Australia is known for being a heavily regulated region, with the ASIC being well-respected around the world. That being said, not every broker will be for everyone. I looked beyond the license and the regulator to focus on the best brokers available in Australia.
To be included, I started with the obvious: All brokers are regulated by ASIC, but will also have to be very transparent, with clear documentation and information on their websites. I focused on whether or not the broker can accept Australian dollars for deposits and withdrawals, to avoid unnecessary conversion costs.
I also tested the usual things you would look for in a broker. This includes spreads and swap fees. I tested the platforms and execution, as well as investigated the range of assets that are available for trading. The brokers in this review all have regulatory safety via ASIC, as well as other benefits such as platform performance and local relevance.
| Broker | Ranking | Max Leverage | Asset Classes | Fees Score | Foundation Year | Min Deposit | Meta Trader | cTrader | Trading View | Trading Desk Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IC Markets IC Markets | 4.7 Read Review | 1:30 (ASIC), 1:30 (CySEC), 1:5000 (FSA), 1:400 (CMA), 1:200 (SCB) 1:30 (ASIC), 1:30 (CySEC), 1:5000 (FSA), 1:400 (CMA), 1:200 (SCB) | Forex (61), Commodities (26), Stocks (2100), Crypto (19), Indices (24), Bonds (9) Forex (61), Commodities (26), Stocks (2100), Crypto (19), Indices (24), Bonds (9) | 4.8 | 2007 | $200 | ECN | |||
FP Markets FP Markets | 4.6 Read Review | 1:500 (FSA), 1:500 (FSCM), 1:500 (Unregulated), 1:400 (FSCA), 1:30 (ASIC), 1:500 (CMA) 1:500 (FSA), 1:500 (FSCM), 1:500 (Unregulated), 1:400 (FSCA), 1:30 (ASIC), 1:500 (CMA) | Forex (72), Commodities (29), Stocks (10000), Crypto (12), Indices (19), ETFs (46), Bonds (2) Forex (72), Commodities (29), Stocks (10000), Crypto (12), Indices (19), ETFs (46), Bonds (2) | 4.1 | 2005 | $100 | ECN, STP, DMA | |||
Capital.com Capital.com | 4.5 Read Review | 1:30 (FCA), 1:30 (ASIC), 1:30 (CySEC), 1:200 (SCB), 1:300 (CMA UAE) 1:30 (FCA), 1:30 (ASIC), 1:30 (CySEC), 1:200 (SCB), 1:300 (CMA UAE) | Forex (147), Commodities (97), Stocks (4573), Crypto (543), Indices (45), ETFs (908) Forex (147), Commodities (97), Stocks (4573), Crypto (543), Indices (45), ETFs (908) | 4.1 | 2016 | $20 | Market Maker | |||
VT Markets VT Markets | 4.5 Read Review | 1:1000 (FSCM), 1:1000 (CMA UAE), 1:1000 (FSCA) 1:1000 (FSCM), 1:1000 (CMA UAE), 1:1000 (FSCA) | Forex (78), Commodities (22), Stocks (730), Crypto (47), Indices (33), ETFs (57), Bonds (7) Forex (78), Commodities (22), Stocks (730), Crypto (47), Indices (33), ETFs (57), Bonds (7) | 4.5 | 2015 | $100 | ECN, STP, No dealing desk |
Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FXEmpire’s comprehensive methodology.
Now let’s dive into the selected brokers.
IC Markets was founded in 2007 and is known around the world. The broker offers over 2,200 instruments for trading, and features several asset classes, including forex, indices, commodities, stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, and futures, via CFD markets.
The sheer magnitude of the listings allows traders to “trade the world”, but it is also worth noting that there are only 21 of Australia’s largest companies in this list of offerings.
Regional Features:
I chose cTrader Raw Spread for my evaluation, with its competitive costs. The spreads are floating, with a $6 round turn commission per lot. For example, it is common to see EUR/USD spreads at 0.1 pips, while an index like the Australia 200 (ASX 200) is commonly 1.22 pips.
The platform is top-notch and very fast. The design of the platform allows traders to execute quickly, and the ability to run algos is also a big plus. The ability to deposit in AUD and withdraw AUD without conversion costs is also a big benefit here. For those looking for extras, there are a ton of economic tools and information for traders to browse as well.
