Quick verdict: trading apps in Australia
Plus500 is my best trading app in Australia overall, and I'd point you there for tap-to-trade simplicity, one-tap guaranteed stops and five-minute onboarding. If you want the most feature-complete app, my choice is CMC's Next Generation app, carrying desktop-grade charting with 115+ indicators. Pepperstone's cTrader app is my pick for active traders, and I'd steer you there when your focus is active trading. Every app belongs to an ASIC-regulated broker, so you're staying inside a regulated set I trust. You can compare them without leaving that safety, and you can match the app to your own trading needs.
The shortlist that matters in 2026:
- Plus500: best overall app, tap-to-trade simplicity.
- Pepperstone: cTrader app for active traders.
- eToro: best app for social and copy trading.
- Interactive Brokers: multi-asset depth on mobile.
- CMC Markets: most feature-complete, 115+ indicators.
- OANDA: strongest mobile charting via TradingView.
- IG Markets: 17,000+ markets on mobile.
- Capital.com: TradingView charts plus Investmate AI.
- Mitrade: mobile-first with guaranteed stops.
- ThinkMarkets: ThinkTrader with Traders' Gym backtesting.
I treat best overall and most feature-complete as separate crowns, and the picks below hand out both.
The one recommendation from this page is to choose Plus500 for the new-trader workflow of a few CFD trades a week, and Pepperstone for active forex or CFD trading where depth-of-market and tight spreads on mobile matter.
Comparison table: top trading apps in Australia
| App | Broker | iOS | Android | Biometric | Charting | Demo | AFSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plus500 | Plus500 | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID, fingerprint | Basic + 100+ indicators | Yes (unlimited) | 417727 |
| Pepperstone (cTrader) | Pepperstone | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID, fingerprint | Full cTrader charts | Yes | 414530 |
| Pepperstone (MT5) | Pepperstone | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID | Full MT5 charts | Yes | 414530 |
| CMC Next Generation | CMC Markets | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID, fingerprint | 80+ indicators, pattern recognition | Yes (unlimited) | 238054 |
| eToro | eToro | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID, fingerprint | Pro charts (TradingView powered) | Yes (USD 100k virtual) | 491139 |
| IG Trading | IG Markets | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID | Full IG web charts | Yes | 515106 |
| Capital.com | Capital.com | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID, fingerprint | TradingView charts embedded | Yes (USD 1k virtual) | 513393 |
| IC Markets cTrader | IC Markets | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID, fingerprint | Full cTrader charts | Yes | 335692 |
| Mitrade | Mitrade | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID, fingerprint | Basic + 50+ indicators | Yes | 398528 |
| IBKR Mobile / GlobalTrader | Interactive Brokers | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID, fingerprint | Full IBKR charts | Yes (paper trading) | 453554 |
| OANDA fxTrade | OANDA | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID | Full OANDA charts | Yes | 412981 |
| FP Markets (cTrader / MT5) | FP Markets | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID | Platform-native charts | Yes | 286354 |
| ThinkTrader | ThinkMarkets | Yes | Yes | - | 120+ indicators, TrendRisk scanner | Yes (unlimited) | 424700 |
| easyMarkets | easyMarkets | Yes | Yes | - | Native TradingView charts | Yes (unlimited) | 246566 |
The listings, biometric, charting and demo details in the table above were verified on the Australian App Store and Google Play on 25 June 2026. Biometric availability depends on device hardware. Store ratings move faster than these details and are recaptured separately; the ratings table further down carries its own capture date.
What “best” means here
We score apps against six criteria with equal weight:
- App Store and Google Play rating (each store’s published average when we scored)
- Order placement and management quality
- Charting and indicators
- Biometric login (FaceID / TouchID / fingerprint)
- Push notifications during AU trading hours
- Mobile parity with desktop (which features are missing on mobile)
Live ASIC regulation is a precondition here, not a scoring criterion. Every app below comes from an AFSL holder and AFCA member, so trading happens under the same licence framework as desktop.
