It depends on your contribution size and frequency. For investors making regular contributions of A$500 to A$2,000 buying ASX-listed ETFs, Stake typically ranks first due to its flat A$3 commission and zero custody fees. Pearler at A$6.50 ranks close behind, with the lowest published FX markup of any local broker at 0.50%. CommSec is the most expensive option for frequent investors given its tiered commission structure of A$5 to A$19.95 per trade. For large portfolios where FX conversion applies, Interactive Brokers wins decisively with its 0.002% FX rate. Use the calculator above to find the cheapest option for your exact inputs.

Not usually. The main Australian ETFs — VAS, VGS, VGE, IOZ, VDHG, and NDQ — all trade in AUD on the ASX, so no currency conversion is required. FX costs only apply if you buy US-listed stocks or ETFs directly, or use a broker that routes through an international exchange. Stake charges approximately 1% for AUD-to-USD conversions on US trades. For investors who regularly convert AUD to trade US-listed securities, Interactive Brokers offers FX conversion at approximately 0.002% — around 500 times cheaper than Stake and 425 times cheaper than Selfwealth.

Stake charges A$3 per ASX trade for orders up to A$30,000, while Selfwealth charges A$9.50 flat regardless of trade size. For most regular contributors, Stake is consistently cheaper by A$6.50 per trade on commission alone. Both charge no custody or platform fees. For US stock trading, Selfwealth's effective FX rate of approximately 0.85% is slightly better than Stake's approximately 1%. For pure ASX ETF investing, Stake wins on commission. Use the calculator to see the full multi-year cost difference for your exact inputs.

CommSec's tiered commission structure — A$5 for trades up to A$1,000, A$10 for trades up to A$10,000, and A$19.95 for trades up to A$25,000 — is significantly more expensive than Stake, Pearler, or Selfwealth for most regular investors. The main reasons to use CommSec are seamless integration with a Commonwealth Bank account for instant BPAY settlement, broad familiarity, and access to CommSec Pocket for fractional ETF investing from A$2. For cost-focused passive ETF investors accumulating over time, the commission gap is difficult to justify.

Pearler's key differentiator is its Autoinvest feature, which lets investors automate regular ETF purchases on a set schedule — similar to a direct debit investing plan. The commission is A$6.50 per trade (or A$5.50 with Prepay credit), and the FX markup for US trades is 0.50%, the most transparently quoted and lowest of any local Australian broker. Pearler also offers fractional US stock investing from A$10. It is designed specifically for long-term, set-and-forget ETF accumulators and is popular with the Australian FIRE community.

Interactive Brokers charges approximately 0.08% (minimum A$6) per ASX trade on fixed pricing, which is more expensive than Stake's A$3 flat for small orders under around A$7,500. For pure ASX ETF investing with no FX conversion, Stake and Pearler are cheaper on commission. IBKR's decisive advantage is its FX conversion rate of approximately 0.002% — around 500 times cheaper than Stake. For any investor regularly converting AUD to trade US-listed securities, the FX saving at scale makes IBKR the clear winner. It is also the strongest option for investors with large portfolios who want margin lending, options, or access to global markets beyond the ASX.