10 Best Trading Platforms in New Zealand in 2026

I will review the Best Trading Platforms in New Zealand, analyzing their offerings, prices, and consideration for both the beginner and experienced investor.

New Zealand’s investing scene has exploded in the last few years with platforms like Sharesies, Hatch, and Stake making investing simple and affordable, while more advanced brokers like Interactive Brokers and Tiger Brokers have opened up shop to provide a wider market access and more advanced tools. This guide will focus on these brokerages’ best features to help you make the right investment decision.

How To Choose Trading Platforms in New Zealand

Regulation & Safety

You can check whether the platform is authorized and supervised by the New Zealand FMA or other regulatory bodies (FCA, ASIC, or SEC) to operate and protect the interests of the investors.

Account Types

Look for platforms that provide the type of account you need. A beginning investor can start with a simple retail account that supports fractional investing.

Trading Costs

Consider the brokerage commission, spreads, and other costs like currency conversions. For active traders, Stake and Interactive Brokers are good options.

Market Access

Go with platforms that give you access to the NZX and the ASX, as well as other international markets. Sharesies and Hatch only provide access to the NZ/AU/US markets, while Interactive Brokers covers over 150 markets.

Trading Tools

For advanced trading, platforms like IG and CMC provide charting and API, while Stake and Sharesies have good mobile apps for beginner trading.

Execution Quality

Order execution speed is important. For basic trading, order execution speed is more important than routing technologies.

Ease of Use

Sharesies and Hatch are good options for beginners because they are very easy to use. IG and CMC are good options for advanced traders because they provide a lot of data.

Educational Resources

Platforms that have a lot of resources like eToro, that has copy trading and allows users to learn through tutorials and community insights, are good for beginners.

Key Points

Platform	Strengths	Best For
Interactive Brokers	Lowest FX margin (~0.002%), access to 150+ exchanges	Global investors, ETFs & stocks
eToro	Social trading, $0 stock commissions	Beginners & copy trading
IG	17,000+ instruments, ASIC regulation	All‑round traders
CMC Markets	Advanced forex & CFD tools	Experienced traders
Plus500	Simple CFD trading, tight spreads	Casual CFD traders
Sharesies	Fractional shares, NZ+AU+US markets	Beginners & small investors
Hatch	US‑only investing, low fees	US stock investors
Stake	Commission‑free US trades, optional premium tier	US equities traders
Tiger Brokers	Low‑cost NZX/ASX/US trades	Multi‑market retail traders
Swissquote	Strong global access, robust background	Institutional & advanced traders

1. Interactive Brokers

Based in the U.S. and founded in 1978, Interactive Brokers is a global broker with an abundance of regulations including the SEC, FINRA, and FCA. They offer a variety of accounts, including individual and joint accounts, as well as corporate accounts and retirement accounts, to serve both the retail and institutional clients.

Interactive Brokers has some of the best actual trading costs, with commissions on U.S. stocks being – effectively – zero, and a competitive spread in forex. They provide access to over 150 markets to trade virtually any asset class, including equities, options, futures, bonds, and ETFs.

They offer a wide array of trading tools, including TWS, advanced charting, algo trading, and API connectivity. Smart routing technology allows Interactive Brokers to achieve best price fills and provide deep liquidity.

Feature	Details
Founded	1978, USA
Accounts	Individual, joint, corporate, retirement
Trading Costs	Very low commissions, near‑zero U.S. stock fees
Market Access	150+ global markets, equities, options, futures, bonds
Tools	Trader Workstation (TWS), API, algo trading
Execution	Smart routing, deep liquidity
Regulation	SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC
Strengths	Institutional‑grade tools, global reach
Unique	Advanced analytics, margin lending

2. eToro

eToro was established in Israel in 2007. It offers retail accounts with a focus on social trading. Users can copy trades made by skilled traders. eToro is licensed by CySEC, FCA, and ASIC.

Trading costs for stocks are zero, but there are spreads for forex and crypto. eToro provides a wide range of assets including stocks, ETFs, commodities, indices, and crypto. This wide selection has made eToro popular with retail investors.

Coptrader, and Smart Portfolios are some of the trading tools provided by eToro. The web and mobile platform is designed with retail users in mind. It could offer execution speed that is comparable to institutions, but it does not. The eToro platform encourages its users to engage with the trading community.

Feature	Details
Founded	2007, Israel
Accounts	Retail accounts, social trading focus
Trading Costs	Commission‑free stocks, spreads on forex/crypto
Market Access	Equities, ETFs, commodities, indices, crypto
Tools	CopyTrader, Smart Portfolios
Execution	Retail‑friendly, streamlined
Regulation	FCA, CySEC, ASIC
Strengths	Community trading, transparency
Unique	Largest social trading network

3. IG

IG was founded in 1974 in the UK and is regulated by the FCA, ASIC and other global authorities. It has different accounts for retail traders, professionals and institutions.

Trading costs consist of tight spreads for forex and CFDs and stock trading commissions. IG provides access to over 17,000 markets including stocks, indices, forex, commodities and options.

