Guide to Forex Trading in South Africa: Forex trading is now easier for people in South Africa. The internet and international brokers have made competition more intense. The local regulator, the FSCA, has recently implemented stricter broker requirements. These requirements aim to enhance safety and fairness standards.
When selecting a Forex broker, it’s crucial to consider the financial aspects and how well they match your needs. We have carefully reviewed local brokers regulated by FSCA and trustworthy offshore brokers welcoming South African traders. Your feedback is crucial for this evaluation. We value the opinions of real traders when making recommendations. Based on our research, we have chosen the best options for traders with different budgets and preferences.
What is Forex Trading?
It is exchanging one currency for another using online platforms connected to Forex brokers. Forex trading is a popular way for South Africans to make money by trading in the world’s largest financial market, which has a daily trading volume of over $5.3 trillion. Forex trading in South Africa is legal and regulated. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) protects South African Forex traders.
Many South African traders trade currency pairs like ZAR/USD every day, aiming to profit from exchange rate fluctuations. Predicting changes in exchange rates between currencies can be challenging. Forex trading is a risky but potentially profitable career because complex economic, political, and technical factors influence it.
Top 10 Broker Reviews For Forex Trading in South Africa
We analyze over 200 metrics and spend many hours researching brokers in the Forex industry each year. Our goal is to recommend only the best brokers. Our primary focus is on regulation and costs. Traders prioritize trust and fair pricing from their brokers. Brokers frequently change their products, and we regularly update our reviews with the most recent information.
1. Axi
Traders prefer the MT4 trading platform and seek an ECN broker with excellent trading tools but are not particularly interested in trading shares. Axi, previously known as AxiTrader, is notable for three reasons: This broker only supports MT4, so there may be better choices if you prefer a different trading platform. Additionally, this ECN broker offers low fees and does not require a minimum deposit.
They have two straightforward account options – one with commission and one without. It has a great collection of free trading tools for its clients. Although the MT4-only policy may appear as a disadvantage, it enables Axi to concentrate on enhancing the profitability of its MT4 trading experience.
Axi offers a plugin called MT4 NexGen, which includes useful features like an advanced sentiment indicator, a correlation trader, and an automated trade journal. Although the fees on its accounts are not the lowest, they are still below the average in the industry.
The Pro Account is excellent, offering low spreads of 0.1 pips on the EUR/USD and a commission of only 7 USD. Axi provides a great selection of free trading tools for beginners and experienced traders. These tools, such as Autochartist, MyFxbook, and PsyQuation, are powerful and easy to use. Autochartist is a tool that finds trading opportunities automatically. MyFxBook is a popular platform for copy-trading. PsyQuation is an AI trade diagnostic that helps traders learn from their mistakes. You can consider Axi among the best Forex Trading in South Africa.
Website: https://www.axi.com
2. AvaTrade
If you are looking for a low-cost broker, free withdrawals, ZAR trading accounts, and a user-friendly mobile trading app. AvaTrade has two main advantages: free deposits and withdrawals to South African bank accounts and low trading fees. The spreads start at 0.9 pips on the EUR/USD pair for Forex trading. AvaTrade requires a minimum deposit of R1500 (or 100 USD), which is not the lowest but still affordable for beginners. Traders who are always on the go will appreciate AvaTrade’s mobile app, AvaTradeGO. It has a user-friendly design and offers smart risk management tools.
Additionally, it allows for a direct connection to AvaSocial, AvaTrade’s widely used social trading system. AvaTrade offers a wide selection of 13 cryptocurrency pairs for trading, more than most other brokers in South Africa provide. Crypto traders will also like the 24/7 customer support for crypto trading. Share CFDs are currently popular, and AvaTrade offers 625 options to trade, including well-known tech stocks like Google, Apple, and Amazon. You can consider it among the best Forex Trading in South Africa.
Website: https://www.avatrade.com
3. Exness
If you’re new to trading and want a safe option, we recommend a trading account with a minimum deposit of just 1 USD. This account offers low trading fees and round-the-clock customer service. Exness provides the top cent trading account for beginners in South Africa.
