Best stock brokers in South Africa
We checked which brokers let people living in South Africa trade stocks: 3 of the 7 we follow do. XTB leads, as it does wherever it qualifies; the other two places go to brokers available locally. Because South Africa uses the South African rand, currency conversion is part of the real cost of investing here.
By Broksal Team, investing in forex and CFD markets since 2017. Updated . How we test
How we score
Each broker gets five sub-scores out of 5:
Regulation and safety (30%), trading costs (25%), platforms and tools (20%), range of markets (15%) and ease of use (10%). The overall score is the weighted average, rounded to one decimal.
Availability is checked against each broker's published country lists. The ranking order is editorial and reflects our commercial agreements, so it does not always follow the scores. Full methodology
Advertiser disclosure
Broksal is free to use because some brokers pay us a commission when you open an account through our links. This can influence which broker we feature and the order in which brokers appear.
Commissions never change the facts we publish about regulation, fees or country availability, and they cost you nothing.
Top 3 stock brokers for South Africa
- 1
Our top pick in South Africa
XTB
4.8Own platform, no minimum deposit, commission-free stocks and ETFs within a monthly limit
Real shares and ETFs Real stocks and ETFs commission-free up to €100,000 of monthly turnover, then 0.2% (minimum €10); 0.5% currency conversion.
- Minimum deposit
- No minimum
- Platforms
- xStation 5 (web & desktop), XTB mobile app
- Entity for South Africa
- XTB International Limited — Offshore entity
- CFDs
- Yes
Show pros, cons and feesHide details
xStation 5: Market Watch with sentiment tabs on the left, an EUR/USD hourly chart with one-click order entry, and open positions below. Account number blurred. What we like
- Publicly listed in Warsaw with KNF, FCA and CySEC oversight
- No minimum deposit
- xStation 5 is fast, clean and has built-in market sentiment and calendars
- Real stocks and ETFs commission-free up to €100,000 monthly turnover
Watch out for
- No MetaTrader or cTrader
- Since March 2026 the international entity accepts residents of only a short list of countries
- Inactivity fee after 12 months without trading
Fees
CFDs are priced through the spread on the Standard account. Real stocks and ETFs are commission-free up to €100,000 of monthly turnover, then 0.2% (minimum €10). Currency conversion and overnight swap costs apply.
Best for
Beginners and active traders who want one app for CFDs and real stocks.
- 2
eToro
4.3CopyTrader and a social feed on a Nasdaq-listed platform
Real shares and ETFs Real stocks and ETFs on 26 exchanges including Japan, with social investing; 0.75% currency conversion at the base tier.
- Minimum deposit
- Varies by country
- Platforms
- eToro web platform, eToro mobile app
- Entity for South Africa
- eToro (Europe) Ltd or regional entity — CySEC
- CFDs
- Yes
Show pros, cons and feesHide details
eToro homepage after the 2026 brand refresh, highlighting its Nasdaq listing (ETOR) and the new mobile app. What we like
- CopyTrader lets you mirror other investors' portfolios
- Listed on Nasdaq; FCA, CySEC and ASIC regulated
- Very easy app for stocks, ETFs and crypto
Watch out for
- CFD spreads are wider than at IC Markets or XTB
- Not available in Canada, Japan, India, Turkey and most of Africa
- Withdrawal and currency conversion fees on the USD account
Fees
CFD costs are in the spread (about 1 pip on EUR/USD), plus overnight fees on leveraged positions. Withdrawals from the USD account cost $5 and currency conversion is charged on non-USD deposits; eToro removed its inactivity fee on 28 May 2026.
Best for
Investors who want to copy other traders.
- 3
Interactive Brokers
4.7The widest market access here, with low costs and top-tier regulation
Real shares and ETFs Stocks and ETFs on more than 150 markets, including Korea since 2026; commission-free iShares ETFs through recurring investments for EEA clients.
