In order to trade successfully, it is very important to choose the right broker. in South Africa, a large number of companies provide access to trading and you will have to choose the one for you among them. It is important to work only with reliable brokers providing all the required instruments for trading based on your trading strategy. TU analysts have selected the best investment brokers for short selling in South Africa 2025. You can compare their features and trading conditions.
1
eToro - Best for short selling in South Africa
The eToro broker was founded in 2007. The company promotes itself as a social trading platform working with traders from over 140 countries. The broker has several divisions operating under different jurisdictions and licensed by different regulators. For example, eToro (Europe) is licensed by the Cypriot regulator CySEC (109/10) and eToro (UK) is licensed by the British regulator FCA (583263). The broker also has a representative office in Australia and the USA.
👍 Advantages of trading with eToro for traders from South Africa:
•High level of reliability ensured by the licenses of respected regulatory authorities and participation in the compensation funds.
•Wide selection of assets quoted at stock exchanges in the UK, U.S., Australia and Asia.
•An opportunity to combine active trading with social trading and passive investing.
•Zero-fee trading of a number of stocks.
•Access to ready-made diversified asset portfolios with various risk levels.
•Provision of leverage, educational materials on various markets and user-friendly trading platforms that can run on any device.
•Zero fees for portfolio management, depositing funds and account maintenance.
👎 Disadvantages of eToro for traders from South Africa:
•High minimum deposit for users of a number of countries.
•No live chat on the website for quick connection to customer support.
2
Revolut - Best for short selling in South Africa
Revolut is a British fintech company that has been providing investors with accounts for trading precious metals, cryptocurrencies, and stocks listed on U.S. exchanges since 2015. The broker offers its clients access to investing in stocks and ETFs on European stock exchanges. For organizations and private clients, the company offers a multi-currency account with the possibility of exchanging currencies at the current inter-bank exchange rate. Revolut is supervised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
👍 Advantages of trading with Revolut for traders from South Africa:
•In addition to stock trades, customers can trade cryptocurrencies and precious metals.
•The broker offers commission-free trading plans.
•The minimum number of shares to buy is 0.00000001.
•There are no minimum deposit requirements.
•Social trading is available, which allows newcomers to the stock market to copy trades of successful traders.
•Communication with the support service via chat is available in the mobile application 24 hours a day.
•There is no fee for opening and maintaining a trading account.
👎 Disadvantages of Revolut for traders from South Africa:
•Stock trading is currently only available to UK residents.
•Operations in precious metals and cryptocurrencies are not regulated by supervisory authorities.
•The company does not offer fiduciary management of its investment portfolio.
3
Robinhood - Best for short selling in South Africa
Robinhood is an investment platform founded in April 2013. The platform offers commission-free trading of stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, and cryptocurrencies. Robinhood is regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in the U.S. and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the U.K. It is also a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). With an intuitive interface, the platform simplifies access to financial markets, allowing clients to start investing with as little as $1. Robinhood has continuously expanded its offerings since its launch, recently adding features such as credit cards and a dedicated educational section for beginner investors.
👍 Advantages of trading with Robinhood for traders from South Africa:
•No commission trading.
•Access to trading stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and cryptocurrencies.
•User-friendly platform.
•Fractional share trading.
•Educational resources for beginner investors.
•Availability of a mobile app.
•Provision of analytical data.
👎 Disadvantages of Robinhood for traders from South Africa:
•Limited selection of cryptocurrencies.
•No access to international markets.
•Limited advanced technical analysis tools.
4
Tastytrade - Best for short selling in South Africa
Tastytrade is a brokerage company that strives to allow its clients to trade single-handedly, without managing the account or copying transactions of other traders. To make self-investing a reality, the company has created a separate platform with a humongous library of learning materials. Tastytrade (Tastyworks) is controlled by bodies such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA, CRD#: 277027/SEC#: 8-69649 ), the National Futures Association (NFA, 0492333), and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
👍 Advantages of trading with Tastytrade for traders from South Africa:
•No minimum deposit. The client independently chooses how much to deposit to the trading account.
•A vast array of educational materials for which the broker has allocated a special platform it calls the Tastytrade.
