Share Trading comparison
Commsec Pocket vs Marketech Focus
CommSec Pocket is built for simplicity and low-cost ETF investing, while Marketech Focus is a more traditional broker aimed at active traders who want order types and SMSF capability. The biggest practical difference is cost: Pocket charges $0 brokerage on ETFs during its promo period and has no monthly fees, whereas Marketech Focus charges $20/month plus $20/month for market data and higher brokerage.
Choose
Commsec Pocket
if…
- ›You want the cheapest way to buy ASX ETFs — $0 brokerage during the current promo, then just $2 on trades up to $1,000
- ›You're happy investing only in ASX ETFs and shares, with no need for US stocks or other markets
- ›You want to start small — minimum initial deposit is just $50 and subsequent purchases start at $50
- ›You prefer a simple, app-only experience with auto-invest (DCA) into a single ETF each month
- ›You're already a CBA customer and want seamless direct debit from your existing transaction account
Choose
Marketech Focus
if…
- ›You need stop-loss and conditional orders — Marketech Focus supports both; CommSec Pocket does not
- ›You want to trade on Cboe Australia or the NSX, not just the ASX
- ›You need an SMSF account structure, which Marketech Focus offers and CommSec Pocket doesn't
- ›You value desktop trading software alongside the mobile app — Pocket is mobile-only
- ›You want detailed distribution component breakdowns in your tax statements for managed fund-like ETF reporting
Where they differ
| Fact | Commsec Pocket | Marketech Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $20/month |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $20/month |
| ASX brokerage (minimum) | $2 (or $0 promo) | $5 |
| Minimum initial deposit | $50 | $500 |
| Order types | Market & limit orders only | Market, limit, stop-loss & conditional orders |
Verdict
Choose CommSec Pocket for dirt-cheap ETF investing; choose Marketech Focus if you need advanced orders, SMSF, or desktop trading.
Cost calculator
What would Commsec Pocket 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 | Commsec Pocket | Marketech Focus |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | chess |
| Individual HIN | Yes | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | — |
| Company account | No | — |
| Trust account | No | — |
| SMSF account | No | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | No | — |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| US shares supported | No | No |
| US ETFs supported | No | No |
| Other markets supported | Cboe Australia, NSX (National Stock Exchange of Australia) | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | — |
| Options trading | No | No |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | No | — |
| costs hidden | ||
| Holds USD account | — | No |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $20/month |
| Conditional order fees | — | $0 |
| Corporate action fees | Corporate actions (rights issues, SPPs, takeovers) are administered via the underlying ETF issuers/share registries since holdings are CHESS-sponsored under the investor's HIN; CommSec does not charge a separate corporate action fee. | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $2 | $5 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.2% | 3% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $1,000 | $16,667 |
| ASX free trade conditions | Promotional $0 brokerage offer on Pocket ETF trades from 20 April 2026 to 17 July 2026 inclusive, available to all CommSec Pocket customers. | — |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $20/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $240/year |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | — |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $54 | — |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Commonwealth Securities Limited | Marketech Online Trading Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | 238,814 | 337,927 |
| Year founded | 2,019 | 2,021 |
| Parent / ownership | Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) | 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 | $50 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $50 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | Linked CBA transaction account (CDIA, Smart Access, Streamline Basic, NetBank Saver, etc.) - direct debit | Bank transfer (to Macquarie CMA), Direct credit |
| Settlement period | T+2 | 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 | No | Yes |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Free real-time market data | No | No |
| Free research reports | No | Yes |
| 2FA support | SMS + PIN | — |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, in-app messaging | email, support portal |
| Support hours (AU time) | Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm AET (phone) | — |
| Education content | structured courses | basic articles |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | No | Yes |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | Yes | Yes |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | No | Yes |
| Conditional orders | No | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | single asset | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | No |