Best Forex Brokers in South Africa: A Comparative Guide

• Eightcap - Best broker to trade directly from TradingView charts

• XM Group - Best Order Execution (99.35% of orders are executed nearly instantly)

• Bybit - A global cryptocurrency exchange offering Forex and CFD trading through the MetaTrader 5 platform, with leverage of up to 1:500.

• RoboForex - Best Forex broker for beginners ($10 min. deposit, copy trading)

• VT Markets - Attractive Forex bonuses (50% welcome bonus, 20% deposit bonus)

• Exness - Best raw spread account (avg. spread for major FX pairs 0.1-0.2 pips)

At Traders Union, we evaluate Forex brokers to help traders make informed, confident decisions and avoid unreliable or unsafe options. We use a professional and detailed approach, focusing on key factors such as regulation and safety, trading costs, ease of use, platform features for all experience levels, and real trader feedback collected over 15 years.

We’ve outlined every step of our evaluation in detail on our Methodology Page. Our process is transparent, data-driven, and built on years of expertise, combined with real trader insights, ensuring you can trust our recommendations.

Our goal is to guide traders toward brokers that are safe, reliable, and suited to their needs, whether they are beginners or experienced professionals in South Africa

Comparison of leading Forex brokers in South Africa

The minimum deposit, EUR/USD spread, eligibility for residents of South Africa, and the number of available currency pairs are key factors to consider when choosing a broker.

• The minimum deposit shows how affordable it is to start trading.
• The EUR/USD spread highlights trading costs—lower spreads mean you save more.
• Eligibility for residents of South Africa ensures you can legally access the broker’s services.
• The number of currency pairs reveals the variety of trading options available.

Together, these factors help you determine if a broker is safe, cost-effective, and aligned with your trading needs.

We have analyzed the key advantages and disadvantages of the leading Forex brokers in South Africa, as well as their overall ratings based on our proprietary methodology.

Available in South Africa

1

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TU Overall Score 9.1 /10
User Satisfaction score Overall user experience and feedback based on ease of use, customer support, and platform reliability.	8.1 /10
Commissions and fees score Analysis of the cost structure including trading commissions, minimum fees per trade, and withdrawal fees.	8 /10
Regulation and safety score Assessment of regulatory compliance, financial security measures, and the overall safety of client funds.	10 /10

Advantages Disadvantages

• The broker is registered in the Bahamas and Seychelles, and is regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB, SIA-F220), ASIC (391441), FCA (921296), CySEC (246/14). Also, it partners with many proprietary firms;
• Negative balance protection;
• Traders need to deposit only $100 to open a live account, and the broker imposes few trading limits on its clients;
• Hundreds of the most popular CFDs are available, and the pool is constantly expanding;
• Eightcap provides one of the most profitable trading costs with really tight spreads;
• Almost all options for depositing/withdrawing funds are available and the broker does not charge a withdrawal fee;
• The broker’s clients can work through any of the three top trading platforms, including mobile versions of the MetaTrader solutions;
• The company provides high-quality training, extensive analytics, and its own developments for automated trading.

• No joint accounts, copy trading, or other options for passive income.

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TU Overall Score 9 /10
User Satisfaction score Overall user experience and feedback based on ease of use, customer support, and platform reliability.	9 /10
Commissions and fees score Analysis of the cost structure including trading commissions, minimum fees per trade, and withdrawal fees.	7 /10
Regulation and safety score Assessment of regulatory compliance, financial security measures, and the overall safety of client funds.	9.2 /10

Advantages Disadvantages

• XM Broker guarantees 100% execution of orders, 99,35% of orders delivered nearly instantly. No requotes guaranteed;
• no “markup” on narrow market spreads (broker's margins over the spread);
• over 1,000 trading instruments. Available for trading are: 57 currency pairs, including CFDs on cross rates, metals (including palladium and platinum), commodities (cocoa, cotton, grain), stocks;
• no commission for replenishment and withdrawal of money. XM Broker incurs all commission costs of payment systems;
• around the clock support for 5 days a week in more than 30 languages.