•The company offers clients flexible trading accounts with different functions. Any of the three offered accounts have varieties, so the trader can choose the option that suits him the most.
👎 Disadvantages of Tastytrade for traders from South Africa:
•To gain access to trading, the user must go through a snail-paced registration procedure and provide a list of documents that the broker requests.
•To open a trading account and start working, a client must have an open account with an American bank.
•The broker does not allow clients to test trading on a demo account; only a real trading account can be opened.
5
Stake - Best for short selling in South Africa
Stake is a broker that has been providing trading services for U.S. securities in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil since 2017. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (830771) and is licensed for financial services in Australia. Stake offers its clients zero fees on trades in U.S. stocks and ETFs, a convenient and easy-to-use mobile trading app, and investment protection from the FSCS and SIPC. The trading conditions for clients from different countries are similar, but there are slight differences. In this review, the main focus is on the UK branch of Stake.
👍 Advantages of trading with Stake for traders from South Africa:
•Available minimum deposit size for medium- and long-term strategies.
•Regulation in multiple jurisdictions, including by the FCA.
•Zero trading fees on unlimited trades in stocks, ETFs, and ADRs listed on U.S. exchanges.
•Easy-to-use trading platforms.
•Ability to invest in equities.
•Lightning-fast and fully digital account opening.
•Offers one free stock to every new customer who deposits within 24 hours of account opening.
👎 Disadvantages of Stake for traders from South Africa:
•Having a GBP to USD (and vice versa) conversion fee for deposits and withdrawals.
•The list of countries whose citizens can become a client of the broker is limited. Registration is not available for U.S. residents.
•There is no online chat and telephone support is not available.
Commissions & Fees
Brokerage fees are the amount of money that you pay for using the services that a brokerage offers in order to perform trading and manage investments. The brokerage fee structure and regulations vary from broker to broker, and there are two primary fee types which are:
Trading Fees: This type of fee is only charged when you perform a trade. It can be a conversion fee, margin rate, financing rate, spread, or commission.
Non-Trading Fees: This type of fee isn't directly related to your trading activity, and it can include inactivity fee, withdrawal fee, deposit fee, etcetera.
eToro Commissions and Fees
Registration on the eToro platform is free. The broker does not charge a fee for opening and closing long positions on stocks quoted at the US stock exchanges. The stocks of other markets are available as derivatives, with eToro charging a trading fee on them in the form of the spread. Also, the fees are applied to short positions and leveraged orders. The company accepts and allows withdrawals of only US dollars. If a client deposits or withdraws another currency, it is converted into USD at a fee of 0-50 pips. Members of eToro club get a 50-100% fee reduction on conversion. If a client shows no activity for a period of 12 month, the broker charges the inactivity fee of $10. There is no deposit fee. eToro charges $5 on each withdrawal.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard |
$5 |
Yes |
|
Pro |
from $1.1 |
$5 eToro’s fee + the fees of payment systems |
Revolut Commissions and Fees
During our analysis of trading conditions, it was found that Revolut limits the number of trades without commissions. Depending on the account type, 1-5 transactions per month are free. There is a monthly subscription fee of £2.99-£12.99 on different accounts, which can be reduced by 20% if you pay in advance for a year. The broker charges a fee of 1 USD for additional orders. Since stocks listed on American exchanges are offered for investment, the fees are calculated in USD and then the funds are converted to the account currency at the current exchange rate. For transactions in cryptocurrency, the commission is 1.5-2%, and for transactions in precious metals, it’s 0.5-1.5% of the transaction volume. The amount of interest depends on the selected trading account. No additional hidden commissions were revealed.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard |
From £2.99 |
No |
|
Plus |
From £2.99 |
No |
|
Premium |
From £2.99 |
No |
|
Metals |
From £2.99 |
No |
Robinhood Commissions and Fees
