ASIC broker app ratings in the Apple App Store Australia
| Broker | App | AU ratings | Avg rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 IG Markets | IG Trading: CFDs & Shares | 13,882 | 4.57 |
 Plus500 | Plus500 Trading | 6,760 | 4.15 |
 eToro | etoro: Trade & Invest | 4,879 | 4.15 |
 Capital.com 4,786 ratings total | Capital·com: Trading & Finance | 4,005 | 4.72 |
| Capital·com: Aussie Trading | 781 | 4.71 | |
 Trading 212 | Trading 212 - Stocks & ETFs | 1,791 | 4.77 |
 Interactive Brokers 1,335 ratings total | IBKR Mobile - Invest Worldwide | 1,293 | 4.35 |
| IBKR GlobalTrader | 42 | 4.21 | |
 Mitrade | Mitrade: Invest Global Markets | 1,146 | 4.44 |
 OANDA | OANDA - Forex and CFD trading | 1,101 | 4.65 |
 Pepperstone 536 ratings total | Pepperstone: CFD Trading App | 139 | 4.13 |
| Pepperstone cTrader | 397 | 4.41 | |
 easyMarkets | easyMarkets Online Trading | 411 | 4.65 |
 ThinkMarkets | ThinkMarkets: Trading App | 355 | 4.52 |
 Vantage | Vantage:All-In-One Trading App | 355 | 4.68 |
29 of the 32 ASIC-regulated brokers in our App Store capture offer a proprietary iOS trading app; IG Markets has the most-rated app in Australia, with 13,882 App Store ratings averaging 4.57 stars (App Store AU, November 2026).
Show the other 20 brokers
| Broker | App | AU ratings | Avg rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 CMC Markets | CMC: CFD Trading | 155 | 3.26 |
 Totality | Totality: Stocks | ETFs | SMSF | 111 | 1.49 below 3.0 |
 IC Markets | IC Markets cTrader | 61 | 4.67 |
 FXCM | FXCM - Trade Forex, Stocks CFD | 60 | 2.72 below 3.0 |
 FOREX.com | FOREX.com: CFD Global Markets | 42 | 4.38 |
 AvaTrade | AvaTrade: Trading App | 33 | 3.36 |
 Trading.com | Trading.com: Your Markets App | 30 | 4.73 |
 TMGM | TMGM: Global Markets Trading | 29 | 4.97 |
 Fusion Markets | Fusion Markets cTrader | 19 | 4.68 |
 FP Markets 13 ratings total | FP Markets Forex & CFD Trading | 8 | 2.50 below 3.0 |
| FP Markets cTrader | 5 | 4.20 | |
 Trade Nation | Trade Nation | 11 | 3.91 |
 Fortrade | Fortrade Pro | 11 | 2.09 below 3.0 |
 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 8 ratings total | Axi Trading Platform | 4 | 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 |
| 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, November 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.
Which trading app is best in Australia?
Plus500 is my best trading app in Australia overall, and I'd point you there for tap-to-trade simplicity and one-tap guaranteed stops. Noam Korbl completed the live application in one session on 1 September 2026, though the first deposit then sat pending card verification for several days. For the most feature-complete app, my choice is CMC's Next Generation app, which brings mobile charting and drawing tools to your phone. 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, mobile charting and drawing tools
- OANDA: strongest mobile charting via TradingView.
- IG Markets: 11,000+ share CFDs, 90+ pairs and 36 indices, September 2026.
- Capital.com: WebTrader app with TradingView execution and Investmate.
- 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 | 40+ indicators and drawing tools combined on mobile, CMC Markets AU platform page read 2 October 2026 | 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 | WebTrader charts; TradingView execution separately | 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 | TradingView charts built in | Yes | 398528 |
| IBKR Mobile / GlobalTrader | Interactive Brokers | Yes | Yes | FaceID, TouchID, fingerprint | Full IBKR charts | Yes (paper trading) | 453554 |
| OANDA Trade | 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 (14 days; no expiry for live clients) | 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. The CMC charting figure is sourced separately from CMC’s Australian platform page, read 2 October 2026. Biometric availability depends on device hardware. Store ratings move faster than these details and are recaptured separately; the ratings table above carries its own capture date.
