An overall comprehensive side-by-side comparison of eToro vs Easy Equities. eToro offers a tight spread, and EasyEquities does not provide access to Forex trading, but crypto and stock trading are available. Both eToro and EasyEquities offer competitive pricing environments. But how does eToro compare to EasyEquities?
- eToro vs Easy Equities comparison for South African investors
- eToro vs Easy Equities fees, spreads, and trading costs explained
- Is eToro or EasyEquities better for beginners in South Africa
- eToro vs EasyEquities regulation, FSCA safety, and investor protection
- eToro vs EasyEquities platform features copy trading vs investing
- Easy Equities vs eToro minimum investment fractional shares comparison
🏆10 Best Forex Brokers in South Africa
| Rank | Broker | Broker Review | Regulators | Minimum Deposit | Visit Broker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 |  | Read Review | ASIC, FSA, CBI, BVI, FSCA, FRSA, CySEC, ISA, JFSA | $100 | Visit Now |
| 🥈 |  | Read Review | FSCA, FCA, DFSA, FSA, CMA | $0 | Visit Now |
| 🥉 |  | Read Review | CySEC, IFSC, DFSA, FCA | $5 | Visit Now |
| 4 |  | Read Review | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, SCB | $200 | Visit Now |
| 5 |  | Read Review | FSA, FSCA | $250 | Visit Now |
| 6 |  | Read Review | FSA, FSC, FSCA, ASIC, CMA | $20 | Visit Now |
| 7 |  | Read Review | FSC, FSCA | $50 | Visit Now |
| 8 |  | Read Review | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA, FSC, CMA | $100 | Visit Now |
| 9 |  | Read Review | CySEC, MWALI, FSCA | $25 | Visit Now |
| 10 |  | Read Review | FSA, CySEC, FSCA, FSC | $10 | Visit Now |
Which Broker Is Better for South African Traders?
| 🔎 Category |  |  |
| 💰 Fees | No commission on direct stock & ETF purchases; spreads apply on CFDs (e.g., ~1 pip EUR/USD). Withdrawal fee: USD 5 on all withdrawals. Inactivity fee: USD 10/month after 12 months. Currency conversion fees apply when depositing/withdrawing non-USD/currency accounts. | Commission: ~0.25% per equity/ETF trade (plus clearing fees). Foreign exchange fee: ~0.5% on currency conversion. No internal deposit/withdrawal fees for standard EFT/ZAR accounts. Thrive program/Thrive fee: monthly R25, often waived with activity. |
| 🏛️ Regulation | Regulated by CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia) operates internationally. | Regulated locally by the FSCA in South Africa as an authorised FSP. Operated by Purple Group, listed on the JSE. |
| 🖥️ Platforms | Proprietary eToro platform (web and mobile). Integrated CopyTrader™ social/copy trading. Advanced charting and Smart Portfolios available. | Easy-to-use EasyEquities web and mobile app. Focus on buy-and-hold investing with live pricing and basic charting. No forex/CFD-focused advanced tools. |
| 📍 Typical Trader Profile | Suited to global investors wanting stocks, ETFs, crypto, and social/copy trading. Good for beginners/intermediate users who want diversified portfolios and passive replication tools. | Best for South African investors seeking simple, low-cost access to local and global stocks/ETFs/crypto/property. Ideal for long-term portfolio builders, beginners, and savers. |
| 💰 Minimum Deposit | USD 50 | USD 0 |
| 🚀Open an Account | 👉Open Account | 👉Open Account |
Regulation Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| ⭐ Trust Score | 93 | 93 |
| 📅 Year founded | 2007 | 2014 |
| 📊 Publicly Traded | No | No |
| 🇿🇦 Licensed in South Africa | No | Yes |
Assets Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📊 Forex | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Number of Forex pairs | 47 | None |
| 📊 US Stock Trading | Yes | No |
| 📊 International Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Cryptocurrency CFDs | Yes | Yes |
Fees Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💰 Average Spread for EUR/USD | 0.9 pips | N/A |
| 💰 Commissions Charged | Yes | Yes |
| 💰 ECN Execution | Yes | No |
| 💰 Market Maker Execution | Yes | Yes |
Deposit Options Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💳 Deposit fees | No | No |
| 💳 Bank wire | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 MasterCard | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 Paypal | Yes | No |
| 💳 Skrill | Yes | No |
| 💳 Minimum Deposit | $50 | $0 |
Trading Platforms Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💻 Desktop Platform | No | Yes |
| 📱 Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 Social Trading | Yes | No |
