6 Best CFD Brokers Australia

Opening block

You want low-cost access to shares, forex, indices, and commodities via CFDs (contracts for difference). Check brokers for leverage, platform features, fees, and regulation. Compare spreads, commissions, instrument scope, minimum deposits, and platform options. Expect leverage capped at about 30:1 for major forex if you qualify. Expect instrument counts from 1,000 to 10,000+. Plan for overnight financing that can be 0.5%–3.0% per annum on some positions. Use this guide if you trade intraday forex or indices, swing-trade share CFDs, or need advanced charting and API access. Skip this guide if you want physical share ownership or dividends without derivative exposure. The picks below match different budgets and trading styles. Use the TL;DR to jump to the best match for your goal.

Quick Answer / TL;DR

• If you want the widest market coverage → pick Item 1 (IG) for 10,000+ CFDs and multi-asset access.
• If you want lowest spreads on majors → pick Item 3 (Pepperstone) for 0.0–0.3 pip raw spreads and ~AUD 7 round-turn commission.
• If you want advanced charting and order tools → pick Item 2 (CMC Markets) for 10,000+ instruments and 80+ indicators.
• If you want a low entry-cost raw account → pick Item 6 (FP Markets) for minimum deposit ~AUD 100 and raw spreads from 0.0 pips.
• If you need social copy trading → pick Item 5 (eToro) with social feeds and 2,000+ instruments.
• If you require institutional-grade market depth → pick Item 4 (Saxo Markets) with multi-feed liquidity and tiered pricing.

What We Looked For

• Instruments (coverage): Counted total CFD markets where possible. Looked for brokers with 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000+ instruments. More markets mean more trading ideas.
• Cost per trade (spreads + commissions): Measured typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.0–1.5 pips and index spreads such as ASX 200 at 0.5–2.0 points. Checked commission levels from AUD 0 to AUD 10+ per side. Calculated round-trip costs for typical lots.
• Minimum deposit and account tiers: Noted deposits from AUD 0 to AUD 2,000. Highlighted raw accounts with min deposits of ~AUD 100 and premium tiers requiring AUD 2,000+.
• Platforms and execution: Tested platforms with 10–80+ indicators, MT4/MT5 availability, and API options. Measured latency indicators like sub-1ms colocation for some VPS setups and typical execution times of 50–300 ms.
• Regulation and safety: Prioritised ASIC-regulated entities and client segregation. Checked negative balance protection availability for retail products and whether client funds are held in separate accounts.
  Below is a quick comparison table across the six picks.

1. IG Markets — Best for breadth with 10,000+ CFDs

IG offers a massive product library. Trade more than 10,000 CFD instruments across forex, indices, shares, commodities, and options. Use one login for stocks, futures, and forex. Expect typical EUR/USD spreads from about 0.6 pips on standard accounts. Expect share CFD commissions from roughly AUD 8 per trade on exchange-priced stocks. Retail leverage commonly tops at 30:1 on major forex and drops to 5:1 on some shares.
Why it stands out: deep market coverage and a proprietary web platform. The platform includes charting, news, screeners, and risk tools. Find guaranteed stop orders on selected products. Use the platform to view level 2 pricing on some instruments and trade within 1–3 clicks. The broker provides a demo account with 10,000 virtual credits and educational videos spanning 20+ topics.
One concrete use case: hold a diversified CFD portfolio across 25 share CFDs and manage exposure with guaranteed stops and 2% portfolio-level alerts. Execution is mixed: some products trade via market-making, others via direct liquidity access. Overnight financing varies by asset, typically 0.5%–3.0% annualised.
Best for: traders who want the widest instrument choice under one account.
Skip if: you trade tiny positions and need the absolute lowest spreads on majors.
Key points:
– 10,000+ CFD markets available
– EUR/USD spreads from ~0.6 pips on standard accounts
– Share CFD commissions from ~AUD 8 (market-dependent)
– Leverage ranges typically up to 30:1 on majors
– Demo account with 10,000 virtual funds and 24/5 support
Watch out for: complex overnight fees and exchange charges that add 0.1%–0.5% per month for some long positions.

