Best Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulated Brokers 2025
We’ve personally tested and ranked the top brokers regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), ensuring high standards of trust and reliability.
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1Moomoo is a regulated trading platform which is controlled by SEC. It provides a simple, cost-effective method to trade in stocks, ETFs, and various assets from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, and Australia. They provide the option for margin trading, along with no deposit account and several bonus options.
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Trust Platform Assets Fees Accounts Research Education Mobile Support 4.9 Founded in 2006, AvaTrade is a top forex and CFD broker trusted by over 400,000 traders. Regulated in 9 regions, it handles more than 2 million trades monthly. AvaTrade offers platforms like MT4, MT5, and WebTrader, with over 1,250 instruments. Traders of all levels can explore CFDs, AvaOptions, and AvaFutures for short-term trading. AvaTrade provides excellent education and 24/5 multilingual customer support for a complete trading experience. -
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Trust Platform Assets Fees Accounts Research Education Mobile Support 4.6 XM is a well-known forex and CFD broker with over 10 million clients in more than 190 countries. Since 2009, this reliable broker has provided low trading fees on over 1000 instruments. It is highly regulated by bodies such as ASIC and CySEC and offers a complete MetaTrader experience. -
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Trust Platform Assets Fees Accounts Research Education Mobile Support 4.8 IC Markets is a renowned forex and CFD broker recognized for its high-quality pricing, extensive range of trading tools, and superior trading technology. Established in 2007 in Australia, it operates under the oversight of ASIC, CySEC, and FSA. It has drawn in over 180,000 traders from across 200 countries. -
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Trust Platform Assets Fees Accounts Research Education Mobile Support 4.8 Pepperstone, established in Australia in 2010, is a highly-regarded forex and CFD broker serving more than 400,000 international clients. It provides access to over 1,300 instruments through leading trading platforms such as MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, while keeping fees relatively low and transparent. The company is regulated by known authorities including FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, offering a safe trading environment for all.
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Safety Comparison
Compare how safe the Best Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulated Brokers 2025 are.
Mobile Trading Comparison
Compare the mobile trading features of the Best Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulated Brokers 2025.
Comparison for Beginners
Compare how suitable the Best Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulated Brokers 2025 are for beginners.
Comparison for Advanced Traders
Compare how suitable the Best Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulated Brokers 2025 are for advanced or professional traders.
Accounts Comparison
Compare the trading accounts offered by Best Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulated Brokers 2025.
Detailed Rating Comparison
Compare how we rated the Best Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulated Brokers 2025 in key areas.
Fee and Cost Comparison
Compare the cost of trading with the Best Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulated Brokers 2025.
Broker Popularity
See how popular the Best Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Regulated Brokers 2025 are in terms of number of clients.
Broker | Popularity |
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Moomoo |
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XM |
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Pepperstone |
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AvaTrade |
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IC Markets |
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Why Trade With Moomoo?
Moomoo is a great option for beginner and intermediate traders aiming to diversify their investment portfolio. The brokerage's app is easily navigable and the trading fees are significantly low.
Pros
- Moomoo is a FINRA and SIPC member, providing additional security for potential clients interested in trading.
- The 'Moomoo Token' produces changing passwords to enhance transaction security - a distinctive and practical safety measure for traders.
- Moomoo is a licensed entity with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Cons
- Regrettably, even with its existing security features, this platform still lacks 2 factor authentication (2FA).
- The broker doesn't offer phone or live chat support, options typically provided by other brokers.
- The protection against negative balance, a standard security measure at highly regulated brokers, is not available here.
Why Trade With AvaTrade?
AvaTrade provides traders with essential tools: an intuitive WebTrader, strong AvaProtect risk management, a quick 5-minute sign-up, and reliable support for fast-paced markets.
Pros
- AvaTrade enhances its products with AvaFutures, offering an alternative to trade over 35 markets with low trading margins.
- The WebTrader performed well in our tests, featuring an easy-to-use interface for beginners and strong charting tools, including 6 chart layouts and over 60 technical indicators.
- AvaTrade's support team did well in tests, responding within 3 minutes and providing local support in major regions like the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
Cons
- While the deposit process is smooth, AvaTrade doesn't support crypto payments, unlike TopFX, which caters to crypto-focused traders.
