Compare brokers side by side before you choose.

Compare trust, fees, platforms, and withdrawals. See the trade-offs and details worth checking before you choose.

Choose brokers

Pick 2-4 brokers to compare

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	CommSec commsec.com.au ETF BrokerOptions BrokerETF	Fidelity fidelity.com Stock BrokerETF BrokerETF
Decision summary
Overall score

Trust score	88	100

Cost score	64	89

Platform score	78	94

Withdrawal score	82	89

Best for	Australian retail investors · CommBank customers wanting CDIA settlement integration · ASX shares and ETF investors	Evidence supports Fidelity as a U.S.-focused, highly regulated multi-asset broker for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds/CDs, options, cash management, managed portfolios, and sepa…

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	Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC. Source
License numbers	AFSL 238814; ABN 60 067 254 399; Share Direct AR Ref 274819; CBA AFSL 234945 Source	FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740. 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	Primary securities brokerage entities are Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (FBS) and National Financial Services LLC (NFS), each member NYSE/SIPC; advisory and crypto entities differ by product. 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 applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations. 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 coverage up to $500,000/$250,000 cash plus Fidelity excess SIPC; FDIC sweep coverage may apply to eligible cash programs; important exclusions apply. Source
Restricted countries	Australian residents only; U.S. Persons and non-Australian residents barred from International Shares; other custodian country restrictions may apply Source	U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found. Source

Trust & regulation

Regulators

ASIC AFSL; market participant of ASX and Cboe Australia; clearing participant of ASX Clear; settlement participant of ASX Settlement

Source

Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC.

Source

License numbers

AFSL 238814; ABN 60 067 254 399; Share Direct AR Ref 274819; CBA AFSL 234945

Source

FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740.

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

Primary securities brokerage entities are Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (FBS) and National Financial Services LLC (NFS), each member NYSE/SIPC; advisory and crypto entities differ by product.

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 applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations.

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 coverage up to $500,000/$250,000 cash plus Fidelity excess SIPC; FDIC sweep coverage may apply to eligible cash programs; important exclusions apply.

Source

Restricted countries

Australian residents only; U.S. Persons and non-Australian residents barred from International Shares; other custodian country restrictions may apply

Source

U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found.

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 to open a retail brokerage account; Fidelity states no account minimum and ability to invest with as little as $1; exceptions apply by account/product. 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 Fidelity's core U.S. stock/ETF brokerage model; securities trade by exchange/market prices rather than quoted CFD/FX spreads. 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	$0 online U.S. stock and ETF trades; $0 online options commission plus $0.65/contract; other product/service fees apply. Source
Maximum leverage	Margin Loan borrowing depends on approved investments/LVR; no single maximum leverage ratio disclosed on reviewed public pages. Source	No universal maximum leverage ratio disclosed for Fidelity retail brokerage; margin borrowing is available subject to approval and margin requirements/rates rather than a single max leverage figure. 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 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge. Source
Withdrawal fee	CDIA electronic withdrawals free; International ACATS $0; US DRS transfer-out USD $5; DRS/transfer-in fees may apply Source	$0 Fidelity fee for EFT and domestic bank wire withdrawals; foreign exchange wire up to 3% of principal; receiving bank may charge. Source
Inactivity fee	Inactivity Fee AUD $0.00 Source	No explicit inactivity-fee line found in official fee schedule; official account pages state no retail brokerage account fees/no account or subscription fees. Treat as needs manual confirmation before publishing as '$0 inactivity fee'. 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 to open a retail brokerage account; Fidelity states no account minimum and ability to invest with as little as $1; exceptions apply by account/product.

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 Fidelity's core U.S. stock/ETF brokerage model; securities trade by exchange/market prices rather than quoted CFD/FX spreads.

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

$0 online U.S. stock and ETF trades; $0 online options commission plus $0.65/contract; other product/service fees apply.

Source

Maximum leverage

Margin Loan borrowing depends on approved investments/LVR; no single maximum leverage ratio disclosed on reviewed public pages.

Source

No universal maximum leverage ratio disclosed for Fidelity retail brokerage; margin borrowing is available subject to approval and margin requirements/rates rather than a single max leverage figure.

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 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge.

Source

Withdrawal fee

CDIA electronic withdrawals free; International ACATS $0; US DRS transfer-out USD $5; DRS/transfer-in fees may apply

Source

$0 Fidelity fee for EFT and domestic bank wire withdrawals; foreign exchange wire up to 3% of principal; receiving bank may charge.

Source

Inactivity fee

Inactivity Fee AUD $0.00

Source

No explicit inactivity-fee line found in official fee schedule; official account pages state no retail brokerage account fees/no account or subscription fees. Treat as needs manual confirmation before publishing as '$0 inactivity fee'.

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, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international. Source
Trading platforms	Website, CommSec app, CommBank app/Pocket, CommSecIRESS and phone Source	Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic. Source
Account types	Australian shares, international shares/Plus, options, margin lending, Pocket, minor trust, SMSF, CDIA and Notice Investor Source	Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts. Source
Deposit methods	CDIA/NetBank linked transfers, external bank transfer to CDIA, CBA ATM/branch deposits, AUD International Wallet transfers Source	EFT/ACH, bank wire, check/mobile check, direct deposit, recurring deposit, Fidelity-to-Fidelity/account transfer, transfer of assets, and eligible payment apps. Source
Withdrawal methods	CDIA transfer via NetBank; CDIA branch/ATM access; international account withdrawals in AUD only Source	EFT/ACH, bank wire, paper check, Fidelity-to-Fidelity transfers, third-party/person-to-person transfers and eligible debit card/ATM access. Source
Withdrawal processing time	T+2 settlement for sale proceeds; access may take one extra business day; international withdrawals settled funds only Source	EFT withdrawals 1-3 business days; bank wire same day if submitted by 4 p.m. ET; paper check about 5-6 days. 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, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international.

Source

Trading platforms

Website, CommSec app, CommBank app/Pocket, CommSecIRESS and phone

Source

Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic.

Source

Account types

Australian shares, international shares/Plus, options, margin lending, Pocket, minor trust, SMSF, CDIA and Notice Investor

Source

Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts.

Source

Deposit methods

CDIA/NetBank linked transfers, external bank transfer to CDIA, CBA ATM/branch deposits, AUD International Wallet transfers

Source

EFT/ACH, bank wire, check/mobile check, direct deposit, recurring deposit, Fidelity-to-Fidelity/account transfer, transfer of assets, and eligible payment apps.

Source

Withdrawal methods

CDIA transfer via NetBank; CDIA branch/ATM access; international account withdrawals in AUD only

Source

EFT/ACH, bank wire, paper check, Fidelity-to-Fidelity transfers, third-party/person-to-person transfers and eligible debit card/ATM access.

Source

Withdrawal processing time

T+2 settlement for sale proceeds; access may take one extra business day; international withdrawals settled funds only

Source

EFT withdrawals 1-3 business days; bank wire same day if submitted by 4 p.m. ET; paper check about 5-6 days.

Source

Loading broker comparison

Compare brokers side by side before you choose.

Pick 2-4 brokers to compare