Cent accounts are designed for micro lot trading. The trading balance is shown in cents, meaning a $20 deposit will be displayed as 2000 cents. Cent accounts are the most affordable and low-risk trading accounts due to their features. The Exness Standard Cent Account is great for beginners because it only requires a minimum deposit of 1 USD. It also has lower trading fees than other cent accounts, with spreads as low as 0.3 pips. Funding costs are also low in South Africa, with free deposits and withdrawals through online banking. However, this funding method has a minimum deposit requirement of 3 USD.
Customer service is essential for new traders. Exness offers customer support all weekend, 24/7. Weekend support is excellent for beginners and cryptocurrency traders because it’s available even when they work during the week, and the cryptocurrency market is always open. It is the most relaible Forex Trading in South Africa.
Website: https://www.exnesspromo.com
4. FP Markets
Traders want a good trading environment with low costs, advanced tools, and different platform choices. In January 2023, FP Markets got a license from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), the national authority. It means that client funds from South Africa will be kept separate in local banks, providing traders with local protection.
FP Markets is a popular choice for experienced traders and serious beginners because they offer low-cost trading accounts and various third-party platforms, including the recently added cTrader. Both versions provided by the company require a minimum deposit of only 100 AUD (or equivalent).
The Standard Account does not charge commissions and has a spread of 1 pip (EUR/USD). On the other hand, the Raw Account has a spread starting at 0 pips (EUR/USD) but charges a low commission of 6 USD (RT). FP Markets offers various trading tools, such as free Autochartist, VPS services, and the Trader’s Toolbox. They also have a great education section for Forex traders.
Website: https://www.fpmarkets.com
5. FXTM
If you’re a beginner trader with a day job looking for low-risk Forex Trading in South Africa, an excellent copy trading service, and comprehensive Forex education, we’ve got you covered. FXTM is a top broker in South Africa for beginner traders. They offer a low-cost Micro Account with a minimum deposit of just 10 USD. They also have a demo account that never expires, a great, low-risk option for learning to trade.
If you’re new to trading, check out FXTM Invest. It’s a copy trading system offered by FXTM. FXTM Invest lets beginners copy professional traders’ trades for a small fee. It helps them learn trading strategies and make profits. You can learn a lot from low-risk trading and observing professionals making profits. But with FXTM, you can enhance your learning even more.
They offer a vast library of educational content in 22 languages, and it’s all free. The range includes videos, webinars, and daily videos discussing trading opportunities. FXTM customer support is available on weekends for traders who work during the week. You can reach them through email, live chat, telephone, and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Great for beginners looking to set up quickly on the weekend.
Website: https://www.forextime.com
6. FBS
If you are looking for the best Forex Trading in South Africa, FBS offers different types of accounts to suit other traders. Experienced traders can enjoy high leverage and low fees, while beginners can benefit from low minimum deposits and the option to trade cryptocurrencies. FBS offers a variety of accounts to cater to different types of traders. For beginners, there are two account options: Cent Account with a minimum deposit of 1 USD and Micro Account with a minimum deposit of 5 USD.
More experienced traders can choose the ECN account, which requires a minimum deposit of 1000 USD. The ECN account offers raw spreads and a commission of 6 USD. Two other types of accounts are available: the Standard Account, which requires a minimum deposit of 100 USD, and the Zero Spread Account, which requires a minimum deposit of 500 USD. Experienced traders can enjoy high leverage with most accounts, except the ECN account, which offers a leverage of 3000:1.
Beginners will appreciate the affordable trading fees on the basic accounts. The Cent Account provides spreads as low as 0.8 pips on the EUR/USD. Cryptocurrency trading is popular here, offering 37 different cryptocurrencies to trade, which is more than most other brokers offer.
Website: https://fbs.eu/en
7. HFM (HotForex)
Are you looking for a Rand trading account with a low minimum deposit and quick, free withdrawals to South African banks? HFM is a great broker with convenient features like fast and free deposits and withdrawals and ZAR trading accounts. Three account types are available, all of which allow you to use Rand (ZAR) as the trading currency.
The Micro Account is particularly noteworthy, as it only requires a minimum deposit of 70 ZAR and offers reasonable trading fees, starting at 1 pip spreads on the EUR/USD. Traders prefer quick and affordable fund deposits and withdrawals. HFM stands out from other brokers by offering instant deposits and 2-day withdrawals without additional fees. You can get fast and free funding if you have an online bank account with African Bank, Bidvest Bank, Capitec Bank, FNB, Investec, Nedbank, Standard Bank, or TymeBank.