On the two store ratings, neither store publishes a rolling window, so the figure read is whatever average each one showed at scoring time. Apple publishes a lifetime average for the Australian storefront, and those figures are what appears in the ratings table further down this page. Google Play publishes a single average weighted toward recent reviews, over a worldwide rather than Australian review count, which is why Play figures are not in that table and are published on the individual broker reviews instead.
Watch: Best mobile trading apps.
All apps above are from AFSL holders and AFCA members. ASIC retail leverage caps apply on mobile the same as on desktop, so the leverage limits met on a phone stay identical to desktop, and that is worth checking before assuming mobile is looser.
Risk warning: CFDs are leveraged products and carry a high risk of loss. Most retail CFD accounts lose money. Review the broker's PDS and TMD before trading.
Best trading apps by category
Best overall: Plus500
Plus500 has the best trading app in Australia overall, and it is the one to put in front of a new CFD trader because the interface is built around tap-to-trade, with guaranteed stop-loss orders sitting one tap away and priced through a wider spread set when the position opens. Onboarding takes about five minutes, needing just an email to start the demo, and account opening scored 14 of 15 in our testing. The app runs the full WebTrader feature set on iOS and Android across 2,800+ instruments. Plus500AU Pty Ltd has operated under AFSL 417727 since 2012.
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.8
GBP/USD = 1.0
AUD/USD = 0.9
Trading platforms
Plus500 WebTrader, app
Minimum deposit
A$100
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 417727
Why higher here? Platform Fit here is about the mobile app. Plus500 wins on six equal-weight app criteria, with tap-to-trade simplicity, one-tap guaranteed stops and five-minute onboarding, which lifts it above its #16 sitewide position. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
- ASIC AFSL 417727 since 2012; FTSE 250-listed parent (LSE:PLUS) for a strong trust profile
- WebTrader platform is the cleanest beginner CFD interface in our coverage
- Guaranteed Stop Loss Orders (GSLO) available, priced through a wider spread set when the position opens
- No MT4, MT5, cTrader or TradingView, proprietary platform only
- Forex pair count narrower than Pepperstone, IC Markets, OANDA
- Inactivity fee of USD 10/month kicks in after just 3 months (most AU brokers wait 6 to 12 months)
Broker's Detail
London Stock Exchange-listed (FTSE 250) and ASIC-regulated under AFSL 417727 since 2012, Plus500 operates a markup-pricing model on a proprietary platform, so if you need MetaTrader or cTrader you will have to look elsewhere.
Spreads are baked into the price, so no separate commission line appears. EUR/USD runs 0.6 to 1.0 pips typical. The platform is deliberately simple: a single account type, a clean trade ticket and 2,800+ CFD instruments. Guaranteed stop-loss orders are available for a small premium, which is the price of certainty on exits.
The account opens with a $100 minimum deposit, and funding in AUD carries no fee from Plus500 via card, Google Pay, PayPal, BPAY and bank transfer. Retail leverage follows ASIC's Product Intervention Order caps, and AFCA dispute coverage and negative balance protection are standard.
Plus500 spread table (Plus500 column: advertised typical ranges, not from our measured capture):
| Pair | Plus500 typical (pips) | Avg of 8 measured standard accounts (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.6 to 1.0 | 0.83 |
| AUD/USD | 0.7 to 1.2 | 0.87 |
| GBP/USD | 1.0 to 1.5 | 1.20 |
| USD/JPY | 0.8 to 1.2 | 1.14 |
| EUR/GBP | 1.2 to 1.8 | 1.44 |
Best for active traders: Pepperstone cTrader app
Pepperstone's cTrader app is the pick for active traders, and the choice comes down to the way it carries biometric login on iOS and Android. The MT5 app is nearly as strong, and all five of its platforms ship mobile versions, so the phone mirrors whatever the desktop runs. Razor pricing follows onto mobile at A$3.50 per side, keeping app trading costs identical to desktop. Support backs the apps 24/7, with live chat answering in under 60 seconds in Australian business hours. Pepperstone has held ASIC AFSL 414530 since 2013.
