Table of contents

Best FOREX Brokers in South Africa for 2023

Written by: Adrian Ashley
20.01.2023
As more FOREX traders enter the market, FOREX brokers are trying harder to keep their customer base satisfied, thereby ensuring continued revenues that boost profitability. New trading clients are mainly concerned with the risks inherent in FOREX trading, meaning they are always open to good advice that will ensure they keep away from substandard brokers. To help traders navigate this tricky landscape, we have introduced a list of the best FOREX brokers in South Africa today. This list is the result of our steady research in this area. Arincen will also share its research methodology so traders can understand why and how we selected the companies for special mention.

Best FOREX Broker in South Africa for 2023

Rating FXDD Open account
Company name FXDD
Regulations
Minimum deposit $450
Main branch USA
Rating ICM Capital Open account
Company name ICM Capital
Regulations
Minimum deposit 500$
Main branch United Arab Emirates
Rating XTB Open account
Company name XTB
Regulations
Minimum deposit 500$
Main branch UK
Rating IG Open account
Company name IG
Regulations
Minimum deposit 500$
Main branch UK

What is FOREX and Why Do I Need a Broker to Trade?

In case you are new to the area and you do not already know, the FOREX market is the largest financial market in the world at some six trillion dollars daily, only followed by the credit market. The market operates 24 hours a day and five days a week (Monday through Friday), except international holidays. Brokerage firms play a key role in this regard by enabling clients to buy and sell through a trading platform. This could be done either on a personal computer (PC) or more recently by using a smartphone.

How Do I Choose the Best FOREX Broker in South Africa?

FOREX Regulations in South Africa

Trading FOREX is legal in South Africa, as long as it does not contravene money laundering or exchange control laws. FOREX brokers operating in South Africa must be regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), a tier-2 oversight body.
The broker must be in good standing with the Companies Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) that is responsible for company registration. Traders must declare all profits to the country’s tax authority, the South African Revenue Service, and readily comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. Islamic FOREX trading is permitted.
Notwithstanding local regulations, it is always important to check if your broker is regulated by overseas tier-1 regulators. Some examples of the most stringent regulators include the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySec). These regulators have sweeping powers, but they also mandate member brokerages to compensate clients for lost funds through broker insolvency.

Commissions and Fees in South Africa

A first step in FOREX trading is identifying the spread differential, defined as the difference between the bid (sell) price and the ask (buy) price of a currency pair. While most FOREX currency pairs are traded without commission, the spread is one “cost” that applies to any trade that you place. This is, indeed, the biggest source of profit for the FOREX company. Good companies typically offer a EUR-USD spread of three basis points.
As for commissions, FOREX trading companies can be placed in three categories. The first offer fixed spreads, the second tender variable spreads, with a third category of companies offering low-cost spreads but that come with a (relatively high) fixed commission.

Tradable Assets and Instruments

Traders in South Africa are not hampered by embargoes on tradable assets that are evident in some highly regulated countries. For example, trading cryptocurrencies is not legal in the US. You can choose from an array of markets and trade all available instruments. Besides FOREX, you can diversify into areas like cryptocurrencies, commodities, bonds, indices and contracts for difference (CFD).

Payments, Deposits and Withdrawals in South Africa 

Brokers operating in South Africa offer traders multiple methods to make deposits into their trading accounts. Most deposit methods, such as bank wire, credit and debit cards, and electronic wallets, are accepted. Brokerage accounts are denominated in South African Rand, which is the national currency. Of course, once you have made a deposit in your wallet, you can convert it into a different currency, in keeping with whatever the broker supports. Withdrawals, however, must be processed in South African Rand.
Traders need to ensure that deposits and withdrawals are processed through the same channels. Third-party deposits and withdrawals are forbidden. To withdraw money, traders must initiate a withdrawal by submitting a request through their trading account.
South Africa’s currency is considered a minor currency, meaning that exchange rates can fluctuate regularly, as is normal with the currencies of developing nations. Traders need to keep watch of prevailing exchange rates and only process withdrawals denominated in stronger currencies when the exchange rate is advantageous for them.

