A local licence or an offshore one: the difference

A broker can take clients in Australia in two ways: through a company licensed by the CFD here, or through a company licensed somewhere else. Both happen, and the second is not the same as being unregulated.

What changes is where you stand if something goes wrong. A locally licensed entity is answerable to the CFD and to the complaint route that comes with it; an offshore entity is answerable to its own regulator, in its own jurisdiction, under its own compensation rules - which may be generous, limited, or absent.

The ten below hold a local licence. The brokers that do not are not hidden: they have their own page, because the question a reader asks is usually about one named firm.

Licensed in Australia, or not (66 of 76)

35Local licence

31Offshore

Affiliate links: we earn a commission; it never changes scores or order. CFDs are high-risk and leverage can lose you money rapidly.

Key facts (33 of 76 counts · 64 brokers onboarding Australian residents)

33of 76

qualify for this ranking

43% of 76

scored on all six axes

73of 76

publish a price

96% of 76

42of 76

publish a leverage figure for this country

55% of 76

Top 3 (of 3 ranked)

1Fusion Markets4.63highest score of the three · cheapest priced of the three · locally licensed 2IC Markets4.61locally licensed · withdrawal in 24 h 3Global Prime4.55locally licensed · withdrawal in 2 h

A local licence or an offshore one: the difference (33 of 76)

By slice score, formula v1.0. · 33 of 64 brokers in this ranking · all 33

#	Broker	Round turn, USDAU	Min deposit, USDAU	Leverage	Withdrawal, hAU	Score	Execution	Founded	Funding
1	Fusion Markets	4.8	0	30AU	1	4.63	ECN/raw + standard	2017	2 methods · local
2	IC Markets	7	200 group	30AU	24	4.61	ECN/raw + standard	2007	3 methods · local
3	Global Prime	7	0	500AU	2	4.55	ECN/raw + standard	2010	2 methods · local
4	Capital.com	6	20 AUD	30AU	24	4.54	Standard	2008	2 methods
5	AvaTrade	8	100	—stated, not verified	24	4.54	Standard	2006	3 methods · local
6	Forex.com	12	—	—stated, not verified	—	4.51	Standard	2001	2 methods · local
7	GO Markets	6	—	30AU	24	4.47	ECN/raw + standard	2006	4 methods · local
8	Pepperstone	7	—	30AU	24	4.45	ECN/raw + standard	2010	3 methods
9	MultiBank Group	6	—	30AU	48	4.43	ECN/raw + standard	2005	—
10	Hantec Markets	2	—	—stated, not verified	48	4.42	ECN/raw + standard	1990	3 methods · local
11	Mitrade	6	—	30AU	24	4.42	Standard	2011	2 methods · local
12	Axi	7	0	30AU	24	4.4	ECN/raw + standard	2007	2 methods · local
13	Blueberry Markets	7	100	30AU	24	4.38	ECN/raw + standard	2016	3 methods
14	FBS	6	—	30AU	24	4.38	ECN/raw + standard	2009	—
15	FP Markets	7	—	500AU	72	4.33	ECN/raw + standard	2005	3 methods · local
16	Doo Prime	7	—	—stated, not verified	24	4.33	ECN/raw + standard	2014	—
17	Trade Nation	5	—	30AU	—	4.33	Standard	2014	3 methods
18	TMGM	7	15	30AU	24	4.31	ECN/raw + standard	2013	—
19	Vantage	5	50	—stated, not verified	72	4.29	ECN/raw + standard	2009	4 methods · local
20	Interactive Brokers	5	—	—stated, not verified	48	4.19	ECN/raw + standard	1978	—
21	Eightcap	7	100 group	30AU	48	4.17	ECN/raw + standard	2009	—
22	CMC Markets	5	0 group	200 groupAU	48	4.16	ECN/raw + standard	1989	113 methods
23	XM	7	8 AUD	30AU	24	4.14	ECN/raw + standard	2009	2 methods · local
24	eToro	10	—	—stated, not verified	48	4.01	Standard	2007	1 methods · local
25	Plus500	6	—	30AU	72	3.97	Standard	2008	2 methods · local
26	Moneta Markets	6	—	1000AU	72	3.97	ECN/raw + standard	2018	2 methods · local
27	VT Markets	6	100	500 groupAU	72	3.96	ECN/raw + standard	2015	3 methods · local
28	ATFX	7	—	30AU	72	3.87	ECN/raw + standard	2014	3 methods · local
29	OANDA	6	—	—stated, not verified	120	3.79	ECN/raw + standard	1996	3 methods · local
30	Equiti	7	—	—stated, not verified	24	3.77	ECN/raw + standard	2014	2 methods · local
31	IG Markets	13.6	100	30AU	120	3.68	ECN/raw + standard	1974	3 methods
32	IronFX	18	—	200AU	240	3.63	ECN/raw + standard	2010	—
33	Fortrade	20	—	30AU	120	2.96	Standard	2013	3 methods · local