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.1
GBP/USD = 0.2
AUD/USD = 0.1
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Pepperstone Trading App
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 414530
Pros & Cons
- ASIC AFSL 414530 since 2013; founded in Melbourne in 2010 with continuing Australian operations
- Razor RAW account with EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips and AUD 7 round-turn per lot
- Five trading platform options (MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Pepperstone Platform)
- Share CFD range narrower than CMC, IG, IBKR (around 1,200 vs 10,000+ at CMC)
- No native ASX share investing (CFD only)
- Standard account spreads less competitive than the Razor account; choose Razor if you trade actively
Broker's Detail
Founded in Melbourne in 2010, Pepperstone has grown into one of Australia's largest forex brokers, and has held ASIC AFSL 414530 since 2013. The additional Tier-1 licences with the FCA (UK), BaFin (Germany), CySEC (Cyprus), CMA (Kenya) and DFSA (Dubai) are the detail to check when a broker's global supervision matters.
Two main account types are on offer, and the choice between them comes down to cost structure. The Razor (RAW) account pairs EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips with AUD 7 round-turn commission per standard lot, which suits active traders who want raw pricing. The Standard account is commission-free with EUR/USD from roughly 1.1 pips. The platform line-up covers five: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and the Pepperstone Trading Platform, with TradingView available on the Razor account only, not on Standard.
Funding is fee-free via PayID, BPAY, card and PayPal, and AUD-denominated accounts are available, so depositing avoids a forced conversion cost. Retail leverage follows ASIC's Product Intervention Order caps, with negative balance protection and AFCA dispute coverage standard. Customer support runs 24/7 by live chat.
Pepperstone spread table (averaged over our May to June 2026 test cycle):
| Pair | Razor avg spread (pips) | + commission equivalent | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.10 | 0.45 | 0.55 |
| AUD/USD | 0.10 | 0.45 | 0.55 |
| GBP/USD | 0.20 | 0.45 | 0.65 |
| USD/JPY | 0.10 | 0.45 | 0.55 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.30 | 0.45 | 0.75 |
Best for social and copy trading: eToro
eToro's app condenses its whole platform into one place: CopyTrader, Smart Portfolios, real shares at a flat USD 2 per trade and crypto, all behind a single login on web and mobile. Charting comes from ProCharts, powered by TradingView, with 100+ indicators and 50+ drawing tools. The USD 100,000 demo has no time limit, and onboarding rated 13 of 15 in our testing, among the smoothest of the 32 brokers we cover. The one catch for Australians is the USD default account currency: unless the eligible AUD account is held, it adds conversion cost to every AUD deposit and withdrawal. eToro AUS Capital Limited has held AFSL 491139 since 2017.
Average spread
EUR/USD = 1.0
GBP/USD = 2.0
AUD/USD = 1.0
Trading platforms
eToro Web, eToro App
Minimum deposit
US$50
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 491139
Why higher here? Platform Fit here is about the mobile app, and copy trading works fully on mobile at a scale no other app here offers. USD account denomination and conversion fees are the app-independent friction behind its #29 sitewide score. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
- ASIC AFSL 491139 since 2017; Tier-1 regulation also via FCA (UK) and CySEC (Cyprus)
- CopyTrader and Smart Portfolios, the most developed social trading product in the industry
- Real share investing across US, AU, UK and EU exchanges at a flat USD 2 per trade, ETFs 0%
- Account defaults to USD; an AUD account is available only to eligible AU clients, otherwise every deposit and withdrawal converts, with conversion fees on AUD funding
- No MT4, no MT5, no cTrader, no TradingView trading
- Forex spreads (EUR/USD from 1.0 pip) wider than RAW brokers like Pepperstone or IC Markets
Broker's Detail
Founded in Tel Aviv in 2007, eToro has grown into the world's largest social trading platform, with 30M+ registered users globally, and has operated in Australia since 2018 under AFSL 491139. The additional FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus) and FinCEN (US) regulation the group holds is worth weighing alongside the ASIC licence.
eToro's proprietary platform supports both forex/CFD trading and direct share investing with zero commission across US, AU, UK and EU exchanges. CopyTrader allows automatic replication of other traders' positions, and Smart Portfolios bundle thematic baskets. There is no MT4, MT5, cTrader or TradingView trading.
