Traders Union has analyzed financial markets for over 14 years, evaluating brokers based on 250+ transparent criteria, including security, regulation, and trading conditions. Our expert team of over 50 professionals regularly updates a Watch List of 500+ brokers to provide users with data-driven insights. While our research is based on objective data, we recommend that users perform independent due diligence and consult official regulatory sources before making any financial decisions.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial policies.
Sharenet Pros & Cons
- 150+ trading instruments, including 94 indices.
- Doorway to emerging African markets.
- Opportunity to invest in managed portfolios.
- Technical support works 24/7.
- Commission for deposits and withdrawals is 0%.
- Complicated registration procedure.
- Initial deposit from 3,500 USD.
- Limited number of ways to contact customer service.
Sharenet is a CFD and Forex broker that has been operating since 1988. The company was registered in South Africa, and its head office still operates there. The broker offers clients trading in five asset classes, including currency pairs, CFDs on indices, energy products, precious metals, and bonds. Spot shares are available to South African residents. The company provides access to the Johannesburg Stock Market (JSE). Sharenet is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA, 41688), which is the financial regulator of South Africa.
TU Expert Verdict
Sharenet carries a higher degree of risk. My review and user feedback point to noticeable performance issues and limitations. It may be appropriate only for experienced traders who fully understand the risks and are prepared for potential instability.
Top-5 Brokers Traders Prefer
Sharenet User Reviews
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5-star
4%
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4-star
13%
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3-star
52%
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2-star
13%
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1-star
17%
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Commissions and Fees
Score:We evaluate brokers' fees and spreads by assessing the costs associated with Standard and ECN/Raw spread accounts, including commissions and spreads. Additionally, our evaluation considers extra fees such as deposit/withdrawal charges and inactivity fees. Learn the assessment criteria8 /10The trading and non-trading commissions of Sharenet have been analyzed and rated as having Low fees, with a fees score of 8/10. Additionally, these commissions were compared with those of the top two competitors, OANDA and FOREX.com, to provide the most comprehensive information.
- Low Forex trading fees
- Tight EUR/USD market spread
- No inactivity fee
- No deposit fee
- No withdrawal fee
- Complex fee structure
Trading Fees and Spread
Below, we evaluated and compared the trading commissions of Sharenet with those of two competitors. We focused on the spreads and other transaction fees directly associated with executing trades (e.g commission per lot on an ECN account). This comparison aimed to provide a clear understanding of the cost efficiency of each broker.
Standard Account Spread
For Standard accounts, Sharenet’s commissions are part of the floating spread, which varies with market conditions. Typical values are provided, but during high volatility, the spread may exceed these.
Sharenet Standard spreads Sharenet OANDA FOREX.com EUR/USD min, pips 0.5 0.1 0.7 EUR/USD max, pips 1.2 0.5 1.2 GPB/USD min, pips 0.7 0.1 0.9 GPB/USD max, pips 1.5 0.5 1.4 RAW/ECN Account Commission And Spread
The spread on ECN/RAW accounts is market-based and fluctuates, with average values given during active hours. It may vary during volatility spikes. A commission per lot is also charged.
Sharenet RAW/ECN spreads Sharenet OANDA FOREX.com Commission ($ per lot) The commission is the fee charged by the broker for trading one standard forex lot (100,000 units of the base currency). 5 3.5 5 EUR/USD avg spread 0.2 0.15 0.2 GBP/USD avg spread 0.2 0.2 0.4 Non-Trading Fees
We conducted a detailed analysis of the non-trading fees associated with Sharenet. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the additional costs that may impact traders beyond regular trading activities.
Sharenet Non-Trading Fees Sharenet OANDA FOREX.com Deposit fee, % The indicated amount does not include possible fees from payment systems and banks. 0 0 0 Withdrawal fee, % The indicated amount does not include possible fees from payment systems and banks. 0 0 0 Withdrawal fee, USD The indicated amount does not include possible fees from payment systems and banks. 0 0-15 0 Inactivity fee ($, per month) 0 0 15 -
Is Sharenet Safe?
Score:We evaluate brokers' safety based on several key criteria. The highest value is placed on regulation, especially Tier 1 regulation, which ensures adherence to stringent standards set by top financial authorities like the FCA in the UK, CFTC in the US, CySEc and BaFin (EU) or ASIC (Australia). High scores are also given for participation in investor protection funds, which safeguard clients' funds in case of broker insolvency. Learn the assessment criteria6.8 /10Sharenet has a safety score of 6.8/10, which corresponds to a Medium security level. The safest brokers are those with Tier-1 regulation, a long history (over 10 years in the market), and participation in investor compensation schemes.
