Webull Australia vs Stake 2026
Webull now offers $0 US brokerage in Australia — a direct challenge to Stake's flat US$3 fee. We run the real numbers on US stocks, ASX trading, and FX costs to work out which is actually cheaper for your situation.
Key takeaways
- ·US brokerage: Webull charges $0 per US trade vs Stake's US$3 flat — Webull wins on pure brokerage cost.
- ·ASX brokerage: Webull charges 0.03% (min A$1) vs Stake's A$3 flat. Webull is cheaper below A$10,000; Stake is cheaper above A$10,000.
- ·FX fees: Webull 0.50% vs Stake 0.55% — Webull is marginally cheaper on FX, but Stake charges FX on deposits only (not per trade).
- ·Both platforms are ASIC-regulated and CHESS-sponsored for ASX holdings.
- ·Stake advantage: referral welcome bonus — new users get a free US stock + $10 credit with code jaymem884. Webull has no equivalent offer.
- ·Stake has been in Australia since 2017 with hundreds of thousands of customers; Webull Australia is a newer but fast-growing entrant.
Webull Australia won the WeMoney 2026 Best Low-Cost Broker award, and recently announced $0 commission on international (US) trades. This makes it the most directly comparable low-cost broker to Stake in Australia right now.
Quick verdict
Choose Webull if…
You trade US stocks frequently (every trade at $0 beats paying US$3), make smaller ASX trades under A$10,000, or want built-in extended-hours trading and a paper trading mode for practice.
Choose Stake if…
You make larger ASX trades above A$10,000 (Stake's flat $3 beats 0.03%), want the referral welcome bonus (free stock + $10 with code jaymem884), or want a broker with a longer Australian track record.
Side-by-side comparison
| Hello Stake | Webull AU | |
|---|---|---|
| US brokerage | US$3 flat (≤US$30K) | $0 commission |
| FX fee (AUD→USD) | 0.55% on deposits | 0.50% per deposit |
| ASX brokerage | A$3 flat (≤A$30K) | 0.03% (min A$1) |
| ASX crossover point | Wins above A$10K | Wins below A$10K |
| CHESS sponsorship | Yes | Yes |
| Account fee | $0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $0 |
| Fractional shares | Yes (US$10 min) | Selected stocks |
| Paper trading | No | Yes |
| Extended hours | No | Yes |
| Welcome bonus | Free stock + $10 ✓ | None |
| In Australia since | 2017 | 2024 |
| App rating (iOS) | 4.6 ★ | 4.6 ★ |
Bold indicates the lower-cost or better outcome for that row. Verify current fees at each platform before trading.
US stocks: Webull wins on brokerage
Webull Australia's move to $0 commission on international trades makes it objectively cheaper for US stock brokerage. Stake charges a flat US$3 per trade. For an investor making ten US trades a month, that's US$30 in brokerage saved.
The FX cost is also slightly lower on Webull: 0.50% compared to Stake's 0.55%. On a A$10,000 deposit that's a A$5 difference.
Where Stake partially catches up: Stake's FX is charged on deposits, not on each trade. Fund your Stake account once with A$10,000 and make ten trades — you pay 0.55% FX once. If Webull charges FX on each deposit you make, frequent top-up investors may find the structures more similar in practice than the headline rates suggest. Check Webull's exact deposit structure before committing to a strategy.
Example: A$5,000 US trade (one deposit, one trade)
Hello Stake
FX: 0.55% × A$5,000 = A$27.50
Brokerage: US$3 (≈A$4.62)
Total ≈ A$32.12
Webull AU
FX: 0.50% × A$5,000 = A$25.00
Brokerage: $0
Total ≈ A$25.00
Assumes 1 AUD = 0.65 USD. Does not include regulatory fees (Stake US sells carry a tiny FINRA TAF). Verify current fees at each platform.
ASX trading: the A$10,000 crossover
Webull charges 0.03% of trade value (minimum A$1) per ASX trade. Stake charges a flat A$3 per trade up to A$30,000, then 0.01% above that.