FOREX Trading Customer Service 

As timing is key to FOREX trading, you must pick a brokerage firm that is able to provide good customer support around the clock. This most notably includes the company representatives being easy to reach, fast and polite, which will in turn spare you of having to worry about problems down the road.

Technical Aspects of the Broker’s Website 

When it comes to sharing sensitive personal information online, such as a credit card, cyber security is paramount. You should, therefore, always look out for SSL certification and two-factor authentication (especially when registering with a new site).
 To provide our users with peace of mind, we at Arincen have introduced the “Company Checker,” which is an online tool directly linked to the international website Scamadviser. The latter is an independent site that checks the countries in which these FOREX Websites are managed, where the server is located, in addition to other security and informational aspects. It ranks FOREX firms by granting them a score ranging from 0% to 100%, with the best FOREX firms usually receiving a score of 90% and above. Any company that has achieved a score lower than 85% should thus be avoided. Simultaneously, whenever looking for a new FOREX broker, users must ensure its website is fast, modern and user-friendly.

Trading Platforms, Tools and Features

All major trading platforms are supported by South African brokers as the country has the technological infrastructure to accommodate even the most progressive, tech-enabled brokers. Industry trading platforms, like MT4 and MT5, are easily catered to by all local brokers.
These well-known platforms are supported in desktop and mobile form. Proprietary broker platforms are also catered to, as many of these can be accessed through Web browsers or a simple download. Traders can receive all the normal features, like Electronic Advisor (EA) assistance, charting tools, indicators, electronic communications network (ECN) accounts and educational data.

Ask Other Traders on Our Network 

Arincen provides a social network that drives a loyal following among its users. Traders use the social network extensively as the communal element of investing is an important part of modern online trading.
Traders like to feel as if they are part of a community. This is why you can visit Arincen’s website and join groups of sophisticated followers whose knowledge and experience can guide you to becoming a more successful trader.
South Africa Best Forex Brokers

Top FOREX Brokers in South Africa for 2023

Here are the best FOREX brokers in South Africa by Arincen editors:
  1. FXDD 92.15 Best Overall Broker
  2. ICM Capital 91.10 Best Deposit and Withdrawal Broker
  3. XTB 85.55 Best Customer Service Broker
  4. IG 85.45 Best Regulations Broker plus Convenient Platform
  5. Saxobank 80.09 Excellent Private Trading Platform
  6. CMC Markets 80.07 More than 9,000 Assets
  7. Think Markets 80.05 Aimed at the Audience of Traders
Here is a summary of each broker from our 11 Best Brokers in South Africa pick and their pros and cons:
FXDD Broker

FXDD Broker

FXDD received the highest score in our survey (92.15). One of the first FOREX companies to offer a credit card in order to allow traders to withdraw their profits, this New York-based company has the UK's FCA license under its belt. It also has a rich portfolio of assets, offers a relatively low spread, in addition to the MetaTrader4 (MT4) platform. Further, it has excellent and fast customer service, and also offers traders a variety of ways to deposit money.
Broker Evaluation 7.22
Regulatory Bodies
Minimum Deposit $450
Islamic Account yes
Payment Methods Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks - Crypto
Main Branch United States of America
Customer Service 24/5
Demo account Yes
Trading Platforms MT4 - MT5 - C TRADER -Web Platform

Pros

  • Established in 2002.
  • Segregated client funds.
  • Low minimum deposits.
  • No commissions on the Standard Account.
  • A choice of two account jurisdictions.
  • Multiple platform support and comprehensive market data and analysis.
  • A good range of currency pairs and other assets to trade.

Cons

  • Not available to traders in the US.
  • Relatively limited range of instruments.
  • EU-client leverage restricted to 1:30.
Open Account
ICM capital Broker

ICM capital Broker

CM Capital is considered the industry leader in deposits and withdrawals, whereby each withdrawal does not take more than five business days. Moreover, the company offers its customers a handy credit card to withdraw their profits, in addition to enabling customers to use various deposit methods. The company, which is licensed by the UK's FCA, has several branches around the world. Among other things, it has a rich portfolio of assets, especially stocks, offers a low spread, as well as the ability to use MT4.
Broker Evaluation 8.11
Regulatory Bodies
Minimum Deposit 500$
Islamic Account yes
Payment Methods Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks - Crypto
Main Branch United Kingdom
Customer Service 24/5
Demo account yes
Trading Platforms MT4 - MT5 - C TRADER -Web Platform

Pros

  • Segregated client funds.
  • Regulated by the UK’s FCA.
  • Established in 2009.
  • More than 10,000 ICM Capital users and traders.
  • Reasonable minimum deposit from $500.
  • Decent funding options.
  • No swaps.
  • MetaTrader4 (MT4) desktop and mobile download.

