Which Australian brokers offer pro trading accounts?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our pick: under AFSL 414530 it publishes its complete Australian pro offer, including the entry tests, a pro leverage table reaching 1:500, and a one-time negative-balance cover of up to USD 100,000.
- Plenty of other ASIC-licensed CFD providers serve Australians, among them Capital.com, IG, CMC Markets and IC Markets, but their pro-client terms were not in the material we verified, so we don't quote criteria or leverage for them.
- Be wary of leverage headlines on a broker's global website: in the cases we checked, the biggest numbers belong to companies outside Australia, not the Australian licensee.
- Whichever firm you pick, the pro account should sit with the company that holds the AFSL.
Pro accounts here are wholesale-client accounts that ASIC-licensed CFD providers open for traders who pass an experience or wealth test. Below is the one offer we could check term by term, the licensed firms whose pro terms you'll need to confirm yourself, and a method for comparing them.
Pepperstone: the pro offer we could verify
Pepperstone Group Limited, based at 727 Collins Street in Melbourne, sets out its whole pro package on one page. That transparency, plus Razor pricing and five platform choices, is why it leads our list.
- Entry: a sophisticated-investor test (trading record or a year in a professional trading role, plus a quiz) or a wealth test backed by an accountant's certificate.
- Leverage: up to 1:500 on major and minor FX and gold, 1:400 on major indices, 1:20 on shares and ETFs.
- Downside: negative-balance protection becomes a one-time cover of up to USD 100,000.
- Extras: Pepperstone lists a free VPS for eligible and pro clients.
- Platforms on Razor: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and Pepperstone's own app.
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Other ASIC-licensed CFD providers to ask
These firms hold Australian licences for their local companies. Capital.com is our second choice for Australian traders overall. For every name below, request the pro criteria, leverage table and negative-balance terms in writing.
| Broker | Australian company | AFSL | Pro terms in our verified data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | Pepperstone Group Limited | 414530 | Yes: tests, leverage table, USD 100k cover |
| Capital.com | Capital Com Australia Pty Ltd | 513393 | Not verified; ask |
| IG | IG Australia Pty Ltd | 515106 | Not verified; ask |
| CMC Markets | CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd | 238054 | Not verified; ask |
| IC Markets | International Capital Markets Pty Ltd | 335692 | Not verified; ask |
| Plus500 | Plus500AU Pty Ltd | 417727 | Not verified; ask |
| FOREX.com | StoneX Financial Pty Ltd | 345646 | Not verified; ask |
| FP Markets | First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd | 286354 | Not verified; ask |
Check the company, not the brand
Many brands run an Australian licensee alongside offshore companies, and the offshore entity is often the one advertising eye-catching leverage. IC Markets is a clear example: its Seychelles company, Raw Trading Ltd (FSA SD018), advertises up to 1:5000 on FX majors, while its Australian company holds AFSL 335692. A high-leverage account offshore is not the same as a pro account with an Australian licensee, because the contract, the regulator and the client-money rules all differ. Read the company name in the client agreement before you apply.
How to compare pro offers side by side
- Entry tests: which of the experience, work-history and wealth routes does the firm accept, and what evidence does each need?
- Leverage by asset: get the full table, not just the FX headline. At Pepperstone, shares stop at 1:20 even for pros.
- Negative-balance terms: none, capped, or one-off?
- Client money: is wholesale money segregated the same way as retail money?
- Costs and platforms: does the pro account keep the pricing and software you use now?
- Exit: how do you move back to retail if you change your mind?
Sources
Does Capital.com offer pro accounts in Australia?
Capital.com holds an ASIC licence (AFSL 513393) for Australian clients, but its pro-client terms were not in the material we verified. Ask the firm directly.
Which broker publishes the clearest pro terms in Australia?
Of the firms we checked, Pepperstone: its pro page lists the entry routes and the negative-balance terms, and its costs page shows retail and pro leverage side by side.
Is a pro account the same as an account with an offshore broker?
No. A pro account with an ASIC licensee keeps you with an Australian company; an offshore account puts you with a foreign company under a different regulator.
Do I need a minimum deposit for a pro account at Pepperstone?
Pepperstone's standard minimum deposit is $10. The pro tests concern your experience or wealth, not the size of your first deposit.
Trading CFDs involves a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage, and pro clients give up some retail protections. Broker terms change, so confirm them on each provider's site. This page is not investment advice.