The trading tools provided by IG include the IG trading platform, ProRealTime charts and MetaTrader 4. IG has strong execution quality and orders are processed quickly. It provides market access reliably and widely.

Feature	Details
Founded	1974, UK
Accounts	Retail, professional, institutional
Trading Costs	Tight spreads, commission‑free stocks in regions
Market Access	17,000+ markets, shares, forex, indices, options
Tools	IG platform, ProRealTime, MT4
Execution	Fast, deep liquidity
Regulation	FCA, ASIC, global
Strengths	Reliability, breadth
Unique	Longest‑standing CFD broker

4. CMC Markets

CMC Markets was established in 1989 in London. Currently, it provides retail and professional accounts with flexible leverage, governed by the FCA and ASIC.

Its actual trading costs are Forex and CFDs with tight spreads. CMC Markets offers thousands of investment instruments including shares, indices, commodities, and treasuries.

Its trading tools include the Next Generation platform, advanced charting, and pattern recognition. It provides transparency and protects its clients. CMC is praised for its technology and market coverage.

Feature	Details
Founded	1989, UK
Accounts	Retail & professional
Trading Costs	Competitive spreads on forex/CFDs
Market Access	Shares, indices, commodities, treasuries
Tools	Next Generation platform, charting, pattern recognition
Execution	Transparent, fast
Regulation	FCA, ASIC
Strengths	Tech innovation
Unique	Advanced analytics suite

5. Plus500

Established in 2008 in Israel, Plus500 is regulated by FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, and provides retail accounts for CFD trading.

There are no commissions at Plus500, and trading costs are spread-based. They provide access to all markets including: shares, forex, indices, commodities, ETFs, and crypto CFDs.

They provide a proprietary platform with risk management tools like stop-limits and guaranteed stops. The platform is designed with simplicity and focus on the needs of the retail trader. Plus500’s main focus is on compliance and ease of use.

Feature	Details
Founded	2008, Israel
Accounts	Retail CFD accounts
Trading Costs	Spread‑based, no commissions
Market Access	Shares, forex, indices, ETFs, crypto CFDs
Tools	Proprietary platform, risk management
Execution	Simple, retail‑focused
Regulation	FCA, ASIC, CySEC
Strengths	Ease of use
Unique	Guaranteed stop orders

6. Sharesies

Established in 2017, Sharesies is based in New Zealand and is licensed by the NZ Financial Markets Authority. Its clientele are novice investors, and it has retail accounts.

Trading costs are composed of small transaction fees, and Sharesies enables fractional share investing. Investors can access shares from the U.S., NZ, and Australia, as well as ETFs and managed funds, through the platform.

Simplicity is the focus of the tools provided by Sharesies. It offers a mobile-friendly platform and educational materials. Because it focuses on retail trading, the speed of orders is not prioritized. Sharesies wants to make investing accessible to all, especially the average person.

Feature	Details
Founded	2017, New Zealand
Accounts	Retail beginner accounts
Trading Costs	Small fees, fractional shares
Market Access	NZ, AU, U.S. shares, ETFs
Tools	Mobile platform, education
Execution	Retail‑oriented
Regulation	NZ FMA
Strengths	Accessibility
Unique	Democratized investing

7. Hatch

Established in 2018 in New Zealand, Hatch operates under NZ financial laws and offers retail accounts for investors targeting the U.S. markets.

Trading comes with a flat fee per trade, allowing access to fractional shares. Hatch allows its users direct access to U.S. stocks and ETFs.

Its offerings include a basic web platform, portfolio tracking, and educational resources. The platform is geared more towards the needs of the long-term investor. Hatch prides itself on transparency and accessibility.

Feature	Details
Founded	2018, New Zealand
Accounts	Retail accounts
Trading Costs	Flat fee per trade, fractional shares
Market Access	U.S. stocks & ETFs
Tools	Web platform, portfolio tracking
Execution	Reliable, long‑term focus
Regulation	NZ financial laws
Strengths	Transparency
Unique	U.S. market gateway

8. Stake

Stake was founded in 2017 in Australia. They offer retail accounts focused on U.S. and Australian equities, and their regulations include ASIC and FCA.

Trading costs at Stake include commission-free trades for U.S. stocks, but there are FX fees on deposits. They offer access to U.S. stocks and ETFs, as well as the Australian market.

They have a mobile/web platform, watchlists, and fractional investing, as well as other tools. Their platform is designed for retail investors, and their focus is on affordable and simple execution.

Feature	Details
Founded	2017, Australia
Accounts	Retail accounts
Trading Costs	Commission‑free U.S. stocks, FX fees
Market Access	U.S. & Australian shares, ETFs
Tools	Mobile/web platform, watchlists
Execution	Efficient, retail‑focused
Regulation	ASIC, FCA
Strengths	Affordability
Unique	Fractional investing

9. Tiger Brokers

Tiger Brokers was established in China in 2014 and provides services in Singapore and the U.S. with regulators from both regions. They offer accounts types for both the general public and professionals.

