Award winning online broker
With over 25 years of industry leading experience, CommSec offers Australia's best online and mobile trading solutions.
Help & support
Trade over 2,000 shares and ETFs listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).
Start investing with as little as $500. Whether you’re using the CommSec or CommBank app, buying shares is straightforward and convenient.
Trade from just $5, with no monthly fees or ongoing account charges.
Open a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) to settle your trades easily and enjoy low brokerage fees.
When you buy a share, you own part of a company. Your investment grows as the company’s value increases or when it pays dividends (a portion of profits distributed to shareholders). Reinvesting dividends and holding shares longer term can allow your money to grow through compounding.
Over the past 25 years, shares have delivered better than average returns compared with other investments.1 They also offer flexibility, as you can usually access your money within two business days of selling.
It’s important to note that shares come with risks such as capital loss risk (Investment value can decrease), liquidity risk (buying or selling can be difficult due to market conditions) and market and economic risks (share price can be impacted by several factors). To manage risk, consider an investment option which suits your needs and circumstance. Of course, when considering investing for the first time you should always seek your own financial advice.
Trade from just $5, with no monthly fees or ongoing account charges.^
^ To be eligible, you must trade online, be CHESS Participant Sponsored with CommSec and settle your trades through either a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) or a CommSec Margin Loan. You can also enjoy $0 brokerage on your first 10 trades* See Limited time offer.
Current offers for our eligible customers
Get started with $0 brokerage
Enjoy $0 brokerage on your first 10 trades* Limited time offer
CommBank Yello investing benefit
Receive a $10 monthly loyalty benefit as an eligible CommBank Yello customer for investing**
With over 25 years of industry leading experience, CommSec offers Australia's best online and mobile trading solutions.
Opening a CommSec account is free and there are no ongoing account-keeping fees. A brokerage fee does apply per trade and is tiered by trade value.
Trade amount |
Cost* |
Up to $1,000 (inclusive) |
$5 |
Over $1,000 up to $3,000 (inclusive) |
$10 |
Over $3,000 up to $10,000 (inclusive) |
$19.95 |
Over $10,000 up to $25,000 (inclusive) |
$29.95 |
Over $25,000 |
0.12% |
You can apply for a CommSec Share Trading Account if you are:
A settlement account is a linked bank account used to manage the money going in and out of your trading account. When you buy or sell shares, a process called T+2 settlement takes place where ownership of the shares are exchanged for money between the buyer and seller. This occurs on the second business day after the trade takes place. By opening a CommSec Australian Shares account via the CommBank app, you'll also open a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA), providing you with our best brokerage rates and real-time fund transfers.
Important: The shares you wish to transfer (whether held with another broker or the share registry) must have identical registration details (both name and address) to your CommSec trading account. If registration details differ by even one character, you will need to change these details before completing the form.
You can transfer shares held with another broker (i.e., Stake, nabtrade), with the share registry (i.e., Computershare, MUFG Corporate Markets), or in another CommSec account, by logging into CommSec.
To transfer shares into CommSec, log into CommSec, head to Settings, navigate to Service Request, then select Transfer Shares. Once you begin the transfer, you’ll be asked a series of questions about your shares.
For the transfer to be successful the name and address registered on your holdings must match your CommSec account.
This process normally takes 2-3 business days to complete.
You can use both the CommBank app and the CommSec app to trade and manage your CommSec Australian Shares account. To view your shares in the CommBank app simply log in, tap the ‘Investing hub’ tile from your app dashboard or Library.
When considering investing in shares there are a few questions to ask:
Analysts use key measures like the price to earnings ratio, price to book ratio, earnings per share and dividend yield, as well as overall share price performance of a particular share to understand its overall value. Of course, if investing for the first time you should seek out your own professional financial advice first to understand your risk profile. Also note that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance when doing your stock selection.
Check out the Market highlights,the CommSec Invest podcast, and explore the ‘Learn’ tab via the Investing hub in the CommBank app.
Compounding is when your investments earn returns, and then those returns start earning returns too. Over time, this can help your money grow faster.
For illustrative purposes only: if you invested $1000 and earnt a 5% return, you’ll have $1050 after a year. If you leave that money invested, the next year if you earn another 5% on your original $1,000 and on the $50 you earned – so your total grows to $1,102.50. The longer you stay invested, the bigger the effect of compounding. Reinvesting dividends can also help your money grow over time. Learn more about how compounding can benefit your strategy.
How to calculate the potential return on investment?
Return on Investment (ROI) is the gain/loss you have made on your initial investment.
ROI =
Example:
Purchase price = $5.00
Sale price = $6.00
No of shares purchased = 100
Brokerage fees = $10 ($5 to buy and $5 to sell)
(Sale Price – Purchase Price) x Number of Shares Purchased – Brokerage fees = ($6.00 - $5.00) x 100 - $10 = $90
This is your profit.
Purchase Price x Number of Shares Purchased + Brokerage fees = $5.00 x 100 + $10 = $510
This is your initial investment.
Return on Investment (ROI) = $90 ÷ $510 x 100 = 17.64%
Was the information on this page useful?