Ten are shown; the button opens the rest.

"group" marks a figure the broker publishes for the group rather than for this country. It is shown because the broker states it, and it is not ranked, averaged or used to sort.

— the broker does not publish this figure; it is not read as a zero and it is not scored.

Plus500 publishes a retail leverage of 1:30 without naming the entity that grants it, so the figure is marked group and left out of the leverage ranking and median.

The ten above illustrate the term. CFD-regulated brokers in Australia lists every broker that qualifies, with the figure each one publishes.

Identical for every row, so it is stated once: Who onboards Local · ASIC · Swap-free fee none, no limit · AUD account Yes.

1. Fusion Markets — highest score of the three · cheapest priced of the three · locally licensed (score 4.63)

Round turn: 4.8 USD
Withdrawal: under 1 hour; up to 1 business day
AUD account: AUD, USD, EUR
Leverage: 30AU
Accepts residents: yes
Onboarding entity: FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd
Founded: 2017
Group leverage: uncleargroup
Instruments: Forex, CFDs, shares
Platforms: MT5cTraderWebTradingView
Funding: Cards and bank transfer
Not served: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Myanmar, New Zealand, North Korea, Palestine, Russia, Spain, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen, United States, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, US Minor Outlying Islands, US Virgin Islands

Reviews25%85
Round-turn cost20%100
Safety
Payouts15%99
Track record10%45
Platforms70

Why it ranks here

Round turn 4.8 USD against the slice median 6 USD. strongest axis round-turn cost 100 of 100. total score 4.63.

Watch for

Payouts axis 58 of 100; e-wallet times not published.

Full review of Fusion Markets

2. IC Markets — locally licensed · withdrawal in 24 h (score 4.61)

Round turn: 7 USD
Withdrawal: within 1 working day (and typically 3-5 business days for bank transfers to be credited)
AUD account: AUD USD EUR
Leverage: 30AU
Accepts residents: yes
Onboarding entity: IC Markets Australia Pty Ltd
Founded: 2007
Group leverage: unclear
Instruments: Forex shares indices crypto
Platforms: MT5MT4Web
Funding: Domestic transfer cards PayPal
Not served: United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Iran, North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

Why it ranks here

Round turn 7 USD against the slice median 6 USD. strongest axis track record 95 of 100. total score 4.61.

Watch for

Min deposit 200 USD, double the Australia median of 50; withdrawal time not published.

Full review of IC Markets

3. Global Prime — locally licensed · withdrawal in 2 h (score 4.55)

Round turn: 7 USD
AUD account: AUD USD GBP EUR CAD SGD JPY
Leverage: 500AU
Licence: 385620
Accepts residents: yes
Onboarding entity: FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd
Founded: 2010
Group leverage: uncleargroup
Instruments: Forex CFDs and more
Platforms: MT5WebMobile
Funding: Bank wire and card
Not served: United States, Ontario (Canada), Japan, New Zealand, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, Yemen

Why it ranks here

Round turn 7 USD against the slice median 6 USD. strongest axis payouts 98 of 100. total score 4.55.

Watch for

Onboards Australian residents through an offshore entity: no ASIC licence, no ASIC complaints route, no AUD account.

