Just spent way too long comparing Australian share platforms and honestly the options have gotten pretty wild. Everyone asks where to buy shares these days and the answer really depends on what kind of trader you are.

If you're starting out and don't want to stress about fees eating into everything, Mitrade's zero-commission model is actually pretty solid. They've got access to way more than just shares too - forex, commodities, crypto, all in one place. The demo account with fake money is genuinely useful for practicing without risking anything.

Now if you want to actually own the shares directly with CHESS sponsorship (shares registered in your name), CommSec, CMC Invest, and Stake all do that. CommSec is the traditional choice with serious research tools but you'll pay more per trade. CMC Invest has the widest market access - 45,000+ stocks globally. Stake is mobile-focused and super clean if you just want ASX and US stocks.

eToro's interesting if you like the social angle and copy trading. Interactive Brokers is for the serious investors managing big portfolios across multiple countries.

Honestly where to buy comes down to: Are you a beginner? How much do you trade? Do you want to own shares outright or just get price exposure? That narrows it down fast. The fees might seem small but they compound - that's the real difference between these platforms.

Anyone else been comparing these or just sticking with one?