Best International Trading Platform in Australia 2023
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There are many options available to Australians who want to trade shares on the stock market. Many online brokers offer a wide range of services, from discount to full-service, while others are known for their trading tools or research.
We have listed for you the best international trading platform in Australia in 2023. In addition to selecting quality online brokers, we checked and compared every aspect of their services with an emphasis on , safety, trading platforms, and deposit and withdrawal options.
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Features
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Classification
Mobile App
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
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- Buy shares and ETFs with 0% commission
- Social and copy trading network
- Invest and trade crypto with low fees
74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Fees per operation
Rating
- No deposit or withdrawal fees
- Trade major forex pairs such as EUR/USD with leverage up to 1:400 and tight spreads of 0.9 pips
- Low $100 minimum deposit to open a trading account
71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Fees per operation
Best International Trading Platform Australia (List)
Below you will find a list of Australia’s best international trading platforms in 2023.
- eToro – Overall Best International Trading Platform in Australia 2023
- Vantage Markets– Best International Trading Platform for Experienced Traders
- Trade Nation – Best International Trading Platform for Spread Betting
- Pepperstone– Best International Trading Platform for Social Trading\
- Plus 500– Best International Trading Platform for CFD Trading
- Interactive Brokers – Best International Trading Platform Australia for Stocks
- Saxo Bank – International Company with Various Online Trading Services
Best International Trading Platforms in Australia- Reviewed
The sections below will provide a comprehensive review of Australia’s best international trading platforms.
Review criteria include fees and commissions, minimum account balances, supported asset classes and markets, regulation and licensing, and user-friendliness.
1. eToro – Overall Best International Trading Platform in Australia for 2023
Regarding Australia’s overall best trading platform for 2023, eToro was a clear winner. With low fees and access to plenty of asset classes, Australian investors of all skill levels will appreciate this platform’s user-friendliness. The registration process takes just minutes, and you can start using your account immediately.
After setting up an account, investors can access over 2,500 stocks from over 17 marketplaces for just $50. Listed companies include those in the UK, the US, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Germany, Canada, and more. Additionally, more than 250 ETFs are supported.
The eToro platform allows you to buy and sell stocks and ETFs with 0% commission. There is a minimum investment of just $10 per trade. Besides stocks and ETFs, Australian investors can also invest in cryptocurrencies through eToro. Approximately 60+ digital currencies are supported, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Cardano, and BNB.
Along with indices and forex, eToro offers markets on commodities such as gold and natural gas. This popular trading platform also has a mobile app for iOS and Android smartphones. By doing so, clients can trade assets on the move, check their outstanding investments, and make deposits and withdrawals.
As an additional feature, eToro also offers a free demo account that comes pre-loaded with $100k in demo funds so that investors can practice and perfect new trading strategies without risking any capital. Additionally, eToro’s Copy Trading feature is worth exploring if you are looking for a passive investment journey. In this way, clients can learn from experienced investors who use eToro. All buy and sell positions the investor enters will automatically be carried over to the user’s portfolio.
Additionally, eToro offers dozens of Smart Portfolios. Pre-made, professionally managed Smart Portfolios track specific markets (e.g., renewable energy stocks) or strategies (e.g., high-yield dividend stocks).
eToro, on the other hand, is a heavily regulated broker when it comes to licensing. As well as with regulators in the US, UK, and Cyprus, this includes the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). There are over 25 million clients using eToro’s trading platform in the investment scene.
Australians can also deposit funds easily with eToro. In addition to bank wire transfers, eToro accepts debit and credit cards, POLi, and e-wallets such as PayPal. Aside from educational resources, eToro offers guides and videos on core trading practices for beginners.
Pros:
- Australia's best stock trading platform
- There is no commission on thousands of international stocks
- Cryptocurrencies and ETFs are also supported
- The minimum deposit is just $10
- Smart portfolios and copy trading
- Mobile app with the highest rating
Cons:
- High-frequency trading is not recommended
67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
2. Vantage Markets- Best International Trading Platform for Experienced Traders
Founded in 2009, Vantage markets has a long credibility track record as a major forex and CFDs shares broker with its multiple top- tier authorised regulations including ASIC in Australia and UK's FCA. It generally caters for your forex and a number of other shares trading needs at low non- trading fees.
