in the case of Australia that’s ASIC. You can check the organisation has an Australian financial services (AFS) licence here: https://asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asic-s-registers/#companies If you’re looking for a platform where you can passively invest without doing any of the trading yourself, you might want to go with a robo advisor (check out our guide: https://www.finder.com.au/robo-advice) or a platform that offers pre-made investment portfolios, such as eToro, Douugh, Spaceship or Pearler.
If you’re thinking of investing in gold, our guide will explain how and where to buy gold in Australia as well as the pros and cons of investing in it.
Find cheap stock brokerage in Australia when buying and selling shares on the ASX and other international exchanges.
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hey what type of auto trading suits a beginner that just wants to not be a stockbroker but wants to invest $50 an let the algorythem do the trades
Hi Eugene, the right platform for you will depend on your preferences and circumstances. However if you prefer to invest small amounts without selecting the assets yourself, you could choose a robo-advisor or invest into a ready-made portfolio. Platforms that offer pre-made portfolios include eToro, Douugh, CommSec Pocket and Spaceship.
I have invested with Trytrade but they have disappeared with my money. Now I would like to find another platform where I won’t have anything to do just put the money and let the platform works for me as it was with Trytrade.
Hi Louis,
I’m sorry to hear about your losses with Trytrade. To avoid scam investment platforms, make sure the company is registered with your local regulator – in the case of Australia that’s ASIC. You can check the organisation has an Australian financial services (AFS) licence here: https://asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asic-s-registers/#companies If you’re looking for a platform where you can passively invest without doing any of the trading yourself, you might want to go with a robo advisor (check out our guide: https://www.finder.com.au/robo-advice) or a platform that offers pre-made investment portfolios, such as eToro, Douugh, Spaceship or Pearler.