- Minimum deposit
- No minimum
- Platforms
- Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, Client Portal (web) +2
- Entity for South Africa
- Interactive Brokers LLC / regional affiliate — Top-tier regulators
- CFDs
- Yes
Show pros, cons and feesHide details
Interactive Brokers homepage, showing the desktop platform and mobile app and the new AI-assisted analysis integrations. What we like
- Listed on Nasdaq and regulated by top-tier authorities worldwide
- Access to stocks, options, futures and bonds on 150+ markets
- No minimum deposit and no inactivity fee
- Accepts residents of most countries
Watch out for
- Trader Workstation has a steep learning curve
- CFDs are not available to US residents
- Account opening asks for more documents than most brokers
Fees
Two pricing plans: Fixed (one all-in commission) and Tiered (lower exchange-based commission plus pass-through fees). CFD commissions are charged per trade, with financing on overnight positions. There is no inactivity fee.
Best for
Experienced investors who want access to global exchanges.
Stocks from South Africa: the rules
SARS treats profits from frequent, short-term trading as income taxed at your marginal rate; long-term investments can qualify for capital gains treatment. How you trade decides which applies.
Securities business in South Africa is supervised by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). Foreign brokers serve residents under their own licences, so check which company holds your shares.
Exchange-control rules limit how much you can move offshore each year without special approval; check your allowances before funding a foreign account.
Stock exchange hours in Pretoria time
| Exchange | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| London Stock Exchange | 09:00 | 17:30 |
| Xetra (Frankfurt) | 09:00 | 17:30 |
| New York (NYSE, Nasdaq) | 15:30 | 22:00 |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange | 02:00 | 08:30 |
Early October 2026; times move by an hour when daylight saving changes.
Currency costs when investing from South Africa
South Africa uses the South African rand (ZAR). Most of what you buy here is priced in USD or EUR, so unless your account is in the same currency as the asset, each purchase is converted. Published conversion fees: XTB 0.5% on currency conversion; Interactive Brokers 0.2 basis points of trade value, minimum $2; eToro 0.75% at the base Club tier (lower for higher tiers).
Tax
SARS treats profits from frequent, short-term trading as income taxed at your marginal rate; long-term investments can qualify for capital gains treatment. How you trade decides which applies. This is general information, not tax advice. More on trading from South Africa.
All 7 brokers we review, checked for stocks in South Africa
| Broker | Status | Access | Entity for South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | #1 in this ranking | Real shares and ETFs | XTB International Limited — Offshore entity |
| XM | No stocks here | — | — |
| IC Markets | No stocks here | — | — |
| Interactive Brokers | #3 in this ranking | Real shares and ETFs | Interactive Brokers LLC / regional affiliate — Top-tier regulators |
| Freedom24 | Not available in South Africa | — | — |
| IQ Option | No stocks here | — | — |
| eToro | #2 in this ranking | Real shares and ETFs | eToro (Europe) Ltd or regional entity — CySEC |
Stocks rankings in countries bordering South Africa
| Country | Brokers offering stocks | #1 |
|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇼 Botswana | 1 | Interactive Brokers |
| 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 1 | Interactive Brokers |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 1 | Interactive Brokers |
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | 1 | Interactive Brokers |
| 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 1 | Interactive Brokers |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 1 | Interactive Brokers |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best stock broker in South Africa?
XTB, in our ranking. Real stocks and ETFs commission-free up to €100,000 of monthly turnover, then 0.2% (minimum €10); 0.5% currency conversion. eToro and Interactive Brokers complete the top 3.
Which brokers offer stocks to residents of South Africa?
Of the brokers we review: XTB (real shares and etfs), Interactive Brokers (real shares and etfs) and eToro (real shares and etfs).
What are the rules for stocks in South Africa?
SARS treats profits from frequent, short-term trading as income taxed at your marginal rate; long-term investments can qualify for capital gains treatment. How you trade decides which applies.
Can I invest in South African rand (ZAR)?
Check the account currencies when you sign up. If your account is not in ZAR, deposits are converted at the broker's rate.
Which broker is best for buying ETFs?
XTB for most European investors because ETFs are commission-free within the monthly limit; Interactive Brokers for the widest choice and commission-free iShares savings plans in the EEA.
Availability last checked 6 October 2026. Brokers change their country lists without notice; the broker's sign-up form is the final word.