Their costs for trading are low commissions and competitive margin rates. They provide access to the U.S., Hong Kong, Singapore and Australian markets for stocks, ETFs, options and futures.

They provide a trading app, advanced analytics, and offer API support. They have fast execution with smart ordering for liquidity. Tiger Brokers is very popular with investors in Asia for providing international markets.

Feature	Details
Founded	2014, China
Accounts	Retail & professional
Trading Costs	Low commissions, margin rates
Market Access	U.S., HK, Singapore, AU stocks, ETFs, futures
Tools	Tiger Trade app, analytics, API
Execution	Smart routing, fast
Regulation	MAS, SEC
Strengths	Asian investor focus
Unique	International exposure

10. Swissquote

Swissquote was founded in 1996 in Switzerland and is regulated by FINMA and FCA. They offer retail, corporate, and institutional accounts.

When considering trading costs, there are commissions for stock trades and spreads for forex. Swissquote gives access to all of these, as well as ETFs, crypto, and derivatives.

Swissquote’s tools include the Swissquote Advanced Trader, as well as Robo-Advisory and research services. Execution is focused on security and precision. Swissquote is known for being innovative and has strong regulations.

Feature	Details
Founded	1996, Switzerland
Accounts	Retail, corporate, institutional
Trading Costs	Commissions on stocks, spreads on forex
Market Access	Global equities, ETFs, forex, crypto, derivatives
Tools	Advanced Trader, Robo‑Advisory, research
Execution	Secure, precise
Regulation	FINMA, FCA
Strengths	Innovation, strong regulation
Unique	Swiss banking integration

Broker Comparison Table

Broker	Founded	Accounts	Trading Costs	Market Access	Tools	Execution	Regulation	Unique Strength
Interactive Brokers	1978 (USA)	Individual, joint, corporate, retirement	Very low commissions, near‑zero U.S. stock fees	150+ global markets	Trader Workstation, API, algo trading	Smart routing, deep liquidity	SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC	Institutional‑grade tools
eToro	2007 (Israel)	Retail	Commission‑free stocks, spreads on forex/crypto	Equities, ETFs, commodities, indices, crypto	CopyTrader, Smart Portfolios	Retail‑friendly	FCA, CySEC, ASIC	Largest social trading network
IG	1974 (UK)	Retail, professional, institutional	Tight spreads, commission‑free stocks in regions	17,000+ markets	IG platform, ProRealTime, MT4	Fast, deep liquidity	FCA, ASIC	Longest‑standing CFD broker
CMC Markets	1989 (UK)	Retail & professional	Competitive spreads	Shares, indices, commodities, treasuries	Next Generation platform	Transparent, fast	FCA, ASIC	Advanced analytics suite
Plus500	2008 (Israel)	Retail CFD	Spread‑based, no commissions	Shares, forex, indices, ETFs, crypto CFDs	Proprietary platform	Simple, retail‑focused	FCA, ASIC, CySEC	Guaranteed stop orders
Sharesies	2017 (NZ)	Retail beginner	Small fees, fractional shares	NZ, AU, U.S. shares, ETFs	Mobile platform, education	Retail‑oriented	NZ FMA	Democratized investing
Hatch	2018 (NZ)	Retail	Flat fee per trade, fractional shares	U.S. stocks & ETFs	Web platform, portfolio tracking	Reliable, long‑term focus	NZ financial laws	U.S. market gateway
Stake	2017 (Australia)	Retail	Commission‑free U.S. stocks, FX fees	U.S. & AU shares, ETFs	Mobile/web platform	Efficient, retail‑focused	ASIC, FCA	Fractional investing
Tiger Brokers	2014 (China)	Retail & professional	Low commissions, margin rates	U.S., HK, Singapore, AU stocks, ETFs, futures	Tiger Trade app, API	Smart routing, fast	MAS, SEC	Asian investor focus
Swissquote	1996 (Switzerland)	Retail, corporate, institutional	Commissions on stocks, spreads on forex	Global equities, ETFs, forex, crypto, derivatives	Advanced Trader, Robo‑Advisory	Secure, precise	FINMA, FCA	Swiss banking integration

Conclusion

In the case of the most recognised global brokers and emerging retail platforms, each has distinctive strengths as a result of their founding vision, regulatory framework, and technology.

In this regard, IB and IG provide sophisticated trading tools and imply large-volume trading for the professionally-oriented client. In contrast, Etoro and Plus500 provide accessibility and user-friendliness through social trading and CFDs, respectively. As for cost and innovation, CMC Markets is a good option; Tiger Brokers and Swissquote offer good options for Asia and Europe, respectively.

On the other hand, in terms of democratizing retail, Sharesies, Hatch, and Stake have disrupted the market with their simplified brokers, and cheaper, more transparent brokers, all while allowing fractional investing.

The industry has clearly evolved from the giants offering sophisticated trading with deep liquidity to these new brokers offering affordability and accessibility at the expense of trading education. It’s up to the trader to decide what tools they want to use, whether sophisticated trading tools and global markets, or simpler trading options.

FAQ