CommSec vs nabtrade

The battle of the bank-based trading platforms. Who comes out on top?

CommSec and nabtrade are two of Australia's most popular share trading platforms, but how do they actually compare on things like brokerage fees, features and available markets?

ASX brokerage fees

This is a breakdown of CommSec and nabtrade's trading fees on ASX (Australian Securities Exchange) shares, based on different trade sizes. For the purposes of this comparison, we're comparing a CommSec account that has Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) attached.

nabtrade

  • $9.95 per trade up to $1,000
  • $14.95 per trade between $1,000-$5,000
  • $19.95 per trade between $5,000-$20,000
  • 0.11% of trade value for trades over $20,000
  • Inactivity fee: No

CommSec

  • $5.00 per trade up to $1,000
  • $10.00 per trade between $1,000-$3,000
  • $19.95 per trade between $3,000-$10,000
  • $29.95 per trade between $10,000-$25,000
  • 0.12% of trade value for trades over $25,000
  • Inactivity fee: No

Verdict

Overall, CommSec is generally more cost effective than nabtrade on ASX trades on smaller size trades (under $3,000), while nabtrade is more cost effective on larger trades (above $10,000).


International brokerage fees

nabtrade has one brokerage fee structure for international shares, while CommSec has variable brokerage fees based on which global market you want to trade. It's also worth noting that CommSec has a much larger range of global markets compared to nabtrade, which we'll touch on the in the next section.

nabtrade

  • $9.95 per trade up to $1,000
  • $14.95 per trade between $1,000-$5,000
  • $19.95 per trade between $5,000-$20,000
  • 0.11% of trade value for trades over $20,000
  • Currency conversion fee: 0.5%-0.8%

CommSec

You'll be charged either a flat fee or a percentage fee, depending on which is greater:

  • United States: USD$5.00 or 0.12%
  • Canada: CAD$40.00 or 0.40%
  • France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands: €12.00 or 0.40%
  • Hong Kong: HKD$130.00 or 0.40%
  • Japan: JPY¥1,500 or 0.40%
  • Norway: NOK175.00 or 0.40%
  • Singapore: SGD$25.00 or 0.40%
  • Sweden: SEK155.00 or 0.40%
  • Switzerland: CHF₣17.00 or 0.40%
  • United Kingdom: GBP£12.00 or 0.40%
  • Currency conversion fee: 0.55%
  • Inactivity fee: $25 per year

Verdict

CommSec is likely to be more cost effective on US trades, while nabtrade should be more cost effective on UK, Hong Kong and German stocks.


Available markets

Both nabtrade and CommSec offer CHESS-sponsored ASX stocks, but CommSec has a much larger range of international markets. nabtrade only lets you trade the US, UK, Hong Kong and German markets, while CommSec lets you trade those plus a number of other European markets as well as the Japanese, Singapore and Canadian markets.

nabtrade

Trade across 8 exchanges in the following 5 markets:

  • Australia
  • US
  • UK
  • Germany
  • Hong Kong

CommSec

Trade 13 global markets:

  • Australia
  • US
  • UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Sweden
  • Norway
  • Switzerland
  • Hong Kong
  • Japan
  • Singapore

Verdict

CommSec is the clear winner on available markets, offering access to a range of Asian and European markets that aren't available with nabtrade.


Trading tools and features

Both nabtrade and CommSec let you trade options and also access margin lending. Both also let you place market and limit orders, as well as conditional orders.

nabtrade

  • Warrants and options
  • Margin loans
  • Order types: Market order, limit order (with expiry date), conditional orders (on mobile and IRESS Viewpoint)
  • Watchlists
  • Charting tools

CommSec

  • Warrants and options
  • Margin loans
  • Order types: Market order, limit order (with expiry date), conditional orders
  • Charting tools

Verdict

It's effectively a dead heat on trading tools with both nabtrade and CommSec offering options trading and advanced order types.


Research and data

nabtrade

  • Free ASX market streaming data
  • Day ahead and technical analysis (on desktop only)
  • Company research
  • Education: Trading Central newsletter, webinars, podcasts and events for nabtrade members

CommSec

  • ASX market streaming data (free if you make more than 8 trades or $220 in brokerage per month)
  • Live share market data and reports
  • Education: video tutorials, podcasts, webinars, beginner guides
  • Executive interviews: video interviews with leading industry figures discussing investment strategies and opportunities

Verdict

Both platforms provide solid educational resources and research, however nabtrade offers free market data, while CommSec only offers it for free if you hit a certain minimum trade threshold each month.


Customer support

Both CommSec and nabtrade have customer support phone lines that are open from 8am during the work week. Both also have a rating of 1.5 out of 5 on ProductReview, based on more than 200 reviews (last checked 20 September 2024).

nabtrade

  • Contact methods: you can contact a nabtrade customer service representative on Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm AEST.
  • Support centre: nabtrade offer an online FAQ and help centre.

CommSec

  • Contact methods: you can contact a CommSec customer service representative on Monday-Friday between 8am-7pm AEST, or via an online form.

Verdict

CommSec and nabtrade both offer a phone support Monday to Friday, but neither offers an online or live chat function.


Should you trade ASX shares with CommSec or nabtrade?

CommSec and nabtrade have features that will appeal to new and experienced share traders, but there are a few differences in their fees structures.