Full review of Global Prime

What the data shows(33 of 76 distributions · 64 brokers)

Swap-free availability (33 of 76 brokers)

Offered30Not offered14

Admin fee after the free period (33 of 76 swap-free)

Never16After 3–30 days9not published5

Who onboards Australian residents (33 of 76 brokers)

Local ASIC entity20Offshore entity24

AUD account (33 of 76 brokers)

Yes16No23not published5

Full list(33 of 76)

1Fusion Markets4.63
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
4.8
Min deposit, USD
0
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
2IC Markets4.61
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Min deposit, USD
200 group
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
3Global Prime4.55
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Min deposit, USD
0
Leverage
500AU
AUD
Yes
4Capital.com4.54
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
6
Min deposit, USD
20 AUD
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
5AvaTrade4.54
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
8
Min deposit, USD
100
AUD
Yes
6Forex.com4.51
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
12
AUD
Yes
7GO Markets4.47
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
6
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
8Pepperstone4.45
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
9MultiBank Group4.43
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
6
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
10Hantec Markets4.42
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
2
AUD
Yes
11Mitrade4.42
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
6
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
12Axi4.4
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Min deposit, USD
0
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
13Blueberry Markets4.38
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Min deposit, USD
100
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
14FBS4.38
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
6
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
15FP Markets4.33
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Leverage
500AU
AUD
Yes
16Doo Prime4.33
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
AUD
Yes
17Trade Nation4.33
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
5
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
18TMGM4.31
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Min deposit, USD
15
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
19Vantage4.29
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
5
Min deposit, USD
50
AUD
Yes
20Interactive Brokers4.19
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
5
AUD
Yes
21Eightcap4.17
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Min deposit, USD
100 group
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
22CMC Markets4.16
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
5
Min deposit, USD
0 group
Leverage
200 groupAU
AUD
Yes
23XM4.14
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Min deposit, USD
8 AUD
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
24eToro4.01
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
10
AUD
Yes
25Plus5003.97
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
6
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
26Moneta Markets3.97
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
6
Leverage
1000AU
AUD
Yes
27VT Markets3.96
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
6
Min deposit, USD
100
Leverage
500 groupAU
AUD
Yes
28ATFX3.87
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
29OANDA3.79
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
6
AUD
Yes
30Equiti3.77
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
7
AUD
Yes
31IG Markets3.68
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
13.6
Min deposit, USD
100
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes
32IronFX3.63
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
18
Leverage
200AU
AUD
Yes
33Fortrade2.96
Onboards
Local · ASIC
Swap-free
none, no limit
Round turn, USD
20
Leverage
30AU
AUD
Yes

How to read the ten below

Start with the figure this page ranks on.
Every row here is ordered by computed score, highest first; unscored brokers follow. A broker that publishes no figure is shown without one rather than guessed at.
Check which company would onboard you.
The same brand can take a resident of Australia through a locally licensed entity or an offshore one, and the leverage cap, the complaint route and the protection all follow the entity, not the brand.
Read the cost beside the deposit.
The median round turn across this country is 6.0 USD and the median minimum deposit 15.0 USD; a low deposit beside a wide spread takes the difference back on every trade.

Neighbouring slices(6 rankings · 4 explainers)

Same country

Explained

FAQ

How many brokers qualify for this ranking in Australia?: 33 of 76 brokers measured for this country qualify.
Which broker leads it, and on what basis?: Fusion Markets leads it with a score of 4.63. The order is computed score, highest first; unscored brokers follow.
What does a trade typically cost here?: The median round turn - spread plus commission for one standard lot, in and out - is 6.0 USD across the brokers that publish both parts.
Why do some rows show a dash instead of a figure?: Because the broker does not publish that figure for this country. A dash is a statement about what is published, and a figure is never filled in from a group-wide page as if it applied locally.
Why are only ten brokers shown here?: This page explains the term; the ten illustrate it. The full ranking lists 33 of 76 and is one click away.

How this slice is scored

Slice score = 2 + 3 × weighted mean of the six axes; the swap-free fee and availability feed price and reliability. A missing axis drops out and weights are renormalised; group-wide figures never enter. Full methodology

Verified · What changed · Sources(33 of 76 broker records)

Verified01.10.2026

data re-captured 28.09.2026

Risk warning and affiliate disclosure

CFDs are complex instruments with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. A swap-free account removes overnight interest, not market risk. We earn a commission on some links; paid rows are marked and never ranked first.