Account currency is USD only, so AUD funding converts at deposit and withdrawal. The minimum deposit is $50 USD, with funding via card, PayPal, bank transfer and select e-wallets. Retail leverage follows ASIC's Product Intervention Order caps, and AFCA dispute coverage is standard.
eToro spread table (eToro column: indicative standard-account pricing, not from our measured capture):
| Pair | eToro typical spread (pips) | Avg of 8 measured standard accounts (September 2026) | Lowest measured RAW account incl. commission (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 1.0 | 0.83 | 0.33 |
| AUD/USD | 1.0 | 0.87 | 0.33 |
| GBP/USD | 2.0 | 1.20 | 0.34 |
| USD/JPY | 1.0 | 1.14 | 0.58 |
| EUR/GBP | 1.5 | 1.44 | 0.33 |
Best multi-asset: Interactive Brokers GlobalTrader / IBKR Mobile
Interactive Brokers ships two distinct apps. IBKR Mobile carries the professional toolkit down from Trader Workstation, while IBKR GlobalTrader, released in 2022, strips the experience back for casual investors who found the flagship intimidating. Between them sits access to 150 markets across 33 countries and true multi-currency accounts that hold AUD and USD side by side without forced conversion. This is an app pairing for investors first and CFD traders second. Interactive Brokers Australia has held AFSL 453554 since 2016, under a NASDAQ-listed parent regulated by eight Tier-1 authorities.
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.2
GBP/USD = 0.4
AUD/USD = 0.3
Trading platforms
TWS, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, WebTrader, native TradingView
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 453554
Pros & Cons
- ASIC AFSL 453554 (Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd), with a NASDAQ-listed parent regulated globally by SEC, FINRA, CFTC, FCA, MAS, CIRO, JFSA and HKSFC
- Cheapest ASX share brokerage on this site, from AUD 6 minimum per trade; US shares from USD 0.005 per share with a USD 1 minimum
- True multi-currency accounts. Hold AUD, USD, EUR, GBP and 20+ others natively without forced conversion at deposit or withdrawal
- TWS desktop has a famously steep learning curve. The interface is dense and looks dated next to Pepperstone or CMC's Next Generation
- No MT4, no MT5, no cTrader, no TradingView. Not a fit for traders running existing forex EAs
- IBKR Pro commission structure rewards experienced traders
Broker's Detail
Founded in 1978 and NASDAQ-listed (IBKR), Interactive Brokers runs its AU entity under AFSL 453554. The group holds licences across every major financial market, and it is one of the very few brokers where direct exchange access sits alongside CFDs.
IBKR's pricing model is volume-tiered, so headline commissions start very low. On forex pairs, spreads start from 0.2 pips with a typical commission of USD 2.50 per AUD 100,000. The platform stack is built around Trader Workstation (TWS), which is feature-dense and built for professionals, plus the lighter IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader and WebTrader that provide the simpler screens.
$0 minimum deposit with fee-free AU funding via PayID, BPAY, card and wire. Retail leverage follows ASIC's Product Intervention Order caps, and AFCA dispute coverage and negative balance protection are standard. Inactivity fees apply on small accounts, so checking the schedule before parking an account is necessary.
Best for ASX shares (alongside CFDs): CMC
CMC's Next Generation app is the most feature-complete on this list, and it is the one to choose for desktop-grade charting and pattern recognition on iOS or Android. It carries 115+ built-in indicators, client sentiment data and guaranteed stop-loss orders, with an instrument range past 12,000 CFDs. The unlimited demo means the full app can be tested indefinitely before funding. MT4 mobile exists as a companion, but with a reduced instrument set. CMC Markets Asia Pacific has held ASIC AFSL 238054 since 2004.