If you’re new to trading or need more time, it’s essential to know that HFM offers two copy-trading accounts. It means you can easily copy the trades of experienced and successful traders. The three basic accounts allow trading on Forex, cryptocurrencies, commodities, indices, shares, bonds, and ETFs. HFM clients have been protected by FSCA regulations since 2015.
Website: https://www.grouphf.com
8. IC Markets
IC Markets is known for its easy-to-understand account options and competitive trading conditions on three popular platforms. You can access a variety of financial instruments like Forex, commodities, stocks, cryptocurrencies, indices, bonds, vanilla options, and ETFs. The platforms available are MT4, MT5, and cTrader. We offer Raw Spread Accounts with a commission of $3 for cTrader or $3.5 for MT4/MT5. The spreads on EUR/USD average at 0.1 pips. Get a Standard Account with no commission and spreads that start at just 1 pip. IC market is among the best Forex Trading in South Africa.
Website: https://www.icmarkets.com
9. Pepperstone
Pepperstone is a popular choice for traders worldwide due to its affordable ECN trading service, quick trade execution, and various third-party trading platforms. Both experienced traders and serious beginners favor it. Pepperstone’s Standard Account is a low-cost trading option with no commission and spread fees. On average, the fees are 0.69 pips on the EUR/USD, which is quite competitive.
The Razor Account offers spreads as low as 0 pips on the EUR/USD if you like raw spreads. It also has a commission of 7 USD per trade. Experienced traders who use scalping and bots for automated trading will like that Pepperstone’s accounts execute most trades in under 30ms.
Pepperstone doesn’t have its trading platform, but it supports three popular third-party platforms: MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader. cTrader is easier to learn but still has all the advanced automation tools available in MT4 and MT5. Pepperstone, an ECN broker, no longer has a minimum deposit requirement for serious beginners. However, it is still recommended to start with at least 200 USD. Pepperstone has a good education section for an ECN broker.
Website: https://pepperstone.com
10. XM
XM’s Ultra-Low Account is the best option for South African traders, offering incredibly low trading fees among the lowest globally. The Ultra-Low Account is offered in USD or Rand for trading. It has low spreads of 0.6 pips on the EUR/USD and no commission fees. It is the best platform because there is no need for currency conversion when making withdrawals or deposits from a South African bank account. XM is considered among the top Forex Trading in South Africa.
The Ultra-Low Account requires a minimum deposit of 50 USD (R700). However, XM offers two other accounts with a minimum deposit of 5 USD (R70), which may be better for beginners. XM provides a helpful education section and a demo account with no expiration, which is excellent for beginners. XM clients can use either the MT4 or MT5 trading platforms. They can also trade assets such as commodities, precious metals, indices, and over 1200 shares.
Website: https://www.xmglobal.com
FAQ
1. What is the top broker in South Africa?
In South Africa, the top brokers are regulated and provide a trading platform that is affordable and easy to use for all types of traders, whether they are beginners or experienced. After thorough testing, we have determined that AvaTrade is the top choice for South African traders. A
AvaTrade is regulated by the most demanding global authorities, including the South African FSCA, ensuring client security and confidence. South African traders can enjoy the convenience of ZAR trading accounts, which allow for free deposits and withdrawals from local banks. It means they don’t have to worry about conversion fees.
AvaTrade offers low trading costs with no commissions, starting at 0.9 pips on the EUR/USD. We also enjoy using the AvaTrade trading app. It has helpful risk-management tools and a user-friendly interface, perfect for new traders.
2. Which Forex broker has the top trading platform?
AvaTrade’s Webtrader platform is easy to use and requires no downloads or installation. It can be accessed on any device. The web trader has a simple and easy-to-use interface, making it perfect for beginners. It’s also easy to find and trade different instruments. WebTrader offers a helpful feature called AvaProtect. This tool helps minimize the risk of losing trades by providing trade protection. Trading Central, a popular third-party trading tool, is fully integrated into the platform. It offers technical insight and instant pattern recognition.
Is Forex trading allowed in South Africa?
Forex trading in South Africa is legal and regulated by the FSCA. The FSCA requires all Forex brokers operating in the country to hold a valid license and adhere to strict standards, including:
Deposits and withdrawals are made on time. Fund segregation Capital adequacy is essential to prevent defaults. The FSCA has ways to resolve disputes and compensate investors if brokers fail or commit fraud. These standards ensure that traders can trade in a fair and transparent environment and are safe from fraud or unethical practices by their brokers.
