Key takeaways
- International-share costs can include brokerage and foreign-exchange charges.
- The same platform can have different cost paths for Australian and overseas markets.
- Percentage FX costs grow with the amount converted, while fixed fees weigh more heavily on smaller trades.
- Compare a realistic buy-and-sell scenario and leave variable or unverified costs visible.
Live provider evidence
Current verified FX rules in TradingGuide Australia
Source-linked FX rules from active share-trading offerings. This is evidence, not a cheapest-platform ranking.
| Provider / rule | Published FX rule | Scope | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMC Invest | 0.6% International orders FX spread | Offering-wide CMC Invest publishes a 0.60% FX spread for international orders. This calculator estimates the spread cost on the AUD amount entered; the actual execution exchange rate can still move. | Verified 26 Sept 2026 Official source ↗ |
| CommSec | 0.55% Foreign exchange conversion fee | Offering-wide Charged per currency conversion. Conversions happen automatically for each international trade unless the Plus foreign-currency wallet is active and funded. Currency pairs that can't be converted directly are charged for each leg. | Verified 26 Sept 2026 Official source ↗ |
| eToro Share Trading | Free AUD account to Australian stocks | ASX Eligibility criteria for the AUD account apply. | Verified 22 Sept 2026 Official source ↗ |
| Interactive Brokers | 0.03% Automated currency conversion | Offering-wide IBKR's automated currency conversion service rate, applied when a trade requires converting AUD to buy a foreign-currency security. A lower client-initiated standalone conversion rate of 0.002% (minimum US$2.00) is available if you convert currency manually ahead of time instead. | Verified 22 Sept 2026 Official source ↗ |
| moomoo | Exchange rate shown before confirmation Currency conversion | Offering-wide Moomoo confirms currency conversion is available and displays the exchange rate before submission. A current fixed AUD/USD percentage was not sufficiently verified from the official AU sources reviewed, so Trading Guide does not infer one. | Verified 22 Sept 2026 Official source ↗ |
| Pearler | 0.5% US Invest currency conversion | Offering-wide Published for Pearler US Invest. | Verified 28 Sept 2026 Official source ↗ |
| Stake | 0.55% Foreign exchange conversion (AUD to USD funding) | Offering-wide Charged when converting AUD to USD to fund Wall St trading, not on each individual trade. No separate per-trade FX fee for Wall St orders once funded. | Verified 22 Sept 2026 Official source ↗ |
Provider pricing can change. Open the recorded official source and verify current terms before acting.
The international-share cost stack
Buying an overseas-listed share can add a currency layer to the normal cost of placing an order. Moneysmart lists brokerage, platform fees and foreign-exchange fees among costs investors may need to check.
Instead of asking for one universal fee, map each charge to the event that triggers it: funding, currency conversion, order execution, holding the account, selling and converting proceeds back to Australian dollars.
Visual explainer
Follow the money, not the headline
Fund
A$ enters the account
Convert
AUD → foreign currency
Trade
Brokerage or execution cost
Return
Possible conversion on sale
Brokerage and FX behave differently
Brokerage may be flat, percentage-based, tiered or conditional. FX can be a stated percentage, markup or variable conversion spread. A low brokerage figure therefore tells you only part of the cost story.
- Check the market the brokerage rule applies to.
- Identify the amount on which an FX percentage is calculated.
- Check whether foreign currency can remain in the account between trades.
- Do not convert a variable spread into a fixed percentage without evidence.
Compare the round trip you may actually make
A useful comparison models the amount you expect to invest and the actions you expect to take. If AUD is converted on the way in and foreign proceeds are converted again after selling, both conversion events can matter.
Visual explainer
Scenario checklist
Buying
- Trade value
- Brokerage
- AUD → foreign currency
Selling
- Sale value
- Brokerage
- Foreign currency → AUD
What to verify before choosing a platform
Open the current official fee schedule and note the market, currency, conditions and verification date. Then use calculators as scenario tools rather than treating their output as a permanent quote.
- Market access and product type
- Brokerage rule and minimums
- FX rule and conversion timing
- Account or inactivity charges
- Transfer or market-specific charges
Use this guide with live TradingGuide Australia research
Sources
Sources were reviewed on 29 September 2026. Provider pricing and product terms can change; verify current terms with the provider before acting.