Which broker is better for Australia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Australian experienced traders seeking ASIC-regulated brokers, EasyMarkets and Trade Nation present two distinct options in 2025. EasyMarkets, with a score of 3.4/5, is known for fixed spreads and innovative features like deal cancellation, but its overall cost structure is higher for frequent traders. Trade Nation, rated 3.9/5, excels with tight variable spreads, fast execution, and a clean trading platform designed for active users. Both brokers hold Australian Financial Services Licences from ASIC, ensuring local compliance and client money protection. Australian traders can deposit and withdraw using popular local methods such as BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card, making account funding straightforward. This comparison dives into spreads, platforms, regulation, and support to help you decide which broker fits your trading style in the Australian market.
| Instrument | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Trade Nation |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Trade Nation |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Trade Nation |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Trade Nation |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $25 | $0 | Trade Nation |
For Australia traders, trading costs are a major deciding factor. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads, meaning you always know the cost per trade – for example, AUD/USD spreads start at 1.2 pips. Trade Nation offers variable spreads that can drop as low as 0.1 pips on major pairs, appealing to volume traders. On a typical Australian account with a $5,000 balance, Trade Nation’s cost per trade can be 50% lower than EasyMarkets, especially during liquid market hours. EasyMarkets also charges a small commission on certain account types, while Trade Nation is commission-free on standard accounts. For scalpers and day traders, Trade Nation’s lower spreads and faster execution provide a clear edge.
| Account Type | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $25 | $0 |
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:500 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | EasyMarkets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | EasyMarkets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | EasyMarkets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Trade Nation |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers cater to Australian traders with powerful platforms. EasyMarkets offers its proprietary web-based platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and mobile apps. Its proprietary platform includes handy features like deal cancellation and free guaranteed stop-loss orders, which some Australian traders like for risk management. Trade Nation provides MT4, a custom WebTrader (powered by Playtech), and mobile apps for iOS and Android. Its WebTrader is clean and user-friendly, with one-click trading and advanced charting tools. For experienced traders, MT4 is available on both brokers, but Trade Nation’s WebTrader offers slightly faster execution and more integrated analysis tools.
| Factor | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Trade Nation |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | EasyMarkets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
Execution quality matters for experienced Australian traders. EasyMarkets operates as a market maker, with execution speeds around 50-100ms and guaranteed stop-loss orders available for a fee. Trade Nation uses an STP/ECN model, providing direct market access with execution speeds under 20ms on average. For scalpers and news traders, Trade Nation’s faster execution and No Dealing Desk (NDD) model reduce slippage and requotes. EasyMarkets’ deal cancellation feature can be useful for avoiding losing trades, but it comes at a cost and may slow execution for high-frequency strategies.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is critical for Australian traders, and both brokers are overseen by ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission). EasyMarkets holds AFSL 246566 and complies with strict client money segregation and leverage limits (1:30 for retail clients). Trade Nation holds AFSL 456532 and follows the same ASIC rules, including negative balance protection and dispute resolution through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). Both brokers are members of compensation schemes that protect client funds up to A$5 million in case of insolvency. For Australian traders, this means a secure trading environment with legal recourse if issues arise.
| Payment Method | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✗ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✗ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) | 2 working days |
Australian traders have convenient funding options with both brokers. EasyMarkets supports BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard) in AUD with no deposit fees. Withdrawals are processed via bank transfer, credit card, or e-wallets, and typically take 1-3 business days. Trade Nation also accepts BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card, along with additional e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill. Deposits are instant or within a few hours for most methods, and Trade Nation does not charge any withdrawal fees. Minimum deposits are low: EasyMarkets requires A$100, while Trade Nation asks for A$200. For Australian users, BPAY and POLi are especially convenient for quick, fee-free transactions.
| Islamic Account Feature | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both EasyMarkets and Trade Nation offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Australian Muslim traders who wish to trade in accordance with Sharia law. EasyMarkets provides a dedicated Islamic account option on request, with no overnight interest charges on positions held beyond one day. Trade Nation also offers swap-free accounts upon application, covering forex, indices, and commodities. Neither broker charges additional fees for these accounts, and they comply with ASIC regulations. Australian traders should confirm availability with customer support before opening an account, as terms may vary slightly between the two brokers.
| Support Feature | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | EasyMarkets |
Customer support for Australian traders is available from both brokers. EasyMarkets offers 24/5 phone and live chat support in English, with a dedicated Australian phone number. Trade Nation provides 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support, also with local Australian contact details. Trade Nation’s support team is known for faster response times during peak trading hours. Both brokers have extensive FAQ sections on their websites, but Trade Nation’s live chat typically resolves queries within minutes.
| Mobile Feature | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✓ | Trade Nation |
| Resource | EasyMarkets | Trade Nation | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
Choose Trade Nation if you...
For experienced Australian traders seeking an ASIC-regulated broker, Trade Nation (3.9/5) is the stronger choice. Its tight variable spreads, fast STP execution, and low costs outperform EasyMarkets (3.4/5) for active and volume-based trading. EasyMarkets remains a solid option for those who value fixed spreads and risk management tools like deal cancellation, despite higher overall fees. Both brokers support convenient AUD deposits via BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card, making local funding simple. If cost efficiency and speed are your priorities, go with Trade Nation. If you prefer predictability and safety features, EasyMarkets may still suit your needs – but be prepared for higher spreads on your Australian account.