• expanding their limited choice of trading platforms. Despite the fact that the broker offers 16 terminals, all of them are modifications of MT4 and MT5 for desktop, browser and mobile trading.

Available in South Africa

3

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TU Overall Score 9.2 /10
User Satisfaction score Overall user experience and feedback based on ease of use, customer support, and platform reliability.	9.7 /10
Commissions and fees score Analysis of the cost structure including trading commissions, minimum fees per trade, and withdrawal fees.	8 /10
Regulation and safety score Assessment of regulatory compliance, financial security measures, and the overall safety of client funds.	3.9 /10

Advantages Disadvantages

• Access to Forex and CFDs without the need for third-party broker verification;
• Support for trading via mobile and desktop MT5 versions;
• Leverage up to 1:500 on most contracts;
• Transparent commission and spread calculation system;
• ECN model with ultra-tight spreads and fixed lot-based commissions;
• No minimum deposit requirements;
• Free demo account for virtual trading.

• No multi-currency accounts;
• Limited passive income options in the Forex market.

Available in South Africa

4

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TU Overall Score 8.9 /10
User Satisfaction score Overall user experience and feedback based on ease of use, customer support, and platform reliability.	8.5 /10
Commissions and fees score Analysis of the cost structure including trading commissions, minimum fees per trade, and withdrawal fees.	8 /10
Regulation and safety score Assessment of regulatory compliance, financial security measures, and the overall safety of client funds.	4.9 /10

Advantages Disadvantages

• Availability of favorable trading conditions and a minimum deposit
• Unique investment program CopyFx
• Highest affiliate payments: up to 84% of the fee paid by the referral
• Market launch - STP and ECN
• Instant withdrawal of funds
• Minimum deposit - $10

• A small number of currency pairs - 28, for accounts: Pro, Pro-Cent, ECN

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5

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TU Overall Score 8.7 /10
User Satisfaction score Overall user experience and feedback based on ease of use, customer support, and platform reliability.	9.7 /10
Commissions and fees score Analysis of the cost structure including trading commissions, minimum fees per trade, and withdrawal fees.	6 /10
Regulation and safety score Assessment of regulatory compliance, financial security measures, and the overall safety of client funds.	9.5 /10

Advantages Disadvantages

• Financially stable parent company and reliable custodian bank.
• Over 230 assets of different classes are available for trading.
• It allows trading using STP, ECN, and Islamic accounts.
• A wide range of investment solutions from reputable third-party platforms.
• Margin trading with leverage up to 1:500 for cryptocurrency pairs.
• Average trading commissions on ECN and precise market spreads on all account types.
• Access to making trades in desktop and mobile terminals MetaTrader 4/5, as well as in the web version of MT4.

• The high minimum deposit for novice traders is $50.
• Lack of access to micro (cent) accounts.
• The list of available assets does not include cryptocurrencies and ETFs.

Available in South Africa

6

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TU Overall Score 8.7 /10
User Satisfaction score Overall user experience and feedback based on ease of use, customer support, and platform reliability.	8.5 /10
Commissions and fees score Analysis of the cost structure including trading commissions, minimum fees per trade, and withdrawal fees.	7 /10
Regulation and safety score Assessment of regulatory compliance, financial security measures, and the overall safety of client funds.	10 /10

Advantages Disadvantages

• Availability of 8 licenses and a membership in the Financial Commission providing up to EUR 20,000 insurance coverage per client in the event of a force majeure;
• Wide choice of account types — Standard, Standard Cent, Pro, Zero and Raw Spread;
• Wide range of CFDs, including over 100 currency pairs;
• Zero deposit and withdrawal fees (Depends on the payment system);
• Proprietary platforms for active and social trading, as well as all versions of classic MT4 and MT5.

• The broker’s website offers almost no educational materials;
• 24/7 support isn’t available in all languages.

