Moomoo vs CMC Invest
Australia (2026)
Both are CHESS-sponsored, ASIC-regulated, and actively targeting Australian investors. The difference is in what they prioritise: Moomoo leans into active-trader tools, research depth, and fractional US shares; CMC Invest offers free US trading, a conditional free first ASX buy, and broader market access across UK, Canada, and Japan. This page cuts through the marketing.
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TL;DR
- You want fractional US shares from US$1
- You invest in Hong Kong stocks (HKEX)
- You value active-trader tools: Level 2 data, technical indicators, AI analysis
- You want paper trading to practise without risking real money
- Your ASX orders are above A$1,000 — Moomoo’s A$3 beats CMC’s A$11
- You DCA into ASX ETFs below A$1,000 per position — first buy free
- You invest in US, UK, Canadian, or Japanese shares at A$0
- You need a joint, company, or trust account
- You prefer broader market access and a more established broker history
- You want managed funds (mFunds) or options alongside shares
Broker background and safety
Both are ASIC-regulated and CHESS-sponsored for ASX holdings. The ownership structure and operating history differ materially.
Moomoo Australia (Futu Securities Australia Ltd) is a subsidiary of Futu Holdings — a Nasdaq-listed fintech that built its reputation in the US and Hong Kong markets before expanding to Australia. It has grown rapidly since launch and positions itself as a tech-first investing platform. ASIC-regulated. ASX trades are CHESS-sponsored.
- Regulator: ASIC
- ASX custody: CHESS-sponsored (direct HIN ownership)
- International custody: Custodial model — you hold beneficial ownership
- Client money: Held in segregated trust accounts
- 2FA / biometric: Supported
CMC Invest is operated by CMC Markets Stockbroking — a subsidiary of London-listed CMC Markets plc, one of the longest-established retail brokers globally. The Australian arm has a long operating history predating most neobrokers. ASIC-regulated. ASX trades are CHESS-sponsored. The key distinction: CMC Invest is the investing product. CMC Markets CFD is a separate, leveraged-trading platform.
- Regulator: ASIC
- ASX custody: CHESS-sponsored (direct HIN ownership)
- International custody: Custodial model — you hold beneficial ownership
- Client money: Held in segregated trust accounts
- Phone trading: Available
Market access and tradable assets
CMC Invest covers more markets overall. Moomoo fills a specific gap: Hong Kong access and fractional US shares that CMC does not offer.
| Market / product | Moomoo | CMC Invest |
|---|---|---|
| ASX stocks | Yes — CHESS-sponsored | Yes — CHESS-sponsored |
| ASX ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Cboe / Chi-X Australia | Yes | Yes |
| US stocks and ETFs | Yes (NYSE, NASDAQ) | Yes (NYSE, NASDAQ) |
| Hong Kong (HKEX) | Yes | No |
| UK / Canada / Japan | No | Yes (A$0 commission) |
| Fractional US shares | Yes — from US$1 | No (A$1,000 min on most international) |
| ASX ETFs fractional | From A$1 | No |
| Options (US) | Yes | Yes |
| Managed funds (mFunds) | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | No (separate CMC Markets platform) |
| Crypto / bonds | No | No |
| Paper trading / demo | Yes | No |
Fee comparison
The headline numbers are deceptively close. The difference emerges when you look at what you’re actually trading, your order size, and how often you sell.
| Fee | Moomoo | CMC Invest |
|---|---|---|
| ASX stocks / ETFs — buy | A$3 or 0.03% (GST incl.) | A$0 first buy <A$1k/security/day; A$11 or 0.11% otherwise |
| ASX stocks / ETFs — sell | A$3 or 0.03% | A$11 or 0.11% |
| US stocks and ETFs | US$0.99 per order | A$0 |
| HK stocks | HK$3 + HK$15 platform fee | Not available |
| UK / Canada / Japan | Not available | A$0 |
| FX markup (AUD/USD) | ~0.50%* | Up to 0.60%* |
| Annual custody fee | 0% | 0% |
| Platform / subscription | A$0 (real-time ASX/Cboe data optional: A$49.99/month) | A$0 |
| Inactivity fee | A$0 | A$0 |
| Minimum deposit | A$0 | A$0 |
* FX markups are not officially published as precise percentages by either broker. ~0.50% for Moomoo and up to 0.60% for CMC Invest are the best available estimates from third-party research — treat as indicative only. Verify directly with each broker before investing.