One of its interesting advantage is the super- fast account opening procedure with it's fully digital and user-friendly clients interface. Vantage offers very minimal deposits as low as $50, which is applicable to its STP and Pro ECN account types. It also offers $3 commission on it's Raw ECN account type.
Vantage spares you the conversion fees for your stocks exchange due to its variety of withdrawals and deposits currency options including AUD, USD, SGD and CAD. Also, it provides quick and free deposits and withdrawals in most cases, although international withdrawals are usually charged high at subsequent attempts after the first free one within a month. Instant credit/debit payment option is available using Vantage with no exclusive charges, including other free withdrawal options such as electronic wallets and bank transfer.
Clients can easily access the Vantage trading platform through it's exquisitely designed and user- friendly mobile interface hosting excellent functional features and upgrades, or it's highly customizable Meta - Trader versions on desktop and web platforms.
The Vantage platform caters for it's clients and prospects' awareness through its limitless demo account opening and various tutorial videos and webinars provided on the platform. Vantage clients gets an upper hand at getting clarity of basic trading concepts and also get familiar with more advanced, technical stocks trading features and market analysis through detailed lessons. Coupled with that, the platform also offers a live chat customer service option to better communicate clients' stock exchange needs.
It's negative balance protection measure affords moderate discretion rights to clients when their account balance goes into negative.
Pros:
- Zero inactivity, deposits, withdrawals, fees in most cases.
- Low trading fees.
- Free, instant credit/ debit card transactions guaranteed.
- Free deposits and withdrawals.
- Unlimited demo accounts
Cons:
- Relatively high financing rates
- High charges for international bank withdrawal after the first free withdrawal within a month.
- Maximum investor protection is currently limited to UK users.
Your capital is at risk.
3. Trade Nation - Best International Trading Platform for Spread Betting
Trade Nation is a globally regulated trading platform that specializes in cfd trading and spread betting. The platform is regulated in several countries including Australia, the UK, the US and Europe. The broker provides access to over 1000 financial markets including assets from the world's major stock indices and forex pairs.
Trade Nation also offers incredibly low fees and spreads. The platform provides fixed-spreads which ensure that traders don't run into any unexpected costs when using the platform to trade. Trade Nation spreads are amongst the lowest in the world. The fixed spreads are just 0.6 pips.
Trade Nation caters to both beginner and advanced traders. The platform offers a variety of educational resources that can help traders to improve their skills and maximize trading profits. It is also possible to conduct technical analysis using either the TN trader platform or MT4. Traders can access a range of indicators and charting tools that can be used to conduct thorough analysis. Trade Nation also provides advanced signals software that is regulated in the UK. The signals can be used to support trading decisions.
In terms of device compatibility, Trade Nation is available on both desktop and mobile devices. This makes it possible to manage your portfolio on the go or use a desktop to conduct advanced analysis.
There is no minimum deposit for Trade Nation which means that it is possible to start using the demo trading account for free.
Pros:
- Trade Nation is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
- Traders can start using the demo account without depositing any funds.
- Trade Nation provides extensive research and analysis tools.
- 24/5 customer service is available to all users.
- The Signals Centre is the only regulated signals software in the world.
- The platform is compatible with Mt4.
Cons:
- Customer service is not available at weekends.
- Users cannot trade crypto assets with Trade Nation.
84% of CFD clients lose money
4. Pepperstone - Best International Trading Platform for Social Trading
If you find Meta Trader platform appealing for your stock trade and investment needs, Pepperstone is definitely one of the most preferred brokers to try out. Its zero account deposit and withdrawal fees is an attractive advantage. You get to open a Pepperstone account absolutely free in a seamless, straightforward and fast process, thanks to it's user- friendly and fully digital template.
The Pepperstone platform permits forex trades, a number of CFD shares including ETFs, commodities and Cryptos at very minimal charges and also using a wide variety of account currencies. In Australia, you can trade well over 200 CFD shares. Australian stock traders on this platform enjoy different payment options including credit/debit cards, wire transfer, PayPal, Poll Transfer, Neteller and Skrill.