- Is regulated
- Negative balance protection
- Track record over 38 years
- Not tier-1 regulated
Sharenet Regulators and Investor Protection Abbreviation Full Name Country of regulation Investor Protection Fund Regulation Level FSCA SA
Full Name Financial Sector Conduct Authority of South Africa Country of regulation South Africa Investor Protection Fund No specific fund Regulation Level Tier-2 Sharenet Security Factors Foundation date 1988 Negative balance protection YesVerification (KYC) Yes -
Account Types
Score:We evaluate a broker’s account offering by analyzing the range and suitability of available account types and how effectively they cater to different trader profiles and strategies. Our assessment covers the diversity of account options — including Standard, ECN/Raw, Cent, Swap-Free (Islamic), and VIP accounts — as well as the flexibility of trading conditions provided. Learn the assessment criteria.3.9 /10Sharenet offers the following account options: Demo, Standard, ECN/Raw spread.
However, it does not provide a Cent account, which can be a disadvantage for beginners looking to practice with minimal risk.
- Standard account with balanced trading conditions
- Demo account
- Tight spread ECN account
- Micro lots are not available
- No Swap Free account
Sharenet account types vs top competitors Sharenet Trading.com Plus500 Standard YesYesYesECN/Raw spread YesNoNoDemo YesYesYesCent NoNoNoMicro NoNoNoSwap Free NoNoNoVIP NoNoNoManaged NoNoNoSharenet accounts trading conditions
Sharenet offers only one type of real trading account, so all clients work on the same terms. Users in the paid subscription format have access to additional options. There is also a demo account.
Account types:
Account Type Description Standard To open this account you need to make a minimum deposit starting from 3,500 USD. Clients can trade with spreads from 1.0 pips for EUR/USD, with 1:1 leverage. Verification is required to open an account. The broker also offers clients a demo account. You can open it for free. To do this, you need to register on the platform and wait for the representatives of the company’s technical support to contact you. Sharenet provides clients with a demo account for 14 days, after this term you need to open a real account. A demo account can be opened on any platform - desktop, mobile or online.
Sharenet is a broker with attractive trading conditions and a single trading account for all traders. It is suitable for clients looking to discover African markets.
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Deposit and Withdrawal
Score:This section assesses the efficiency, speed, and affordability of brokers’ transaction processes, focusing on available methods, currencies, and fees. For further details, please refer to our data-focused methodology4.7 /10Sharenet received a Low score for the efficiency and convenience of its deposit and withdrawal processes.
Sharenet offers limited payment options and accessibility, which may impact its competitiveness.
- Supports 5+ base account currencies
- Minimum deposit below industry average
- No deposit fee
- No withdrawal fee
- USDT payments not accepted
- BTC not available as a base account currency
- Wise not supported
What are Sharenet deposit and withdrawal options?
Sharenet offers a limited selection of deposit and withdrawal methods, including Bank Wire. This limitation may restrict flexibility for users, making Sharenet less competitive for those seeking diverse payment options.
Sharenet Deposit and Withdrawal Methods vs Competitors Sharenet Trading.com Plus500 Bank Wire YesYesYesBank card NoYesYesPayPal NoNoYesWise NoNoNoBTC NoNoNoWhat are Sharenet base account currencies?
A wide range of base account currencies minimizes the need for currency conversion, potentially reducing transaction costs. Sharenet supports the following base account currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, ZAR.
What are Sharenet's minimum deposit and withdrawal amounts?
The minimum deposit on Sharenet is $3500, while the minimum withdrawal amount is $1. These minimums may vary depending on the chosen account type and payment method. For specific details, please contact Sharenet’s support team.
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Markets and Tradable Assets
Score:The evaluation in this section is based on the TU methodology and reflects the total number and variety of tradable assets offered by the broker, including Forex currency pairs. It also considers the availability of passive income tools such as PAMM accounts, copy trading, and similar services. All information is obtained from publicly available sources and may change. Learn the assessment criteria7.3 /10Sharenet offers a wider selection of trading assets than the market average, with over 70000 tradable assets available, including 50 currency pairs.
- 70000 assets for trading
- Passive income with bonds
- Indices trading
- Copy trading not available
- No ETFs
Supported markets vs top competitors
We have compared the range of assets and markets supported by Sharenet with its competitors, making it easier for you to find the perfect fit.
Sharenet Trading.com Plus500 Currency pairs 50 69 60 Total tradable assets The total tradable assets listed include all available instruments, including CFDs. Due to regional restrictions, certain CFDs may not be offered in some countries. For example, cryptocurrency CFDs are banned in the UK, and the U.S. has restrictions on CFDs. 70000 69 2800 Stocks YesNoYesCommodity futures YesNoYesCrypto Cryptocurrency CFDs are restricted or prohibited in certain regions due to regulatory limitations. These include the United Kingdom, China, Egypt, the United States and Canada. YesNoYesStock indices YesNoYesOptions NoNoYesInvestment options
We also explored the trading assets and products Sharenet offers for beginner traders and investors who prefer not to engage in active trading.
Sharenet Trading.com Plus500 Bonds YesNoNoETFs NoNoYesCopy trading NoNoNoPAMM investing NoNoNoManaged accounts NoNoNo -
Trading Account Opening
Score:We evaluated Trading Account Opening at Sharenet by testing the registration process under real conditions, including opening an account and funding it with the minimum required deposit (but no less than $100). Our assessment considered whether onboarding was fully online, the average registration time, the speed of KYC verification, and how quickly traders could activate their accounts. Learn the assessment criteria.6 /10We successfully registered an account with Sharenet in 12 minutes. The KYC verification was completed within 2 business days. The minimum deposit amount at Sharenet is $3500. The onboarding procedure works as expected, although there is room for improvement in speed and simplicity.
