Is Stake or Superhero better for US shares?

Both charge $0 commission on US shares, but their FX fees differ. Stake charges 0.5% FX conversion, while Superhero charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 US trade, Stake costs $50 in FX versus $65 at Superhero. Stake is cheaper for US shares.

Which broker is better for beginners — Stake or Superhero?

Both are beginner-friendly. Superhero has a $100 minimum deposit and a slightly simpler interface. Stake has no minimum deposit at all. Both have clean mobile apps and no inactivity fees.

Does Stake or Superhero have an inactivity fee?

Neither Stake nor Superhero charges an inactivity fee. This makes both suitable for occasional or passive investors who don't trade frequently.

Head to Head

Stake vs Superhero

Q: Is Stake or Superhero cheaper for ASX shares?

Superhero is cheaper for ASX shares at $2 flat per trade, compared to Stake's $3 flat. For investors trading frequently, Superhero saves $1 per trade. For ETF investors, Superhero charges $0 brokerage on ETFs, making it the clear winner.

Q: Are Stake and Superhero CHESS sponsored?

Yes, both Stake and Superhero are CHESS-sponsored for ASX shares. This means your shares are registered in your name on the ASX register under your own HIN, giving you direct legal ownership.

Two of Australia's cheapest CHESS-sponsored brokers. Both are great. The difference is in the details — and those details matter depending on how you invest.

BrokerVsBroker Verdict

Superhero wins on ASX and ETF fees — $2 flat vs Stake's $3, and $0 for ETFs. Stake wins on US shares — lower FX fee at 0.5% vs Superhero's 0.65%, plus a stronger US platform. If you invest mostly in ASX shares or ETFs, Superhero is the better call. If you want US exposure too, Stake edges ahead. Both are CHESS-sponsored with no inactivity fee.

Stake

US & ASX Shares

7.5

BvB Score

ASX fee$3 flat

US commission$0

FX fee0.5%

CHESS✓ Yes

Inactivity fee$0

Min deposit$0

Superhero

ASX & ETF Platform

7.8

BvB Score

ASX fee$2 flat

ETF fee$0

FX fee0.65%

CHESS✓ Yes

Inactivity fee$0

Min deposit$100

Fee comparison

Both brokers are genuinely cheap — a world away from CommSec's $10–$19.95 per trade. But the difference between $2 and $3 per ASX trade adds up. At 4 trades a month, Superhero saves you $48 a year on ASX trades alone.

Fee type	Stake	Superhero
ASX shares	$3 flat	$2 flat
ETF brokerage	$3 flat	$0
US shares commission	$0	$0
FX conversion (US trades)	0.5%	0.65%
Inactivity fee	$0	$0
Withdrawal fee	$0	$0
Minimum deposit	$0	$100
CHESS sponsored	Yes	Yes

Who wins for US shares?

Both charge $0 commission on US stocks. The real cost is the FX conversion fee — the charge to convert your AUD to USD when buying US shares. Stake charges 0.5%, Superhero charges 0.65%. On a $10,000 US trade that's $50 vs $65 — not enormous, but it compounds over time.

Stake also has a more developed US platform with a better watchlist and US-focused data. If US shares are a meaningful part of your portfolio, Stake is the better choice.

Who wins for ASX and ETFs?

Superhero wins clearly here. At $2 flat for ASX trades and $0 for ETFs, it's the cheapest CHESS-sponsored broker in Australia for domestic investing. If you're building a passive ASX or ETF portfolio and don't need US access, Superhero is hard to beat.

CHESS sponsorship — both pass

Both Stake and Superhero are fully CHESS-sponsored for ASX shares. This means your shares are registered in your name on the ASX register under a Holder Identification Number (HIN). You own them directly — not through the broker. This is a genuine differentiator versus custodial brokers like eToro and IBKR.

Which should you choose?

You invest mostly in ASX shares

Superhero wins

$2 flat vs $3 flat per trade. Simple. At any trade frequency, Superhero is cheaper for ASX-only investors.

You want US shares too

Stake wins

Lower FX fee at 0.5% vs 0.65%, and a stronger US-focused platform. Covers both markets well.

You invest in ETFs passively

Superhero wins

$0 ETF brokerage makes Superhero genuinely free for passive ETF investors. Stake charges $3 per ETF trade.

You're starting with under $100

Stake wins

No minimum deposit at all. Superhero requires $100 to open. Small difference but Stake is more accessible.

You want super investing too

Superhero wins

Superhero offers a super product with $0 brokerage. Stake doesn't have a comparable super offering.

You're a very occasional investor

Either works

Neither charges inactivity fees, so you can invest once every few months without penalty at either broker.

Frequently asked questions

Is Stake or Superhero cheaper for ASX shares?

Superhero is cheaper at $2 flat per ASX trade, versus Stake's $3 flat. For ETF investing, Superhero charges $0 brokerage, making it even more compelling for passive investors.

Which broker is better for US shares?

Both charge $0 US commission but Stake has a lower FX fee — 0.5% vs Superhero's 0.65%. On a $10,000 trade that's $50 vs $65. Over a year of active US investing, the difference is meaningful.

Are both CHESS sponsored?

Yes. Both Stake and Superhero are fully CHESS-sponsored for ASX shares, giving you direct legal ownership under your own HIN. This is one of their biggest advantages over custodial brokers.

Do either charge inactivity fees?

No — neither Stake nor Superhero charges inactivity fees. Compare that to eToro which charges $10/month after 12 months of inactivity.

Which broker is better for beginners?

Both are excellent for beginners. Stake has no minimum deposit and a strong mobile app. Superhero requires $100 to start but has a very clean, simple interface and the $0 ETF brokerage is great for beginners building a diversified portfolio cheaply.

Stake

$0 min deposit · $3 ASX · $0 US · 0.5% FX · CHESS

Visit Stake →

Affiliate link — fees unchanged

Superhero

$100 min · $2 ASX · $0 ETF · $0 US · CHESS

Visit Superhero →

Affiliate link — fees unchanged