At Pepperstone, there is a provision for manual and flexible leverages for investors' shares transactions. The company's alliance with other major social trading platforms such as Mirror Trader, Meta Trader Signals and My fxbook offers huge opportunities for Pepperstone subscribers to leverage on other traders unique strategies and techniques for more informed, expertise shares trading system. Moreover, this offers opportunity for spread trading.
It offers any of mobile, desktop and web customizable trading platforms in different languages and functional features provisional under MetaTrader. It also includes a clear fee report, reliable navigational and search tools, as well as order placement options to enhance user's engagement and satisfaction.
The platform offers information for clients’ improvement, including free demo lessons and tutorial videos. Excellent customer interaction is also feasible through customer service channels.
Pepperstone is under authorised regulations including Australian Securities and Investment Commissions ( ASIC) and FCA. They also maintain strict rules against disclosure of financial information, which although might not be fully satisfactory, has its good sides on its safety record.
Pros:
- Simple, free and fast account opening process,
- Zero charges on shares deposits and withdrawals.
- Fully regulated and safe forex shares platform.
- 10 different functional account base currencies
- Demo account available,
- Trading improvement ideas and daily market analytical tools.
Cons:
- MetaTrader platform is basic.
- Pepperstone does not hold a banking license.
81.2% of CFD clients lose money
5. Plus500 - Best International Trading Platform for CFD Trading
Plus500 is one trending online platform offering trades in forex CFDs under a well regulated, functional proprietary terms, and has a relative competitive spread. Established in 2008 with its headquarters in Isreal, Plus500 is regulated by top-tier authorities, making it a secure broker to use; you have lower risk of malpractice or default.
This broker offers over 2800 CFDs including forex, cryptocurrencies, individual shares and commodities, using a simple, easy to use online platform with low trading costs and no commissions. Cryptocurrencies can only be traded through CFD, not through the actual asset.
There are also zero charges for deposits and withdrawals, although there could be inactivity fees if you don't log in within specific periods. Also, it charges a currency conversion fee of up to 0.70% on your profits and losses. It allows different deposit methods such as MasterCard, Visa, Skrill, PayPal, Bank Fund Transfers.
The platform has functional features that allows you place and monitor your trades, analyze charts and also make watchlists of shares prospects. Clients using this platform enjoy a seamless, quick transaction experience due to the simple, well designed template layout and its accessibility across different devices, including mobile phones and desktop.
Plus500 provides a demo account that can be opened immediately and used to rehearse fair trading tools, opportunities and techniques.
Pros:
- Well designed and easy to use template
- Free, fast and easy account opening procedure with minimal deposit rates.
- Quick and helpful customer support services.
- Plus500 is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
- It is a regulated broker.
- Financial information are visible and accessible to shares investors.
- Up to 14 base currency for payment and transfers.
Cons:
- Fairly average forex trading fees.
- Poorly developed research tools.
- Charges on inactivity fees.
- Their market portfolio offers only CFD.
- It does not support social trading.
Your capital is at risk
6. Interactive Brokers - Best International Trading Platform Australia for Stocks
You might want to consider Interactive Brokers if you're looking for a top-rated online stock trading platform in Australia. A hugely popular online broker gives you access to more than 135 global markets in 33 countries.
The US, UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia are included. Investing in international shares from several stock markets gives you a chance to build a diverse portfolio. You can invest in stocks in the traditional sense or trade them as CFDs with Interactive Brokers.
Thus, it is important to note that this top-rated Australian online brokerage platform is suitable for both long-term and short-term strategies in the financial markets. If you prefer the former, you can invest in ETFs and investment funds through Interactive Broker. In addition, pre-selected portfolios are also available that cover a variety of risk levels and financial goals for you to choose from.
Interactive Brokers' pricing structure can be confusing at first glance regarding fees. In addition to the asset you wish to trade, your commission will also depend on your account type. However, Interactive Brokers allows commission-free trading of US-listed stocks and ETFs.
The result of this is that now you have the opportunity to purchase shares in Amazon, Facebook, Tesla, IBM, and many more - without getting hammered with fees. With regards to the level of safety Interactive Brokers offers, it has been providing financial trading services for more than four decades. It is heavily regulated since it is a US-based brokerage firm.
