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The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.
Broker 1
Broker 2
| VS field |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Decision summary | ||
| Overall score | 80 | 91 |
| Trust score | 88 | 100 |
| Cost score | 64 | 92 |
| Platform score | 78 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 82 | 89 |
| Best for | Australian retail investors · CommBank customers wanting CDIA settlement integration · ASX shares and ETF investors | Best suited for U.S.-centric investors and active traders who want a large, bank-affiliated multi-asset brokerage with $0 online listed stock/ETF commissions, strong platform dept… |
| Watch out | Needs verification | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | ASIC AFSL; market participant of ASX and Cboe Australia; clearing participant of ASX Clear; settlement participant of ASX Settlement Source | SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source |
| License numbers | AFSL 238814; ABN 60 067 254 399; Share Direct AR Ref 274819; CBA AFSL 234945 Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source |
| Regulated entities | Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814; Share Direct Nominees Pty Limited AR 274819; Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945 Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB Source |
| Negative balance protection | No CFD/FX negative-balance-protection regime identified; margin lending can involve margin calls and sale of collateral if obligations are not met. Source | Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source |
| Investor compensation | No explicit investor compensation scheme found in reviewed official CommSec pages; Australian CHESS/market protections and CBA deposit guarantees, if applicable, require product-specific review. Source | SIPC protection up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit for brokerage account assets; futures accounts are not protected by SIPC. Source |
| Restricted countries | Australian residents only; U.S. Persons and non-Australian residents barred from International Shares; other custodian country restrictions may apply Source | Not all products, services, or investments are available in all countries; Schwab is not registered outside the United States and products/services may not be registered in a user's jurisdiction. Source |
Costs & account conditions | ||
| Minimum deposit | Free account opening/no ongoing account-keeping fees; Pocket minimum investment $50; standard ETF minimum $500; margin loan minimum credit limit $20,000; no ordinary share-trading cash minimum disclosed. Source | $0 minimum for standard U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts; Schwab One International accounts require a minimum deposit but amount is not disclosed in checked official pages. Source |
| Spread from | CommSec is primarily a listed-securities broker; official sources disclose brokerage/fees rather than FX/CFD-style spreads. Source | Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources. Source |
| Commission | Australian shares from AUD $5 online/CDIA; Pocket from AUD $2; U.S. international from USD $5 or 0.12%; non-U.S. international market minimums; ETO online from AUD $34.95 plus contract fees Source | stock_commission: $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; OTC equities $6.95; broker-assisted service charge $25; etf_commission: $0 online commission for listed U.S.-exchange ETFs; options_commission: $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per options contract; futures_commission: $2.25 per contract, per side, for futures and futures options; exchange, regulatory, overnight, NFA, and market-data fees may apply; mutual_fund_commission: $0 on thousands of Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds; all other mutual funds up to $74.95 per purchase; bond_commission: New-issue bonds/CDs: $0 online/selling concession included; Treasuries online $0; most other secondary bonds $1 per bond with $10 minimum and $250 maximum; forex_commission: $0 commission; forex trade costs are reflected in the bid/ask spread Source |
| Maximum leverage | Margin Loan borrowing depends on approved investments/LVR; no single maximum leverage ratio disclosed on reviewed public pages. Source | Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source |
| Deposit fee | No CDIA account-keeping or electronic transaction fees; online transfers/direct debits and CBA ATM withdrawals free; International instant funding AUD $0.00 Source | $0 for funds entering a standard brokerage account; banking deposit services generally no monthly/account minimum fees, but certain services can have fees Source |
| Withdrawal fee | CDIA electronic withdrawals free; International ACATS $0; US DRS transfer-out USD $5; DRS/transfer-in fees may apply Source | No fee for routine withdrawals from standard brokerage per FAQ; full outbound ACAT $50 and outgoing wire $25; Schwab Bank Investor Checking has unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, subject to conditions. Source |
| Inactivity fee | Inactivity Fee AUD $0.00 Source | $0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | Australian and international shares, ETFs, options, warrants, fixed income/bonds, managed funds via margin lending, cash products Source | Stocks; fractional shares; ETFs; mutual funds; bonds/CDs/fixed income; money market funds; options; futures; futures options; forex; international stocks/ADRs/foreign ordinaries; cash products; annuities; alternatives; crypto ETPs/securities/futures. Source |
| Trading platforms | Website, CommSec app, CommBank app/Pocket, CommSecIRESS and phone Source | Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source |
| Account types | Australian shares, international shares/Plus, options, margin lending, Pocket, minor trust, SMSF, CDIA and Notice Investor Source | Individual Brokerage; Joint Brokerage; Schwab One Brokerage; Investor Checking-linked brokerage; Futures Account; Global Account; IRAs; custodial, education, trust, estate, organization, and business retirement accounts; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. Source |
| Deposit methods | CDIA/NetBank linked transfers, external bank transfer to CDIA, CBA ATM/branch deposits, AUD International Wallet transfers Source | ACH/electronic transfer/MoneyLink; wire transfer; check/mail check; Schwab Mobile Deposit for checking; direct deposit for checking; account transfer/ACAT; branch/in-person deposit where available. Source |
| Withdrawal methods | CDIA transfer via NetBank; CDIA branch/ATM access; international account withdrawals in AUD only Source | Transfer to linked bank/checking; wire transfer; check; ATM/debit card for Schwab Bank Investor Checking; ACAT outbound account transfer. Source |
| Withdrawal processing time | T+2 settlement for sale proceeds; access may take one extra business day; international withdrawals settled funds only Source | Cash moved from brokerage to linked Investor Checking is generally available in seconds, but weekend/after-hours transfers may not be available until the next business day; other withdrawal methods vary/not fully disclosed on checked pages. Source |
BrokerVS provides broker comparison research only. Scores and evidence can vary by country, account type, and legal entity; users should verify source links before opening an account.