- ASX ETF buys below A$1,000/security/day — A$0 vs Moomoo’s A$3
- US stock or ETF trades — A$0 vs Moomoo’s US$0.99 per order
- UK, Canadian, Japanese stock trades — A$0 vs unavailable on Moomoo
- ASX buys above A$1,000 per order — A$3 vs CMC’s A$11
- All ASX sell orders — A$3 or 0.03% vs CMC’s A$11 or 0.11%
- HK stocks — available at HK$3+15; CMC has no HK access
- Large ASX orders — 0.03% cap outperforms CMC’s 0.11%
Platform and user experience
Moomoo is an active-trader platform wearing an investing app’s clothes. CMC Invest has rebuilt its investing product significantly and suits a more straightforward buy-and-hold workflow.
- Mobile app: Feature-rich; heat maps, real-time quotes, community feed, strong App Store ratings.
- Desktop: Downloadable client modelled on professional terminals — powerful but complex for investors who just want to buy ETFs.
- Beginners: Approachable on mobile; desktop can overwhelm. Paper trading mode is a genuine advantage.
- Account opening: Fully digital; ID verification typically fast.
- Funding: Bank transfer, PayID/Osko supported.
- Auto-invest: Recurring investment orders supported.
- Mobile app: The CMC Invest app is the investing-focused product — separate from the CMC Markets CFD app.
- Web platform: Browser-based; cleaner navigation than Moomoo’s desktop client.
- Beginners: More straightforward for simple ETF or share buying; less noise, less feature depth.
- Account opening: Fully digital; ID verification typically fast.
- Funding: Bank transfer, PayID/Osko; phone trading also available.
- Auto-invest: Recurring investment orders supported.
Research tools and market data
Moomoo invests heavily in active-trader tooling. CMC Invest integrates third-party research but suits a fundamentals-first, long-term approach more than a technical one.
| Tool / feature | Moomoo | CMC Invest |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 market depth (US) | Yes (included or low cost) | Limited |
| Technical indicators / charting | Extensive | Standard |
| AI-powered analysis tools | Yes | No |
| Analyst ratings | Yes | Yes (TipRanks integration) |
| Third-party research | Institutional insights, premium news | Morningstar, TipRanks |
| Stock screener | Yes (advanced) | Basic |
| Social / community feed | Yes (Moo Community) | No |
| Paper trading / demo | Yes | No |
| Education / tutorials | Yes (in-app) | Yes (webinars, guides) |
| Conditional / advanced orders | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest / recurring | Yes | Yes |
Account types and tax reporting
CMC Invest supports a broader range of account structures. If you need a joint, company, or trust account, it is currently the only option between the two.
- Individual cash account
- SMSF account (available)
- No joint accounts or minor accounts
- No company or trust accounts
- EOFY tax reports and dividend statements provided
- Realised gains / loss reports available
- W-8BEN handled for US stock income
- Foreign currency conversion records maintained
- Individual cash account
- Joint accounts (available)
- Company accounts (available)
- Trust accounts (available)
- SMSF account (available)
- EOFY tax reports and dividend statements provided
- Realised gains / loss reports available
- W-8BEN handled for US stock income
- Dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) support where available
Who should choose which broker
The right pick depends on how you invest — not which platform looks better. Use this table to match your actual behaviour to the right fee structure.
