Share Trading comparison
Superhero vs Westpac Online Investing
The biggest practical difference between Superhero and Westpac Online Investing comes down to ownership structure and cost. Superhero is a cheap, custodian-based broker with $2 ASX trades and zero platform fees, but you don't get a CHESS-sponsored HIN. Westpac charges more ($4.95 minimum) but gives you full CHESS sponsorship, direct HIN ownership, and the backing of a major bank.
Choose
Superhero
if…
- ›You want the lowest possible ASX brokerage at just $2 per trade up to $20,000
- ›You plan to buy fractional US shares — Superhero supports them, Westpac doesn't
- ›You're starting small and want a $100 minimum deposit (vs Westpac's $500)
- ›You want to automate regular investments with DCA functionality — Westpac has none
- ›You want to avoid any monthly, inactivity, or withdrawal fees entirely
Choose
Westpac Online Investing
if…
- ›You want CHESS sponsorship and your own HIN for direct ASX share ownership
- ›You trade international markets beyond the US — Westpac covers 18 countries
- ›You need options trading, managed funds, or bonds — Superhero offers none of these
- ›You're already a Westpac customer and want seamless same-day transfers between accounts
- ›You value structured educational content and phone support with extended hours
Where they differ
| Fact | Superhero | Westpac Online Investing |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage minimum | $2 | $4.95 |
| CHESS sponsorship | Custodian model (no HIN) | Full CHESS (individual HIN) |
| FX spread on US trades | 0.005% | 0.65% |
| International markets | US only | 18 countries including US, UK, Europe, Asia |
| Fractional US shares | Yes | No |
Verdict
Choose Superhero for ultra-low costs and fractional US shares; choose Westpac for CHESS sponsorship, global markets, and full product range.
Cost calculator
What would Superhero vs Westpac Online Investing 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 | Superhero | Westpac Online Investing |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | custodian | chess |
| Individual HIN | No | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | Yes |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | Yes | Yes |
| SMSF account | Yes | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | Yes | Yes |
| 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, Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Portugal, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes | No |
| Options trading | No | Yes |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds supported | No | Yes |
| IPO access | — | Yes |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.5% | 65% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | — | 65% |
| Holds USD account | No | Yes |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Phone trade surcharge | — | $50 |
| Corporate action fees | — | Corporate action processing (rights issues, takeovers, SPPs) is generally free for CHESS-sponsored clients — Westpac/AUSIEX passes elections to issuers/registries. Specific fees only apply in exceptional circumstances per the FSG. |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $2 | $4.95 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.01% | 11% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $20,000 | $28,000 |
| ASX free trade conditions | — | No free brokerage offered. Lower brokerage tiers ($4.95 minimum) require settlement via linked Westpac Cash Investment Account; settling via other-bank accounts incurs $29.95 / 0.29% minimum. |
| US brokerage minimum | US$2 | US$4.95 |
| US brokerage percentage | 0.01% | 11% |
| 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 | — | $50 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Superhero Securities Limited | Australian Investment Exchange Limited (AUSIEX); Westpac Securities Limited issues the branded service |
| AFSL number | 430,150 | 241,400 |
| Year founded | 2,020 | 2,010 |
| Parent / ownership | Independent (founder-controlled). Previously merged into Swyftx in 2022; demerger completed December 2022 returning ownership to co-founders John Winters and Wayne Baskin. | Brand: Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC); operator AUSIEX is wholly owned by Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (TSE: 4307) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | private | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $100 | $500 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $100 | $0 |
| Deposit methods | PayID, BPAY, bank transfer | Westpac Cash Investment Account (linked), External bank Direct Credit, BPAY, Internal transfer between Westpac accounts |
| Settlement period | T+2 for ASX, T+1 for US | T+2 (ASX), T+1 (US) |
| Withdrawal time | 1-3 business days | Same-day to 1 business day for Westpac-to-Westpac transfers; 1-2 business days to external bank accounts |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | No |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | No | Yes |
| 2FA support | SMS | SMS + authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | email, in-app chat | phone, email, live chat, in-app |
| Support hours (AU time) | Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm AEST | Phone: 8am-7pm Sydney time Mon-Fri (domestic); 24 hours on US trading days for international; Live chat: 9:30am-5pm Sydney time Mon-Fri |
| Education content | basic | structured courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | — | No |
| 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 |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | multiple | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | No | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | No |