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.7
GBP/USD = 0.9
AUD/USD = 0.6
Trading platforms
Next Generation, MT4, CMC Stockbroking, TradingView
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 238054
Why higher here? Trading App Fit weights the mobile app experience, which lifts CMC Markets above its #21 sitewide position. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
- ASIC AFSL 238054 since 2004, plus FCA, BaFin, MAS, CIRO regulation globally, top-tier trust profile
- Next Generation platform is the strongest proprietary CFD platform in Australia
- 12,000+ CFD instruments plus integrated CMC Stockbroking for ASX equities
- Standard account spreads on EUR/USD and AUD/USD wider than top-tier RAW brokers
- Share CFD overnight financing rates above average for the AU market
- Customer support hours 24/5 only (closed weekends)
Broker's Detail
Founded in London in 1989, CMC Markets has been operating in Australia since 2002, which makes it one of the longest-tenured CFD brokers in the AU market. The AU entity holds AFSL 238054. The LSE listing and the FCA (UK), BaFin (Germany), MAS (Singapore) and CIRO (Canada) licences are the details to check when longevity alone is not enough.
The Standard account starts at 0.5 pips on EUR/USD with no commission, while FX Active pairs tighter spreads with a commission. CMC also runs a separate stockbroking service for direct ASX share investing. The Next Generation platform pairs with MT4 (no MT5 or cTrader on the AU entity), and that platform gap is the first thing to check if MT5 or cTrader is already in the workflow.
There is a $0 minimum deposit, and funding is fee-free via bank transfer, PayID and PayPal. Retail leverage follows ASIC's Product Intervention Order caps, and negative balance protection and AFCA dispute coverage are standard. Customer support runs 24/5 by live chat, email and phone.
CMC Markets spread table (CMC Markets column: indicative standard-account pricing, not from our measured capture):
| Pair | CMC Standard (typical pips) | Avg of 8 measured standard accounts (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.5 | 0.83 |
| AUD/USD | 0.6 | 0.87 |
| GBP/USD | 0.9 | 1.20 |
| USD/JPY | 0.7 | 1.14 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.7 | 1.44 |
| EUR/JPY | 1.2 | 2.07 |
| AUD/JPY | 1.2 | 2.09 |
Best proprietary platform app: CMC Next Generation
The Next Generation app is the closest thing to a desktop-grade trading platform on a phone. It carries 80+ technical indicators, pattern recognition, custom layouts that sync to desktop, a client sentiment overlay, and a working economic calendar. Most proprietary mobile apps strip out features; CMC keeps almost all of them.
See CMC Markets review.
Best for charting on mobile: TradingView native via Pepperstone or OANDA
OANDA Trade's mobile build carries the platform's distinguishing feature, guaranteed stop-loss orders, which its MT4, MT5 and TradingView routes do not offer. The app connects to around 130 instruments, with the MarketPulse research hub and an economic calendar built in, and the unlimited demo holds USD 100,000 in virtual funds. For chart-led traders, native TradingView integration adds a second, trade-from-the-chart path alongside the app; that is the main reason to choose OANDA over a plain MT4 setup. OANDA Australia has held ASIC AFSL 412981 since around 2010, with dual regulatory pedigree across ASIC and a set of Tier-1 overseas authorities.
Average spread
EUR/USD = 1.4
GBP/USD = 1.6
AUD/USD = 1.1
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, TradingView, OANDA Trade
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 412981
Why lower here? Trading App Fit weights the mobile app experience rather than the all-round strengths behind OANDA's #2 sitewide position. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
- ASIC AFSL 412981 plus CFTC/NFA, FCA, MAS, CIRO and JFSA, one of the most comprehensively regulated brokers in the world
- Native TradingView trading integration through a Pepperstone-tier setup
- OANDA Trade proprietary platform is clean, fast and well-built for currency-focused traders
- Raw account's 0.44 measured eight-pair average trails the tightest RAW brokers
- Product range narrower than CMC, IG or IBKR; under 150 instruments total
- Premium pricing tiers require an AUD 10,000 balance to unlock the tightest spreads
Broker's Detail
Founded in Toronto in 1996, OANDA is one of the most comprehensively regulated brokers in the world. Its licences with ASIC (AFSL 412981), the CFTC/NFA (US), FCA (UK), MAS (Singapore), CIRO (Canada) and JFSA (Japan) are the reason to treat its regulatory coverage as genuinely global.
