Commonwealth Securities
td ameritrade
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Overview
Commonwealth Securities was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Australia, while td ameritrade was established in 2016 and is based in Malta. Commonwealth Securities holds licences including Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while td ameritrade is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Commonwealth Securities serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; td ameritrade has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $5000 at Commonwealth Securities and $250 at td ameritrade.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5000 | $250 |
| Regulation | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F319 |
| Founded | 1999 | 2016 |
| Country | Australia | Malta |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Commonwealth Securities and td ameritrade, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. td ameritrade has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $250 (vs $5000 at Commonwealth Securities). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Commonwealth Securities charges deposit fees; td ameritrade does not. Overall, td ameritrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5000 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Commonwealth Securities offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while td ameritrade supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Commonwealth Securities supports social and copy trading features, which td ameritrade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Metatrader 4 - desktop, iOS and Android versions available. | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Commonwealth Securities and td ameritrade compare. Commonwealth Securities runs regular live webinars; td ameritrade does not. Commonwealth Securities has a video library; td ameritrade does not. Commonwealth Securities publishes daily market commentary; td ameritrade does not. Commonwealth Securities integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); td ameritrade does not. Commonwealth Securities maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Commonwealth Securities scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
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 td ameritrade supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). td ameritrade uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. td ameritrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
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 td ameritrade offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Commonwealth Securities supports 2 languages and td ameritrade supports 8, giving td ameritrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Commonwealth Securities | td ameritrade |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |