Best Forex Trading Platforms and Brokers in South Africa 2022

We’ve spent countless hours testing and reviewing more than 40 different brokers in South Africa.

Based on those tests, we’ve picked the best trading platforms and apps in South Africa and listed them in the following guide.

Our Picks of the Best Forex Trading Platforms & Brokers in South Africa:

• Best Forex Trading Broker: Forex.com
• Best Forex Broker for Range of Offerings: AvaTrade
• Best Forex Broker for Trading Experience: IG Markets
• Highest Leverage CFD Forex Broker: CMC Markets

Which is the Best Forex Broker in South Africa?

Forex.com

◀ ▶

Forex.com is a top forex broker with a great reputation, 80+ currency pairs, and a selection of trading platforms suitable for any and every trader.

Even though this broker offers other assets as well – mainly CFDs – what sets them apart from their competitors is their fantastic forex trading service.

What we like

✔ Offers MT4 and an Advanced Platform

✔ Unparalleled forex service

What we don't like

✔ Poor selection of CFDs

✔ Long processing times for certain withdrawals

✔ Offers MT4 and an Advanced Platform

✔ Unparalleled forex service

✗ Poor selection of CFDs

✗ Long processing times for certain withdrawals

Go to Forex.com ➤

Features

Fees: Commission-free forex trading
Demo Account: Yes
Min. Deposit: $100
Assets: 300 assets, including 80+ FX pairs.
License: FCA, CySEC, etc.

Ratings:

Rating by our editorial team

users gave the score of ERROR/5

users gave the score of ERROR/5

1,551 users gave the score of ERROR/5

3 users gave the score of 4.7/5

Total score:

1,551 users gave the score of 1/5

Between 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

Forex.com is an online broker offering a great forex trading service, with over 80 currency pairs, including ZAR, with both major and minor currencies. They also feature two platforms – MetaTrader 4 and their own Advanced Platform.

Besides trading forex, Forex.com falls a bit flat. Even though this broker offers a range of CFDs to trade with, the selection of other assets leaves a lot to wish for.

Compared to other brokers, Forex.com also charges higher fees for trading certain assets.

In other words, Forex.com is a great forex broker in South Africa, as long as you stick to trading forex. If you’re looking to combine forex trading with other forms of trading, there are several better-suited brokers on this list.

Which is the Best Forex Broker for Range of Offerings in South Africa?

AvaTrade

◀ ▶

AvaTrade represents the top tier of online brokers.

With a combination of their own software and third-party platforms, you'll gain access to some of the best trading services and features.

What we like

✔ Easily integrated trading robots

✔ Commission-free trading

What we don't like

✔ A limited selection of assets

✔ Rather high spread on certain assets

✔ Easily integrated trading robots

✔ Commission-free trading

✗ A limited selection of assets

✗ Rather high spread on certain assets

Go to Avatrade ➤

Features

Fees: 0% commission but spread on each trade
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: £100
Deposit Options: Debit & Credit Cards, Skrill, Neteller, Webmoney
Assets: 1,000 assets
License: Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, FSCA, FSA

Ratings:

Rating by our editorial team

users gave the score of ERROR/5

448 users gave the score of 4.2 /5

8,061 users gave the score of ERROR/5

4 users gave the score of 4.8/5

Total score:

8,509 users gave the score of 2.18/5

Between 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

AvaTrade has made a name for themselves as one of the leading software developers around.

It has five trading platforms for desktop users. Besides, AvaTrade also offers forex trading apps called MetaTrader 4 and AvaTradeGo, which is one of the best and most advanced mobile trading apps on the market right now.

However, similar to Forex.com above, AvaTrade has a rather limited selection of assets, and even though their proprietary app is great to trade with, you will have to switch between that and the MT4 to get the best opportunities.

Naturally, switching between platforms is not optimal when trading, meaning AvaTrade is good for those who trade FX using their phones, but probably not for other traders.

Which is the Best Forex Broker for Trading Experience in South Africa?

IG Markets

◀ ▶

IG Markets is one of the oldest and biggest online brokers in the world.

This UK-based broker has been offering trading opportunities since the early 1970s.

Still to this day, IG Markets keeps trail blazing the industry and setting the standard for all other online brokers.

What we like

✔ Real stock trading of the exchanges

✔ Huge selection of international stocks.

What we don't like

✔ High minimum deposit.

✔ Commission on spread betting and CFD stock trading.

✔ Real stock trading of the exchanges

✔ Huge selection of international stocks.

✗ High minimum deposit.

✗ Commission on spread betting and CFD stock trading.

Go to IG Markets ➤

Features

Fees: Low spread & commission.
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: £300
Deposit Options: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Bank Transfer
Assets: 10,000+
License: FCA, ASIC, CFTC, MAS

Ratings:

Rating by our editorial team

users gave the score of ERROR/5

29.8K users gave the score of 4.6 /5

15,137 users gave the score of ERROR/5

9 users gave the score of 4.7/5

Total score:

44,937 users gave the score of 2.15/5

Between 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

IG Markets is a legendary name in the online trading sector. This British-based broker has over 40 years of experience in the field, and their focus on stock trading makes them the top stockbroker in South Africa.

With over 12,000 assets, most of which are stocks, including South African stocks, you gain access to an unparalleled trading experience.

Since IG Markets offers a range of different platforms, many beginners find it hard to figure out which one that suits them the best.

The same problem also makes it harder to switch from investing in stocks to trading forex or other assets, since you have to switch platforms for almost every market.

Which is the Best Forex Trading Platform in South Africa?

CMC Markets

◀ ▶

CMC Markets is a global trading service based in the UK but with customers and offices all around the globe.

A combination of great trading tools, tons of assets, and long experience in the industry make CMC Markets an excellent choice for most traders.

