Brokers With AUD Accounts
The Australian Dollar (AUD), also known as the ‘Aussie’, is widely traded in the financial markets. This guide will highlight some of the top brokers with AUD accounts, the benefits of choosing a platform that accepts the Australian Dollar, plus how to compare top providers.
Brokers With AUD Accounts
These are the 6 best brokers that offer accounts with AUD as the base currency:
-
1
Interactive Brokers -
2
OANDA USCFDs are not available to residents in the United States. -
3
FOREX.com -
4
Focus Markets -
5
Kraken -
6
Zacks Trade
Here is a short summary of why we think each broker belongs in this top list:
- Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
- OANDA US - OANDA is a popular brand offering exceptional execution, low deposit requirements and advanced charting and trading platform features. The top-rated brand has over 25 years of experience and is regulated by trusted agencies, including the NFA/CFTC. Around the clock support is available for short-term traders, alongside flexible contract sizes and automated trade executions.
- FOREX.com - Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
- Focus Markets - Established in 2019, Focus Markets is an Australian-based MetaTrader broker offering access to over 1,000 tradable instruments, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and a particularly large selection of crypto derivatives.
- Kraken - Kraken is a leading cryptocurrency exchange with a proprietary trading terminal and a list of 220+ tradeable crypto tokens. Up to 1:5 leverage is available with stable rollover fees on spot crypto trading and up to 1:50 on futures. The exchange also supports crypto staking and has an interactive NFT marketplace.
- Zacks Trade - Zacks Trade is a FINRA-regulated US broker offering trading on stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, bonds and more through a proprietary terminal. The broker is geared toward active traders and offers very affordable fees on most assets as well as an app and a vast amount of market data.
Brokers With AUD Accounts Comparison
| Broker | Minimum Deposit | Instruments | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | $0 | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower |
| OANDA US | $0 | Forex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA) | OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist |
| FOREX.com | $100 | Forex, Futures and Options on Metals, Energies, Commodities, Indices, Bonds, Crypto | WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Focus Markets | $100 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | MT5 |
| Kraken | $10 | Cryptos | AlgoTrader, Quantower |
| Zacks Trade | $2500 | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Options, Bonds | Own |
Interactive Brokers
"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Interactive Brokers Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies |
| Regulator | FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM |
| Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | $100 |
| Leverage | 1:50 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF |
Pros
- There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
- The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
- IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
Cons
- You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
- Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
- IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
OANDA US
"OANDA remains an excellent broker for US day traders seeking a user-friendly platform with premium analysis tools and a straightforward joining process. OANDA is also heavily regulated with a very high trust score."
OANDA US Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Forex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA) |
| Regulator | NFA, CFTC |
| Platforms | OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:50 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- The broker's API facilitates access to 25 years of deep historical data and rates from 200+ currencies
- Beginners can get started easily with $0 minimum initial deposit
- OANDA is a reliable, trustworthy and secure brand with authorization from tier-one regulators including the CFTC
Cons
- There's only a small range of payment methods available, with no e-wallets supported
- The range of day trading markets is limited to forex and cryptos only
- It's a shame that customer support is not available on weekends
FOREX.com
"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."
FOREX.com Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Forex, Futures and Options on Metals, Energies, Commodities, Indices, Bonds, Crypto |
| Regulator | NFA, CFTC |
| Platforms | WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:50 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN |
Pros
- FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.
- With over 20 years of experience, excellent regulatory oversight, and multiple accolades including runner-up in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com boasts a global reputation as a trusted brokerage.
- There’s a wealth of educational resources including tutorials, webinars, and a stacked YouTube channel to help you get educated in the financial markets.
Cons
- Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
- There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
- FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
Focus Markets
"Focus Markets is perfect for experienced traders familiar with MetaTrader 5, offering flexible crypto transactions (USDT and BTC) and access to over 90 cryptocurrencies for seamless speculation, deposits, and withdrawals."
Focus Markets Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
| Regulator | ASIC, SVGFSA |
| Platforms | MT5 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:500 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, SGD |
Pros
- Focus Markets’ MT5 platform delivered fast, seamless trade execution during testing with advanced charting, multiple timeframes, and useful tools like Depth of Market (DOM). Its clean interface made navigation easy, while clear risk/reward ratios ensures precise trading.
- Focus Markets is regulated by ASIC – one of the most respected regulatory bodies in the financial industry with robust safeguards like negative balance protection, ensuring you can’t lose more than your balance in volatile markets.
- Focus Markets excelled in the deposit and withdrawal category during testing, offering more base currencies than most competitors, including USD, CAD and EUR - and a range of traditional and popular crypto payment options, including BTC and USDT.
Cons
- A significant drawback of Focus Markets is the lack of platform variety. It only support MT5, excluding popular platforms like MT4, cTrader, and TradingView, plus it hasn't developed its own software that could better meet the needs of beginners.
- Focus Markets still has a long way to go to compete with the best brokers - with virtually zero research tools and education, plus limited value-add features like VPS hosting, copy trading and swap-free accounts.
- Regulatory protection is a location lottery at Focus Markets – Australian traders benefit from strong ASIC oversight, but those using the SVGFSA-registered entity face limited recourse options in disputes.
Kraken
"Kraken will suit traders looking for a diverse list of cryptos including Bitcoin and a good security track record."