| Investor profile | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| DCA into ASX ETFs (<A$1k/position/day) | CMC Invest | First buy free — A$0 vs Moomoo’s A$3 on every contribution |
| DCA into ASX ETFs (>A$1k/position) | Moomoo | A$3 or 0.03% vs CMC’s A$11 or 0.11% above the threshold |
| ASX sell orders (all sizes) | Moomoo | A$3 or 0.03% vs CMC’s A$11 or 0.11% on every sell |
| US stock investor (whole shares) | CMC Invest | A$0 commission vs Moomoo’s US$0.99 per order |
| US stock investor (fractional shares) | Moomoo | Only Moomoo offers fractional US shares from US$1 |
| Hong Kong investor | Moomoo | CMC Invest has no HK market access |
| UK / Canada / Japan investor | CMC Invest | A$0 commission; Moomoo does not offer these markets |
| Active trader needing research tools | Moomoo | Level 2 data, technical indicators, AI signals, advanced screeners |
| Long-term buy-and-hold ETF investor | CMC Invest | Simpler workflow, Morningstar research, less platform noise |
| Beginner wanting to practise first | Moomoo | Paper trading mode; risk-free learning before committing real money |
| Joint / company / trust account | CMC Invest | Moomoo only supports individual and SMSF accounts |
| Managed funds (mFunds) | CMC Invest | Moomoo does not offer mFunds or managed funds |
| SMSF investor | Both | Both support SMSF — verify current setup and requirements with each broker |
Main limitations of each broker
- US trades cost US$0.99 per order — CMC is free for whole-share US trades
- No UK, Canadian, or Japanese market access
- Desktop platform is complex for pure buy-and-hold investors
- FX markup not officially published — modelled at ~0.50% estimate only
- No joint, company, or trust accounts
- All ASX sell orders charged A$3 — CMC’s A$11 is higher, but verify your sell frequency
- Optional real-time ASX/Cboe data adds A$49.99/month if needed
- ASX buys above A$1,000: A$11 or 0.11% — significantly more than Moomoo’s A$3
- All ASX sell orders: A$11 or 0.11% — there is no free sell tier
- No Hong Kong market access
- No fractional shares — international stocks require A$1,000 minimum
- FX markup up to 0.60% — not published as a confirmed precise figure
- No paper trading or demo account
- Research depth on the Invest platform is narrower than Moomoo for active traders
Ready to open an account?
Both are CHESS-sponsored and ASIC-regulated. The right choice comes down to your order size, which markets you need, and whether active-trader tooling matters to you.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
Is Moomoo better than CMC Invest for beginners?
It depends on what “beginner” means to you. CMC Invest’s free first daily ASX buy under A$1,000 per security makes it more cost-efficient for beginners running small, regular ETF contributions — the most common starting-out scenario. Moomoo includes a paper trading mode that lets you practise without risking real money, which is a genuine advantage if you want to learn before committing capital. The depth of Moomoo’s platform can feel overwhelming if you simply want to set up a monthly ETF contribution and leave it alone; CMC Invest is simpler for that use case.
Do both Moomoo and CMC Invest offer CHESS-sponsored ASX shares?
Yes. Both brokers are CHESS-sponsored for ASX-listed shares, meaning you hold a Holder Identification Number (HIN) and directly own your Australian shares — the same model used by CommSec and other established Australian brokers. For international holdings (US, HK), both use a custodial model where the broker holds the assets on your behalf and you retain beneficial ownership. Understanding the difference between CHESS-sponsored ASX holdings and custodial international holdings matters for your view of counterparty risk.
Which broker is better for US shares?
Depends on your position size and whether fractional shares matter. CMC Invest charges A$0 for US stock and ETF trades, making it cheaper for standard whole-share purchases — and the saving is real over hundreds of trades. Moomoo charges US$0.99 per order but is the only option if you want fractional US shares, which is useful if you want exposure to high-priced US stocks without committing to a full share. For cost-minimisation on whole-share US trades, CMC Invest wins outright. For fractional investing, Moomoo is the only option between the two.
Does Moomoo offer fractional shares?
Yes. Moomoo offers fractional US shares from US$1 and ASX ETFs from A$1. CMC Invest does not offer fractional shares — most international stocks require a minimum A$1,000 order value, and ASX shares must be purchased in whole units. If regular small-amount investing into US markets is part of your plan, Moomoo is the only realistic option between the two.
Which broker is better for long-term ETF investing on the ASX?
CMC Invest has a structural edge for DCA-style ETF investing when contributions stay below A$1,000 per position per calendar day — that first buy is free. A regular monthly contribution of A$500–A$900 into one or two ETFs costs nothing in brokerage at CMC Invest. Above A$1,000 per order, or on any sell, CMC charges A$11 or 0.11% — significantly more than Moomoo’s A$3 or 0.03%. If you invest in larger lump sums, trade at all, or sell positions regularly, Moomoo is likely cheaper on ASX transactions. The right answer depends almost entirely on your contribution size.
QuantRoutine provides educational content only. Nothing on this page is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security or to open an account with any specific broker. Investments can lose value, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Fee data is sourced from broker websites and third-party research as of May 2026; verify all figures directly on each broker’s official website before making any decision. FX markups marked as estimates are not officially published figures from either broker. You are responsible for your own investment, tax, and legal decisions.