Pros:
- A large collection of traditional stocks
- Coverage of dozens of exchanges and markets
- Support is also provided for CFD instruments
- There is no minimum deposit required
- Fees start at $0.005 per share
Cons:
- Suitable for experienced investors and traders
- Bank transfers only - no debit/credit cards
7. Saxo Bank - International Company with Various Online Trading Services
Saxo Bank (Saxo Capital Markets) is an investment bank established in Denmark in 1992. The company provides various online trading services to retail and institutional investors based on their requirements and needs. There is no doubt that Saxo Bank is completely regulated, and it adheres to strict regulatory compliance across several jurisdictions, which include Denmark, the UK, Australia, and Singapore, among many others. Furthermore, Saxo capital markets offer over 35,000 tradable assets and have customers in more than 170 countries. In addition to traditional share broking services, it offers Forex, CFDs, futures, and mutual funds.
With Saxo Bank, you can access the trading platform via your web browser, offering numerous features with high-security levels. To open an account with this broker, clients must provide a copy of their passport, driver's license, or government identification. In addition, some account types protect user data during the login process.
Like any online trading broker, Saxo Trading offers its customers several trading instruments. In addition, it offers several services and managed portfolios for them. Managed portfolios involve an experienced team of professionals from Saxo Bank purchasing and selling assets on the customer's behalf. In these managed accounts, there is no lock-in period, so that traders can withdraw their funds anytime.
Per our Saxo Bank review, this broker offers a wide range of educational materials and trading courses covering futures, bonds, CFDs, equities, forex, and options. In addition to being easy to understand, the course is beneficial to both new and experienced traders.
Pros:
- Traders can choose from over 35,000 tradable instruments at Saxo Bank and invest in asset classes.
- Trading with Saxo can also be done through a third-party platform that provides the trader with customized tools.
- It offers short-term clients Forex, futures & options, and CFD trading services.
- Additionally, the company offers mutual funds, which clients can use regardless of their trading experience.
- Globally, Saxo Bank is regulated by several licensing bodies.
Cons:
- This broker requires a minimum deposit of $500, which is a major drawback
- Live Chat is not available with these brokers
What is International Stock Trading?
A stock is a financial asset that indicates ownership of a company. Alternatively, they are called shares or equity shares. You own a part of a company if you own stocks (often a small percentage).
You will not be paid any interest on your investment if you own stocks. Rather, you receive dividends when the company makes a profit. Investing in stocks can also be profitable when they go up in value. That means more people are willing to invest in that company, which leads to its capitalization. If you sold it at a higher price than you bought it, your profit would be the difference.
A stock market is a place where stocks are bought and sold daily. The international stock market comprises all international markets that trade stocks from domestic companies. For example, apple stocks can be bought at the local American market, but Sapporo stocks must be bought at the international (Japanese) market. Almost every country has its stock exchange.
Indexes measure fluctuations in the value of stocks in one market. New York's Dow Jones and NASDAQ are some of the most important indices, as well as Japan's Nikkei 225, Frankfurt's DAX, and London's FTSE.
Investing in stocks from developing markets can sometimes be more profitable, but there are also more risks, especially due to currency fluctuations. Consequently, international markets make up only a small portion of the portfolios of commercial banks and other institutional investors, typically between 15 and 25%. Domestic assets account for the difference.
Benefits of International Stock Trading
Most investors are creatures of habit, doing the same thing repeatedly without thinking of approaching the markets differently. As a result, every investor has an entrenched way of choosing investments, whether they invest in stocks, bonds, commodities, or currencies.
Despite this, the best investors always think outside the box when searching for the best ways to deploy their capital. To capture opportunities in the market, they must adapt their portfolios wherever they might arise.
A good way to do this for the average investor, especially right now, is to consider international stocks despite international stocks outperforming the US. Unfortunately, markets over the last quarter-century, many domestic investors still avoid global equities. For most investors, fear of the unknown and loss aversion.
However, history shows that these fears are unfounded. Nevertheless, you should try your hand in the international market if you are an investor, and here are a few reasons why.
Take Advantage of Different Economies
The exposure of your dollars to faster-growing economies may also boost your returns. There may be favorable conditions that enable a foreign industry to grow at a faster rate than one of its counterparts in the home country, such as tax incentives, progressive government leadership, or even access to natural resources that enable the industry to grow at a faster rate than its domestic counterpart.
