Stake vs Superhero 2026
Two of Australia's best low-cost brokers go head-to-head. We compare fees, US stock access, ASX trading, and work out exactly which is cheaper for different trade sizes.
Key takeaways
- ·US brokerage: Superhero now charges $2 flat per US trade (up to $20,000) with 50bps FX — cheaper than Stake's US$3 + 0.55% FX on a single-deposit, single-trade basis at every size.
- ·Where Stake wins: FX is charged once per deposit, not per trade — fund once and trade many times and Stake comes out ahead.
- ·Both apps are ASIC-regulated and hold client funds with a licensed custodian.
- ·Superhero's reprice also killed the old 0.5%/min-US$2 schedule and the $0-ETF deal — it's now $2 flat on everything up to $20,000.
- ·New Hello Stake users who sign up with referral code jaymem884 receive a free US stock plus $10 trading credit at sign-up.
Quick verdict
Choose Stake if…
You fund once and make multiple trades (FX charged on deposit, not per trade), want a dedicated US stock experience, or want the referral welcome bonus (free stock + $10 with code jaymem884).
Choose Superhero if…
You invest primarily in ASX ETFs (free brokerage on Superhero is hard to beat), or make single large lump-sum US investments where Superhero's slightly lower FX rate (0.5% vs 0.55%) gives a marginal edge.
Side-by-side comparison
| Hello Stake | Superhero | |
|---|---|---|
| US brokerage | US$3 flat (≤US$30K) | $2 flat (≤A$20K) |
| FX fee | 0.55% on deposits | 50bps per trade |
| ASX brokerage | $3 (CHESS) | $2 flat (CHESS) |
| Account fee | $0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $0 |
| US stocks available | 11,000+ | Broad selection |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Welcome bonus | Free stock + $10 ✓ | None |
| App rating (iOS) | 4.6 ★ | 4.5 ★ |
Which is actually cheaper? (Real numbers)
Superhero repriced its entire schedule in mid-2026: $2 flat per trade on both ASX and US markets (up to $20,000), replacing the old 0.5%-with-US$2-minimum US schedule and free ASX ETF trades. On a single-deposit, single-trade basis Superhero now wins at every trade size. Stake's remaining edge is structural — FX charged once per deposit. For the wider Stake fee schedule, see the complete brokerage and FX fee breakdown. Here's the per-trade maths:
| Trade size | Stake cost | Superhero cost | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $7.37 | $5.55 | Superhero |
| $750 | $8.75 | $6.80 | Superhero |
| $1,000 | $10.12 | $8.05 | Superhero |
| $2,000 | $15.62 | $13.05 | Superhero |
| $5,000 | $32.12 | $28.05 | Superhero |
| $10,000 | $59.62 | $53.05 | Superhero |
US stocks: costs are very close
For a single A$1,000 trade with one deposit: Stake ≈ A$10.12 vs Superhero ≈ A$8.05. Superhero wins the headline. The picture changes when you fund once and trade repeatedly — that's when Stake's deposit-based FX beats Superhero's per-trade FX.
Where Stake has a structural advantage: its FX fee is charged on deposits, not per trade. Fund with A$5,000 and make five trades — you pay FX once. If Superhero charges FX per trade, that same strategy incurs FX five times. The more trades per deposit, the more Stake's structure works in your favour.
Both platforms cover major US indices, S&P 500 stocks, and popular ETFs like VTI, VOO, and QQQ. Stake's library of 11,000+ US stocks is more comprehensive for smaller-cap exposure.
ASX trading: Superhero edges ahead for ETF investors
Both platforms offer CHESS-sponsored ASX trading. Superhero charges $2 per trade, Stake charges $3. For most investors this $1 difference is negligible.
Note the mid-2026 change: Superhero's free-ASX-ETF deal is gone — it's now $2 flat per ASX trade including ETFs. If your ASX strategy is ETF-based (buying VAS, VGS, A200, etc.), weigh that $2-per-trade cost against Pearler's auto-invest or Webull's $0 ETF brokerage.
For individual ASX stock traders, the $1 difference between Stake ($3) and Superhero ($2) is unlikely to be a deciding factor. Both are cheaper than every CommSec ASX tier ($5–$29.95).
Stake ASX — best for
- Individual ASX stocks
- Investors who want one app for both US + ASX
- CHESS-sponsored holdings at low cost
Superhero ASX — best for
- ASX ETF investors (free brokerage)
- Regular ETF DCA strategies
- Slightly lower per-trade cost on individual stocks
Our verdict
Both Stake and Superhero are excellent platforms that have fundamentally changed the cost of investing in Australia. Choosing between them comes down to your investing style rather than one being clearly better.
Choose Stake if you want a dedicated US stock experience, fund your account in batches and trade frequently (FX charged once per deposit), or are starting out and want the referral welcome bonus to offset early costs. Use code jaymem884 for a free stock + $10.
Choose Superhero if you make occasional single-deposit US trades (its $2 flat + 50bps now beats Stake's per-trade cost) or want CHESS-sponsored ASX at $2 a trade. For heavy US trading funded in batches, Stake's deposit-based FX still wins.
There's no restriction on holding accounts at both platforms. Many Australian investors use Stake for US stocks and Superhero (or CommSec) for specific ASX strategies — the two complement each other well.
Not financial advice. Verify current fees on each platform before trading.
Frequently asked questions
No — not since Superhero's mid-2026 reprice. Superhero now charges $2 flat per US trade (up to $20,000) plus 50bps FX per trade, which beats Stake's US$3 + 0.55% FX at every trade size on a single-deposit, single-trade basis. On a A$1,000 trade: Superhero ≈ A$8.05 vs Stake ≈ A$10.12. Stake's edge is structural, not per-trade: FX is charged once per deposit, so fund A$5,000 and make five US trades and you pay FX once, not five times.
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