Comparison

Balmain Private vs La Trobe Direct

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Balmain Private

Invest in and manage monthly income-producing commercial real estate loans. Access detailed loan information, track your portfolio's performance, and manage deposits and redemptions on the go. Generate custom reports for your financial needs.

Highlights
  • Invest in mortgage loans 24/7
  • View detailed loan information
  • Manage investment portfolio
  • Track performance and compare rates
  • Deposit and redeem funds
  • Generate custom investment reports
Features
Read full description

Balmain Private provides exclusive opportunities to invest and manage monthly income producing individual first mortgage loans backed by commercial real estate which has been credit approved and settled by Australia’s largest non-bank commercial loan manager. Sensible investing on the go. Smart management in your hands. Invest 24/7. Built for investors who seek competitive rates, have the skill and confidence to make informed investment choices and like to be out and about. You take control. So easy to use, manage your Loan portfolio at a time or place which suits you. View, sort and select the Loans which meet the level of risk and reward sought. Click to read a detailed SPDS’s on every Sub-Trust. Scroll photos and maps, all to help you make an informed investment decision. Easy management The Balmain Private App displays live data giving visibility and easy access to your entire portfolio of Sub-Trusts. Toggle between your accounts. Compare your performance to Balmain using Rate and LVR. View the status of both Cash Units and Loan Units. Deposit & Redeem. Get primed to invest. Move money from your bank to your Balmain Private Cash Units account. Your Cash Units sit in a Cash Management Account till you choose to invest. When required, redeem Cash Units back to your nominated bank account. Reporting which informs. Stay informed and up-to-date. Track, sort and report on all your investments. Export the data you need in the format you prefer. Manage your income and capital movements. Run reports which work for you, your advisor or your accountant. New to Balmain. Visit ‘About Balmain’ from the App home screen to view the Explainer video and Register for Updates or don’t hesitate in speaking to the Balmain Private Investments Team on 02 9232 8888 or via email on info@balmainprivate.com.au Important information. Unless otherwise stated, the services and products on this App are intended for use by residents of Australia only, and are not aimed at or intended for use by residents of any other jurisdiction. The Balmain Private Investments (App) is an online secure service provided to you as defined in the App under the Menu tab in Legal Documents. This App is owned and maintained by Balmain NB Corporation Limited. These Terms and Conditions together with the Balmain Discrete Mortgage Income Trusts Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Supplementary Product Disclosure Statements (SPDS) and the Privacy Policy (which can be viewed in the App under the Menu tab in Legal Documents) govern your use of the App. You accept these Terms and Conditions, each time the App is accessed by you. The App is issued by Balmain Fund Administration Limited ABN 98 134 526 604, AFS Licence 333213 in its capacity as the responsible entity of the Balmain Discrete Mortgage Income Trusts ARSN 155 909 176. Balmain is committed to the delivery of quality services and information to its customers. This information is general product advice only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any person. You should consider whether this information is appropriate for you in light of your own objectives, financial situation and needs and consult with your financial advisor prior to making a decision to acquire and use the Balmain Private App.

About

La Trobe Direct

Manage your investments securely and easily with Australia's premier alternative asset manager. Track performance, make investments, and access important documents all in one place. Designed for Australians building income for retirement or diversifying their portfolios.

Highlights
  • Direct investment across income solutions
  • Track investment performance and balances
  • Make additional investments
  • Lodge redemption requests
  • Access statements and documents
  • Robust security controls
Features
Read full description

Simple, secure investing designed for Australians. La Trobe Direct gives you an easy and secure way to manage your investments with Australia’s Premier Alternative Asset Manager trusted by more than 125,000 investors* nationwide. Whether you're building dependable income for retirement or diversifying your portfolio with a resilient investment option, we make investing clear, accessible via a platform designed with your future in mind. With La Trobe Direct, you can: - Invest directly across our range of income solutions* - Track your investment performance, balances, and monthly income - Make additional investments and lodge redemption requests* - Access statements, reports, and key documents in one place - Manage your account with robust security controls designed to keep your information safe   Why La Trobe Financial? For more than 70 years, La Trobe Financial has constructed resilient portfolios that aim to deliver consistent monthly returns for our investors Our approach is grounded in disciplined risk management, transparency, and a long‑standing commitment to helping Australians work towards a dignified financial future. Your investments. Clear, secure, and in your control. Start managing your portfolio today with La Trobe Direct. *Only available for the La Trobe Australian Credit Fund, subject to the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). Investors cannot currently apply for Select Investment Account investments via La Trobe Direct. La Trobe Financial Asset Management Limited ACN 007 332 363 Australian Financial Services Licence No. 222213 is the responsible entity of the La Trobe Australian Credit Fund ARSN 088 178 321 and the La Trobe US Private Credit Fund ARSN 677 174 382. It is important that you consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before deciding whether to invest or continue to invest in any of the funds. The PDSs and Target Market Determinations are available on our website or in La Trobe Direct.

Screenshots

Balmain Private4 screens
La Trobe Direct4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Balmain Private at 67% against La Trobe Direct's 0%. Balmain Private also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). La Trobe Direct's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Balmain Private ships an update every 2 weeks, La Trobe Direct every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Balmain Private versus La Trobe Direct: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBalmain PrivateLa Trobe Direct
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB22 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBALMAIN NB CORPORATION LIMITEDLa Trobe Financial Services Pty Limited

Customer experience

Balmain Private

Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

La Trobe Direct

Written reviews9 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Balmain Private

No in-app purchases

None

La Trobe Direct

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Balmain Private free?
Balmain Private is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is La Trobe Direct free?
La Trobe Direct is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Balmain Private or La Trobe Direct have ads?
Neither Balmain Private nor La Trobe Direct shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Balmain Private or La Trobe Direct?
Balmain Private ships an update every 2 weeks, and La Trobe Direct every 4 months. Most recently, Balmain Private was updated on November 2, 2026 and La Trobe Direct on November 2, 2026.

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