Moomoo vs Stake 2026
For US stock investing, moomoo's US$0.99/trade looks cheapest — but its exchange rate embeds a ~55-pip spread disclosed in its own FSG, roughly 0.85% effective. Stake charges US$3/trade + an explicit 0.55% FX. For large ASX trades, Stake's flat A$3 wins. Here's the full breakdown.
Key takeaways
- ·US stocks: moomoo's US$0.99/trade beats Stake's US$3 on brokerage, but moomoo embeds ~55 pips in its AUD/USD rate (per its own FSG — roughly 0.85% effective) vs Stake's explicit 0.55% FX. Moomoo's total cost wins from roughly 8–15 US trades per deposit.
- ·ASX trades under A$10,000: equal — both charge A$3 flat.
- ·ASX trades over A$10,000: Stake wins — moomoo switches to 0.03% (e.g. A$20K trade = A$6 at moomoo vs A$3 at Stake).
- ·Both are ASIC-regulated and CHESS-sponsored for Australian shares.
- ·Moomoo offers advanced charting, Level 2 data, and options trading — Stake has a simpler interface suited to beginners.
- ·Stake referral bonus: free US stock + $10 credit with code jaymem884 (deposit A$50 within 24h).
Quick verdict
Choose moomoo if…
You trade US stocks frequently — from roughly 8–15 US trades per deposit (depending on size), its US$0.99 brokerage out-earns the FX spread baked into its rate. Also better for advanced traders who want Level 2 data, options, and paper trading.
Choose Stake if…
You make large ASX trades (over A$10,000), want a simpler platform, or are new to investing. The referral bonus (free stock + $10 via code jaymem884) also offsets early trade costs. Stake suits investors who want US access without the complexity of moomoo's advanced features.
Side-by-side comparison
| moomoo AU | Hello Stake | |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage (≤A$10K) | A$3 flat | A$3 flat |
| ASX brokerage (>A$10K) | 0.03% of trade | A$3 flat |
| US brokerage | US$0.99 flat | US$3 flat |
| FX conversion fee | No fee — ~55-pip spread in the rate (per FSG) | 0.55% on deposits |
| HK stocks brokerage | HK$3 + HK$15 platform | Not available |
| Account fee | $0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $0 |
| CHESS sponsorship (ASX) | Yes (via FinClear) | Yes |
| Fractional shares (US) | Yes (0.99%, cap US$0.99) | Yes (US$10 min) |
| Options trading | Yes | No |
| Level 2 market data | Free (limited) | Stake Black only |
| Paper trading (practice) | Yes | No |
| Beginner-friendly UI | Moderate | Strong |
| Welcome bonus | Varies (check site) | Free stock + $10 ✓ |
| US stocks available | 8,000+ | 11,000+ |
moomoo charges no separate FX fee — the cost is inside the exchange rate. Its own Financial Services Guide discloses a 55-pip spread added to AUD/USD conversions and gives the worked example that 55 pips on A$100 is equivalent to a US$0.55 fee — roughly 0.85% effective at recent exchange rates, more than Stake's explicit 0.55%. Third-party measurements have reported ~50 pips. Always compare the rate quoted in the app with the mid-market rate before converting.
US stocks: total cost comparison
Both brokers convert once per deposit, so the FX comparison is explicit 0.55% (Stake) versus moomoo's embedded ~55-pip spread (~0.85% effective) — roughly A$30 cheaper per A$10,000 at Stake. Moomoo's cheaper brokerage claws that back as trade count rises. The table shows total fees (FX or spread + brokerage) for each scenario.
Assumes 1 AUD ≈ 0.645 USD. Stake: US$3/trade + 0.55% FX. Moomoo: US$0.99/trade + 55-pip AUD/USD spread per its FSG (~0.85% effective, modelled).
| AUD deposited | US trades | Stake total fees | Moomoo total fees | Cheaper broker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A$2,000 | 1 | A$15.62(A$11 FX + A$4.62 brok) | A$18.63(~A$17.10 spread + A$1.53 brok) | Stake |
| A$5,000 | 3 | A$41.36(A$27.5 FX + A$13.86 brok) | A$47.29(~A$42.70 spread + A$4.59 brok) | Stake |
| A$5,000 | 10 | A$73.70(A$27.5 FX + A$46.20 brok) | A$58.00(~A$42.70 spread + A$15.30 brok) | Moomoo |
| A$10,000 | 5 | A$78.10(A$55 FX + A$23.10 brok) | A$92.95(~A$85.30 spread + A$7.65 brok) | Stake |
| A$10,000 | 20 | A$147.40(A$55 FX + A$92.40 brok) | A$115.90(~A$85.30 spread + A$30.60 brok) | Moomoo |
| A$20,000 | 10 | A$156.20(A$110 FX + A$46.20 brok) | A$185.90(~A$170.60 spread + A$15.30 brok) | Stake |
The FX comparison now favours Stake: its 0.55% is roughly A$30 cheaper per A$10,000 than moomoo's embedded ~55-pip spread (~0.85% effective). Moomoo's US$2.01-per-trade brokerage advantage claws that back after roughly 8–15 US trades from the same deposit — so frequent traders win at moomoo, and deposit-and-hold investors win at Stake.
