Investing

What is Betashares Direct?

Betashares Direct is an investing platform for trading ASX ETFs. This article compares Betashares Direct to various platforms, including Stake, Superhero, Pearler, and Stockspot.

What is Betashares Direct?
Does Betashares Direct use the HIN model or the custodian model?
Does Betashares Direct have an app?
What is the historical performance of Betashares’ ETFs?
Betashares Direct vs. Superhero
Betashares Direct vs. Stake
Betashares Direct vs. Pearler
Betashares Direct vs. Stockspot

What is Betashares Direct?

Betashares Direct is a brokerage platform that allows you to trade ASX ETFs with zero brokerage fees*. 

*However, there is a catch as the product a fee from the interest income earned on your money in your Betashares Cash Wallet. This fee is called a Cash Administration Fee.

At Stockspot, all interest earned in our clients’ cash accounts (currently 4% p.a.^) stays with the clients. Stockspot does not keep any interest income earned on the money in our clients’ cash accounts.

^As of 30 October 2023. Interest rate is variable and subject to change.

Does Betashares Direct use the HIN model or the custodian model?

Betashares Direct operates on a custodian model. The custodian, Citigroup Pty Ltd, holds all investments on a pooled basis with other investors on behalf of Betashares. 

At Stockspot, we offer and recommend the HIN structure, believing it offers more advantages as it ensures your assets are legally and beneficially owned under your name. The HIN model also allows your investments to be easily transferred in the future.

See the difference between investing with HIN vs custodial here.

Does Betashares Direct have an app?

Betashares Direct currently offers an app only for Apple users. At this stage, there is no Android app. Betashares Direct, at this stage, does not have a web dashboard.

What is the historical performance of Betashares’ ETFs?

For an in-depth look at the historical performance of popular Betashares’ ETFs, you can explore the comprehensive list here

Betashares Direct vs. Superhero

  • Superhero: Offers trading of Australian shares with brokerage starting at $5. Recently added brokerage-free US shares and ETFs, but charges a foreign exchange fee of US $0.70 for every AUD $100 transferred.
  • Betashares Direct: Only trades ETFs available on the ASX with no brokerage fee. However, a Cash Administration Fee applies.

Both Betashares Direct and Superhero use the custodial model, meaning you don’t own your investments directly under your name.

Betashares Direct vs. Stake

  • Stake: Provides exposure to Australian and US shares. Charges AUD $3 brokerage for trades up to $30,000 or 0.01% for trades above this value. For US shares, the fees are USD $3 and 0.01% respectively.
  • Betashares Direct: Exclusively trades ASX ETFs with no brokerage fee, but a Cash Administration Fee is charged.

Unlike Betashares, Stake uses the HIN model meaning you legally own your investments under your name. 

Betashares Direct vs. Pearler

  • Pearler: Offers Australian shares, US shares, ETFs, and LICs with a AUD $6.50 brokerage fee.
  • Betashares Direct: Exclusively trades ASX ETFs with no brokerage fee, but a Cash Administration Fee is charged.

Betashares Direct vs. Stockspot

  • Stockspot: An online investment adviser offering various diversified portfolios of ETFs. Stockspot offers personal investment advice and portfolios are reviewed and rebalanced regularly by experts. Stockspot also has a 9-year track record of returns. SMSFs, Companies and Trust can invest directly with Stockspot. Our client dashboard, app and educational blog are yours to use 24/7. Monitor your portfolio, learn more about investing, keep track of your investment goals and transfer funds whenever you want.
  • Betashares Direct: An investing platform where users self-manage portfolios of ETFs without personalised advice. Offers portfolio templates, investors will have to manage their portfolios according to their own individual investment goals and risk profiles. Offers educational blogs and videos. Betashares Direct is currently only open to individual investors with no online dashboard or Android application.
Stockspot builds and manages your sharemarket portfolio for you, so you can get on with enjoying life and not having to worry about picking stocks.
  • Chris Brycki

    Founder and CEO

    Chris has over 25 years of investment experience and spent most of his early career as a Portfolio Manager at UBS. Chris has been a member of the ASIC Digital Advisory Committee and volunteers as a member of the Investment Committee for the NSW Cancer Council. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting/Finance Co-op Scholarship) from UNSW.


Founder and CEO

Chris has over 25 years of investment experience and spent most of his early career as a Portfolio Manager at UBS. Chris has been a member of the ASIC Digital Advisory Committee and volunteers as a member of the Investment Committee for the NSW Cancer Council. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting/Finance Co-op Scholarship) from UNSW.

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