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.
What is a CFD trading app?
A CFD trading app is a broker’s own mobile platform for trading contracts for difference on forex, indices, commodities and shares. Australian retail forex at these brokers is a CFD product, so every app on this page sits under that term. I’d use that term as your filter when you compare apps, and my suggestion is to check which markets an app lets you trade before you commit to one.
Since 29 March 2021, ASIC’s CFD Product Intervention Order has capped retail leverage at 30:1 on major forex pairs, 20:1 on minor pairs, gold and major indices, 10:1 on other commodities and minor indices, 5:1 on shares and 2:1 on crypto, extended to 23 May 2027. Your app enforces the same caps as desktop, with negative balance protection. You pay the same spreads, commissions and account fees on mobile. I would start a CFD trader on Plus500 for its tap-to-trade order flow, and my pick for active traders is Pepperstone’s cTrader app.
The best trading apps by category
Plus500 is the best overall
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. Registration asks for an email and a password only, with Google and Apple sign-in beside it, and the platform, tour and demo open before the application. 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 1.0 pips (Standard, advertised, recorded 29 July 2026)
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 and one-tap guaranteed stops lifting it above its #10 sitewide position. Noam Korbl's application went through in a single session on 1 September 2026, and the first deposit then took several days to clear card verification. See the ranking method ↓
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 is advertised at 1.0 pips, recorded 29 July 2026 from Plus500's own pricing rather than our capture. I'd treat that 1.0 pips figure as the number to budget against when you compare apps, since it is the advertised rate rather than a measured one. 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. If you value a short setup over deep customisation, that simplicity is what I'd weigh in its favour, and your first trade can be placed without wading through account tiers.
The account opens with an 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, not from our measured capture):
| Pair | Plus500 advertised (pips) | Avg of 8 measured standard accounts (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 1.0 (recorded 29 July 2026) | 0.83 |
Pepperstone cTrader app is the best for active traders
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. Pepperstone has held ASIC AFSL 414530 since 2013.
Average spread
EUR/USD 0.10, GBP/USD 0.30, AUD/USD 0.13 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
8-pair avg 0.37 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Pepperstone Trading App
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 414530
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.
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 October 2026 test cycle):
| Pair | Razor avg spread (pips) | + commission equivalent | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.10 | 0.49 | 0.59 |
| AUD/USD | 0.13 | 0.49 | 0.62 |
| GBP/USD | 0.30 | 0.49 | 0.79 |
| USD/JPY | 0.30 | 0.78 | 1.08 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.31 | 0.37 | 0.68 |
eToro is the best for social and copy trading
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. The one catch for Australians is the USD default account currency: AUD deposited into the USD account is converted, while eligible clients can also hold an AUD account funded by bank transfer. eToro AUS Capital Limited has held AFSL 491139 since 2017.
Average spread
EUR/USD 1.0 pips (Standard, advertised, recorded 6 June 2026)
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 is the app-independent friction behind its #27 sitewide score, since AUD funding into the USD account converts while eligible clients can hold an AUD account alongside USD. See the ranking method ↓
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 held AFSL 491139 in Australia since 2017. ASIC's case, commenced in August 2023 against eToro AUS Capital Limited over the target market for its CFD product, remained before the Federal Court with no published outcome as at 15 October 2026. ASIC's case, commenced in August 2023 against eToro AUS Capital Limited over the target market for its CFD product, remained before the Federal Court with no published outcome as at 15 October 2026. ASIC's case, commenced in August 2023 against eToro AUS Capital Limited over the target market for its CFD product, remained before the Federal Court with no published outcome as at 15 October 2026. ASIC's case, commenced in August 2023 against eToro AUS Capital Limited over the target market for its CFD product, remained before the Federal Court with no published outcome as at 15 October 2026. In my view, that unresolved case is something you should weigh alongside the platform's social features. I'd treat the 30M+ registered user base as the drawcard, and your own risk settings as the guardrail.