What we like

✔ Huge selection of assets

✔ Well-established broker

✔ Top-notch trading platform

What we don't like

✔ Complicated registration

✔ High spread on stocks

✔ Fees on many transactions

✔ Huge selection of assets

✔ Well-established broker

✔ Top-notch trading platform

✗ Complicated registration

✗ High spread on stocks

✗ Fees on many transactions

Go to CMC Markets ➤

Features

Fees: 0 commission on FX and CFDs
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: Zero
Assets: 10,000+
License: CySEC, FCA, ASIC

Ratings:

Rating by our editorial team

users gave the score of ERROR/5

209 users gave the score of 4.1 /5

2,282 users gave the score of ERROR/5

5 users gave the score of 4.6/5

Total score:

2,491 users gave the score of 2.03/5

Between 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

We are not the only ones that wholeheartedly believe that CMC Markets offers one of the best forex trading conditions in South Africa. Over the years, CMC has been awarded not one but several prestigious awards for their forex trading.

CMC Markets also offers CFDs and spread betting, making it one of the greatest all-around online brokers on

Despite a large number of stocks and other assets and good trading software, there are several things CMC Markets could do to optimize their service.

For example, CMC Markets still charge a commission for many stocks, and there is a lack of additional services and features, such as copy trading.

Guide for Traders in South Africa

Online trading, as well as more traditional long-term investing, is readily available in South Africa, with a large number of brokers to choose from.

Furthermore, South Africa has its own thriving economy and stock exchange – Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) – which is the biggest in exchange in Africa and the 19th biggest in the world, based on market capitalisation (data from 2019).

Naturally, this situation creates great opportunities to trade and invest, both internationally and domestically.

However, the large number of great brokers and trading platforms in South Africa is a blessing in disguise. While it gives you a lot of options to choose from, it also makes it harder to pick a broker.

Luckily, we have great tips on how you can zero down on the best broker in South Africa for you.

1. Pick a Market

Before searching for a broker, you need to know what you’re going to trade or invest in. Using the recommendations above, you can find everything from the best trading platform in general, to the best forex trading app, and everything in between.

2. Compare Brokers

With a market in mind, you should be able to find a couple of brokers that could fit your needs. Now it’s time to compare them, which is best done in two steps.

Step one involves using our comprehensive South African broker reviews, as well as the guide above, to get a summarised idea of what differentiates the brokers.

Step two involves registering a demo account with the brokers, to try them out. Demo accounts are free to use and allow you to test the platforms without risking any money.

3. Bonus Tip

As soon as you can – preferably even before you start trading – you need to study the basics of trading and start developing strategies. This will greatly improve your ability to make a profit in the long run.

All the best brokers in South Africa offer educational tools, guides, and even webinars, but there is a ton of other useful material in books and online.

How to Choose the Best Trading Platform in South Africa

Picking the best trading platform in South Africa can be a daunting task.

That’s why our team has spent hundreds of hours researching all the top brokers in the world, as well as the top brokers in South Africa, specifically.

In turn, that means you can save an awful lot of time by referring to our detailed and unbiased reviews.

Our number one priority is our readers’ safety, and we only recommend brokers that are tightly regulated with licenses from the leading regulatory bodies in the world.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK or the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) in the EU are two of the most accredited governing organisations.

Moreover, South Africa has its own financial regulatory body; the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), who are responsible for overseeing and regulating all financial institutions in the country, including brokers and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

*Note – brokers that are regulated elsewhere, such as in Europe, are allowed to operate in South Africa without a license from the FSCA.

How Do I Start Trading in South Africa?

You start by signing up for the best trading platform for beginners in South Africa, ie. AvaTrade.

AvaTrade is a safe and fully regulated broker that is legally operating in the country.

Besides finding a good broker to start trading with, you have to learn how to actually trade or invest. This is a time-consuming task that will require many hours of studying, as well as trial and error while trading with real money.

The sooner you start educating forex yourself, the sooner you will have an honest chance of succeeding as a day trader in South Africa.

How Much Money Do You Need to Start Trading in South Africa?

Technically, all you need to start trading in South Africa is the minimum deposit amount needed to activate your trading account.

This amount differs from broker to broker and ranges from $50 to $250.

However, we recommend that you set a budget dependent on your disposable income, before you start trading.

The golden rule is to never invest or trade using funds you can’t afford to lose.

Is Trading Legal in South Africa?

Yes, all forms of online trading and long-term investments are legal in South Africa. The financial sector is overseen and regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) – formerly the Financial Service Board (FSB).

In addition, all the best and most trustworthy brokers are regulated by organisations from all over the world, including Europe, Asia, Australia, and even the United States.

Do Traders Pay Tax in South Africa?

Yes, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) considers all trading and investment-related profits as income that has to be declared and taxed. You can learn more about your legal tax requirements on the SARS website.

There are certain tax-free savings accounts that you can open in South Africa where you can make long-term profits without having to pay taxes. PSG is a financial institution and broker that offers tax-free savings accounts and much more.

FAQ

Conclusion

The combination of a booming economy and a tightly regulated financial market makes South Africa a hotspot for online trading and investment opportunities.

By using our tips and recommendations of the best brokers and trading platforms in South Africa, you can easily find a broker that suits you perfectly.

Don’t forget to always stay safe and only use regulated and licensed brokers, such as the ones you find above. We have spent hundreds of hours testing, reviewing, and comparing South Africa’s brokers and only recommend the safest options on the market.

Note: No information, nor financial advice related to online trading is offered through comment.

Our Author:

Adam Jarfjord is a Swedish day trader, investor, and copywriter. He works as head of content at BullMarketz.com and has been providing editorial content within the financial sector for more than 5 years.

Read more about him by visiting his LinkedIn profile or contact us directly to learn more about the team.