FP Markets opened in 2005 and has long been known to be an excellent choice for professional traders. The deep liquidity is one of the main draws for professionals, as well as the ability to access tight floating spreads.
FP Markets offers over 10,000 CFD markets, allowing traders to get exposure to almost any opportunity they might want exposure to. The larger number of assets and the tight costs are favorites of professionals.
Regional Features:
I opened a Raw Account using the MetaTrader 5 trading platform. I chose this because of the variable spreads and the $7 per round-trip commission per lot. The spreads were all very tight, and I saw EUR/USD hit 0.0 pips at one point, although it was closer to 0.1 pips most of the time. The ability to use cTrader will be a bonus for those looking to trade with algorithms, and the fact that the Australian CFD offering is 105 will be attractive to Australian traders.
The execution speed is excellent, and the ability to deposit in AUD, as well as withdrawal in AUD, is a convenience. There is also the “Professional Account”, which offers leverage as high as 1:500, but this will be for high-net-worth individuals.
Capital.com was opened in 2016 and offers more than 5,500 assets. This includes forex, crypto, shares, indices, commodities, and bond CFDs. They offer more than just CFDs; they also offer “knock-out” options as well. They also offer thematic trading, such as the “US FANG” market.
With the ability to use MT4 in a fast environment, and also the ability to use options to protect your account, this is a broker that allows flexibility, right along with the standard and loved MetaTrader 4 platform.
Regional Features:
For Capital.com, I chose the CFD account and used MetaTrader 4. The market I traded the most was USD/JPY, which had a variable spread of 0.12 pips. This account also has no commissions, which makes for an excellent net cost. The platform operated quickly, and I had no issue with a couple of Expert Advisors I chose to run.
The real standout here for me was the ability to trade 300 Australian shares via CFD markets. This is a massive number of companies, and a list that will serve Australians well. The ability to deposit and withdraw in Australian dollars is also a positive. Furthermore, the market analysis is good.
VT Markets opened in 2015 and has been very active in the pursuit of mobile trading applications and trading perfection. The broker offers plenty of leverage, has a Sydney entity, and quite often will have promotions. The VT Markets App is world-class and one of my favorite apps available.
VT Markets offers over 1,000 CFD markets, allowing traders to get exposure to forex, energies, soft commodities, indices, metals, CFD shares, CFD bonds, and CFD ETFs. This gives traders broad exposure to global market movements, and all are available on the excellent mobile app.
Regional Features:
I opened a Standard STP account at VT, using the MetaTrader 5 platform, but also tested the VT Markets App. The average spread on EUR/USD was 1.2 pips, with no commission. The list of assets offered was varied, and although there are over 800 share CFDs available, VT has stopped offering Australian shares. However, they have expanded into Hong Kong and Mainland China, which will be appealing to a lot of Aussie traders.
The execution speed was fast, and the ability to deposit and withdraw in AUD is a plus. The ability to have leverage on forex up to 1:500 is a bonus as well. The mobile platform is fast and intuitive, and is easy to work with. I found it to be the most appealing factor in choosing VT Markets.
The forex and CFD analysts and editors at FXEmpire bring together seasoned trading professionals and experienced financial journalists. Many of our experts have been featured in leading publications such as Investopedia and Forbes, and all of them combine strong industry credentials with hands-on trading experience.
Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later, Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licensed futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.
Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.
Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Plamen’s favourite trading instruments include FX majors and gold. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. Plamen's broad experience has equipped him with the expertise to recommend the best forex brokers.
In more than 15 years of trading in the financial markets, Vladimir dealt with a wide range of brokers and financial instruments. His career as a day-trader at a proprietary trading firm goes back to 2007. Later, Vladimir turned to longer time frames and became an independent trader and analyst managing his own portfolio. Using his experience, he helps traders find the best broker in his reviews.
Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Plamen’s favourite trading instruments include FX majors and gold. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. Plamen's broad experience has equipped him with the expertise to recommend the best forex brokers.
Christopher Lewis is an experienced trader and technical analyst specializing on currencies, indices, and commodities. He also has been working as a proprietary trader for institutional accounts. Chris has been an FXEmpire analyst since the site's early days and shares his trading insights on his own blog, The Trader Guy. His sharp, practical understanding of the trading industry means he knows forex and CFD brokers inside-out, so you can trust his guidance on how they work and which one to choose.
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