Unleveraged share trades cost US$2 each on eToro's proprietary platform, which covers forex and CFD trading plus direct share investing 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.
eToro's Australian conversion page, read 1 October 2026, confirms USD accounts are available to all clients, with AUD alongside USD for eligible clients. AUD funding into a USD account is converted. The minimum deposit is US$50, 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: eToro’s published per-trade charge for each pair, under its ‘From 1 pip’ currency heading, AU CFD spreads page read 14 October 2026; not from our measured capture):
| Pair | eToro published charge per trade | Avg of 8 measured standard accounts (October 2026) | Lowest measured RAW account incl. commission (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.005% | 0.83 | 0.32 |
| AUD/USD | 0.005% | 0.85 | 0.33 |
| GBP/USD | 0.005% | 1.25 | 0.35 |
| USD/JPY | 0.002% | 1.11 | 0.58 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.005% | 1.59 | 0.41 |
Interactive Brokers GlobalTrader and IBKR Mobile for the best multi-asset apps
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 the two apps sits access to 170 markets in 40 countries and territories, per IBKR's Australian site read 1 October 2026, plus 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.
Average spread
EUR/USD: Not measured
Trading platforms
TWS, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, Client Portal, native TradingView
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 453554
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. I'd put this broker on your list if your trading spreads across asset classes rather than sitting in FX alone, because that direct exchange access alongside CFDs is the distinguishing fact here. My view is that the licence breadth matters less than the app itself, so check the mobile app suits your hands before you commit.
IBKR's pricing model is volume-tiered, so headline commissions start very low. On forex pairs, Interactive Brokers charges commission from 0.20 basis points of trade value with a US$2 minimum via IDEAL FX; our spread captures did not measure it, so there is no measured spread to quote. The platform stack is built around Trader Workstation (TWS), which is feature-dense and built for professionals, with IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader and the Client Portal web platform providing the simpler screens.
A$0 minimum deposit with fee-free AU funding through PayID, EFT bank transfer, Wise Balance transfer, BPAY or wire. Retail leverage follows ASIC's Product Intervention Order caps, and AFCA dispute coverage and negative balance protection are standard. Inactivity fees do not apply, so an idle account carries no ongoing charge.
CMC is the best for ASX shares alongside CFDs
CMC's Next Generation app is the most feature-complete on this list, with strong mobile charting and drawing tools on iOS or Android. According to CMC's Australian platform page, read 2 October 2026, the mobile app offers over 40 technical indicators and drawing tools combined. 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 0.11 pips (Raw, measured 5 to 9 October 2026)
8-pair avg 0.61 pips (Raw, measured 5 to 9 October 2026)
Trading platforms
Next Generation, MT4, 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 #25 sitewide position. See the ranking method ↓
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.
Our 5 to 9 October 2026 capture, run over that full trading week, measured CMC's FX Active account at 0.11 pips on EUR/USD and 0.61 pips across eight pairs, plus commission of 0.0025% of notional per side, while the Standard account is commission-free; CMC has no October 2026 figure, so these are the figures we keep for it. 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. In my view, the 0.11 pips EUR/USD figure is the number I'd weigh against the 0.0025% commission when you compare the two accounts. If your routine mixes ASX shares with CFDs, that separate stockbroking service is worth a look alongside the CFD offering.
There is an 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 (FX Active account, averaged over our 5 to 9 October 2026 test cycle; spreads only, before FX Active’s commission of 0.0025% of trade value per side):
| Pair | CMC FX Active (measured avg pips) | Avg of 11 other measured RAW accounts, spread only (5 to 9 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.11 | 0.12 |
| AUD/USD | 0.08 | 0.17 |
| GBP/USD | 0.21 | 0.30 |
| USD/JPY | 0.29 | 0.34 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.70 | 0.36 |
| EUR/JPY | 1.19 | 0.74 |
| AUD/JPY | 1.09 | 0.57 |
CMC Markets for ASX shares and the Next Generation app
On mobile, CMC lists over 40 technical indicators and drawing tools combined, while the web platform lists 115+ indicators, according to CMC’s Australian platform page, read on 2 October 2026. Open a demo account and check the mobile toolkit covers the studies you actually use.
See CMC Markets review.
