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From my experience as an independent trader evaluating brokers, I find CommSec’s fee structure to be clear but worth reviewing in detail before committing any funds. While CommSec does not offer forex or CFDs, its equity and options trading platforms do come with specific cost considerations. For Australian shares, online trading fees start at $5 for trades up to $1,000 and rise to $29.95 or 0.12% for larger orders; those using non-CDIA settlement face a steeper $29.95 minimum. International equity trades incur either a flat fee or a percentage-based charge, depending on market, with a 0.55% currency conversion fee automatically applied on cross-currency transactions, which can add up for frequent or high-value trades. Phone trading costs are substantially higher—I always avoid this unless absolutely necessary, since fees can reach $59.95 or 0.52% per trade. Options trading is also pricier, with online rates at $34.95 up to $10,000 and 0.35% above that. There are further fixed contract fees for both equity and index options, so I would recommend checking these closely if you are active in those instruments. Importantly, while there are no account maintenance or basic application fees, a range of non-trading costs exist—from late settlement and off-market transfer fees, to printed contract notes and admin for trust deeds. Margin lending has separate interest rates—with variable rates around 9.15% p.a.—and early account closure may incur additional charges. Taking all this into account, CommSec’s fee schedule is competitive for standard online share trading but less so for international, phone-based, or more complex transactions. As always, I advise factoring these costs into any investment strategy, as fees can meaningfully impact net returns over time.