Cons

  • Does not allow scalping.
  • Not ASIC-regulated.
  • Relatively limited range of instruments.
  • Slow live-chat service.
  • Relatively high trading fees.
  • Limited range of trading tools and resources
Open Account
XTB Broker

XTB Broker

What distinguishes XTB is the fact that it offers the best customer experience among all the companies we have surveyed. Indeed, it boasts the fastest response rate from all the companies under investigation. This is especially relevant, since the market is always on-the-go, and so you need to act fast. XTB offers lots of asset classes, as well as the ability to use the MT4 trading platform. Finally, it maintains a relatively low spread, which is suitable for quick deals.
Broker Evaluation 8.55
Regulatory Bodies
Minimum Deposit 500$
Islamic Account yes
Payment Methods Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks
Main Branch United Kingdom
Customer Service 24/5
Demo account yes
Trading Platforms MT4 - MT5 -Web Platform

Pros

  • Long history of operation.
  • Globally recognized, having won multiple awards.
  • Some of the lowest FOREX spreads in the market.
  • Regulated by the FCA (UK).
  • Offers protection for client accounts.
  • Emphasis on customer service.
  • Excellent support, learning and research tools.

Cons

  • Does not accept US clients.
  • Non-FOREX spread costs are relatively high.
  • No GSLO.
  • No back-testing or automated trading capabilities.
  • Conditions vary according to regulation and entity.
Open Account
ig markets Broker

ig markets Broker

IG is arguably the best broker when it comes to security and trust, boasting, as it does, licenses from 10 regulatory bodies, including the all-important FCA from the UK. The company is also a bank and is a publicly traded company in London. It is known for offering more than 10,000 asset classes of currencies, commodities, future contracts, ETFs, indices, cryptocurrencies etc. Further, it has its own state-of-the-art trading platform and offers a relatively low spread.
Broker Evaluation 7.54
Regulatory Bodies
Minimum Deposit 250$
Islamic Account yes
Payment Methods Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks
Main Branch United Kingdom
Customer Service 24/5
Demo account Yes
Trading Platforms Proprietary Platform -MT4 - Web Platform

Pros

  • Easy-to-navigate platform that is simple for beginners to master.
  • Margin rates are easy to understand and affordable.
  • Mobile and tablet platforms offer full functionality of the desktop version.
  • Accepts US clients.
  • Access to more than 100 currency pairs
  • Emphasis on education and research.
  • Regulated by the FCA (UK), as well as the CFTC and the NFA (US).
  • Offers protection for UK/EU client accounts.

Cons

  • US traders can currently only trade FOREX.
  • No GSLO for US-based traders.
  • No account protection for US clients.
  • Relatively high share-CFD fees.
  • No copy trading or back-testing integration on IG platform.
Open Account
SAXO BANK Broker

SAXO BANK Broker

Saxobank is considered one of the best investment banks in the area of financial markets and currencies, as it offers the very best trading platform and tools from all the companies we have reviewed. Meanwhile, its spread is very low and, as such, suitable for short-term deals; and it offers a large number of asset classes, including currencies, commodities, indices etc. Finally, its customer service is excellent and very responsive to traders' needs.
Broker Evaluation 6.09
Regulatory Bodies
Minimum Deposit 10000$
Islamic Account No
Payment Methods Bank transfer - credit card
Main Branch Copenhagen, Denmark
Customer Service 24/5
Demo account No
Trading Platforms SaxoTrader

Pros

  • Extensive range of offerings.
  • Regulated by the FCA (UK) and other top regulators.
  • Great trading platform.
  • Among the industry’s best research.
  • Superior user interface.
  • Offers protection for client accounts.