OANDA prices two ways in Australia: spread-only, or raw spreads plus a commission, with four accounts across those models. Standard is spread-only with EUR/USD around 1.4 pips and no minimum. Raw pairs spreads from 0.0 pips with AUD 3.50 per side (AUD 7.00 round-turn). Premium Spreads (from 0.2 pips, no commission) and Premium Commission (from 0.0 pips plus AUD 2.75 per side) both need an AUD 10,000 balance or high notional volume, so reaching them requires either capital or active volume. The OANDA Trade proprietary platform is paired with MT4, MT5 and native TradingView trading.
There is a $0 minimum deposit and OANDA charges no deposit fee on AU funding via PayID, BPAY and card (17 September 2026), with AUD-denominated accounts available, though confirming the funding route in the app before relying on it remains sensible. Retail leverage follows ASIC's Product Intervention Order caps, and negative balance protection and AFCA dispute coverage are standard.
OANDA spread table (averaged over our September 2026 test cycle):
| Pair | OANDA Standard (measured avg pips) | Avg of 8 measured standard accounts |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.99 | 0.83 |
| AUD/USD | 0.88 | 0.87 |
| GBP/USD | 1.52 | 1.20 |
| USD/JPY | 1.03 | 1.14 |
| EUR/GBP | 1.09 | 1.44 |
| EUR/JPY | 2.65 | 2.07 |
AU mobile considerations
Mobile is now the default here. Around two-thirds of session time on the brokers we work with happens on iPhone or Android rather than desktop, and the feature gap between the two has closed considerably since 2020. A few things matter more for an AU retail client than the global app rankings suggest.
AU App Store availability. All apps in our table are listed on the Australian iOS App Store and Google Play Australia. A few global brokers list apps that work in Australia but aren’t in the AU store directly. We exclude those because the verification flow gets messy for a retail client.
Push notifications during AU trading hours. Forex runs 24/5 in Australia from Monday morning to Saturday morning AEDT. Most major equity and index instruments respect AU trading session hours, so push notifications for AU clients should fire on the AU clock, not GMT or UTC. Plus500, CMC, IG, Pepperstone, eToro and IBKR all handle AU time zones correctly. A handful of smaller brokers default to UTC, which means alerts can land at 3am AEDT. Test before relying on them.
Biometric login. FaceID, TouchID and Android fingerprint are now standard across all major AU broker apps. Always enable it in the app settings. The trade-off (very minor security risk vs convenience) tilts heavily toward enabling, and accepting that trade every time is the right call.
AUD account funding from mobile. PayID instant deposits work on most AU broker apps, so funding from the couch and trading within seconds is usually possible. Apple Pay and Google Pay are increasingly supported (Plus500, CMC, eToro). Trading.com lists cards, bank wire, Google Pay and Apple Pay in its Australian help centre, read 21 September 2026. Card-funded deposits typically settle within a few minutes, while bank transfer can take 1 to 2 business days.
Data usage. Mobile trading apps stream live prices. On 4G or 5G, expect 50 to 200 MB per active trading session. Wi-Fi is recommended at home. Trading exclusively on mobile data requires double-checking the plan’s data allowance.
Push permissions. iOS asks for push permission on first launch. Granting it for trade fills, margin alerts and stop-loss execution notifications is recommended, as these are the alerts that should not be buried. Declining it means no re-prompt, so a manual enable in iOS Settings becomes necessary.
Mobile vs desktop: what’s missing
Most AU broker apps now sit within 90% feature parity with desktop. The gaps that remain are the ones to plan around if mobile is the primary trading screen.
- Custom indicator development. MT4/MT5 EAs and custom indicators are written and compiled on desktop. Mobile runs the compiled code; you can’t edit it on phone.
- Multi-monitor charting. Phone screens limit you to one or two charts at a time. Active traders who need 4+ charts side-by-side default to desktop.
- Advanced order types on some proprietary apps. OCO and bracket orders are sometimes desktop-only on smaller proprietary platforms. cTrader, MT5 and the major proprietary apps (CMC, IG) cover them on mobile.