TradingView native via Pepperstone or OANDA is the best for charting on mobile
For chart-led traders, OANDA's native TradingView integration adds a second, trade-from-the-chart path alongside the OANDA Trade app. 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 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. ASIC licence records place AFSL 412981 with OANDA Australia Pty Ltd, current since 26 March 2012, according to the register we read on 16 July 2026.
Average spread
EUR/USD 0.20 pips (Raw, measured July 2026)
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 #3 sitewide position. See the ranking method ↓
Broker's Detail
Founded in Toronto in 1996, OANDA trades for Australians under OANDA Australia Pty Ltd, holder of ASIC AFSL 412981, current since 26 March 2012 on the register we checked 16 July 2026, with AFCA membership. Guaranteed stop-loss orders sit on OANDA Trade only, not on MT4, MT5 or TradingView, so a trader who wants that protection places the order on OANDA Trade.
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 at 1.01 pips in our October 2026 capture, taken across the full trading month of October 2026, 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. If you're weighing Standard against Raw, I'd start from the 1.01 pips spread we measured in October 2026 beside Raw's 0.0 pips plus AUD 3.50 per side, and I would let which is cheaper for you come down to how you trade.
There is an 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 October 2026 test cycle):
| Pair | OANDA Standard (measured avg pips) | Avg of 8 measured standard accounts |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 1.01 | 0.83 |
| AUD/USD | 0.88 | 0.85 |
| GBP/USD | 1.61 | 1.25 |
| USD/JPY | 1.04 | 1.11 |
| EUR/GBP | 1.15 | 1.59 |
| EUR/JPY | 2.68 | 2.10 |
Mobile-specific points for Australian traders
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 hours a day, five days a week, Monday morning to Saturday morning AEDT, so alerts for Australian clients should fire on the Australian clock, not GMT or UTC. No app notification test sits on our records. Check the alert time zone setting in the app before relying on it.
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. Google Pay sits on Plus500’s deposit menu in our capture of 1 September 2026, while Plus500, CMC Markets and eToro list no Apple Pay. Apple Pay appeared on the deposit menus we captured at Capital.com on 23 August 2026 and Trade Nation on 9 September 2026, and Trading.com offers it to Australian clients only in its iPhone app, per its written reply of 6 October 2026. Trading.com’s web portal deposit menu, captured on our live account on 9 September 2026, showed credit or debit card and Google Pay, each marked instant with no fees and an A$10,000 maximum per transaction, plus a scheduled wire transfer taking 1 to 5 business days with no maximum. 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.
What is missing on mobile compared to 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.
My view is that mobile-first works for most AU retail traders. 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.
How to choose a forex trading app
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 an 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.
How we score trading apps
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 on this page 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 at the top of 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.
Trading app FAQs
What's the best trading app in Australia?
Are trading apps safe in Australia?
Can I trade ASX shares on a mobile app?
Do trading apps charge extra fees on mobile?
Can I use Apple Pay or PayID for funding?
Is biometric login secure for trading apps?
Can I run an EA or copy trade from a mobile app?
Platform and copy trading guides
- Best TradingView brokers in Australia
OANDA's TradingView-powered mobile charts can be weighed against other Australian brokers that let you trade from the chart.
- Best cTrader brokers in Australia
Pepperstone's cTrader app is aimed at active traders, and the cTrader broker ranking weighs the Australian firms that offer cTrader accounts.
- Best MT5 brokers in Australia
How Australian brokers run MT5 on mobile, beside the desktop terminal, is set out in the MT5 broker comparison.
- Best copy trading platforms in Australia
Copy trading apps beyond eToro's CopyTrader are compared, with the ASIC leverage caps that apply to copied positions explained.
- Trading platforms in Australia
Mobile app strength across CMC, Plus500 and Pepperstone is assessed in the trading platform map of ASIC-regulated brokers.
About Justin Grossbard
Justin co-founded CompareForexBrokers in 2014 and has traded forex since 1998. Based in Melbourne, he leads the site's research, and has written for Forbes, Kiplinger and Finance Magnates, while the Australian Financial Review has cited CompareForexBrokers research. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Master of Marketing from Monash University. Justin is the co-founder and CEO of CompareForexBrokers.