Intro and winners
Find below the strengths of the best brokers available in South Africa, updated for 2025:
- Interactive Brokers is the best international online broker in South Africa in 2025 - Extremely low fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
- XTB - Commission-free stocks and ETFs (for trades up to €100k per month). Free and fast deposit and withdrawal. Easy and fast account opening. Interest paid on cash.
- Oanda - Great trading platforms. Outstanding research tools. Fast and user-friendly account opening.
- Swissquote - Access to many markets and products. No inactivity fee. Rock-solid background.
- Admirals (Admiral Markets) - Low forex CFD fees. Free and fast deposit and withdrawal. Straightforward account opening.
- IG - First-class web trading platform. Superb educational tools. Great deposit and withdrawal options.
- Tickmill - Low forex fees. Fast and easy account opening. Free deposit and withdrawal.
- IC Markets - Low forex fees. Easy and fast account opening. Free deposit and withdrawal. Offers standard and raw spread accounts.
- Forex.com - Low forex fees. Great variety of currency pairs. Diverse technical research tools.
- Spreadex - Low forex fees. Good web platform. Helpful customer service.
International online brokers key info
While many international online brokers catering to clients in South Africa offer an excellent service, the ones in our toplist go the extra mile. These international online trading platforms offer a broad range of markets and asset classes and are suitable for beginners and experienced traders alike.
| Broker | Overall score | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | 4.9 /5 | $0 |
| XTB | 4.7 /5 | $0 |
| Oanda | 4.5 /5 | $0 |
| Swissquote | 4.5 /5 | $0 |
| Admirals (Admiral Markets) | 4.5 /5 | $100 |
| IG | 4.5 /5 | $0 |
| Tickmill | 4.4 /5 | $100 |
| IC Markets | 4.4 /5 | $200 |
| Forex.com | 4.4 /5 | $100 |
| Spreadex | 4.3 /5 | $0 |
Popularity of the best online brokers in South Africa
Interested in what others think? Here's how many people chose these brokers at BrokerChooser in the last 6 months.
Trading fees
In most cases the key broker selection criteria is how much you have to pay for a trade in spreads, commission and other trading costs, so we collected the most important fees for you in the table below.
| Broker | US stock | South African stock |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | $1.0 | - |
| XTB | $0.0 | - |
| Oanda | $0.0 | - |
| Swissquote | $10.0 | - |
| Admirals (Admiral Markets) | $0.0 | - |
| IG | $10.0 | - |
| Tickmill | - | - |
| IC Markets | - | - |
| Forex.com | - | - |
| Spreadex | - | - |
Other fees at international online brokers
Non-trading fees are charges not directly related to a given trade and typically include account maintenance fees, deposit/withdrawal fees, and inactivity fees.
| Broker | Account fee | Inactivity fee |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | ||
| XTB | ||
| Oanda | ||
| Swissquote | ||
| Admirals (Admiral Markets) | ||
| IG | ||
| Tickmill | ||
| IC Markets | ||
| Forex.com | ||
| Spreadex |
Our assessment of the best international online brokers for residents in South Africa in 2025
At BrokerChooser we do our best to make it easier for you to compare and select the best broker for your needs. Here is a summary of our scores in the most important aspects of these trading platforms' services.
| Broker | Overall score | Fees score |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | 4.9 /5 | 4.3 /5 |
| XTB | 4.7 /5 | 4.4 /5 |
| Oanda | 4.5 /5 | 4.3 /5 |
| Swissquote | 4.5 /5 | 2.2 /5 |
| Admirals (Admiral Markets) | 4.5 /5 | 3.7 /5 |
| IG | 4.5 /5 | 3.6 /5 |
| Tickmill | 4.4 /5 | 4.2 /5 |
| IC Markets | 4.4 /5 | 4.5 /5 |
| Forex.com | 4.4 /5 | 3.3 /5 |
| Spreadex | 4.3 /5 | 4.0 /5 |
If you are unsure how brokerage fees are charged, check out our article on the various fees, charges and costs.
Are these brokers reliable?
Absolutely. You can be sure none of them is a scam. They are all regulated by at least one top-tier financial authority.