- Low minimum deposit requirement
- Fast registration time (up to 15 minutes)
- Fully online account opening process
- Account approval may require extra time depending on the documentation.
Sharenet account opening Sharenet Trading.com Plus500 Online Registration YesYesYesMinimum deposit $3500 $50 $100 Mandatory KYC YesYesYesRegistration time (min) 12 20 KYC time (days) 2 2 3 Is Sharenet available in my country?
If you are a citizen of United States, the broker accepts clients from your country.
Please note that availability may vary due to regulatory requirements, so we recommend confirming directly with the broker for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Account opening details
To start trading with Sharenet, you need to become a client of the broker by opening a trading account. A quick guide looks like this:
On the main page of the site, you need to click on the Login button.
Next, the broker will offer to open a real trading account, a demo account, or you will have to log in (for clients with an active account).
Then, you need to fill out the registration form. Registration with Sharenet is a bit complicated, it includes nine blocks. You need to provide detailed information about yourself, your residential address, financial details, employment status, trading experience, bank account number, and other required information.
After that, clients need to go through verification. You need to upload your ID, proof of residential address, and proof of bank details. After reviewing the documents, you need to talk to the broker’s representatives. Only then will the client will be able to fund the account and start trading.
Also in the personal account, traders have access to:
- PowerChat. This is a large forum to which all registered clients of the broker have access. This is where the discussion of current news takes place, you can ask questions to experienced traders or contact technical support.
- JSW Online. In this section, the broker provides up-to-date information about the trading instruments available on the exchange. You can quickly track the price and price changes, and dynamics of certain instruments, etc.
- Charts. Here, clients can view charts of trading instruments, use technical analysis tools and indicators, and open transactions.
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Customer Support
Score:We evaluated Customer Support at Sharenet by opening a real account funded with the minimum required deposit (no less than $100) and contacting support to measure response time under real conditions. Our assessment considered contact channels, response speed, multilingual support, and availability hours. Learn the assessment criteria4.9 /10The broker’s customer support shows noticeable weaknesses in responsiveness or communication quality. Delays in replies are common, and resolution may require repeated contact.
In TU testing, response speed was below expectations, and assistance was limited in depth. Traders who rely heavily on support may experience inconvenience.
InformationCustomer service operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the response of technical support is rather slow. You have to wait more than two hours for an email response.
- They work 24/7
- Assistance is in English only
- Technical support response takes a lot of time, requests processing takes more than two hours
- No online chat
This broker provides the following communication channels:
- phone number (can be found in Contact);
- email;
- PowerChat forum.
Both clients and traders without an active account can ask the company a question by phone or email. PowerChat is only available to registered users.
Contacts Foundation date 1988 Registration address 301, 3rd Floor, Imperial Terraces, Tygervalley Waterfront, Bellville, Cape Town, 7530 Regulation FSCA Official site https://www.sharenet.co.za/ Contacts support@sharenet.co.za
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FAQs
What trading commissions and non-trading fees does Sharenet charge?
Sharenet is rated as having low overall fees, with no deposit, withdrawal, or inactivity fees listed in the review. For Standard accounts, trading costs are included in floating spreads, with typical EUR/USD spreads between 0.5–1.2 pips and GBP/USD between 0.7–1.5 pips, while RAW/ECN accounts show an average 0.2-pip spread on EUR/USD and GBP/USD plus a $5 commission per lot.
What types of trading accounts does Sharenet offer and what are their main conditions?
Sharenet provides a single real Standard account and a demo account, with no Cent, Micro, VIP, swap-free, or managed account options mentioned in the section. The Standard account requires a minimum deposit from 3,500 USD, offers spreads from 1.0 pips on EUR/USD with 1:1 leverage, and requires verification, while the demo account is free, available on all platforms, and limited to 14 days before a real account is needed.
What do user reviews and feedback say about Sharenet overall?
Sharenet has a user satisfaction score of 5.5/10 based on 23 reviews, with a rating distribution that is mostly 3-star (52%) and smaller portions of 4-star, 5-star, 2-star, and 1-star ratings. According to user reviews, the overall impression is mixed rather than strongly positive or negative.
What markets and tradable assets are available with Sharenet?
Sharenet offers over 70,000 tradable assets, including 50 currency pairs, stocks, commodity futures, cryptocurrencies, and stock indices, but does not provide options or ETFs according to the section. For more investment-style products, the review notes that bonds are available, while copy trading, PAMM investing, and managed accounts are not listed as offered.
How do clients describe Sharenet customer support in reviews and comments?
The customer support section notes a safety score of 4.9/10, with weaknesses in responsiveness and depth of assistance, including email replies that may take more than two hours and sometimes require repeated contact. Support is available 24/7 in English via phone, email, and a PowerChat forum for registered users, but there is no online chat and traders who depend heavily on fast support may find this inconvenient.
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