What is the minimum deposit for an Australian CFD broker?
Verdict
- Pepperstone's minimum deposit in Australia is $10, and it is our recommended broker for a first account: low entry, free deposits and withdrawals, and an ASIC licence (AFSL 414530).
- Published minimums at other brokers that accept Australians range from none (IC Markets, Fusion Markets, CMC Markets, OANDA) to $20 at Capital.com, $50 at Vantage and $100 at FP Markets.
- At Pepperstone, card, PayID, BPAY and e-wallet deposits start at $10, crypto at $18, and bank transfers have no minimum.
- A small deposit opens the account; it does not make a small trade safe. Size positions on what you can afford to lose.
Minimums at Australian CFD brokers are low, often zero, so the deposit floor rarely decides the choice. What a low minimum is useful for is testing a broker with real money before you commit more. Here are the published figures and what they buy you.
Pepperstone: $10, and every method is free
Pepperstone's Australian costs page advertises a minimum deposit of just $10. Its funding table lists Apple Pay, Google Pay, cards, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill and PayID from $10 with instant crediting, BPAY from $10 within a business day, crypto from $18, and domestic bank transfer with no minimum, all without fees. Withdrawals are free too, and there is no inactivity fee. That makes it the cheapest place in our data to run a full deposit-and-withdrawal test.
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Minimum deposit required for CFD trading brokers?
Each broker's own published figure, for brokers our data shows accepting Australian residents. Some figures come from the broker's global pages, so check the Australian site before applying.
| Broker | Minimum | Australian licence |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | $10 | AFSL 414530 |
| Capital.com | 20 (USD, EUR or GBP) | AFSL 513393 |
| eToro | $10 | AFSL 491139 |
| IC Markets | None | AFSL 335692 |
| Fusion Markets | No minimum account size | AFSL 385620 |
| CMC Markets | None | AFSL 238054 |
| Vantage | $50 | AFSL 428901 |
| FP Markets | $100 | AFSL 286354 |
What $10 can and cannot do
Margin is the real constraint. At the retail maximum of 1:30 on major FX, each $1,000 of exposure ties up about $33; on gold and major indices at 1:20, $50; on shares at 1:5, $200; on crypto at 1:2, $500. A $10 balance therefore covers almost nothing once spreads and price moves are counted. Use the minimum to test deposits, withdrawals and the platform, then fund the account to a level where a normal losing streak does not wipe it out.
A low-cost way to test a broker
- Deposit the minimum by the method you will use long term, such as PayID or card.
- Check that the funds arrive when the broker says (instant for PayID at Pepperstone).
- Withdraw part of it to the same source; Pepperstone lists PayID and card withdrawals within 2 business days.
- Only then add your real trading balance.
Sources
Does Pepperstone charge for deposits in Australia?
No. Every deposit method on its Australian funding table is listed as free.
Is there a minimum to keep in the account?
Pepperstone has no minimum balance or inactivity fee, but it may archive accounts holding under 10 currency units that have been unused for 3+ months.
Can I deposit in Australian dollars?
Yes. AUD is one of Pepperstone's six base currencies in Australia, alongside USD, EUR, GBP, SGD and HKD.
Even a $10 account can lose its whole balance quickly: CFDs are leveraged and high-risk. Check the PDS and TMD before you trade. Minimums quoted are as each broker publishes them and may change; this is not advice.