Cons

  • High bond, options and futures fees.
  • Lack of emphasis on customer service.
  • Confusing instrument fee structures.
  • High minimum deposit.
  • Does not accept US clients.
  • No MT4.
  • Lacks live chat.
Open Account
CMC MARKETS Broker

CMC MARKETS Broker

CMC Markets is thought of as one the best companies, offering some 9,000 asset classes that encompass currencies, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, bonds and stocks. The company offers a relatively low spread, the MT4 platform, and fast customer service. It is most suited for traders looking for diversity in asset classes.
Broker Evaluation 7.07
Regulatory Bodies
Minimum Deposit 0$
Islamic Account No
Payment Methods Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks
Main Branch United Kingdom
Customer Service 24/5
Demo account not
Trading Platforms Proprietary Platform -MT4 - Web Platform

Pros

  • Extensive range of offerings.
  • Regulated by the FCA (UK).
  • Low FOREX fees.
  • Emphasis on education and customer service.
  • Great Web and mobile platforms.
  • Offers protection for client accounts.
  • Research amenities are industry leading.

Cons

  • Does not accept US clients.
  • Limited product portfolio.
  • High stock CFD fees.
  • High CFD spreads for certain indices.
  • Differences between Next Generation and MT4.
  • Complicated account verification.
  • No back-testing or automated trading capabilities.
Open Account
think markets Broker

think markets Broker

Originally founded in New Zealand in 2010, and moving to Australia within the space of their first two years, Think Markets is a global online brokerage focusing on FOREX and CFD trading. In addition to a range of major and minor currency pairs. Think Markets has an array of CFDs on offer. This includes indices, as well as hard and soft commodities.
Broker Evaluation 8.05
Regulatory Bodies
Minimum Deposit 0$
Islamic Account yes
Payment Methods Bank transfer - credit card - Electronic Banks - Crypto
Main Branch Australia
Customer Service 24/5
Demo account not
Trading Platforms Proprietary Platform -Web platform-mt4- mt5

Pros

  • Beginner assistance offered through 24/6 channels.
  • Spreads are as low as 0.0 pips.
  • 24/7 expert customer service.
  • CFD shares and indices come at no extra fee.
  • Zero broker fees for FOREX trading.
  • Technical analysis and quality market information.
  • Percentage allocation management module (PAMM) and Multi-account manager (MAM) accounts available.

Cons

  • Direct share trading is on a separate platform.
  • No binary options offered.
  • Commissions charged for two account types.
  • After a strong early start, ThinkTrader user ratings have slid to 3.4 stars.
  • No US, Canada or Japan clients allowed.
Open Account

Trustworthiness and How to Verify FSCA Authorization

At the get-go, it is important to learn more about regulatory bodies and their role in the FOREX market. These are government entities charged with regulating the sector. Their role is two-fold:
 1. Observing and regulating the work environment in the FOREX market; and
2. Protecting investors and their funds.
FOREX firms must at least obtain one license from a relevant regulatory authority. Otherwise, they should be avoided at all times. In this context, we present the five most important FOREX market regulatory bodies from around the world.
1. The FCA, UK;
2. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA);
3. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC);
4. The Financial Markets Authority, New Zealand; and
5. The National Futures Association (NFA), US.
While FOREX market regulatory bodies exist in almost every country, these are the most important five and also the most strict. To learn more about other regulatory bodies, please visit arincen.com, where you will find a comprehensive global database.

How to Verify that Your Broker Has FSCA Authorization

To confirm if a FOREX broker is, indeed, authorized by the FSCA, the first thing to do is to identify the FSCA registration number from the disclosure text at the bottom of the broker's homepage. 
The second thing to do would be to look up the company on the financial register available on the FSCA’s Website to validate that the broker is currently authorized in South Africa.