In terms of ASX share trading, CommSec will likely be cheaper on trades under $3,000, while nabtrade will be cheaper for trades above $10,000.

How do they compare for global share trading?

The costs for overseas share trading is quite different. CommSec offers a much broader range of international markets (13 to nabtrade's 5) so will be a better option if you're wanting to trade certain Asian or European markets.

CommSec is also more cost effective on smaller US stock trades, while nabtrade will likely be more cost effective on German, UK and Hong Kong stocks.

In terms of currency conversion fees, CommSec has a flat 0.55% fee, while nabtrade will range between 0.5%-0.8% depending on the market.

Want to dive deeper?

Check out our in-depth reviews of CommSec and nabtrade for a more detailed analysis of the two trading platforms:

CommSec share trading review - "With a CommSec share trading account, clients can buy shares online quickly, easily and most importantly, affordably. Whether via their browser or mobile app, CommSec clients have access to real time quotes, news and state of the art charting to help give them the competitive advantage required to succeed in the share market."

nabtrade online share trading review - "Whether you're a seasoned trader or someone who's new to the investment game, nabtrade simplifies the share trading process. The online trading platform has a user-friendly interface, comprehensive research and reporting available and a tiered service level tailored to your trading activity. Whatever type of trading you're looking to do, nabtrade can help you research, invest and optimise your trades and investments."

Compare share trading accounts

If neither CommSec or nabtrade look right for you, take a look at our guide on choosing the best online trading share trading platform or take a look at some of the brokers in the table below.

Name Product AUFST Price per trade Inactivity fee Asset class International
eToro
Exclusive
eToro logo
US$2
US$10 per month if there’s been no log-in for 12 months
ASX shares, Global shares, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Exclusive: Get 12 months of investment tracking app Delta PRO for free when you fund your eToro account. T&Cs apply.
Trade stocks, commodities and currencies from the one account and get access to social trading.
CMC Invest
Finder AwardExclusive
CMC Invest logo
$0
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Finder exclusive: Get $100 trading credit when you transfer $10k+ of either Australian or international stocks to CMC Invest. Only available for the first 50 new clients to participate. Use promo code “100CMC”. T&Cs apply.
Trade over 45,000 shares and ETFs from Australia and 15 major global markets. Plus, buy Aussie shares or ETFs for $0 brokerage up to $1,000 (First buy order of each security, each day - excludes margin loan settled trades).
Tiger Brokers
Finder AwardExclusive
Tiger Brokers logo
US$1.99
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Finder exclusive: Get 4 brokerage-free trades and pay no FX fees on the first $2,000 you exchange each month with first deposit of any amount + plus get an $80 cash voucher when you deposit up to $2000. T&Cs apply.
Trade US, Asian and CHESS-sponsored ASX stocks and US options.
Moomoo logo
US$0.99
$0
ASX shares, Global shares, Options trading, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Finder exclusive: Unlock up to AUD$4,000 AND US$4,000 in $0 brokerage over 60 days. T&Cs apply.
Trade US, Asian and CHESS-sponsored ASX stocks and get access to social trading.
Superhero logo
$2
$0
ASX shares, US shares, ETFs
Yes
Sign up with code ‘finder24’ and get US$10 of Nvidia stock when you fund your account with $100 or more within 30 days. T&Cs apply.
Enjoy US$2 brokerage (other fees may apply) on US stocks and buying ETFs as well as $2 fee to trade Australian shares up to $20,000.
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Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.

Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.

Frequently asked questions

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Written by

Investments analyst

Kylie Purcell is the senior investments editor and analyst at Finder. She has completed a Certificate of Securities and Managed Investments (RG146) and specialises in investment products including online brokers, robo-advisors, stocks and ETFs. See full bio

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Kylie has written 134 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Investment strategies
  • Financial platforms
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  • Exchange traded funds (ETFs)
  • Ethical investing
  • ASX stocks
  • Stock and forex markets

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4 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    AndrewMay 29, 2019

    I need to sell my mothers shares. I have power of attorney. I’d like to see someone and not post the information back and forth. Who can I go to.

      Default Gravatar
      NikkiMay 30, 2019

      Hi Andrew,

      Good day and thanks for your inquiry.

      You may refer to our list of ASX brokers. Please take note that this service comes with a broker’s fee whenever you place a trade to buy or sell shares, so it’s worth your while to shop around for the online share trading platform that offers the lowest brokerage fees.

      Hope this helps!

      Best,
      Nikki

    Default Gravatar
    MaxJuly 16, 2016

    Hi : )

    Which one (Nabtrade vs Commsec) is better for international share trading (Mainly US)?

    Is my understanding correct that while Nabtrade offers a lower brokerage rate at $AUD 14.95/transaction, it charges a foreign currency exchange margin with every transaction.

    On the other hand, it appears that CommSec opens an US account (through Pershing LLC) and conduct transaction using this US account, hence avoiding the foreign exchange margin (unless of course you transfer money from the US account to the CommSec cash account).

    So while the Brokerage fee of CommSec appears higher ($US 19.95), the total cost per transaction between the two might end up being similar?

    Can you please provide further insight comparing the two platforms in regards to international share trading?

    Many thanks.

    Max

      AvatarFinder
      ClarizzaJuly 25, 2016Finder

      Hi Max,

      Thanks for your feedback and comment.

      We’ll be writing up a case study on this however, the answer will depend on the amount the person wants to trade.

      Regards,
      Clarizza

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