CommSec vs Stake vs Selfwealth for Swing Traders (2026)

CommSec, Selfwealth and Stake all provide access to Australian shares, but their fee structures and cash workflows differ. For a swing trader who buys and sells more often than a long-term investor, those differences can change which broker fits.

This comparison uses standard online ASX pricing checked against each broker's own pricing pages on 7 October 2026. Promotions and negotiated rates can change the amount you pay. For a wider shortlist that includes CMC Invest and Interactive Brokers, read the Australian broker comparison for swing traders.

Quick comparison

Brokerage is only one part of the choice. Check order types, live data, reporting, support, funding times and transfer terms against the way you trade.

CommSec fees and workflow

CommSec's published online Australian share brokerage depends on the transaction value and where you settle the trade.

For online trades settled to a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) or CommSec Margin Loan, the published tiers are:

• $5 up to and including $1,000
• $10 over $1,000 and up to $3,000
• $19.95 over $3,000 and up to $10,000
• $29.95 over $10,000 and up to $25,000
• 0.12% over $25,000

Online trades settled to another bank account use a different schedule: $29.95 up to $9,999.99 and 0.31% from $10,000. CommSec also notes that alternative rates may apply if offered and agreed. Confirm the CommSec rates and fees for your settlement setup.

Shortlist CommSec if you want its market information and an account connected to Commonwealth Bank. Repeated mid-sized orders can cost more than the flat-fee alternatives in this comparison.

Selfwealth fees and workflow

Selfwealth publishes a flat $9.50 brokerage fee per ASX trade. Its help centre states that brokerage applies when an order fills completely, or partially fills and is then cancelled or expires. Australian shares are held on a HIN in your name, and Selfwealth provides a dedicated cash trading account.

The flat fee makes cost planning direct. A $2,000 order and a $20,000 order have the same standard brokerage, subject to the broker's current terms. Check Selfwealth's fee guidance before opening or moving an account.

Shortlist Selfwealth if you want predictable pricing without a bank-linked brokerage schedule. Compare its order entry, market data and research tools with your own checklist rather than assuming a flat fee settles the whole decision.

Stake fees and workflow

Stake publishes brokerage of $3 per ASX trade up to $30,000 and 0.01% above $30,000. The rate applies when buying or selling eligible ASX instruments. Stake also states on its Australian home page that ASX holdings are CHESS sponsored under your own Holder Identification Number.

At the standard rate, Stake has the lowest brokerage of these three for a $5,000 or $15,000 order. Check the Stake AUS brokerage page for changes and other fees.

Stake can fit a cost-focused trader who is comfortable with its app and web workflow. Before choosing it on price, confirm that the available order types, reporting and market information meet your needs.

Worked brokerage costs for swing traders

A round trip has two charged sides: one buy and one sell. Ten round trips create 20 transactions. These examples assume each side has the same trade value, standard online pricing, no promotion and no partial-fill complication.

Ten $5,000 round trips

The monthly arithmetic is fee per side multiplied by 20. For CommSec, $19.95 x 20 = $399. The annualised figure multiplies that monthly amount by 12. It is a scenario, not a forecast of how often you should trade.

Ten $15,000 round trips

These tables exclude the bid-ask spread, slippage, subscriptions and tax. Your full trading cost is larger than brokerage alone.

Why cost per trade can change your strategy

Suppose a hypothetical $5,000 trade makes 2% before brokerage. Gross profit is $5,000 x 0.02 = $100.

With Stake's standard $3 per side, brokerage is $6 and the result before other costs is $94. With Selfwealth, $19 of round-trip brokerage leaves $81. With CommSec and CDIA settlement, $39.90 leaves $60.10.

The setup produced the same price move in each case. The net result did not. Add fees to your journal so expectancy reflects what reached the account rather than the chart move alone. The risk and reward calculator can help you test the relationship between win rate and trade outcomes.

CHESS sponsorship does not make the accounts identical

All three brokers state that Australian holdings are CHESS sponsored. Your Holder Identification Number, or HIN, identifies your sponsored holdings.

CHESS sponsorship answers an ownership and registration question. It does not tell you which platform has the right orders, service or reports for your workflow.

If you move brokers, ask both providers about a HIN or portfolio transfer before selling. A transfer may preserve the holdings without placing a market sell and buy, but eligibility, account names and processing rules apply. Keep contract notes and confirm how cash and open orders are handled during the move.

A decision checklist beyond brokerage

Test each broker against the same tasks:

1. Preview a limit order without submitting it and find where the broker would show its status.
2. Check which conditional or trigger orders are available for the securities you trade.
3. Find the live or delayed market data terms.
4. Export completed trades in a format your journal can use.
5. Confirm how soon deposited funds become available.
6. Read the process for trading with unsettled sale proceeds.
7. Check support hours and the method for an urgent account issue.
8. Review HIN transfer, inactivity and subscription fees.

A cheap order that you cannot manage as planned can cost more than the brokerage difference. A feature-rich platform can also be poor value if you use none of those features.

Which broker fits which swing trader?

Choose CommSec if its bank-linked settlement, research and order workflow justify the applicable fee schedule for your trade size.

Choose Selfwealth if you prefer a flat $9.50 ASX fee and its cash account and platform fit your routine.

Choose Stake if standard brokerage is your main constraint and its available trading and reporting tools cover your needs.

This is a shortlist, not a ranking. Price your own average order, monthly frequency and required features. Then paper trade the workflow before funding an account for live swing trades.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheapest for a $5,000 ASX trade?

At the standard prices checked on 7 October 2026, Stake charges $3 per side, Selfwealth $9.50 and CommSec $19.95 when the CommSec trade settles to a CDIA or Margin Loan. Promotions or alternative rates can change the result.

Does cheaper brokerage improve returns?

Lower fees leave more of the same gross trading result in your account. They cannot turn a poor strategy into a good one by themselves. Include spreads and slippage in the comparison.

Can I use one broker for execution and another app for journalling?

Yes. Keep the execution record from your broker and review decisions in a journal. Swingfolio's broker CSV imports stay in a review step before Save, so you can correct the proposed entries first.

Compare the full workflow

Pick the broker whose total workflow fits your order sizes and trading plan. Recheck current provider terms before acting, because fees and account conditions change.

Once trades close, keep brokerage in every result and compare setups after costs. Start the 30-day trial to review your broker CSV before Save and track the decisions behind each trade.

Disclaimer: This article is general information and does not constitute financial advice. Broker fees, promotions, products and account terms can change. Verify current details with each provider before opening or transferring an account.