Kraken Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Cryptos |
| Regulator | FCA, FinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, FSA |
| Platforms | AlgoTrader, Quantower |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Minimum Trade | Variable |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF |
Pros
- Low minimum deposit of $10
- 50x leverage on futures trading
- Great trading platform and mobile app
Cons
- Low leverage on spot trading
- Slow verification times
- Does not accept fiat deposits
Zacks Trade
"Zacks Trade will suit active day traders with experience using powerful platforms. Fees and margin rates are low while the market research is excellent."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
Zacks Trade Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Options, Bonds |
| Regulator | FINRA |
| Platforms | Own |
| Minimum Deposit | $2500 |
| Minimum Trade | $3 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, RUB, PLN, CZK, HUF |
Pros
- Customizable proprietary trading platform and mobile app
- Demo account
- Regulated by FINRA with access to the Securities Investor Protection Corporation
Cons
- Shortcomings regarding platform loading times and technical glitches
- No forex, commodities or futures trading
- No MT4 or MT5 platform integration
What Is An AUD Account?
A base currency establishes the currency in which your account is denominated. Brokers with AUD accounts simply hold your portfolio balance and trading capital in Australian Dollars. All profits and losses will be converted into the base currency selected at account registration.
Any fees will also be reflected in the Aussie Dollar. This could include inactivity charges, account maintenance fees, and commissions.
The Australian Dollar (AUD) is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, replacing the Australian Pound in 1966. Domestically represented by the Dollar sign ‘$’, global brokers may also show it as ‘A$’ or ‘$AU’.
The AUD is the fifth most-traded currency in the world, behind the USD, EUR, GBP and JPY. The country’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of Australia, is responsible for setting monetary policy and maintaining the financial stability of the currency.
Brokers with AUD accounts should offer the currency at the registration stage. International investors can select AUD as a trading currency – it is not available exclusively to Australian Residents.
With that said, most platforms with AUD accounts are based or regulated in Australia so tend to appeal to local traders.
Note, some brokers may not allow account currency changes once an account is opened.
Pros Of Brokers With AUD Accounts
- Conversions – an AUD account is ideal for investors actively using the currency for trading. Capital is not lost when converting profits and losses to and from different currencies
- Speed – currency conversion requirements can slow the fund transfer process. Opening an AUD account may prevent a delay in processing profits back to your local currency if you’re based in Australia
- Payments – AUD deposits and withdrawals via local bank transfers tend to be quick, taking no longer than 1 business day. Local transfer fees are also cheaper than international wire transfers
- Accessibility – AUD accounts are the most popular option at Australian brokers. This gives traders more choice and direct access to major financial markets, including forex, stocks and commodities
- Predictability – the Australian Dollar is heavily tied to commodities. FX traders that invest in precious metals, energies and softs, may have a good understanding of what influences the value of the Aussie Dollar. This can help traders understand when it may be a good time to take a position on forex pairs that include the AUD
How To Check A Broker Offers AUD Accounts
The accounts section on a broker’s website is a good place to start. Brokers with AUD accounts also typically indicate accepted currencies on the deposits and withdrawals page.
Alternatively, visit the broker’s terms and conditions or contact the customer support team. It could also be worth clarifying if there is the ability to amend base currencies once an account has been opened, including any associated fees.
Note, some brokers only allow Australian residents to register for an account in AUD, including AvaTrade.
How To Compare Brokers With AUD Accounts
Below are some key considerations when comparing brokers with AUD accounts:
- Platform – does the broker offer a leading desktop and mobile trading platform like MetaTrader 4? Get to know the features and analysis tools that can be used to help execute trades
- Assets – available trading markets vary among brokers with AUD accounts. Retail clients wanting to build a diverse portfolio may want to look for AUD brokers offering stocks, forex, commodities and cryptos
- Customer support – the best brokers with AUD accounts offer easy-access to customer support. In fact, many top platforms now offer 24/7 assistance
- Regulation – brokers with AUD accounts are likely to be authorised by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The regulatory body promotes high levels of customer protection and is widely regarded in the financial markets
- Additional tools – what extra features does the broker offer? This could include educational webinars, online help centres, trading tutorials, or tips from expert traders.
Always consider your strategy when deciding which broker offers the right trading environment for you.
Final Word On Brokers With AUD Accounts
Brokers with AUD accounts are suitable for investors from Australia as well as active forex traders. Many of the top platforms are licensed with the ASIC offering retail client protections.
Check out our table of the best brokers with AUD accounts to get started.
FAQ
What Are Brokers With An AUD Account?
Brokers with AUD accounts offer the Australian Dollar as the denominated currency. This means that any capital used to trade, applicable fees, margin calculations and account history, will be displayed in Aussie Dollars.
Can Anyone Sign-Up With Brokers That Offer AUD Accounts?
Usually, anyone can open an account with AUD as the base currency regardless of residency. With that said, some international brokers limit AUD accounts to Australian residents only.
What Regulation Do Brokers With AUD Accounts Hold?
Many brokers with AUD accounts are regulated by the ASIC. Investors benefit from measures designed to protect retail traders, including a cap on leverage rates, segregated bank accounts and a legal channel should a platform behave inappropriately.
Who Are The Best Brokers With AUD Accounts?
You’ll need to compare all the features on offer to find a platform that suits your trading style and risk tolerance. Use our list of the top brokers with AUD accounts to get started. We’ve reviewed many of the leading providers, covering assets, fees, tools, regulation and more.