B

Commonwealth Securities

5.9/10
Etrade logo

Etrade

7.1/10
7/10WinnerRegulation5/10
0/10FeesWinner8/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
6/10Education & ResearchTied6/10
4/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

Commonwealth Securities was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Australia, while Etrade was established in 2012 and is based in United States. Commonwealth Securities holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Etrade is regulated by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) among others. Commonwealth Securities serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Etrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $5000 at Commonwealth Securities and $100 at Etrade.

Etrade wins this category
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesEtrade
Min. Deposit$5000$100
RegulationCyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
Founded19992012
CountryAustraliaUnited States
Clients10,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Commonwealth Securities and Etrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Etrade has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $5000 at Commonwealth Securities). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Commonwealth Securities charges deposit fees; Etrade does not. Overall, Etrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Etrade wins this category
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesEtrade
Min. Deposit$5000$100
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesNoNo
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

Commonwealth Securities offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Etrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesEtrade
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMetatrader 4 - desktop, iOS and Android versions available.cTrader, SocialTrading, webPlatform, DesktopPlatform, Proprietary .

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Commonwealth Securities and Etrade compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesEtrade
Forex EducationNoNo
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Commonwealth Securities accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Etrade supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesEtrade
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalNoNo
SkrillNoNo
NetellerNoNo

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Commonwealth Securities and Etrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 2 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureCommonwealth SecuritiesEtrade
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, and ChineseEnglish, and Chinese