- Account opening on a few brokers. Most brokers handle opening on web with mobile completion. A small number still require desktop for the AUSTRAC verification step.
- Tax reporting and account history exports. PDF and CSV exports for ATO tax reporting are usually desktop-only or email-on-request.
For most AU retail traders, mobile-first works. I’d keep desktop for setup, EA configuration, and tax-time reports.
ASIC, AFSL and mobile trading
The same regulatory framework applies on mobile as on desktop. The app is software; the broker is the AFSL holder. A few specifics are worth knowing before trading from a phone:
- Retail leverage caps. ASIC’s Product Intervention Order applies whether you trade on phone or desktop, starting at 30:1 on major forex pairs. See the full tier ladder in our ASIC leverage caps guide.
- Negative balance protection. Mandatory for retail clients, on phone the same as on desktop. Your account cannot go below zero.
- Margin close-out. Triggers at 50% of initial margin. The app will display margin level live. Set push alerts at 80% to give yourself time to react.
- AFCA membership. Every broker on this page is an AFCA member. Disputes about a mobile-placed trade are handled the same way as desktop disputes. You raise the complaint with the broker first; AFCA is the escalation path.
- AUSTRAC ID verification. Required at account opening. The mobile flow is the same as desktop: photo of driver’s licence or passport, selfie, address proof.
- Tax. ATO treats CFD profits as assessable income (per TR 2005/15) regardless of platform. We are not licensed to provide tax advice. Speak to a registered tax agent about your circumstances.
We cover the wider regulatory context in the forex broker reviews hub and the best Australian forex brokers guide.
Choosing the right app for you
Three honest filters cut the choice quickly.
How active are you? Casual traders (a few CFDs a week) find the simplest workflow at Plus500, eToro, Capital.com or Mitrade. For 10+ trades a week, the recommendation is Pepperstone cTrader, IC Markets cTrader or CMC Next Generation. Multi-asset traders (forex plus ASX plus options) should look at Interactive Brokers.
What instruments do you need? Forex only, most apps cover it. Need ASX shares plus CFDs? CMC. US options or futures plus forex points to IBKR. For crypto CFDs, Eightcap and Capital.com have the broadest range under ASIC’s 2:1 retail crypto cap. Trading 212 runs fractional shares and ETFs in its Invest account and CFDs in its CFD account inside the one app, each opening from a A$1 minimum deposit.
What’s your phone? Most apps work on iOS 16+ and Android 10+. Older devices may struggle with TradingView or IBKR Mobile, both of which are graphically intensive. CMC, Plus500 and eToro all work on older hardware, so they’re the safer choices if the phone is a few generations old.
When not sure, installing the demo apps for two or three options, placing 10 trades on each, then committing is the right approach. Most demo accounts run unlimited or for at least 30 days.
Compare brokers by the factor that decides it
I've arranged each shortlist below to re-rank the market for one decision factor, and we've tested each one the same way as this page. I want you to get a consistent comparison, so you can see how your broker choice moves when the factor changes, and you don't have to wonder if I moved the goalposts on you. Your time is better spent on the factor itself, and I'd rather you trust the ranking because the method stayed the same for your comparison.
Start with the overall ranking
My baseline is our tested, ASIC-only ranking of the best forex brokers in Australia, and every shortlist below re-ranks from there. I'd rather you see the same foundation I use, so your forex broker comparison doesn't shift under you, and you can check why I call this baseline tested. You get a cleaner view of your options, and you can hold each shortlist against that same baseline for your own shortlist.
Cost decides it
Once you've settled on the platform, I look at account pricing to decide the broker, because your trading costs keep adding up there. My shortlists below rank by total cost, and I'd rather you see exactly what you'd pay before you commit. You can compare your total cost without me rushing you.
You're starting out
Simpler platforms, stronger education, and demo accounts with no time pressure.
What you trade decides it
CFD shortlists re-ranked for the asset class you trade most.