ASX brokerage: equal until A$10,000, then Stake wins
Both brokers charge A$3 flat for ASX trades up to A$10,000. Above that, moomoo's 0.03% rate kicks in, quickly exceeding Stake's A$3 flat cap. For ETF investors making regular purchases of A$5,000–10,000, this makes no difference. For investors placing larger lump-sum trades, Stake is cheaper.
| ASX trade size | Moomoo | Stake | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A$1,000 | A$3.00 | A$3.00 | Equal |
| A$3,000 | A$3.00 | A$3.00 | Equal |
| A$5,000 | A$3.00 | A$3.00 | Equal |
| A$10,000 | A$3.00 | A$3.00 | Equal |
| A$15,000 | A$4.50 | A$3.00 | Stake |
| A$20,000 | A$6.00 | A$3.00 | Stake |
| A$30,000 | A$9.00 | A$3.00 | Stake |
| A$50,000 | A$15.00 | A$5.00 | Stake |
Stake ASX: A$3 flat (≤A$30K, then 0.01%). Moomoo ASX: A$3 flat or 0.03% (whichever is greater). Above A$10,000 the minimum fee no longer applies at moomoo.
Platform and features
Beyond fees, the platforms serve different types of investors. Moomoo is feature-rich: it offers advanced charting tools, Level 2 market depth data (free in limited form), paper trading for practice, and options trading on US stocks. It's well-suited to more active investors who want analytical tools built in.
Stake has a simpler, cleaner interface — less overwhelming for newer investors. The Stake app has a higher beginner-friendliness rating, with a more focused experience on buying and holding stocks. Stake Black adds market depth and analyst ratings at a premium. For investors who don't need options or Level 2 data, Stake's straightforward experience is genuinely appealing.
Both are regulated by ASIC and hold Australian Financial Services Licences. Neither offers a managed fund or auto-invest feature (that's Pearler's territory). Moomoo is backed by Futu Holdings (NASDAQ-listed), and Stake is operated by Hello Stake Pty Ltd.
Which investor each platform suits
Moomoo suits
Active US stock investors
US$0.99 brokerage means frequent traders — roughly 8–15+ US trades from a single deposit — come out ahead despite the FX spread embedded in moomoo's exchange rate.
Advanced traders
Options trading, Level 2 data, and advanced charting make moomoo better equipped for investors who analyse markets before trading.
Paper traders / learners
Moomoo's practice trading mode lets new investors test strategies without real money — Stake has no equivalent.
HK market investors
If you want access to Hong Kong-listed stocks, only moomoo offers it. Stake is ASX and US only.
Stake suits
Large ASX trade investors
Stake's A$3 flat applies to all ASX trades up to A$30,000 — moomoo's 0.03% quickly exceeds this for trades over A$10,000.
Beginners
Stake's clean interface is less intimidating than moomoo's feature-heavy platform. Better starting point for investors new to brokerage accounts.
Referral bonus seekers
Code jaymem884 gives new users a free US stock + $10 credit — a meaningful offset on early trades. Moomoo's offer varies.
Australian and US mixed investors
For investors who split between ASX and US, Stake's cost advantage on large ASX trades and competitive US structure can balance out well.
Our verdict
For frequent US traders, moomoo wins on cost. Its US$0.99 brokerage saves US$2.01 per trade versus Stake — enough to outpace the FX spread baked into its rate once you place roughly 8–15 trades from a single deposit. For a deposit funding just a handful of trades, Stake's explicit 0.55% FX is the cheaper structure.
For large ASX trades, Stake wins. Stake's A$3 flat rate holds up to A$30,000, while moomoo's 0.03% runs away above A$10,000. If your typical ASX trade is above A$10,000, Stake is materially cheaper on the ASX side.
For most new Australian investors, the choice comes down to what you're primarily investing in. Heavy US exposure → moomoo. Predominantly ASX with some US → Stake is competitive and simpler. Either way, using code jaymem884 at Stake gives you a free US stock and $10 to start.
Not financial advice. Verify current fees at hellostake.com/au/pricing and moomoo.com/au before investing.
Frequently asked questions
It depends how often you trade. Moomoo: US$0.99/trade, but its AUD/USD rate embeds a ~55-pip spread (per its own FSG — roughly 0.85% effective). Stake: US$3/trade + explicit 0.55% FX. On a A$10,000 deposit moomoo's spread costs ~A$85 vs Stake's A$55, but moomoo's cheaper brokerage means it wins from roughly ten US trades per deposit.