Share Trading comparison
Interactive Brokers Australia vs Marketech Focus
Interactive Brokers is a global trading powerhouse with access to 135+ markets, while Marketech Focus is a new Australian broker built purely for ASX investors who want CHESS sponsorship and a personal HIN. The biggest practical difference: IBKR holds your ASX shares under a custodian model, whereas Marketech Focus puts them directly in your name. That single distinction drives most of the choice between these two.
Choose
Interactive Brokers Australia
if…
- ›You want to trade US stocks, ETFs, options, CFDs or bonds — IBKR covers all of them and Marketech doesn't touch US markets at all
- ›You trade frequently on ASX and want near-zero brokerage (0.08% vs 0.03% with a $5 floor — IBKR wins on percentage for larger trades)
- ›You need access to 30+ international markets from a single login, including Hong Kong, London, Tokyo and emerging markets
- ›You want zero monthly fees and no inactivity penalties — IBKR charges $0/month compared to Marketech's $20/month
- ›You plan to invest in USD assets and want a dedicated USD account with ultra-tight FX spreads (0.002%)
Choose
Marketech Focus
if…
- ›You insist on CHESS sponsorship and holding your own HIN — Marketech is CHESS-sponsored, IBKR is a custodian
- ›You only buy ASX shares and ETFs and want a simple, Australian-focused platform without the complexity of global markets
- ›You want dividend reinvestment (DRP) — Marketech supports it, IBKR does not
- ›You prefer a flat $5 ASX brokerage over IBKR's percentage model for smaller trades under ~$6,250
- ›You want distribution component breakdowns for tax time — Marketech provides them, IBKR doesn't
Where they differ
| Fact | Interactive Brokers Australia | Marketech Focus |
|---|---|---|
| CHESS model | Custodian (no individual HIN) | CHESS-sponsored (individual HIN) |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $20/month |
| US shares | Supported (with USD account) | Not supported |
| ASX brokerage minimum | $6 | $5 |
| Minimum initial deposit | $0 | $500 |
Verdict
Choose Interactive Brokers for global markets and low fees; choose Marketech Focus if CHESS ownership and ASX-only simplicity matter more.
Cost calculator
What would Interactive Brokers Australia vs Marketech Focus actually cost you?
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All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Interactive Brokers Australia | Marketech Focus |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | custodian | chess |
| Individual HIN | No | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | — |
| Company account | Yes | — |
| Trust account | Yes | — |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | No | — |
| 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 | US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Israel, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, China (Stock Connect), South Korea, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico | Cboe Australia, NSX (National Stock Exchange of Australia) |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes | — |
| Options trading | Yes | No |
| CFDs supported | Yes | No |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | Yes | No |
| IPO access | No | — |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.002% | — |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.002% | — |
| Holds USD account | Yes | No |
| FX currency switch trick | No | — |
| Market data fees | — | $20/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Corporate action fees | Corporate action processing is generally fee-free for standard events (dividends, splits, mergers). Some voluntary corporate actions and ADR pass-through fees apply per the published fee schedule. Mandatory reorganisations are processed at no charge. | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $6 | $5 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.08% | 3% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | — | $16,667 |
| US brokerage minimum | US$1 | — |
| US brokerage percentage | 0.05% | — |
| 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 | $0 | — |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd | Marketech Online Trading Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | 453,554 | 337,927 |
| Year founded | 1,978 | 2,021 |
| Parent / ownership | Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBKR) | 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 | $0 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer (EFT), BPAY, International wire (SWIFT) | Bank transfer (to Macquarie CMA), Direct credit |
| Settlement period | T+2 for ASX, T+1 for US equities | T+2 |
| Withdrawal time | 1-3 business days for AUD EFT; same day possible for AUD instant transfers within Australia | 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 | Yes | No |
| Free real-time market data | No | No |
| Free research reports | Yes | Yes |
| 2FA support | authenticator app | — |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat, in-app secure message | email, support portal |
| Support hours (AU time) | 24 hours, Monday to Friday (Sydney) — local AU phone support during business hours; global desks cover overnight | — |
| Education content | video + 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional orders | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | multiple | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | No | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | No |
Visit
Interactive Brokers Australia
www.interactivebrokers.com.au
Visit
Marketech Focus
www.marketech.com.au