Trading fees and commissions of top brokers in South Africa

We compared both trading and non-trading fees of the top brokers in South Africa. This comparison highlights the following:

• Trading fees:

  These include average spreads in pips for popular currency pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD, based on both Standard and ECN account types with floating spreads.

• Non-trading fees:

  These cover deposit and withdrawal fees (percentage-based), along with inactivity fees.

By analyzing these parameters, we aim to provide a transparent overview of the cost-effectiveness of brokers in South Africa.

Security and regulation of top brokers in South Africa

When choosing a Forex broker in South Africa, regulation ensures your funds are safe. Tier-1 regulation is the most reliable, with strict rules on transparency and client protection. Tier-2 regulation is solid but less strict, offering a reasonable level of oversight. Tier-3 regulation and unregulated brokers are riskier, with minimal or no monitoring, which can put your money at risk.

The data below shows the regulatory level of brokers available in South Africa, helping you make a safe and informed choice.

Top 3 brokers for beginners in South Africa

This comparison highlights the best brokers in South Africa for new traders based on the following criteria:

• Education Score: Assesses the quality of educational materials, such as tutorials and guides.
• Cent Accounts: Allow traders to start with minimal capital ($1–$10), enabling them to learn market dynamics with limited financial risk.
• Demo Accounts: Provide risk-free environments for practicing trading strategies.
• Copy Trading: Enables new traders to learn by replicating the trades of experienced traders.
• PAMM Accounts: Offer opportunities for passive investment.

These features help ensure a smooth start and effective learning experience for beginners in South Africa.

Is Forex regulated in South Africa?

How to choose a Forex broker in South Africa

For beginners, it’s essential to start with a strong foundation in Forex trading basics. Focus on understanding trading psychology, how leverage impacts risk, and the importance of lot sizes and risk management strategies.

Once you’ve built your knowledge, follow these practical steps to begin trading Forex in South Africa:

• Check regulation and security.

  Ensure the broker is regulated by a Tier-1 or Tier-2 regulatory authority or holds a valid license in South Africa. Regulation helps guarantee fund safety and compliance with industry standards.

• Compare fees and spreads.

  Seek brokers offering low spreads, transparent fees, and competitive commission structures for South Africa clients to minimize trading costs.

• Evaluate trading platforms.

  Choose brokers offering advanced platforms such as MT4, MT5, or TradingView for efficient trading and analysis.

• Review account types.

  Select a broker that offers account types suited to your needs, such as Cent and Demo accounts for beginners and ECN accounts for experienced traders.

• Assess deposit and withdrawal options.

  Ensure the broker provides fast, affordable, and reliable deposit and withdrawal methods in South Africa.

• Check customer support quality.

  Choose brokers that offer responsive, multilingual support 24/7 to ensure prompt and effective issue resolution.

Expert advice for traders in South Africa

Author, Financial Expert at Traders Union Anastasiia Chabaniuk

Updated on June 06, 2025

As I've learned over my years of trading, understanding a broker's fee structure can directly impact your profitability. Low spreads, transparent commissions, and an absence of hidden fees should be priorities. For instance, I often recommend ECN accounts for their cost-effectiveness, as they offer raw spreads with minimal charges. Additionally, non-trading fees, like deposit or withdrawal charges, can accumulate over time. Comparing these factors across brokers ensures you're not overpaying, preserving your profits in the long run.

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Team that worked on the article

Mikhail Vnuchkov

Author at Traders Union

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.

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Chinmay Soni

Developmental English Editor

Chinmay Soni is a financial analyst with more than 5 years of experience in working with stocks, Forex, derivatives, and other assets. As a founder of a boutique research firm and an active researcher, he covers various industries and fields, providing insights backed by statistical data. He is also an educator in the field of finance and technology.

As an author for Traders Union, he contributes his deep analytical insights on various topics, taking into account various aspects.

Mirjan Hipolito

Cryptocurrency and stock expert

Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).