The Do’s and Don’ts of FOREX Brokers in South Africa

One of the first things a new FOREX trader ought to do is to check the extent to which the FOREX brokers abide by the rules and regulations governing its operation. Emphasis must be placed on what it can and cannot do.
There are seven things brokerage firms cannot do:
The FOREX brokerage firm cannot recommend a buy or sell;
  1. The FOREX brokerage firm must not provide price or market expectations (rise/fall);
  2. The FOREX firm cannot control your financial dealings (deposit/withdrawal);
  3. The FOREX brokerage firm should not “manage” your portfolio under any circumstance;
  4. The FOREX brokerage firm cannot grant a client a bonus unless there are clear terms guiding it from beforehand;
  5. The brokerage firm must not use bank accounts not under its name; and
  6. FOREX brokerage firms cannot have or offer the service of account managers.           
In short, the role of brokerage firms is strictly confined to facilitating buyers and sellers to come together toward an agreed-upon commission. FOREX brokerage firms that violate any of the aforementioned seven rules should be avoided. However, should the trader wish to receive any of the above-mentioned services, our advice is to seek an expert website like Arincen, something we will delve into toward the end of this article.

FOREX Trading Scams and How to Avoid Them

The classic online trading scam involves criminal syndicates setting up fake online trading platforms that are indistinguishable from those that are genuine. They often have attractive websites with acceptable functionality.
From there, fraudsters seek to hook in unsuspecting traders. Trading with a scam broker often seems to start off well, with some early gains. Many unsuspecting investors report that they started small, then invested more, but when the time came to withdraw their funds, either found their accounts frozen, or were advised of some technicality of which they were not aware before. At this point, the online scammer normally disappears and any company contact becomes impossible to reach.  
Traders are lured in by compelling social media advertisements or even contacted directly. You are told about a once-in-a-lifetime investment offer on which you must capitalize without losing a moment. You are sometimes told that the deal was specifically created for people like you, so you should keep it quiet.
Besides checking if the broker is registered by a reputable regulator, it’s best to exercise discretion in the face of offers like these. If the promised returns are way above market rate and there seem to be no clear risks or dangers, it is time to question them. 
Sometimes you are told that in order to access the deal, you must pay additional fees to get in on the scheme. You might have to install their bespoke software in order to get access to their great secret formula. These are clear red flags.

Will Your Money Be Protected if Your Broker Becomes Insolvent?

There is no compensation available for South African traders who lose their money. The FSCA merely supervises and licenses the activities of brokers. Its powers do not include meaningful censure of fraudulent financial institutions. 
The FSCA’s remit is to prevent unfair activities intended to deceive customers. The regulator can impose small fines if violations are detected. However, it does not oblige FOREX brokers in South Africa to offer compensation schemes. 

What Technologies, Tools and Platforms Should FOREX Brokers Offer?

FOREX brokers must provide a range of services and features that gives traders the best chance to be successful. Platforms and tools are the obvious difference maker. These platforms, such as the well-known MetaTrader tools, must provide fast execution and good charting and analysis. These platforms work best when available as desktop versions with mobile solutions on offer, too.
As far as account types, the broker needs to offer different levels of account functionality for beginner FOREX traders and advanced traders. Accounts must offer many tradable instruments, low account balances, flexible contract sizes, and regular customer support.
It is preferable for brokers to offer a demo account. Deposit and withdrawal methods must be plentiful, with low fees and minimal processing times. Finally, the best brokers offer an array of premium market analysis, rolling news alerts, and advanced data analytics. Education is a big part of FOREX trading, so having a strong research and educational section with a plethora of educational videos and articles for new and experienced investors is desirable.

Which FOREX broker has the best platform?

Most FOREX brokers use the MT4 platform, which is rightly considered as the best third-party platform on the market. For the best proprietary platform with advanced tools and new innovations for the progressive trader, Saxo Bank has the best proprietary platform.

Which FOREX broker charges the lowest fees and spreads?

According to our research, FXDD’s ECN account offers unrivaled low fees for entry level and high-volume traders alike.

Which FOREX broker offers the most CFDs?

For brokers that deal in the most CFDs, look no further than CMC Markets and IG, both of which offer extensive CFD selections.

Which FOREX broker offers the most assets?

The modern trader is interested in getting as much choice as possible. You will not go wrong by checking out the wide range of assets offered by CMC and IG, which are both known for their vast range of asset classes.

Which FOREX broker is best for professionals?

Professional traders are becoming more demanding by the day as technology improves. If you require services like advanced indicators, access to day trading, and advanced trading orders and if you want to trade at a professional level, look for brokers that offer MT4 that supports advanced indicators like MACD, RSI, Moving Average, Volume, Bollinger Band, Harmonic, and Elliot Waves.

