CMC Invest vs Commsec Pocket
CMC Invest and CommSec Pocket sit at opposite ends of the trading spectrum. CMC Invest is a full-service broker with access to 15 global markets, US stocks at zero commission, and CHESS-sponsored holdings — all for a flat $11 brokerage on ASX trades over $1,000. CommSec Pocket is a stripped-back ETF-only app from the Commonwealth Bank, charging just $2 per trade on a curated set of ETFs, but it locks you into Australian markets only.
- ›You want to trade US shares with zero brokerage and a tight 0.006% FX spread
- ›You need access to international markets beyond Australia — CMC covers 15 countries including the UK, Japan and Canada
- ›You want a CHESS-sponsored HIN with full individual ownership of your ASX holdings
- ›You trade options, use limit and stop-loss orders, or want conditional order capabilities
- ›You need joint, trust, company, SMSF or kids' minor account types
- ›You only want to invest in a small, curated set of ASX ETFs and don't need individual shares
- ›You want the lowest possible brokerage — $2 per trade is hard to beat for regular ETF investing
- ›You already bank with CBA and want instant deposits from your linked transaction account
- ›You want to start with as little as $50 and invest small amounts regularly
- ›You prefer a simple mobile-only experience without the complexity of a full trading platform
Where they differ
| Fact | CMC Invest | Commsec Pocket |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage (minimum) | $11 | $2 |
| US shares | Supported ($0 brokerage) | Not supported |
| International markets | 15 countries | None |
| Account types | Individual, joint, company, trust, SMSF, kids | Individual only |
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $50 |
CMC Invest for serious investors who want global markets and full control; CommSec Pocket for CBA customers wanting cheap, simple ETF investing.
Common questions
How do CMC Invest and Commsec Pocket compare on asx brokerage (minimum)?
CMC Invest: $11. Commsec Pocket: $2. CommSec Pocket is significantly cheaper for small ASX trades.
How do CMC Invest and Commsec Pocket compare on us shares?
CMC Invest: Supported ($0 brokerage). Commsec Pocket: Not supported. CMC lets you trade US stocks for free; CommSec Pocket is ASX-only.
How do CMC Invest and Commsec Pocket compare on international markets?
CMC Invest: 15 countries. Commsec Pocket: None. CMC opens global markets; Pocket is limited to Australia.
When is CMC Invest the better choice over Commsec Pocket?
Pick CMC Invest if you want to trade US shares with zero brokerage and a tight 0.006% FX spread; you need access to international markets beyond Australia — CMC covers 15 countries including the UK, Japan and Canada; you want a CHESS-sponsored HIN with full individual ownership of your ASX holdings; or you trade options, use limit and stop-loss orders, or want conditional order capabilities.
When is Commsec Pocket the better choice over CMC Invest?
Pick Commsec Pocket if you only want to invest in a small, curated set of ASX ETFs and don't need individual shares; you want the lowest possible brokerage — $2 per trade is hard to beat for regular ETF investing; you already bank with CBA and want instant deposits from your linked transaction account; or you want to start with as little as $50 and invest small amounts regularly.
CMC Invest or Commsec Pocket — what's the verdict?
CMC Invest for serious investors who want global markets and full control; CommSec Pocket for CBA customers wanting cheap, simple ETF investing.
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 | CMC Invest | Commsec Pocket |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | chess |
| Individual HIN | Yes | Yes |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | Yes | No |
| Company account | Yes | No |
| Trust account | Yes | No |
| SMSF account | Yes | No |
| Kids / minor account | Yes | 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 | United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | No |
| Options trading | Yes | No |
| CFDs supported | No | No |
| Managed funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | Yes | No |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.6% | — |
| FX spread (other currencies) | 0.6% | — |
| Holds USD account | No | — |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | — |
| Phone trade surcharge | $59.95 | — |
| Corporate action fees | — | Corporate actions (rights issues, SPPs, takeovers) are administered via the underlying ETF issuers/share registries since holdings are CHESS-sponsored under the investor's HIN; CommSec does not charge a separate corporate action fee. |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $11 | $2 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| ASX free trade conditions | $0 brokerage on first ASX buy order per security per day for trades up to $1,000 (excludes margin loan settled trades and sells) | Promotional $0 brokerage offer on Pocket ETF trades from 20 April 2026 to 17 July 2026 inclusive, available to all CommSec Pocket customers. |
| US brokerage minimum | US$0 | — |
| US brokerage percentage | 0% | — |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $15 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $0 | $54 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | CMC Markets Stockbroking Limited | Commonwealth Securities Limited |
| AFSL number | 246,381 | 238,814 |
| Year founded | 1,989 | 2,019 |
| Parent / ownership | CMC Markets plc (LSE: CMCX) | Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $500 | $50 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $0 | $50 |
| Deposit methods | PayID, Bank transfer (EFT), BPAY | Linked CBA transaction account (CDIA, Smart Access, Streamline Basic, NetBank Saver, etc.) - direct debit |
| Settlement period | T+2 for ASX; T+1 for US | T+2 |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days | 1-2 business days |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | Yes | No |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | No |
| Free research reports | Yes | No |
| 2FA support | authenticator app | SMS + PIN |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, live chat | phone, email, in-app messaging |
| Support hours (AU time) | Monday-Friday, business hours AET (approx 8am-6pm) | Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm AET (phone) |
| Education content | structured courses | structured courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | Yes | 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 | No |
| Conditional orders | Yes | No |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | single asset | single asset |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | Yes |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | No |