2. CMC Markets — Best for charting and 10,000+ instruments

CMC Markets combines deep coverage with an award-winning platform. Trade over 10,000 CFDs across forex, shares, indices, and commodities. Expect tight EUR/USD spreads from around 0.3 pips in liquid conditions. Share CFDs can be commission-free on selected products or incur commissions from about AUD 9.90 on exchange-priced trades. Platforms include 80+ built-in indicators and fast order entry.
Why it stands out: professional-grade charting, conditional orders, and strategy tools. Use OCO, bracket orders, and back-test simple strategies. See heatmaps, volatility overlays, and risk analytics in-platform. Execution quality is competitive; typical slippage on liquid pairs is under 0.5 pips. The platform supports alerts and can send push messages in 1–2 seconds.
Concrete use case: run an intraday scalping strategy on ASX 200 futures with effective spreads of 0.5–1.0 points and automated alerts for 5% volatility moves. Use conditional orders to manage 10–20 open positions and track P&L in real time.
Best for: technically focused and active intraday traders.
Skip if: you prefer ultra-simple pricing or a mobile-only experience.
Key points:
– 10,000+ CFDs across asset classes
– EUR/USD spreads from ~0.3 pips
– 80+ indicators and conditional order types
– Share CFD commissions example: ~AUD 9.90 on some products
– Typical slippage under 0.5 pips on majors
Watch out for: platform complexity has a learning curve; expect 2–10 hours to master advanced features.

3. Pepperstone — Best for raw spreads from 0.0–0.3 pips and low latency

Pepperstone targets cost-conscious and algorithmic traders. On the Razor/raw account you’ll see EUR/USD spreads from 0.0–0.3 pips. Commission typically runs about AUD 3.50 per side (round-turn ~AUD 7). Execution is fast thanks to multiple liquidity providers and colocated servers; expect latency measures of sub-1 ms for colocated setups and 50–150 ms for retail connections. Pepperstone supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, plus REST and Socket APIs.
Why it stands out: tight raw pricing, low slippage, and strong execution for scalpers and EAs (expert advisors). Offer VPS access with monthly plans from AUD 15–50 if you need 24/7 uptime. Provide bridge services and industry-standard FIX access for institutional clients with 1,000+ lot flows. The broker has ASIC regulation and client fund segregation.
Concrete use case: run an automated arbitrage or scalping EA on EUR/USD with average spreads of 0.1 pips and commissions of AUD 3.50 per side. Expect average execution time around 60 ms under normal load. Use a VPS with sub-5 ms ping to further reduce latency.
Best for: scalpers, EA users, and latency-sensitive traders.
Skip if: you want bundled spreads and zero separate commissions.
Key points:
– EUR/USD raw spreads from 0.0–0.3 pips
– Commission ~AUD 3.50 per side (round-turn ~AUD 7)
– Latency: sub-1 ms (colocated), 50–150 ms (retail)
– Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, APIs
– VPS plans from ~AUD 15 per month
Watch out for: non-raw account spreads widen to 1.0+ pips during news spikes.

4. Saxo Markets — Best for professional traders and multi-feed depth

Saxo Markets suits traders seeking institutional features. Access roughly 9,000+ CFDs across equities, FX, fixed income, and futures. Minimum deposit tiers commonly start at about AUD 2,000 for active retail accounts and higher for professional tiers. Expect competitive EUR/USD spreads from ~0.2–0.6 pips depending on tier. Commission on share CFDs often starts near AUD 6–10 per trade on exchange-priced stocks.
Why it stands out: multi-feed liquidity, advanced order routing, and professional desktop software. Use SaxoTraderPRO for 100+ indicators, market depth, and complex algos. Institutions and active traders get tiered pricing where spreads compress as monthly volume exceeds 100 lots or AUD 100,000 in turnover. The broker offers API access for direct order entry and streaming data.
Concrete use case: execute block trades or hedges across Europe and Asia using single-account access to 30+ exchanges and aggregated liquidity. Monitor VWAP and TWAP algos and expect slippage under 0.3% on large, liquid orders.
Best for: professional and high-volume traders who need depth.
Skip if: you have a small account under AUD 2,000.
Key points:
– ~9,000+ CFD instruments
– Min deposit commonly ~AUD 2,000 for retail tiers
– EUR/USD typical spreads ~0.2–0.6 pips
– Share CFD commissions start ~AUD 6–10
– Advanced platform with 100+ indicators and API access
Watch out for: tiered pricing requires volume; smaller accounts pay higher effective fees.

