BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON

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Checked September 24, 2026

Tool Comparison

CommSec vs Stake

Paid from
—
Free plan
No
Platforms
Web, Mobile

Best if

  • You want options.
Paid from
—
Free plan
No
Platforms
Web, Mobile

Best if

    Pick CommSec if

    CommSec logo

    CommSec

    commsec.com.au

    Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile

    • You want options.

    Pick Stake if

    Stake logo

    Stake

    hellostake.com

    Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile

    Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.

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    Our take

    The bottom line

    CommSec and Stake cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.

    What readers say

    CommSec

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    Stake

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    Key differences at a glance

    Asset coverage
    CommSecAdds options
    See the full side-by-side table
    CommSec logo

    What CommSec does best

    1. CHESS-sponsored Australian shares, ETFs and listed investments.
    2. International stocks across U.S., Canada, Europe and Asian markets.
    3. Domestic online brokerage from A$5 with eligible CDIA settlement.
    4. Custodian-supported international fractional and recurring orders.
    5. Exchange-traded options, research, screeners, and market tools.
    Stake logo

    What Stake does best

    1. Stake AUS CHESS-sponsored stocks and ETFs with a customer HIN.
    2. Stake Wall St U.S. stocks and ETFs through DriveWealth custody.
    3. A$3 or US$3 brokerage up to 30,000, then 0.01%.
    4. Eligible U.S. fractional orders from US$10; ASX stays whole-share only.
    5. Individual, company, trust and existing SMSF trading accounts.

    Side by side

    Attribute
    Pricing & plans
    Starting price
    Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
    Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
    Free tier
    No
    No
    Free trial
    —
    —
    Platforms & access
    Web app
    Yes
    Yes
    Mobile app
    Yes
    Yes
    API access
    No
    No
    Coverage & data
    Asset types
    StocksETFsOptions
    StocksETFs
    Export formats
    CSVPDF
    CSVPDFExcel

    Pricing comparison

    Entry paid plan
    —
    AUD 14/mo“Stake Black AUS or Wall St Monthly”
    Tier 2
    —
    AUD 144/yr“Stake Black AUS or Wall St Annual”
    Tier 3
    —
    AUD 20/mo“Stake Black Both Markets Monthly”
    Top plan
    —
    AUD 204/yr“Stake Black Both Markets Annual”

    See for yourself

    Side by side

    Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.
    Show
    Side-by-side comparison of CommSec and Stake
    Attribute
    CommSec logo
    CommSec
    Stake logo
    Stake
    Pricing & plans
    Starting price
    Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdictionTransaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction
    Free tier
    NoNo
    Free trial
    ——
    Platforms & access
    Web app
    YesYes
    Mobile app
    YesYes
    API access
    NoNo
    Audience & fit
    Experience level
    Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedBeginner, Intermediate, Advanced
    Best for
    ——
    Categories covered
    54
    Regions
    APAC, North America, EuropeAPAC, North America
    Try itVisit CommSecVisit Stake

    Standout features

    The best features of CommSec and Stake.
    Show
    CommSec logo

    What CommSec does best

    1. CHESS-sponsored Australian shares, ETFs and listed investments.
    2. International stocks across U.S., Canada, Europe and Asian markets.
    3. Domestic online brokerage from A$5 with eligible CDIA settlement.
    4. Custodian-supported international fractional and recurring orders.
    5. Exchange-traded options, research, screeners, and market tools.
    Stake logo

    What Stake does best

    1. Stake AUS CHESS-sponsored stocks and ETFs with a customer HIN.
    2. Stake Wall St U.S. stocks and ETFs through DriveWealth custody.
    3. A$3 or US$3 brokerage up to 30,000, then 0.01%.
    4. Eligible U.S. fractional orders from US$10; ASX stays whole-share only.
    5. Individual, company, trust and existing SMSF trading accounts.

    All details

    Every attribute we track for CommSec and Stake.
    Show
    Attribute
    CommSec logo
    CommSec
    Stake logo
    Stake
    Coverage & fit
    Asset types
    StocksETFsOptions
    StocksETFs
    Experience
    BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
    BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
    Regions
    APACNorth AmericaEurope
    APACNorth America
    Coverage details
    Countries: AUIdentifiers: Ticker
    Countries: AUIdentifiers: Ticker
    Access & integrations
    Export formats
    CSVPDF
    CSVPDFExcel
    Plans & trust
    Vendor & support
    Commonwealth Securities LimitedCountry: AustraliaSupport: Phone and Email
    Stakeshop Pty LtdCountry: AustraliaSupport: Chat and Email

    Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.

    Pricing

    Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.
    Show
    Plan-by-plan pricing comparison of CommSec and Stake
    Tier
    CommSec logo
    CommSec
    Stake logo
    Stake
    Entry paid plan—
    AUD 14/mo“Stake Black AUS or Wall St Monthly”
    Tier 2—
    AUD 144/yr“Stake Black AUS or Wall St Annual”
    Tier 3—
    AUD 20/mo“Stake Black Both Markets Monthly”
    Top plan—
    AUD 204/yr“Stake Black Both Markets Annual”

    Questions we keep getting

    What's the difference between CommSec and Stake?

    CommSec leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Stake puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.

    How much do CommSec and Stake cost?

    Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.

    Should I choose CommSec or Stake?

    It depends on what you're after. Pick CommSec if options matter to you; go with Stake if you prefer its overall approach. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.

    What asset classes do CommSec and Stake cover?

    Both cover stocks and ETFs. CommSec also handles options.

    Can I export data from CommSec and Stake?

    Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.

    Can I track my portfolio with CommSec or Stake?

    Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.

    Feedback

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    Curation & Accuracy

    This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

    Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.