| 💻 MetaTrader 4 | No | No |
| 💻 MetaTrader 5 | No | No |
| 💻 cTrader | No | No |
| 💻 DupliTrade | No | No |
| 💻 ZuluTrade | No | No |
| 💻 Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
Analytical Tools Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📅 Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| 📈 Social Sentiment | Yes | No |
| 📈 Trading Central | Yes | No |
| 📈 AutoChartist | No | No |
| 📈 Forex News Sources | No | No |
| 📈 Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
Educational Resources Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 🎓 Offers education | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ Beginner training videos | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ Advanced training videos | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ Glossary | Yes | No |
Majors Offered
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💱 GBP/USD | Yes | No |
| 💱 USD/JPY | Yes | No |
| 💱 EUR/USD | Yes | No |
| 💱 USD/CHF | Yes | No |
| 💱 USD/CAD | Yes | No |
| 💱 NZD/USD | Yes | No |
| 💱 AUD/USD | Yes | No |
Overview of eToro
Who is eToro?
- eToro is a global multi-asset investment and trading platform founded in 2007 and headquartered in Israel, with offices worldwide.
- It allows users to invest in stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, forex, commodities, and indices, either as real assets (where available) or via CFDs.
- eToro is best known for its social trading ecosystem, which lets users view, follow, and automatically copy the trades of other investors through its CopyTrader™ feature.
Regulation & Safety
- Regulated by multiple top-tier authorities, including the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), and others in the Middle East and global regions.
- Operates under strict financial oversight with client asset safeguards and compliance frameworks in major jurisdictions.
- Offers segregated client accounts and regulatory protections depending on the entity used.
Tradable Markets & Instruments
- Multi-asset platform with stocks, ETFs, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrency trading (depending on region).
- Offers access to global exchanges (e.g., US, Europe, Asia), with thousands of tradeable symbols including stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.
Platforms & Tools
- Proprietary eToro trading platform and mobile app; emphasis on social and copy trading features.
- CopyTrader™ lets users replicate trades of other investors.
- User-friendly interface with portfolio management, watchlists, news, and research.
- Does not support MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) or other third-party professional platforms.
Costs, Spreads & Fees
- No commission on stock and ETF trading in many regions (but varies by jurisdiction).
- Spreads on CFDs and other instruments — e.g., forex spreads from about 1 pip or more, depending on the market.
- Withdrawal fee: typically $5 per withdrawal on USD accounts.
- Inactivity fee ($10/month) after 12 months of non-use.
- Currency conversion fees apply when depositing/withdrawing in non-account currencies.
Pros and Cons
| ✅Pros | ❌ Cons |
| Highly regulated across numerous Tier-1 jurisdictions. | Spreads can be relatively wide, especially on CFDs and forex. |
| Social and copy trading features ideal for beginners. | Fees for withdrawals and currency conversion. |
| Wide asset range including stocks, ETFs and crypto. | Some advanced features may be overwhelming for new traders. |
Overview of EasyEquities
Who is EasyEquities
- EasyEquities is a South African online investing platform designed to make investing in financial markets simple, affordable, and accessible to everyday investors.
- It was launched in 2014 and is part of Purple Group Limited, which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
- The platform allows users to invest in South African and international stocks, ETFs, property-like assets (EasyProperties), and, through integrated services like EasyCrypto, access to selected cryptocurrencies.
Regulation & Safety
- Regulated in South Africa by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) as an authorised Financial Services Provider (FSP 22588).
- Operates as part of Purple Group, a corporate entity listed on the JSE, adding some oversight and accountability.
- Client assets are held as registered shares or fractional share rights (FSRs); FSRs are contractual derivatives rather than direct ownership.