5. eToro — Best for social trading and copy strategies

eToro focuses on social copy trading and ease of use. Offer about 2,000+ CFD instruments including shares, indices, and crypto. Minimum deposit often starts around AUD 50, making it accessible for small accounts. Expect markup-style EUR/USD spreads around 1.0 pip or higher, as eToro embeds fees into spreads rather than charging separate commissions on many CFDs. Copy traders can follow 1,000+ active traders and allocate from AUD 200 per copied trade.
Why it stands out: social features, leaderboards, and copy portfolios. See historical performance for top traders across 3, 6, and 12-month windows and allocate fixed amounts or percentage exposure. The mobile app integrates trading, copying, and community feeds. Withdrawal fees and inactivity fees apply; common withdrawal charge is roughly AUD 5 and inactivity triggers after 12 months in some tiers.
Concrete use case: copy a trader with a target risk of 5% per trade, allocate AUD 1,000, and monitor daily P&L updates. Use the platform to diversify across 5 copied traders for exposure to forex, indices, and share CFDs.
Best for: beginner traders who want social proof and copy functionality.
Skip if: you need raw spreads or pro-level execution.
Key points:
– ~2,000+ CFD instruments
– Min deposit ~AUD 50
– EUR/USD spread typically ~1.0 pip (spread-only model)
– Copy trades from 1,000+ active traders; min allocation ~AUD 200
– Withdrawal fee example ~AUD 5; inactivity after 12 months
Watch out for: spread-only pricing can cost more for high-frequency traders.

6. FP Markets — Best low-entry raw account with AUD 100 min

FP Markets offers a low entry point raw account for price-sensitive traders. Minimum deposit around AUD 100 on raw accounts. Raw spreads can start from 0.0 pips on majors with commissions about AUD 3.50 per side (round-turn ~AUD 7). Instruments number near 10,000+ including ASX share CFDs, global equities, forex, and metals. Platform options include MT4, MT5, and IRESS for advanced share CFD investors.
Why it stands out: competitive raw pricing and low minimums. Execution uses multiple liquidity providers and typically shows low slippage under 0.5 pips on liquid pairs. Offer VPS solutions and research feeds for active traders. Use the raw account for scalping and the standard account for simpler pricing. Demo accounts provide 30 days or more of realistic market conditions.
Concrete use case: fund a trading account with AUD 100, run a micro-lot scalping EA on EUR/USD with average spread 0.1 pips and commission ~AUD 3.50 per side. Use MT5 to back-test over 1,000 ticks per second and optimise entries.
Best for: traders seeking a low-deposit raw account and MT platforms.
Skip if: you prefer a single unified social trading app.
Key points:
– Min deposit ~AUD 100 for raw accounts
– Raw EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips
– Commission ~AUD 3.50 per side (round-turn ~AUD 7)
– ~10,000+ CFDs including ASX, US, EU stocks
– Platforms: MT4, MT5, IRESS; VPS available
Watch out for: overnight financing and inactivity fees that can reach 0.5%–1.5% monthly on small positions.

Closing

Pick based on your priority: markets, cost, tools, or social features. Use these anchor numbers to narrow choices. Compare instrument counts (1,000 to 10,000+), deposits (AUD 50 to AUD 2,000+), EUR/USD spreads (0.0–1.0+ pips), and commissions (AUD 0 to ~AUD 10). Test with a demo account for at least 7–30 days to verify execution, slippage, and platform stability. Check regulation and confirm client fund segregation and negative balance protections where offered. Start small: deposit a test amount such as AUD 100–1,000 and scale as you verify execution and costs. Keep trading costs under 0.5% per month for active strategies to protect performance.