Investors should consult a range of resources, and if necessary, seek professional advice, before making investment decisions in regard to their objectives, financial and taxation situations and needs because these have not been taken into account. Any securities or prices used in the examples given are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold. You can view the CommSec Share Trading Terms and Conditions our Financial Services Guide and should consider them before making any decision about these products and services. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
* ”$0 brokerage on your first 10 trades” offer only available to new CommSec customers opening a new individual Australian Share Trading Account & Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) between 1 May 2025 to 31 July 2025 via the ‘Join now’ link at www.commsec.com.au/offer or through the CommBank App. Offer applies if you trade online, are CHESS-sponsored by CommSec and settle your trade through your CDIA. This offer does not apply to CommSec Pocket trades, International Share trades, Exchange Traded Options or Margin Lending. You are not eligible for this offer if you have closed an Australian Share Trading Account on or after 1 May 2025. Offer not valid in conjunction with any other offer and not open to existing CommSec customers. As part of the offer, you will receive $0 brokerage on your first 10 Australian share trades, up to a maximum trade value of $50,000 each for orders placed on or before 31 October 2025. Standard CommSec brokerage charges apply for orders placed or amended after 31 October 2025. Trades above $50,000 will incur brokerage charges. For CommSec standard brokerage charges, see the CommSec Financial Service Guide. No brokerage fee will be shown on the CommSec Confirmation Contract Note issued in respect of applicable trades under this offer. This offer is not redeemable for cash and is not transferable. CommSec Share Trading Terms and Conditions apply unless otherwise specified here. Applicants must be 18 years or over. We reserve the right to terminate this offer or amend these terms and conditions at any time without notice. For any queries on this offer, please contact us on 13 15 19.
** “Monthly loyalty payment” benefit (CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit) only available to CommBank customers eligible for the Gold and Diamond Benefit Sets in the CommBank Yello customer recognition program. You may qualify for the CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit and thereby receive a monthly loyalty payment if you are eligible for the CommBank Yello Gold and Diamond Benefit Sets, trade with an Individual Australian Share Trading Account (excluding joint accounts, company accounts and trustee accounts) and settle at least 1 trade greater than $1,000 monthly into a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) between 1st October 2024 and 31st October 2025.
Additionally, to obtain the CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit, trades subject to eligibility assessment must relate to online trades that are CHESS-sponsored by CommSec. The CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit does not apply to CommSec Pocket trades, International Share Trades, Exchange Traded Options, or trades financed by Margin Loans. If you are a new CommSec customer eligible for the “$0 brokerage on your first 10 trades” offer, you may additionally qualify for the CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit if you meet the eligibility criteria stated above.
Fulfilment for the CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit occurs monthly, and your eligibility is typically assessed in the first week of each month for your trades settled in the previous calendar month. No payment will be paid if you do not retain status as a CommBank Yello Gold or Diamond customer when eligibility is assessed (that is, you no longer remain eligible for the CommBank Yello Gold and Diamond Benefit Sets).
You should consider the tax implications of receiving the CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit. You should check with your accountant or tax adviser if you are not sure about the tax implications to you of the payment. Details of the payment are available in your CommSec EOFY Statement.
Full information on CommBank Yello and eligibility conditions are available in the CommBank Yello Terms and Conditions and CommBank Yello FAQs.
The CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit is not transferable. Eligible customers must be 18 years or over. CommSec may terminate or withdraw the CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit and may, acting reasonably, amend the terms and conditions applying to the CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit at any time. In both cases, CommSec will provide notice prior to doing so or as soon as is practicable after doing so. Termination or withdrawal of the CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit and any change to its terms and conditions will apply prospectively and will not impact any benefit already received or accrued. If you are not happy with any change to the terms and conditions, you may opt out of CommBank Yello by messaging in the CommBank app or visiting a branch. By receiving the CommBank Yello CommSec Benefit, you are taken to agree to these terms and conditions.
1 Sourced from Reuters, Real Estate Institute of Australia, CoreLogic and IRESS. Data from: 1996-2022 – to June 30.
2 To be eligible, you must trade online, be CHESS Sponsored with CommSec and settle your trades through either a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) or CommSec Margin Loan.
This information has been prepared without taking account of the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual. For this reason, any individual should, before acting on this information, consider the appropriateness of the information, having regards to the individual's objectives, financial situation or needs, and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.
You can view the Share Trading Terms and Conditions, CommBank Transaction, Savings and Investment Account Terms and Conditions, CommSec Best Execution Statement and Financial Services Guide.
The Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) is issued by Commonwealth Bank of Australia. ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945. This product is administered by Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814 (CommSec), a wholly owned but non-guaranteed subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. CommSec is a Market Participant of ASX Limited and Cboe Australia Pty Limited, a Clearing Participant of ASX Clear Pty Limited and a Settlement Participant of ASX Settlement Pty Limited.
The target market for the CDIA can be found within the product’s Target Market Determination, available at commbank.com.au/tmd.
© Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814 (CommSec) is a wholly owned but non-guaranteed subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945. CommSec is a Market Participant of ASX Limited and Cboe Australia Pty Limited (formerly CHI-X Australia Pty Limited), a Clearing Participant of ASX Clear Pty Limited and a Settlement Participant of ASX Settlement Pty Limited. Commonwealth Direct Investment Account is a product of the Bank and is marketed by CommSec. As this information has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs you should, before acting on this information, consider its appropriateness for your circumstances. Please consider the full terms and conditions which are available on request. Fees and charges apply.
The CommBank app is free to download, however your mobile network provider charges you for accessing data on your phone. Find out about the minimum operating system requirements on the CommBank app page. Terms and conditions are available on the app. NetBank access with NetCode SMS is required