Online brokers in South Africa are overseen by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), which is responsible for overseeing the conduct of financial institutions in the country. This includes ensuring that online brokers comply with laws and regulations related to the financial industry, as well as protecting consumers from fraud and other financial crimes.
Pro tip: To avoid scam brokers, open an account with a brokerage regulated by a top-tier regulator, such as the FCA in the UK or BaFin in Germany. All the brokers in our toplist are regulated by top-tier national authorities.
Is profit from trading taxable in South Africa?
Yes, you need to pay tax on any profits you made from trading during the tax year. In South Africa, profit resulting from trading is considered gross income and, as such, is taxable. Under South Africa's Income Tax Act, the capital gains tax (CGT) is not a separate tax but forms part of the income tax. Any capital gains you make are added to your taxable income, with 40% of the gain included and taxed at your marginal tax rate, resulting in a maximum effective CGT rate of 18%.
What is a capital gain? In simple terms, if you sell an asset (i.e. a stock or an ETF) for more money than what you paid for it, you have attained a capital gain. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) will require you to pay taxes after your capital gains. Active trading profits may instead be taxed as ordinary income depending on the frequency and nature of your trades.
Individuals may exclude up to ZAR 40,000 of capital gain or capital loss from their taxable income per year.
Is there tax-free investment in South Africa? South Africa introduced Tax Free Investments to encourage household savings. You don’t have to pay income tax, dividends tax or capital gains tax on the returns from these investments. You can get tax-free savings products, including cash deposits and ETFs, through nearly all banks, investment companies and stockbrokers. The annual contribution limit for Tax-Free Investments is ZAR 36,000, with a lifetime limit of ZAR 500,000.
Need more info on taxation in South Africa? SARS has a step-by-step guide to help individuals calculate their taxable income, including any capital gains tax that may be applicable.
Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
| Interactive Brokers snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Interactive Brokers services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service
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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| XTB snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Paysafe, Skrill, ecommpay, PayU, PayPal |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of XTB services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex traders who value a user-friendly platform and great research tools
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75% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Oanda snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Oanda services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees
| Swissquote snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | High |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer |
| Withdrawal fee | $10 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Swissquote services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex traders who are familiar with the MetaTrader trading platforms
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74% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Admirals (Admiral Markets) snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, PayPal, Klarna, Neteller, SafetyPay, AstroPay, Trustly, Rapid Transfer, NganLuong, Perfect Money |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, PayPal, Klarna, Neteller, SafetyPay, AstroPay, Trustly, Rapid Transfer, NganLuong, Perfect Money |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Admirals (Admiral Markets) services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform
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75% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| IG snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of IG services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex traders looking for low fees who are familiar with the MetaTrader 4 platform
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72% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Tickmill snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, Przelewy, PayPal |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, Przelewy, PayPal |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Tickmill services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex and CFD traders who value easy account opening and free deposit/withdrawal options
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70.64% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| IC Markets snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $200 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Visa Direct, SafeCharge, Transact365, eCommPay, CardPay, Bpay, FasaPay, Poli, RapidPay, Klarna |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Visa Direct, SafeCharge, Transact365, eCommPay, CardPay, Bpay, FasaPay, Poli, RapidPay, Klarna |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of IC Markets services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for forex traders looking for low fees and great research tools
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74-76% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Forex.com snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 |
| Fees class | Average |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity fee | Yes |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Forex.com services, check out our review for 2025 |
Recommended for spread, forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal options
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64% of retail CFD accounts lose money
| Spreadex snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
| Fees class | Low |
| Deposit method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal method | Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Read review | For a detailed analysis of Spreadex services, check out our review for 2025 |
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How did we select the best international online brokers in South Africa in 2025?
We checked whether the broker is regulated by a trusted regulator
Compared fees (including spreads, withdrawal fee, commission)
We checked and compared every aspect of their services
Opened an account and tested the platform (charting, features, usability) with real money
Save hours of research!
Our expert team has done all the work for you, and reviewed brokers based on BrokerChooser's unique methodology.
Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology.
