Share Trading comparison
CommSec vs Tiger Brokers
The biggest practical difference between CommSec and Tiger Brokers is ownership structure. CommSec is part of Commonwealth Bank, Australia's largest bank, and uses full CHESS sponsorship — you get your own HIN and shares are held in your name. Tiger Brokers is a newer, tech-driven broker backed by NASDAQ-listed UP Fintech, offering lower headline brokerage but using a mixed CHESS/custodian model. That distinction shapes everything from fees to trust.
Choose
CommSec
if…
- ›You want your own HIN and direct CHESS sponsorship on the ASX — your name on the register, not the broker's
- ›You already bank with CBA and want instant settlement via a linked CDIA account
- ›You need access to a wide range of asset types including managed funds, bonds, and kids/minor accounts
- ›You value a 30-year track record and the backing of Australia's largest bank
- ›You want phone trading support and extensive branch/cash deposit options
Choose
Tiger Brokers
if…
- ›You want the lowest ASX brokerage on the block — $3 minimum vs CommSec's $5 (or $29.95 without CDIA)
- ›You trade US stocks regularly and want a $2 USD minimum with near-zero percentage fees
- ›You want auto-invest / DCA functionality for dollar-cost averaging into ETFs or stocks
- ›You want a desktop trading platform and a demo account to test strategies before committing
- ›You want a built-in CGT report to simplify tax time without third-party tools
Where they differ
| Fact | CommSec | Tiger Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage minimum | $5 | $3 |
| CHESS model | Full CHESS (own HIN) | Mixed CHESS/custodian |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Not available | Available (single asset level) |
| Desktop platform | No | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | Available | Not available |
Verdict
Choose CommSec for full CHESS ownership and bank-grade security; pick Tiger Brokers for lower fees, US trading, and automation.
Cost calculator
What would CommSec vs Tiger Brokers actually cost you?
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All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | CommSec | Tiger Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | chess |
| Individual HIN | Yes | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | Yes | No |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| US shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| Other markets supported | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Japan, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Sweden | Hong Kong, China A-shares |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes | Yes |
| Options trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | Yes | No |
| IPO access | Yes | Yes |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.55% | 0.55% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.55% | — |
| Holds USD account | Yes | Yes |
| FX currency switch trick | No | No |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | $59.95 | — |
| Corporate action fees | Corporate actions (SPP, rights issue, takeovers, demergers, dividend payments) are not separately charged by CommSec. They are processed via the share registry/issuer. CommSec does not send trade confirmations for off-market events, so Sharesight/other tracker sync requires manual updates. Failed-settlement fees apply if payment is late ($10 minimum or 0.66% above $1,500). | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $5 | $3 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.12% | 0.03% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $25,000 | $10,000 |
| ASX free trade conditions | Conditional: $5 minimum requires linked CDIA (Commonwealth Direct Investment Account) or CommSec Margin Loan as the settlement account AND CHESS sponsorship with CommSec. Without CDIA linkage, brokerage starts at $29.95 for trades up to $9,999.99 and 0.31% above. Promotional $0 brokerage offers occasionally run for new customers (e.g. 30 free trades up to $50,000 each, May–Nov 2026 offer for new sign-ups). | New clients receive zero-brokerage on up to 4 trades per month on ASX/US stocks, ETFs or options (minimum brokerage waived; third-party fees still apply). |
| US brokerage minimum | US$5 | US$2 |
| US brokerage percentage | 0.12% | 0.01% |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $54 | $50 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Commonwealth Securities Limited | Tiger Brokers (AU) Pty Limited |
| AFSL number | 238,814 | 300,767 |
| Year founded | 1,995 | 2,020 |
| Parent / ownership | Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) | UP Fintech Holding Limited (NASDAQ: TIGR) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | BPAY, Direct debit, Bank transfer (CDIA), Cheque, Cash deposit (CBA branch/ATM) | PayID, PayTo, Bank transfer (direct credit) |
| Settlement period | T+2 (ASX) / T+1 (US) | T+2 (ASX), T+1 (US) |
| Withdrawal time | Same-day to 1 business day (instant when funds in CDIA via real-time transfer) | 1-2 business days (Tiger review) plus bank processing; can arrive same day |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | Yes |
| Demo account | No | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | — |
| 2FA support | SMS + authenticator | authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat (in-app), secure mail (in-platform), social media (X, Instagram) | phone, email, live chat, in-app |
| Support hours (AU time) | Phone 8am-6pm Mon-Fri Sydney time (general & options); extended trading-hours support during ASX session. No 24/7 support. | Phone: 9am-5pm weekdays (AET). Live chat: 9am-8:30pm weekdays. Email: ongoing. |
| Education content | structured courses | structured courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | No | — |
| CGT calculator / report | No | 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 | No | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | none | single asset |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | Yes |