Investing in the stock market has never been easier, thanks to the many online trading apps available today. However, finding the best stock trading app in New Zealand can be difficult.
In this article, we list the best stock trading apps in New Zealand, comparing their features and highlighting their strengths. Keep in mind that some of these apps only offer CFDs, which are leveraged derivatives, rather than real shares.
Best stock trading apps in New Zealand
Interactive Brokers | Best for intermediate and advanced investors
US-based online broker with sophisticated trading platforms and a wide range of products, including real shares and ETFs from markets around the world. Its IBKR GlobalTrader app is designed for beginners.
Plus500 | Best for CFDs
Plus500 is a multi-asset CFD provider offering CFDs on indices, forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, shares, options and ETFs. New Zealand clients are served by Plus500AU Pty Ltd, which only offers CFDs.
81% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
NAGA | Best for social trading
German fintech with a social trading app, where New Zealand clients can trade CFDs on stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex and other markets.
Best stock trading apps in New Zealand compared
| Broker | Fees on stocks | Minimum deposit | Real stocks | Trading apps |
| Interactive Brokers | $0.0005 to $0.0035 per US share (min. $0.35), 0.01% to 0.08% for other markets | $0 | ✔ | IBKR GlobalTrader, IBKR Mobile, IMPACT, IBKR Desktop |
| Plus500 81% of retail CFD accounts lose money. |
$0 commission on share CFDs (spreads, overnight funding and other fees apply) | $100 | X (only CFDs) | Plus500 app and WebTrader |
| NAGA | $2.50 commission on stock CFDs | $250 | X (only CFDs) | NAGA app, MetaTrader 4 and 5 |
#1 Interactive Brokers (IBKR GlobalTrader)
Interactive Brokers at a glance
Interactive Brokers has proven to be one of the most reliable brokers in the market. Founded in 1978, it has survived many financial crises, is listed on the NASDAQ and is part of the S&P 500 index. It is regulated by many top-tier regulators and gives clients access to 170 markets in 40 countries.
The broker offers several mobile, desktop and web-based platforms, so you can pick the one that matches your knowledge and experience. The IBKR GlobalTrader mobile app is a user-friendly option for beginners, as it simplifies investing in stocks, ETFs and options while keeping the broker’s low prices. If you care about ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria, the IMPACT app lets you screen companies based on your values.
If you want to make the most of the broker’s tools, you can use IBKR Mobile, a complete trading app with advanced order types and analysis tools. As its features can be overwhelming for beginners, we suggest starting with IBKR GlobalTrader if you do not have a lot of experience.
On a computer, you can use the web-based Client Portal or the IBKR Desktop and Trader Workstation (TWS) desktop platforms. Of the apps on this list, Interactive Brokers is the only one that lets New Zealand investors buy real shares and ETFs, which is why it tops our list.
Please check our Interactive Brokers review to find out more about the broker.
#2 Plus500
Plus500 at a glance
81% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Plus500 is a broker based in Israel, founded in 2008, whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange. Its group companies are regulated by authorities such as the FCA, CySEC and ASIC. Plus500 offers a mobile app and a web-based platform called WebTrader, and you can test both with a free demo account.
In New Zealand, Plus500 offers its services through Plus500AU Pty Ltd, which holds FSP No. 486026 issued by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and AFSL No. 417727 issued by ASIC in Australia.
It is important to know that New Zealand clients can only trade CFDs with Plus500. You don’t own the underlying shares, and CFDs are leveraged products that can magnify your losses. Plus500 Invest, the group’s service for real shares, is only available in some other countries.
Overall, Plus500 offers a simple and reliable CFD platform for New Zealand traders, with a free demo account, no commissions on CFDs (spreads, overnight funding and other fees apply) and negative balance protection. As a downside, you won’t be able to buy real shares or ETFs, so it is better suited to experienced traders than to long-term investors.
If you want to learn more about Plus500, please check our full Plus500 review.
This information is NOT relevant to EU residents who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorized by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe, such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions.
#3 NAGA
NAGA at a glance
77.41% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
NAGA is a German fintech that belongs to The NAGA Group AG, which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. In 2024, the group merged with Key Way Group, the owner of CAPEX.com. NAGA’s European entity is regulated by CySEC.
The broker offers MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as a social trading app for Android and iOS where you can trade CFDs, copy other traders and follow a personalised news feed, among other features.
Please note that when you open an account from New Zealand, you are onboarded by an offshore NAGA entity outside the EU, which offers less protection than the European entity. In addition, you will not have access to real stocks, only to CFDs on stocks, which means that you will not own the underlying shares. If you are looking for a social trading app with a wide range of CFD markets, NAGA can still be an option, but make sure you understand these risks first.
If you want to know more about the broker, please check our NAGA review.
Methodology
When making this list, we wanted to help investors in New Zealand make an educated choice of stock trading app. Each app we present has its own main features, and we tried to provide a diverse list that suits different investor profiles.
We considered the following criteria:
- Prices: price shouldn’t be the only factor when choosing a trading app, but it is an important one, as you don’t want to pay more for the same quality of service.
- Educational resources: high-quality educational resources are a great advantage, especially for beginners, who can use them to learn before investing money.
- Range of products and markets available: does the app offer real stocks and ETFs, or only CFDs? Does it offer crypto?
- Customer service: problems can appear with any provider, so it is important to choose an app with support that helps you when they do.
- The trading app itself: we considered the functionalities and usability of each platform, as well as its specific features.
Bottom line
To summarise, here’s the list of the best stock trading apps in New Zealand:
Interactive Brokers
Best for intermediate and advanced investorsPlus500
Best for CFDsNAGA
Best for social trading
It is hard to choose the right stock trading app in New Zealand. To make your choice easier, we listed the best stock trading apps in New Zealand in our opinion, comparing what they offer and highlighting their strengths. If you want to own real shares and ETFs, Interactive Brokers is the only option on this list, while Plus500 and NAGA only offer CFDs.
Investing can help you build wealth over the long term, but, like everything in life, there are risks involved, especially with leveraged products like CFDs. We hope our analysis helps you make an educated decision that takes those risks into account, whether you are experienced or new to investing.
In any case, keep learning, do your due diligence, know your investor profile and invest wisely!
FAQs
What is the difference between a stock and a stock CFD?
A stock gives you ownership of a share of the company, while a CFD does not. A stock CFD is a derivative contract that tracks the price of the stock: you and the broker exchange the difference in value between the moment you open the position and the moment you close it. CFDs are usually traded with leverage, which means you only put up a fraction of the position’s value as margin. This magnifies both gains and losses, and if the price moves against you, you may be asked to add more money to keep the position open. This makes CFDs a high-risk instrument that is not suitable for beginners.
Is eToro available in New Zealand?
No, the stock trading app eToro is not available in New Zealand.
Do I pay tax on overseas shares in New Zealand?
It depends on how much you invest. If the total cost of your overseas shares and funds is NZ$50,000 or less, you are usually only taxed on the dividends you receive. Above that threshold, the foreign investment fund (FIF) rules usually apply, and many investors use the fair dividend rate method, which taxes 5% of the opening market value of their overseas investments each year. Some shares, such as certain Australian-listed shares, are exempt. The rules have exceptions, so check the Inland Revenue (IRD) guidance or a tax advisor for your situation.