Robinhood clients can trade U.S.-listed stocks (including ETFs), options, and over-the-counter securities commission-free. Fees for transferring funds vary based on the method: for instant bank transfers and card deposits, there's a 1.75% fee (minimum $1, maximum $150), while outgoing bank transfers incur a $25 fee. The broker does not charge any commissions on cryptocurrency trades. Futures contracts have fees ranging from $0.50 to $0.75 per contract, depending on the account type.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Margin account |
$0 |
Yes |
|
Cash account |
$0 |
Yes |
|
Crypto account |
$0 |
Yes |
Tastytrade Commissions and Fees
The trading conditions of both Tastyworks and Tastytrade were analyzed by experts at Traders Union. They searched for the presence of trading and non-trading fees. Information about trading fees, replenishment of a trading account, and other operations are freely available on the broker's website. There are no hidden fees. Please note that when depositing and withdrawing funds, a fee is charged if you use any payment system except ACH.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Individual |
$1.20 |
No |
|
Entity/Trust |
$1.20 |
No |
|
Joint |
$1.20 |
No |
Stake Commissions and Fees
Stake does not withhold commissions for trading stocks and ETFs. However, the broker does charge non-trading fees. The monthly fee for using a Stake Black account with advanced features is $9. The fee for express deposits, deposits, and withdrawals in foreign currencies (GBP converted to USD and vice versa) through partners is 0.5% of the amount, but no less than $2. If a client transfers funds in USD, not through a direct Stake partner, each transfer will cost $5. The SEC fee for dealer and stock market regulation costs $0.051 for every $10,000 (charged only on sales of securities). The TAF sales charge is $0.000119 per share with a $5.95 transaction limit. The ADR fee is $0.01-$0.03 per quarter.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard Account |
From $5.95 |
Yes |
|
Stake Black |
From $5.95 |
Yes |
|
Limited Purpose Margin Account |
From $5.95 |
Yes |
Summary
Many brokers are available for traders from South Africa, but not all of them offer good conditions. In this review, TU experts chose the Best investment brokers for short selling in South Africa 2025. These are the most trusted companies that offer the best conditions for traders. You will also be able to review the general assessment of each broker.
Overall score of the best Investment Brokers For Short Selling in South Africa
| eToro | Revolut | Robinhood | Tastytrade | Stake | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall score |
7.75 |
7.69 |
6.85 |
6.31 |
4.96 |
|
Execution of orders |
9.1 |
9.2 |
7.9 |
7.29 |
5.84 |
|
Investment instruments |
9.7 |
9.8 |
8.5 |
7.71 |
6.26 |
|
Withdrawal speed |
9.5 |
9.6 |
8.3 |
7.35 |
5.9 |
|
Customer Support work |
9.3 |
9.4 |
8.1 |
7.65 |
6.2 |
|
Variety of instruments |
9 |
9.1 |
7.8 |
7.13 |
5.68 |
|
Trading platform |
9.8 |
9.9 |
8.6 |
7.87 |
6.42 |
|
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FAQ
What is a demo account and why is it important?
On a demo account, you trade by using virtual funds. It is important to choose a broker offering a demo account both for beginners, who are only learning, and for experienced traders, who can use this account type to test new strategies or EAs risk-free.
Can you earn passive income in the financial markets?
Yes, the best brokers in South Africa offer passive income options. These could include copy trading, PAMM accounts, managed portfolios, etc.
What commissions and fees should I take into consideration when I am choosing a broker?
The commissions and fees in the financial markets are divided into trading and non-tradings ones. Trading fees are the fees that are charged directly during trading (spread, commission per lot, etc.), while non-trading fees are the ones charged outside the trading process (for example, account fee, inactivity fee, deposit and withdrawal fee).
What are the risks of trading in the financial markets?
Any trading in the financial markets carries risks of losing your money due to asset volatility. Therefore, it is important to develop the rules of risk management in your strategy and strictly follow them.
Best Investment Brokers For Short Selling by Countries
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Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
Olga Shendetskaya has been a part of the Traders Union team as an author, editor and proofreader since 2017. Since 2020, Shendetskaya has been the assistant chief editor of the website of Traders Union, an international association of traders. She has over 10 years of experience of working with economic and financial texts. In the period of 2017-2020, Olga has worked as a journalist and editor of laftNews news agency, economic and financial news sections. At the moment, Olga is a part of the team of top industry experts involved in creation of educational articles in finance and investment, overseeing their writing and publication on the Traders Union website.