For many investors, the dream is simple: a steady flow of income you can rely on, month after month.
While most dividend-paying ASX shares only reward investors twice a year, there are a handful of options that pay distributions monthly — turning your portfolio into a true cash machine.
Here are two picks for investors chasing regular income in 2025 and beyond to consider.
Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8)
The first ASX share to consider is the Plato Income Maximiser. It has carved out a reputation as one of the ASX's most reliable income-focused listed investment companies (LICs). Managed by Plato Investment Management, the fund is specifically designed for income-seeking investors who value regular, fully franked dividends.
The Plato Income Maximiser invests in a diversified portfolio of Australian shares, with a strategy that actively seeks out opportunities to maximise after-tax income. This includes dividend rotation, franking credit capture, and tilting towards shares with the strongest dividend outlooks.
It is fair to say that management has delivered on this. In its recently released FY 2025 results, the company reported a profit of $83.6 million, up 27% or $17.7 million on the prior year.
It also comfortably beat its objectives, exceeding its income benchmark by 3% and its total return benchmark by 0.4%. And this isn't a one off. Since inception, it has delivered 7.6% per annum gross income, well above the benchmark's 5.2%, while generating a solid total return of 10.3% a year.
Importantly for income investors, the ASX share has stayed true to its word on monthly dividends, paying $0.0055 per share each month throughout FY 2025. At today's share price, this means it offers a trailing dividend yield of approximately 4.8%. Its dividend stream is backed by positions in companies like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), and Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN), which continue to generate hefty cash flows.
Overall,, the Plato Income Maximiser is one of the few ways to gain monthly, franked income directly from Australian shares — and management is confident that an improving dividend environment in FY 2026 will only strengthen its outlook.
Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD)
For those who prefer exchange traded funds (ETFs), the Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF is a new but powerful option for generating monthly passive income.
The fund invests in 50 high-yielding Australian shares, but with an intelligent rules-based approach that screens out potential dividend traps. These are businesses with unsustainably high yields or excessive volatility that might threaten payouts.
This makes the Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF more than just a high-dividend grab. It is designed to be a sustainable core holding for income investors.
Currently, the fund trades with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 4.5%, and unlike most ETFs which distribute quarterly or semi-annually, it pays investors every month.
Its top holdings feature some of the ASX's most established dividend names: National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). It was recently named as one for income investors to consider buying by Betashares.