- AvaTrade’s WebTrader has improved, but it needs more customization as widgets like market watch and watchlists can't be hidden, moved, or resized.
- Signing up is easy, but AvaTrade doesn't offer an ECN account like Pepperstone or IC Markets, which provides raw spreads and fast execution that many traders want.
Why Trade With XM?
With a $5 minimum deposit, advanced charting on MT4 and MT5, a growing range of markets, and a Zero account with spreads from 0.0, XM offers what traders need. They have even won our 'Best MT4/MT5 Broker' award recently.
Pros
- XM’s Zero account is ideal for trading with spreads from 0.0 pips, 99.35% of orders executed in <1 second, without requotes or rejections.
- XM offers over 1,000 instruments, giving traders various short-term opportunities, including turbo stocks, fractional shares, and thematic indices.
- XM's customer support has proven reliable, offering 24/5 service in 25 languages, response times under 2 minutes, and a growing Telegram channel.
Cons
- XM only uses the MetaTrader platforms for desktop trading, offering no in-house downloadable or web-based solutions with unique features for beginners.
- XM is lagging because it doesn’t offer cTrader and TradingView, which are now preferred over MetaTrader for their better user interface and charting tools.
- The XM app is user-friendly and offers unique copy trading products, but its technical analysis tools need enhancement for advanced traders.
Why Trade With IC Markets?
IC Markets provides excellent prices, quick execution, and smooth deposits. The utilization of sophisticated charting platforms such as TradingView and the Raw Trader Plus account makes it a preferred choice for intermediate to advanced traders.
Pros
- IC Markets, a well-regulated and respected broker, emphasizes client security and transparency for a trustworthy global trading experience.
- IC Markets provides reliable 24/5 support, especially for account and funding matters, based on direct experience.
- You can trade more than 2,250 CFDs in various markets, such as forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. This range enables varied trading strategies.
Cons
- The range and quality of educational materials, such as tutorials and webinars, require improvement. This lag falls behind competitors like CMC Markets and reduces its suitability for novice traders.
- Some withdrawal methods require fees such as a $20 wire charge. This can reduce profits, particularly for traders who withdraw frequently.
- Despite having four top-tier third-party platforms, there is no in-house software or trading app specifically designed for new traders.
Why Trade With Pepperstone?
Pepperstone is a leading choice for trading with low spreads, quick execution, and advanced charting for experienced traders. New traders benefit from no minimum deposit, a wealth of educational resources, and 24/7 support. Operating under ASIC regulation, Pepperstone is a top option for Australian traders and won DayTrading.com's 'Best Aus Broker' award for 2025.
Pros
- Get top-notch customer support through phone, email, or live chat. Expect responses within <5 minutes based on our trials.
- Pepperstone is a low-cost broker, ideal for serious traders. The Razor account offers spreads from 0.0, with rebates up to 30% for indices and commodities, and $3 per lot for forex through the Active Trader program.
- Pepperstone now offers spread betting via TradingView, enabling tax-efficient trading with sophisticated analysis tools.
Cons
- Pepperstone does not support cTrader Copy, a popular feature in the cTrader platform available at alternatives like IC Markets, though it has launched an intuitive copy trading app.
- Pepperstone's demo accounts last for 30 days. This might be insufficient for learning the various platforms and testing trading strategies.
- Despite market improvements, the crypto options provided are fewer compared to other brokers like eToro, with no chance to buy actual coins.
Filters
Are You an Australian Looking for a Safe Online Trading Platform?
If you’re in Australia and want a secure place to trade online, start by choosing a broker regulated by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).
Why Pick an ASIC-Regulated Broker?
Since it began in 1991, ASIC has been a reliable financial watchdog, ensuring brokers uphold high standards. They have an “Investor Alert List” and have been ranked highly for regulation and trust by brokerlistings.com.
When you trade with an ASIC-regulated broker, here’s what you can expect:
- Protection of your money through segregation with major banks to stop misuse by brokers.
- Clarity about risks, like the percentage of clients who lose money with CFDs, so you can make smarter choices.
- Transparency in trade execution, meaning fair deals which are essential for quick trading strategies.
- Negative balance protection so you won’t lose more than you initially invest.
- Limits on leverage to keep risks lower, such as 1:30 for major currency pairs like AUD/USD.