According to Nauman Anees, CEO of ThinkMarkets, an international brokerage based in Australia and the United Kingdom, international companies could represent an attractive relative market value compared to US peers.
It's almost as if you're investing in another currency by investing in a different country's companies. But, according to Willis, this creates opportunities for growth if these other currencies rise against the dollar.
Diversify Your Portfolio
In the stock market, diversification is often the key to avoiding catastrophic downsides and what better way to diversify than across nations?
Even though domestic and foreign equities are increasingly correlated, diversifying internationally still makes sense for investors, mainly due to lower market valuations. Generally, US stocks trade for roughly 20 times trailing earnings on average, while international developed markets trade for 15 times and emerging markets for 13 times. In addition, international and emerging markets appear to have greater growth potential than the United States.
Decrease Risk
According to Wells Fargo Investment Institute analyst Veronica Willis, stocks and bonds have different risk and return profiles in different countries.
The behavior of a diversified mix of US stocks is more similar to that of US stocks collectively. Willis says that including international stocks in a stock portfolio can reduce risk because US and international stocks don't move simultaneously.
Global Growth
As a mature market, the United States has not experienced as much growth as other economies in recent years. It is well known that growth is cyclical, and investing internationally allows you to profit from shifting economic cycles. It's a great time to diversify internationally because the world economy is in a growth phase.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts steady global growth for the foreseeable future. 2018 is expected to see an overall growth of nearly 4%. A 5% rate is expected for developing economies.
Specifically, the IMF projects 7% GDP growth in India and over 6% in China in 2018, highlighting the need for both countries to diversify internationally.
Better Choice of Investments
Through global investing, you can access investment opportunities that are not available domestically. For example, some of the world's largest tech companies are in developed markets like the US - an opportunity you cannot access if you invest in India.
Even better, you can combine multiple sectors into one theme. For example, you can focus on the US market for technology, the European market for engineering, and the Australian market for commodities. There are several options in the US and Europe if you are interested in a career in healthcare or pharmaceuticals.
Through the use of ETFs, you can access a wide range of geographies. Using the EWG ETF, for example, you can invest in German equities or the EWZ ETF, which is listed in Brazil.
How To Start International Trading In Australia With eToro
The Australian trading platform that's right for you should be clear to you by now if you've made it this far. It's just a matter of placing your first order!
In less than 10 minutes, you can start trading with the ASIC-regulated platform eToro, our recommended best broker in Australia, even if you are a complete novice. Follow the steps below for the easiest way to start trading with this platform.
Open an Account and Verify ID
Since eToro is ASIC-regulated, opening an account is quick and easy. On the homepage, click the 'Join Now' button.
Provide your personal and contact information to eToro by following the instructions on the screen. You will also need to upload some verification documents to eToro. That is because documents can be automatically verified, unlike traditional brokers. Doing this means you don't have to wait days for the broker to review your documents manually.
eToro requires two documents:
- A valid passport or driver's license
- The latest utility bill or bank statement
All account restrictions will be lifted by uploading the above, allowing you to deposit more than $2,250 and request withdrawals.
Deposit Funds
The eToro demo account facility is an excellent place for you to practice your trading endeavors before you deposit real money into your account.
In the event, however, you wish to start trading with real funds, you can make a deposit using one of the following methods of payment:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Maestro
- Paypal
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Bank Transfer
Search for Stocks
After making a deposit, you can search the eToro asset library for your chosen market as soon as you have made your deposit. For example, let's imagine that we are looking to trade GameStop shares, so we enter the company into the search box and then click on the 'Trade' button.
Best International Trading Platforms in Australia- Conclusion
There has been a great deal of information provided in this guide regarding finding the best international trading platform in Australia for you and your financial goals. However, it is important to focus on key metrics such as regulation, tradable markets, fees, and customer service.
Despite our review of top-rated providers, the best international trading platform for 2023 is eToro. This ASIC-regulated trading platform provides commission-free trading on traditional assets like stocks and CFDs. The best part is that eToro is perfect for beginners, and it only takes 10 minutes to get started!
eToro – Overall Best International Trading Platform In Australia
67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
FAQs
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Jhonattan Jimenez