Who is Arincen and What Do We Do?

Put simply, Arincen is a social networking platform that brings together traders and experts to exchange expertise and ideas. Together, we evaluate the best FOREX brokers in the world while offering a compressive suite of services and tools, all in one place, either via a computer or a mobile app. The platform is so rich, one can create their own private portfolio of traders and experts they like and, at the same time, follow their recommendations and investment sentiments.
Further, thanks to Arincen, users can keep an eye on market-price developments, as well as the latest news. Users can also benefit from the network’s educational courses on offer, to say nothing of exciting Webinars – all done in a modern and fast-paced work environment. Get all what you need in one place, not less, not more. 

Conclusion

The vital takeaway from this write-up is that when selecting a FOREX brokerage firm, make sure you pick one that is appropriately licensed and well-regulated. Remember, it is not always the best idea to deal with FOREX companies on your own. Try to launch your trading career with the help of industry insiders, who can give you all the services FOREX companies cannot. Start trading using Arincen to benefit from all the services, advice and tools on offer while also making your trading experience enjoyable, and, most of all, profitable!

Recommended Brokers

Arincen’s Review Methodology

The team at Arincen collected more than 120 pieces of data covering in excess of 100 licensed FOREX companies. Data collection was done in three ways:
  1. Companies’ Websites.
  2. Other Websites that have ranked FOREX companies.
   a. survey questionnaire (referred to here as Survey “1”) we had sent to the companies invited to participate in the exercise. We have identified 13 criteria for our assessment, each containing several aspects and carrying its own relative weight. These include licensing, deposits and withdrawals, number of assets, etc.
Afterward we validated the data by:
  1. Registering with FOREX companies as a secret shopper and/or as Arincen.
  2. Survey number “2,” in which we asked these companies’ customers for important feedback and past experience.
The next step saw us evaluate and rank each company, relying on the hard work of 15 Arincen employees. We were very careful to ensure the most accurate assessment possible, including taking into account different languages, as well as the various mobile-app operating systems, e.g., Apple, Samsung, etc.
To add credibility to our research project, we sent a final and third survey (referred to here as Survey “3”) to enable participating FOREX brokers to evaluate our own research and whether it accurately reflects the realities on the ground. We were fortunate enough to receive a mark of 9.9 out of 10! We have kept to a minimum the margin of error, which stood at a measly 1%. To learn more on how we came up with the evaluation, please click here.

FAQ

Is FOREX trading legal in South Africa?

Yes, FOREX trading is legal in South Africa. As long as the broker is correctly registered and abides by the financial oversight laws of the country, including the central bank for FOREX transfers, the South African Revenue Authority (SARS) for tax affairs, and the CIPC for company affairs, then FOREX trading is legal.

What is FOREX trading?

The FOREX market is the largest financial market in the world at some six trillion dollars daily, only followed by the credit market. The market operates 24 hours a day and five days a week (Monday through Friday), except international holidays.

What costs and commissions are associated with FOREX trading?

A first step in FOREX trading is identifying the spread differential, defined as the difference between the bid (sell) price and the ask (buy) price of a currency pair. While most FOREX currency pairs are traded without commission, the spread is one “cost” that applies to any trade that you place. This is, indeed, the biggest source of profit for the FOREX company. Top FOREX brokers typically offer a EUR-USD spread of three basis points. As for commissions, FOREX trading companies can be placed in three categories. The first offer fixed spreads, the second tender variable spreads, with a third category of companies offering low-cost spreads but that come with a (relatively high) fixed commission.

How important is good customer service in FOREX trading?

As timing is key to FOREX trading, you must pick a brokerage firm that is able to provide good customer support around the clock. This most notably includes the company representatives being easy to reach, fast and polite, which will, in turn spare you of having to worry about problems down the road.

Is FOREX trading taxable in South Africa?

Yes, profits from FOREX trading are taxable. FOREX traders who reside in South Africa are required to declare all their profits from FOREX trading, be it onshore or offshore, on their annual tax returns.
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Adrian Ashley
Adrian Ashley is a seasoned business and finance writer. With a corporate career spanning over 20 years, he has developed deep experience in such diverse areas as investing, business, finance, technology and macroeconomics.

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