- An easy way to resolve disputes through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
How We Find the Best ASIC Brokers
To find the top ASIC-regulated trading platforms, we:
- Checked our list of brokers that claim ASIC regulation.
- Verified these claims using ASIC Connect.
- Combined this data with our own tests and over 200 data entries to rank them.
Checking If Your Broker Is ASIC-Regulated
To see if your broker is regulated by ASIC, follow these steps:
- Go to the ASIC Connect website and select “Search our registers.”
- Choose “Search ASIC’s registers” to look for financial services providers in Australia.
- Enter your broker’s name, company name, or their license number to access their details.
- Verify their status is “Registered” or “Active,” showing they are ASIC-regulated.
- Cross-check the license details with what’s shown on your broker’s website, often found in the footer.
Example: Verifying IC Markets
IC Markets is well-known in Australia, but checking their ASIC status is quick. Here’s how you do it:
I visited ASIC Connect, went to the “Australian Financial Services Licensee” Register, and entered “IC Markets” or “International Capital Markets Pty Ltd.”
Checking their details showed they are ASIC-registered, and I confirmed this with their license number on their website, ensuring it’s the same on ASIC’s site (license number 335692).
You can also watch our video guide on this process: https://youtu.be/o20PL6IMgZs
Understanding ASIC
ASIC, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, was set up in 1991 to ensure fair and transparent financial markets. In response to financial issues, ASIC emerged as the comprehensive regulator for Australia’s finance sector.
ASIC licenses and enforces laws for financial businesses, investigates complaints, and can take legal action against misconduct, ensuring everyone in the market operates fairly.
ASIC’s Powers
ASIC has strong tools to oversee financial laws and maintain order in the markets:
- Licensing: ASIC licenses only qualified businesses to operate, ensuring brokers meet standards in Australia.
- Investigation: ASIC can look into suspected rule-breaking, gathering evidence and interviewing people involved.
- Enforcement: If rules are broken, ASIC can impose fines, revoke licenses, and even pursue legal charges.
- Regulation: ASIC sets standards for corporate behavior and can enforce specific conditions on operations.
- Banning: ASIC can ban dishonest individuals from managing companies or offering financial services.
- Protection Initiatives: ASIC requires brokers to adopt better practices for consumer protection.
Rules for ASIC-Approved Brokers
Brokers under ASIC’s regulation must comply with several rules to ensure transparency and consumer protection:
- Licensing: Brokers need an Australian Financial Services (AFS) license to operate.
- Client Money: Brokers must keep client money separate from their own funds.
- Disclosure: Brokers should clearly explain their fees, services, and risks to potential clients.
- Conduct: Brokers must operate honestly and avoid deceptive actions.
- Warnings: Brokers must inform clients of risks, especially for high-risk products like CFDs.
- Reporting: ASIC requires brokers to submit financial reports for transparency.
- Dispute Resolution: Brokers must have clear methods for resolving client complaints, often through AFCA.
- Training: Brokers need to ensure their staff is well-trained to offer sound financial advice.
How ASIC Protects Traders
For those trading CFDs in Australia, there are specific ASIC rules to protect retail traders:
- Leverage Limits: There are caps on leverage (e.g., 1:30 for forex), reducing the risk of big losses.
- Negative Balance Protection: Traders can’t lose more money than they initially put in.
- Risk Warnings: Brokers display clear warnings about the risks of CFDs.
- Margin Close-Outs: Trades are closed if funds fall to 50% of the margin needed to prevent larger losses.
- No Inducements: Brokers can’t offer bonuses or “free” trading schemes to lure in traders.
- Enhanced Disclosures: Detailed trading information must be given to understand all risks involved.
ASIC’s Track Record on Fines
ASIC is known for tough enforcement against non-compliant brokers. Here are some examples:
- Interactive Brokers (2023): Fined $832,500 for negligent behavior related to suspicious trading.
- Openmarkets (2023): Fined $4.5 million for not having proper systems to detect price manipulation.
- Forex Capital Trading (2020): Fined $20 million for various breaches, including unfair client practices.
Bottom Line
ASIC consistently introduces rules to protect retail investors by regulating online brokers heavily. Always verify your broker’s status with ASIC to ensure your investments are in safe hands. To find trustworthy brokers, check out the recommendations on brokerlistings.com.