Updated April 2026
Share trading platforms in NZ —
honest comparison + the AI layer most miss.
Six platforms NZ retail traders actually use: Sharesies, Hatch, Stake, ASB Securities, Direct Broking (Jarden), Tiger Brokers NZ. Below: who each is best for, what each costs, and why pairing your broker with an AI chart reader changes the workflow.
Educational, not financial advice. Pricing accurate as of April 2026 — fee structures change quarterly.
TL;DR comparison
| Platform | NZX | ASX | US | Best for | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharesies | NZ first-time investors | $0.01 min · subscriptions $0–$15/mo | |||
| Hatch | US-only investors with $5k+ | $3 USD/trade flat | |||
| Stake | ANZ traders wanting ASX + US | $3 NZD/trade · Black plan $9 USD/mo | |||
| ASB Securities | ASB customers, larger NZX trades | $15 flat NZX (ASB customer) | |||
| Direct Broking (Jarden) | Active NZX-focused traders | $29.95 NZX min | |||
| Tiger Brokers NZ | Cost-conscious ASX/US traders | From $0 promotional · low ongoing |
Each platform, in detail
Sharesies
NZ first-time investorsFee: $0.01 min · subscriptions $0–$15/mo
- Smooth UX
- Auto-invest
- NZX + ASX + US in one app
- Fractional shares
- Basic charting
- FX spread on US trades
- Limited order types
Hatch
US-only investors with $5k+Fee: $3 USD/trade flat
- Cheap at scale
- Clean US-only product
- Limit orders
- No NZX or ASX
- FX conversion fee
- No charting depth
Stake
ANZ traders wanting ASX + USFee: $3 NZD/trade · Black plan $9 USD/mo
- ASX + US together
- Solid mobile app
- Margin available (Black)
- No NZX coverage
- Basic charting
- FX margin on US
ASB Securities
ASB customers, larger NZX tradesFee: $15 flat NZX (ASB customer)
- Trusted brand
- Direct NZX market depth
- Integrates with ASB banking
- Dated UX
- Higher fees on small trades
- No mobile-first design
Direct Broking (Jarden)
Active NZX-focused tradersFee: $29.95 NZX min
- Full broker tools
- Real-time NZX depth
- Research access
- Expensive on small trades
- Best for size, not micro-investors
Tiger Brokers NZ
Cost-conscious ASX/US tradersFee: From $0 promotional · low ongoing
- Very cheap
- Margin trading
- Options chains
- No NZX
- Less NZ-native UX
- Singapore-licenced (entity check)
The AI chart-read layer most NZ traders miss
Every NZ broker above gives you the execution layer — they let you place the buy/sell. Almost none give you a strong analysis layer. Charting on Sharesies, Hatch and Stake is bare-bones. ASB and Jarden have better tools but no AI commentary. Most NZ retail traders fill the gap with a paid TradingView account (~$15–60/mo) and still have to read the indicators themselves.
tradr is the AI commentary layer. Paste a ticker — NZX, ASX, US, crypto — get a 30-second plain-English read: setup, bias, confidence, entry, stop, two targets, what would invalidate the trade. Then go execute in your broker of choice. Free tier 5 reads/day, no card.
Frequently asked
What is the best share trading platform in NZ?+
There is no single best — it depends on what you trade. Sharesies is best for new investors who want NZX, ASX and US in one app with low friction. Hatch is the cheapest for buying US shares once you're at $5k+ portfolio. Stake suits ASX-heavy traders. ASB Securities and Jarden Direct are stronger for active traders who want full broker tools. Tiger Brokers is the cheapest for ASX/US with margin. tradr (this site) sits on top of any of them — we read the chart, you place the trade.
Is Sharesies worth it?+
For most NZ first-time investors, yes. As of April 2026 Sharesies offers NZX, ASX and US shares from $0.01, with subscription plans from free to $15/mo for higher transaction volume. Downsides: limited charting, basic order types, FX spread on US trades. Pair Sharesies with tradr for the chart-analysis layer it doesn't have.
Hatch vs Stake — which is better?+
Hatch is US-only, Stake covers both ASX and US. If you're a NZ trader buying US shares (TSLA, AAPL, NVDA) and don't care about ASX, Hatch's flat-fee model usually wins on cost. If you also want ASX (CBA, BHP, FMG), Stake is the obvious pick. Both have minimal charting — that's the gap tradr fills.
Can I trade NZX shares for free?+
Free is rare in NZ — every broker takes some spread, FX margin, or transaction fee. Sharesies has the lowest entry friction with no monthly minimum on the free plan. ASB Securities offers $15-flat NZX trades to ASB customers, which becomes cheap at larger trade sizes. There is no truly zero-fee option for NZX retail trading as of April 2026.
Do I need an AI tool to trade shares in NZ?+
Need? No. Useful? Increasingly, yes. The basic NZ retail workflow — log into Sharesies/Hatch, look at a chart, click buy — leaves out the analysis step. tradr replaces that gap with a 30-second AI chart read: setup, bias, confidence, entry, stop, targets, plain English. Free tier is 5 reads/day. It's the layer that turns 'gut feel' trades into reasoned trades.
Related
Educational analysis only. Not financial advice. Past performance does not predict future results. Trading carries risk; never trade capital you cannot afford to lose.