ASIC Broker App Ratings: Apple App Store Australia
28 of the 31 ASIC-regulated brokers in our App Store capture offer a proprietary iOS trading app; IG Markets has the most-rated app in Australia, with 13,726 App Store ratings averaging 4.57 stars (App Store AU, September 2026).
| Broker | App | AU ratings | Avg rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 IG Markets | IG Trading: CFDs & Shares | 13,726 | 4.57 |
 Plus500 | Plus500: AU & Global Trading | 6,612 | 4.15 |
 eToro | eToro: Trade & Invest | 4,705 | 4.13 |
 Trading 212 | Trading 212 - Stocks & ETFs | 1,598 | 4.77 |
 Interactive Brokers 1,277 ratings total | IBKR Mobile - Invest Worldwide | 1,242 | 4.35 |
| IBKR GlobalTrader | 35 | 4.06 | |
 OANDA | OANDA - Forex and CFD trading | 1,090 | 4.65 |
 Mitrade | Mitrade: Invest Global Markets | 1,045 | 4.43 |
 Capital.com | Capital·com: Aussie Trading | 768 | 4.71 |
 Pepperstone 448 ratings total | Pepperstone: Trading App | 68 | 3.82 |
| Pepperstone cTrader | 380 | 4.38 | |
 easyMarkets | easyMarkets Online Trading | 407 | 4.65 |
 ThinkMarkets | ThinkTrader | 353 | 4.54 |
 Vantage | Vantage:All-In-One Trading App | 331 | 4.67 |
Show all 31 brokers
| Broker | App | AU ratings | Avg rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 CMC Markets | CMC: CFD Trading | 150 | 3.33 |
 Totality | Totality: Stocks | ETFs | SMSF | 111 | 1.49 below 3.0 |
 FXCM | FXCM - Trade Forex, Stocks CFD | 60 | 2.72 below 3.0 |
 IC Markets | IC Markets cTrader | 52 | 4.67 |
 FOREX.com | FOREX.com: CFD Global Markets | 39 | 4.31 |
 AvaTrade | AvaTrade: Trading App | 32 | 3.31 |
 Trading.com | Trading.com: Your Markets App | 30 | 4.73 |
 TMGM | TMGM: Global Markets Trading | 27 | 4.96 |
 Fusion Markets | Fusion Markets cTrader | 17 | 4.71 |
 Trade Nation | Trade Nation | 11 | 3.91 |
 FP Markets 10 ratings total | FP Markets Forex & CFD Trading | 7 | 2.71 below 3.0 |
| FP Markets cTrader | 3 | 5.00 | |
 ACY Securities | ACY Securities APP | 8 | 4.50 |
 GO Markets 8 ratings total | GO Markets:Forex & CFD Trading | 2 | 3.00 |
| GO Markets cTrader | 6 | 5.00 | |
 Axi 6 ratings total | Axi Trading Platform | 2 | 5.00 |
| Axi Copy Trading | 4 | 5.00 | |
 MultiBank Group | MultiBank-Plus: Invest & Trade | 4 | 5.00 |
 Blueberry Markets | Blueberry Markets | 2 | 5.00 |
 Eightcap | n/a | No proprietary app | Clients use MT4/MT5/TradingView |
 Global Prime | n/a | No proprietary app | Clients use MT4/MT5/cTrader |
| Focus Markets | n/a | No proprietary app | Clients use MT5, which is the broker's only platform |
Ratings counts and averages from the Apple App Store Australian storefront via the iTunes Search API, September 2026, each one an all-versions average rather than a windowed one, because that is what Apple publishes. Broker-owned apps only; MetaTrader and cTrader platform apps are excluded. Google Play is not in this table: a Play review count is worldwide rather than Australian, so it is not comparable with the counts here and is never added to them. Play figures are published on the individual broker reviews we hold a capture for. Refreshed monthly.
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About the author
Justin co-founded CompareForexBrokers in 2014 and has traded forex since 1998. Based in Melbourne, he has tested every ASIC-regulated broker on this site personally and has written for Forbes, Kiplinger, Finance Magnates, the Australian Financial Review and The Age. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Master of Marketing from Monash University. Justin is the co-founder and CEO of CompareForexBrokers.