- No bank deposit insurance — investment risk remains with the user.
Tradable Markets & Instruments
- Focuses on equities (South African and international), ETFs, property-like assets (EasyProperties), and crypto via EasyCrypto.
- Includes access to JSE, US, UK, European, and Australian markets through wallet accounts and EasyFX currency conversion.
- Offers fractional share rights (FSRs) allowing investors to buy fractional positions.
- Some CFDs and derivatives may be available, but investment types are simpler than those of full CFD brokers.
Platforms & Tools
- Easy-to-use web and mobile platform focused on investing rather than leveraged trading.
- Tools include live pricing, price alerts, recurring investments, multiple wallets (ZAR, USD, etc.), and bundles for diversified holdings.
- Limited advanced charting and technical analysis compared with full CFD or forex brokers.
Costs, Spreads & Fees
- Low brokerage fees: ~0.25% for many equity trades (plus small R clearing fee).
- Offers very low or no minimum investment, enabling fractional investing from small amounts.
- Thrive fee (monthly) can apply unless waived by meeting conditions (activity/program participation).
- Currency conversion spreads may add cost to international wallets.
- Third-party deposit/withdrawal and bank fees may apply.
Pros and Cons
| ✅Pros | ❌ Cons |
| Low cost entry with fractional share investing from very small amounts. | Some user complaints about withdrawal delays or support responsiveness. |
| Simple platform suited for beginner investors. | Fees like Thrive and currency conversion spreads may add up for international investing. |
| Access to local and global stocks, ETFs, crypto and property offerings. | Some advanced features may be overwhelming for new traders. |
Conclusion
eToro and EasyEquities serve distinct investor needs and styles, though both make investing more accessible compared to traditional brokers.
You might also like:
eToro ReviewEasyEquities Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Which broker is better for beginners, eToro or EasyEquities?
EasyEquities suits absolute beginners with simple investing features and low entry amounts, while eToro adds social trading and copy trading, which can help beginner traders learn by following others’ strategies.
How do fees compare between eToro and EasyEquities?
EasyEquities charges low brokerage with some recurring fees like the Thrive fee and currency conversion spreads, while eToro has wider spreads on CFDs, plus withdrawal and currency conversion fees, but zero commission on many stock trades.
Can South African users trade global stocks on eToro and EasyEquities?
Yes, both platforms allow South African investors to access US and international stocks, though eToro and Easy Equities differ in fee structures and available markets based on local regulations.
Do eToro or Easy Equities offer cryptocurrency trading?
Yes, eToro supports numerous cryptocurrencies directly and via CFDs, while Easy Equities integrates crypto investing via EasyCrypto wallets, letting users trade a selection of digital assets.
Which broker has stronger regulation and safety, eToro or EasyEquities?
eToro is regulated in multiple top jurisdictions globally (FCA, ASIC, CySEC), while Easy Equities is regulated locally by the FSCA in South Africa, providing strong regional oversight.
Do eToro and EasyEquities allow fractional investing?
Yes, both platforms support fractional investing; Easy Equities uses fractional share rights, and eToro permits fractional stock purchases, enabling smaller capital entry into expensive shares.
Can I copy other traders on eToro or EasyEquities?
Only eToro offers built-in copy trading features that let users replicate other investors’ strategies; Easy Equities does not offer formal social or copy trading systems.
Which platform has better mobile and web tools, eToro or EasyEquities?
eToro’s platform emphasizes social features, customizable portfolios, and news feeds. Easy Equities focuses on simplicity and basic trading tools appropriate for straightforward investing.
Are there inactivity or withdrawal fees on eToro or EasyEquities?
eToro typically charges a withdrawal fee and an inactivity fee after long dormancy; Easy Equities may have low deposit/withdrawal charges (depending on payment method) and conversion fees.
Which broker is more cost-effective for long-term investors, eToro or Easy Equities?
For long-term stock and ETF investing, Easy Equities is often more cost-effective due to low brokerage and small minimums. eToro’s fees on non-stock products and currency conversion can be relatively higher for buy-and-hold investors.
You Might Also Like
Recommended brokers