The crossover point is exactly A$10,000: 0.03% × A$10,000 = A$3. Below that Webull is cheaper; above that Stake is cheaper. For a regular investor putting A$500–$2,000 per trade into ASX ETFs, Webull's percentage fee works out cheaper. For investors buying A$15,000–$30,000 of individual ASX stocks, Stake's flat fee is better value.
| ASX trade size | Stake cost | Webull cost | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A$1,000 | A$3.00 | A$1.00 | Webull |
| A$3,000 | A$3.00 | A$1.00 | Webull |
| A$5,000 | A$3.00 | A$1.50 | Webull |
| A$10,000 | A$3.00 | A$3.00 | Webull |
| A$20,000 | A$3.00 | A$6.00 | Stake |
| A$50,000 | A$5.00 | A$15.00 | Stake |
Webull: 0.03% min A$1. Stake: A$3 flat up to A$30,000, then 0.01%. No FX applies on ASX trades at either broker (both settle in AUD).
Platform, safety & track record
Both brokers are ASIC-regulated and hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). Both offer CHESS-sponsored ASX trading, meaning your Australian shares are registered under your own Holder Identification Number (HIN) — you own them directly, not via a custodian. This is the most important safety feature for ASX investors and both brokers provide it.
Stake has been operating in Australia since 2017 with hundreds of thousands of customers. It has a longer track record and a larger existing user base in the Australian market.
Webull is backed by Webull Corporation, a global brokerage operating across the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other markets. Webull Securities (Australia) Pty Ltd holds its own AFSL. Its rapid growth and WeMoney 2026 Best Low-Cost Broker award signal a serious commitment to the Australian market.
For US stocks, both brokers hold your holdings in custody via US clearing arrangements (there is no CHESS equivalent for US equities). This is standard practice for all Australian brokers offering US market access and is not a distinguishing risk factor between the two.
Stake safety highlights
Webull AU safety highlights
Features beyond brokerage
Webull AU advantages
- Paper trading: Practise with virtual funds before risking real money — Stake has no equivalent.
- Extended hours trading: Pre-market and after-hours US trading. Stake limits to standard market hours.
- Built-in stock screener: Filter thousands of US and ASX stocks by fundamentals without leaving the app.
- $0 US brokerage: The headline advantage — every US trade costs nothing in brokerage.
Stake advantages
- Referral welcome bonus: New users get a free US stock (Nike, GoPro, or Dropbox) + $10 trading credit. Code: jaymem884.
- 9,500+ US securities: Broad access to US-listed stocks and ETFs including smaller-cap names.
- Fractional shares from US$10: Buy a slice of high-priced US stocks from US$10. Clear minimum, clearly documented.
- 7-year Australian track record: Established in 2017 with hundreds of thousands of customers. Longer history to evaluate.
Our verdict
On pure fees, Webull wins on US stocks — $0 brokerage is hard to argue with. If you're an active US trader placing dozens of trades per month, Webull's cost advantage compounds quickly.
For ASX trading, it depends on your trade size. Below A$10,000 per trade, Webull's 0.03% fee is cheaper. Above A$10,000 — the kind of trade a more experienced investor might make in a single ASX stock — Stake's flat A$3 comes out ahead.
Stake's remaining advantages are the new-user welcome bonus, a longer Australian track record, and better economics for investors who make large ASX trades or batch their deposits and trade frequently from a single top-up. Use code jaymem884 when you sign up to get a free stock + $10.
There's no rule against holding accounts at both. Some Australian investors use Webull for frequent US trades (saving US$3 each time) and Stake for ASX investments above A$10,000 where the flat fee is cheaper. The platforms complement each other.
Not financial advice. Verify current fees at hellostake.com/au/pricing and webull.com.au/pricing before trading.
Frequently asked questions
Webull is cheaper for US stocks — $0 commission vs Stake's US$3 per trade. Webull's FX rate (0.50%) is also slightly better than Stake's (0.55%). That said, Stake's FX is charged on deposits rather than per trade, which benefits investors who fund once and trade multiple times from the same deposit.