CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
What are the best South Africa forex brokers?
We’ve tested over 60 international forex brokers and created unbiased, data-driven broker ratings to show you the best forex brokers in the industry. To help you navigate the world of forex regulations and choose a broker that you can trust, our expert research team has built a proprietary database containing over 100 global regulatory licenses and jurisdictions; that research determines each broker's individual Trust Score. Check out our top picks for the best South Africa forex brokers:
Winner: IG
Year after year, IG has shown itself to be the best broker in the forex industry. Highly trusted and regulated in a staggering eight Tier-1 jurisdictions, IG holds a Trust Score rating of 99. Though IG does offer MetaTrader 4, IG’s proprietary web-based trading platform steals the show with its wide variety of rich features, market research, and powerful trading tools. IG also offers seamless integration of trading signals into its web platform. IG has won countless Annual Awards from our sister site, ForexBrokers.com, and is a fantastic choice for forex traders of all experience levels.
IG Trading Platform Screenshots
IG Features
- Overall rating - 9.9/10
- Trust Score - 99
- Tradeable symbols - 19537
- Minimum deposit - £250.00
Runner Up: AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a well-rounded, highly trusted broker that offers excellent educational resources for beginner forex traders and great tools for social copy trading. AvaTrade's commissions and market research are close to the industry average, and traders gain access to AvaTrade's proprietary platforms as well as third-party favorites like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
AvaTrade Trading Platform Screenshots
AvaTrade Features
- Overall rating - 8.7/10
- Trust Score - 94
- Tradeable symbols - 1260
- Minimum deposit - $100
Podium Finisher: Plus500
Plus500 is a highly-trusted broker that holds six Tier-1 regulatory licenses from reputable jurisdictions around the globe and has a Trust Score rating of 99. Traders at Plus500 gain access to share trading via the Plus500 Invest platform, and CFD traders will find good selection of CFDs available via the broker’s separate Plus500 CFD platform. Though Plus500 does not provide access to the popular MetaTrader suite, we found its proprietary trading platform to be intuitive. While its educational content and range of research trails category leaders, Plus500 is still a great choice for less demanding traders.
Plus500 Trading Platform Screenshots
Plus500 Features
- Overall rating - 8.6/10
- Trust Score - 99
- Tradeable symbols - 5500
- Minimum deposit - €50
Compare trading costs for the best South Africa forex brokers
Based on our own data (our independent database contains over 4,000 data points), this table compares trading costs for the top South Africa forex brokers.
| Company |
Accepts ZA Residents |
Minimum Deposit |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Mini |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts |
 IG
|
check |
£250.00 |
0.98 info |
0.98 info |
0.82 info |
Yes |
 AvaTrade
|
check |
$100 |
0.93 info |
0.93 info |
0.61 info |
Yes |
 Plus500
|
check |
€50 info |
1.3 info |
1.3 info |
1.3 info |
No |
 FP Markets
|
check |
$100 AUD |
1.2 info |
1.2 info |
0.7 info |
Yes |
 FxPro
|
check |
$100 |
1.51 info |
1.58 info |
1.27 info |
Yes |
Comparing trading platforms between South Africa forex brokers
Trading platforms grant access to the foreign exchange market and allow you to analyze market conditions, manage positions, and execute trades. Check out a side-by-side comparison of the trading platforms available at the best South Africa forex brokers, based on our independent product testing.
Comparing investment options between South Africa forex brokers
We closely monitor the availability of investment products such as forex trading (CFD and spot), stocks (CFD and non-CFD), spread betting, ETFs, and social copy trading – among many others. These investment types are tracked as variables within our extensive independent database. Check out the offering of investments at the top South Africa forex brokers.
| Company |
Accepts ZA Residents |
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) |
Spread Betting |
Social Trading / Copy Trading |
U.S. Stocks (CFD) |
|
IG
|
check |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
AvaTrade
|
check |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Plus500
|
check |
Yes info |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
FP Markets
|
check |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
FxPro
|
check |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
What is the best forex broker in South Africa?
IG is our pick for the best forex broker in South Africa. Founded in 1974, IG holds licenses across a number of notable global regulatory jurisdictions, and has earned an overall Trust Score rating of 99. IG's impressive offering of 19537 tradeable symbols opens up a wide variety of trading opportunities for its clients. If you are interested in opening an account, the minimum deposit to get started as a trader at IG is £250.00. We've tested and reviewed dozens of forex brokers and created unbiased, data-driven broker ratings to highlight the best forex brokers in the industry. Our overall rating for IG is 9.9/10. Read our data-driven broker reviews to learn more.
Check out a gallery of screenshots from IG's trading platforms, taken by our research team during our product testing.
Best South Africa Forex Brokers
Here are our picks for the best forex brokers that accept South Africa-based clients in 2025. The below table is sorted by the brokers' Overall Ratings.
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Methodology
At BrokerNotes.co, our data-driven online broker reviews are based on our extensive testing of brokers, platforms, products, technologies, and third-party trading tools. Our product testing extends to the quality and availability of educational content, market research resources, and the accessibility and capabilities of mobile platforms and trading apps. We also dive into each broker’s trading costs, such as VIP rebates, inactivity fees, custody fees, bid/ask spreads, and other fee-based data points.
Steven Hatzakis, an industry veteran with decades of experience in the forex market, leads the BrokerNotes research team. All BrokerNotes content is researched, fact-checked, and edited by the research team.
All websites and web-based platforms are tested using the latest version of the Google Chrome browser. Our Desktop PCs run Windows 11, and we use MacBook Pro laptops running the latest version of macOS to test trading on the go. We test mobile apps and products using iPhones running iOS 17 and Samsung devices running Android OS 14.
Note: The online brokers on our site provide the ability to trade forex in one or more ways, such as non-deliverable spot forex (i.e., rolling spot contracts), contracts for difference (CFD), or other derivatives such as futures. The availability of specific markets or features will depend on your country of residence and the broker's applicable brand or entity that services your account(s).
Forex Risk Disclaimer
There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. With respect to margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or related instrument. It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable, or that they will not result in losses. Learn more about foreign exchange risk.
About the Editorial Team
Founded in 2014 and acquired in 2021, BrokerNotes.co provides unbiased forex broker reviews and ratings to help traders and investors find the best broker for their needs. With over 60 brokers reviewed, our editorial team has published thousands of words of research to help our readers make informed choices.
Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Online Broker Research for BrokerNotes.co and ForexBrokers.com. Steven previously served as an Editor for Finance Magnates, where he authored over 1,000 published articles about the online finance industry. A forex industry expert and an active fintech and crypto researcher, Steven advises blockchain companies at the board level and holds a Series III license in the U.S. as a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA).
Joey Shadeck is the Content Strategist and Research Analyst for BrokerNotes.co and ForexBrokers.com. He holds dual degrees in Finance and Marketing from Oakland University, and has been an active trader and investor for close to ten years. An industry veteran, Joey obtains and verifies data, conducts research, and analyzes and validates our content.
John Bringans is the Managing Editor of BrokerNotes.co and ForexBrokers.com. An experienced media professional, John has close to a decade of editorial experience with a background that includes key leadership roles at global newsroom outlets. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University, and conducts research on forex and the financial services industry while assisting in the production of content.
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