The FSCA is Africa’s top regulator. South African traders trust brokers licensed by the FSCA. In addition to the FSCA, other top global regulators include ASIC, the FCA, and CySEC. Choosing a regulated broker is crucial for your protection as a Forex trader, whether regulated by the FSCA or not.
Why is Regulation Important?
Regulation is essential for safeguarding money and ensuring a fair and transparent trading experience. When you trade Forex, you must have confidence in your broker’s legal and ethical operations and the safety of your funds. Regulated Forex brokers follow strict rules set by regulatory bodies. These rules include having enough money, keeping client funds separate, and regularly reporting and following the rules. Your funds are safe, and your trading experience is fair.
Unregulated brokers can follow different standards. It can increase the chances of fraud or unethical behavior, leading to financial losses for traders. Choosing a regulated Forex broker makes you feel at ease and secure. You’ll know that your investments are protected and that your trading experience is fair.
How are Forex brokers regulated in South Africa?
Forex brokers in South Africa must be regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), the country’s regulatory body for non-banking financial services.
The FSCA requires Forex brokers to hire only qualified individuals with a clean criminal record. In South Africa, brokers must separate client funds from their operational funds. Forex brokers must be honest and fair with their clients about their services and products. Since 2019, Forex brokers must have an ODP (Over-the-Counter Derivative Provider) license from the FSCA. This license means they must meet higher capital requirements and face more regulatory oversight. The FSCA can punish Forex brokers who break the rules by taking away their operating permits.
Do I Need a Broker to Trade Forex?
Yes, you need a broker for Forex trading. Helping traders access the Forex market can be costly and complicated. Forex brokers connect the global Forex market with traders, acting as market makers. Market makers purchase large trading positions from the Forex market and then sell them to traders in smaller trade sizes.
Some brokers simply take orders from traders and send them directly to the global Forex market. They are known as ECN brokers or DMA brokers. Both types of Forex brokers need a significant amount of money to start and require skilled technicians to manage their trading platforms.
How do Forex Brokers Make Money?
Market makers earn profits solely from the spread, which is the gap between a currency pair’s buying and selling prices. Brokers make money when clients lose trades because they are the counterparty to the trade. ECNs have narrow spreads and generate revenue through commissions, which are applied for each trade’s opening or closing. This broker earns money regardless of whether the client wins or loses.
Which Forex Brokers are Best for Beginner Traders?
The top brokers for beginners are regulated and don’t require a minimum deposit. It means they are safe and affordable for new investors. Low fees and negative balance protection are also necessary because they help reduce risk. Having responsive and knowledgeable customer support is very important. Customer service should be available 24/5 through email, live chat, and telephone. However, it would be even better if it was available 24/7. Lastly, beginners should find a broker that offers a good education section. It should include articles, video tutorials, webinars, advanced trading strategies, and chart analysis.
Which Forex Brokers offer the top Demo Accounts?
The best brokers offer demo accounts catering to beginners and experienced traders. They recognize that beginners should not be pressured to trade with real money, and professional traders should be free to test strategies for as long as needed. The ideal demo accounts are not limited by time and closely mimic market conditions. If you’re new to Forex trading and want to practice with a demo account, choosing a broker with good educational resources is important. This way, you can learn about Forex trading while you practice.
What are the trading platforms offered by the best forex brokers?
The top Forex brokers usually provide Metatrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader platforms. You can install these trading platforms on your computer. They are third-party options. These platforms offer many customization options, including advanced charting and research tools. They also have features for automated trading or copying trades. Brokers may provide trading platforms that can be accessed through a browser or mobile phone.
Forex Risk Disclaimer
Forex and CFD trading is risky and may not be suitable for everyone. Around 75-90% of retail investors end up losing money when trading these products. Forex and CFD transactions are risky because of factors like leverage, market volatility, slippage due to low liquidity, insufficient trading knowledge or experience, and a lack of regulatory protection. Traders should only deposit money that they can afford to lose. No matter how much research you’ve done or how confident you feel, there’s always a risk of losing. You can check out the FCA (UK regulator) or ASIC (Australian regulator) to learn more about these risks.
