Share Trading comparison
CMC Invest vs Marketech Focus
CMC Invest and Marketech Focus both offer CHESS-sponsored ASX trading, but that's where the similarities end. CMC is a global publicly-listed broker with zero brokerage on small ASX buys, zero platform fees, and access to 15 international markets. Marketech Focus is a newer, Australian-owned private platform that charges a flat $20/month fee and only supports ASX, Cboe and NSX — no US or international shares at all.
Choose
CMC Invest
if…
- ›You want $0 brokerage on ASX buy orders up to $1,000 per security per day — great for building positions gradually
- ›You need access to US, UK, Canadian, European and Asian markets from one account
- ›You don't want to pay any monthly or annual platform fee, and you'd rather avoid inactivity fees by trading at least once a year
- ›You want a kids' or minor account, joint accounts, trust accounts, or SMSF — Marketech doesn't offer those
- ›You want auto-invest / DCA functionality to dollar-cost average into single ASX stocks or ETFs automatically
Choose
Marketech Focus
if…
- ›You want the lowest minimum ASX brokerage at $5 per trade (compared to CMC's $11 minimum)
- ›You're happy paying $20/month for a simple, no-frills ASX-only broker and don't need US or international shares
- ›You value same-day withdrawals via a linked Macquarie Cash Management Account
- ›You prefer a smaller, Australian-owned private company and don't need phone support or live chat
Where they differ
| Fact | CMC Invest | Marketech Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $20/month ($240/year) |
| Market data fees | $0/month (free real-time data) | $20/month |
| ASX brokerage minimum | $11 (or $0 on first buy of each security up to $1,000) | $5 |
| International markets | 15 countries including US, UK, Japan, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong | ASX, Cboe Australia and NSX only |
| Inactivity fee | $15 after 12 months of no trading | None (but $20/month fee applies regardless) |
Verdict
CMC Invest is the far better choice for most Australians unless you specifically want the lowest ASX trade cost and don't mind paying $240/year in fees.
Cost calculator
What would CMC Invest vs Marketech Focus actually cost you?
Punch in your trade size and frequency. We'll do the full brokerage + FX + fees maths.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | CMC Invest | Marketech Focus |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | chess |
| Individual HIN | Yes | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | — |
| Company account | Yes | — |
| Trust account | Yes | — |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | Yes | — |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| US shares supported | Yes | No |
| US ETFs supported | Yes | No |
| Other markets supported | United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand | Cboe Australia, NSX (National Stock Exchange of Australia) |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | — |
| Options trading | Yes | No |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | Yes | — |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.6% | — |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.6% | — |
| Holds USD account | No | No |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $20/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | $59.95 | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $11 | $5 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.1% | 3% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $1,000 | $16,667 |
| ASX free trade conditions | $0 brokerage on first ASX buy order per security per day for trades up to $1,000 (excludes margin loan settled trades and sells) | — |
| US brokerage minimum | US$0 | — |
| US brokerage percentage | 0% | — |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $20/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $240/year |
| Inactivity fee | $15 | — |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $0 | — |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | CMC Markets Stockbroking Limited | Marketech Online Trading Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | 246,381 | 337,927 |
| Year founded | 1,989 | 2,021 |
| Parent / ownership | CMC Markets plc (LSE: CMCX) | Australian-owned private company; AFSL backing from Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd; trade execution via OpenMarkets Australia Limited |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | PayID, Bank transfer (EFT), BPAY | Bank transfer (to Macquarie CMA), Direct credit |
| Settlement period | T+2 for ASX; T+1 for US | T+2 |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days | Same-day to 1 business day (via Macquarie CMA) |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | Yes | Yes |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | No |
| Free research reports | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA support | authenticator app | — |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat | email, support portal |
| Support hours (AU time) | Monday-Friday, business hours AET (approx 8am-6pm) | — |
| Education content | structured courses | basic articles |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | Yes | Yes |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional orders | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | single asset | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | No |