BrokerCue

Broker Comparison

Coinbase vs EasyEquities

Compare Coinbase and EasyEquities side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Coinbase

Coinbase

Crypto investors seeking regulated access

Coinbase is a US-based crypto exchange offering spot trading, futures, staking, and a self-custody wallet acr…

VS
EasyEquities

EasyEquities

Beginner investors in South Africa

EasyEquities is a South African investment platform offering fractional shares, ETFs, stocks, crypto and tax-…

Head-to-head comparison

Coinbase vs EasyEquities
Feature Coinbase EasyEquities
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee - 0.25% per trade; minimum charge applies
Regulators FinCEN, CFTC, FCA, CSSF FSCA
Best for Crypto investors seeking regulated access Beginner investors in South Africa
Markets & account
Stocks
-
ETFs
-
Crypto
Futures
-
Margin
-
Savings Vaults
-
Multi Currency
Fractional Shares
-
Funds
-
Ready Made Portfolios
-
Investment Plans
-
Money Market Funds
-
Demo Account
-

Pros & cons

Coinbase

Coinbase

Pros

  • Regulated in the US (FinCEN, CFTC), UK (FCA), and EU (CSSF MiCA licence)
  • Publicly listed on Nasdaq with audited financial disclosures
  • Approximately 98% of digital assets held in cold storage
  • Advanced Trade provides a maker-taker fee structure with rates as low as 0.00% maker
  • Access to 350+ cryptocurrencies and 550+ trading pairs
  • Staking available for ETH, SOL and other assets with in-app rewards
  • Coinbase Wallet offers self-custody and access to DeFi and dApps
  • Coinbase One subscription removes eligible trading fees up to monthly limits

Cons

  • Simple interface fees are high - spread plus variable fee can exceed 1% for small purchases
  • No stocks, ETFs, forex, or CFD products
  • No demo account
  • Staking carries a significant commission on rewards (approximately 25% for Ethereum)
  • May 2025 data breach affected approximately 70,000 customers via bribed support contractors
  • Advanced products and leverage remain limited compared to some global crypto exchanges
  • Crypto assets are not protected by FDIC or SIPC schemes
EasyEquities

EasyEquities

Pros

  • No minimum deposit required
  • No inactivity fee
  • Thrive platform fee (R25/month) is waived for active users and exempt groups
  • 0.25% trading commission is low relative to traditional SA brokers
  • Fractional Share Rights allow investing with small amounts
  • Demo account provided automatically (R100,000 ZAR and $10,000 USD)
  • Multi-currency accounts (ZAR, USD, AUD, GBP, EUR)
  • Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) and retirement annuity options

Cons

  • R25/month Thrive platform fee applies to users below Thrive Level 3
  • Currency conversion fee applies when moving funds between currency accounts
  • Per-asset fee when transferring account to another broker
  • Research and charting tools are basic compared to specialist platforms
  • Customer support does not offer live chat; response times reported as slow
  • Fractional shares are held as Fractional Share Rights, not direct share ownership
  • Limited advanced order types for active traders
  • Primarily suited to South African investors; international account options are more limited
Coinbase

Coinbase

Coinbase is a US-based crypto exchange offering spot trading, futures, staking, and a self-custody wallet across 350+ cryptocurrencies, with regulated access in the US, UK, and EU.

Visit Coinbase Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

EasyEquities

EasyEquities

EasyEquities is a South African investment platform offering fractional shares, ETFs, stocks, crypto and tax-free accounts with no minimum deposit, 0.25% commissions, and a waivable R25/month platform fee.

Visit EasyEquities Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Not the right match?

Line up any two brokers side by side, or browse the full list to find your next platform.

Compare another broker Browse all brokers