EasyEquities Review

Beginner investors in South Africa

FSCA

Founded 2014 · South Africa · Purple Group Limited

Why investors choose this broker

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

Review summary

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.

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

Company background

EasyEquities was launched in 2014 by First World Trader (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of JSE-listed Purple Group Limited. The platform introduced a patented Fractional Share Rights model to lower the barrier to retail investing in South Africa, allowing users to invest any amount regardless of share price. Since launch, EasyEquities has expanded to serve over two million users and now offers multi-currency accounts, crypto bundles, unit trusts, retirement annuities and tax-free savings accounts.

Fees and pricing

EasyEquities charges 0.25% commission per trade on stocks and ETFs, with a small minimum charge per transaction. There is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee. A R25/month Thrive platform fee applies to users below Thrive Level 3; it is automatically waived for users who are active on the platform (such as depositing more than they withdraw in a month), as well as for users under 21 or over 65. EFT deposits are free; instant EFT (SiD) and credit card deposits carry a processing fee. Withdrawals are free for ZAR accounts; a minimum of $20 applies to international withdrawals. A currency conversion fee applies when transferring funds between ZAR, USD, AUD, GBP or EUR accounts via EasyFX. Bundle and unit trust products carry annual management fees that vary by product. Users transferring a portfolio out to another broker pay a per-asset exit fee.

Regulation and safety

EasyEquities is operated by First World Trader (Pty) Ltd, authorised by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) under FSP 22588. The company also holds an over-the-counter derivatives provider licence (ODP 44). Client shares and uninvested cash are held in FWT Nominees, a separate nominee entity legally distinct from the company's own assets, providing protection in the event of insolvency.

Platform experience

EasyEquities is accessible via web browser and dedicated iOS and Android apps. New users receive automatic demo accounts: R100,000 in a ZAR demo and $10,000 in a USD demo. The platform supports recurring investment schedules, watchlists, price alerts, and market and limit orders. EasyAcademy offers educational content for new investors. EasyTrader, powered by MetaTrader 5, provides a separate environment for forex, CFD and derivatives trading on desktop and mobile.

Pros and cons

EasyEquities' main strengths are its 0.25% commission, no minimum deposit, no inactivity fee, a Thrive platform fee that is waived for active users, fractional share access, automatic demo accounts, multi-currency accounts and tax-efficient wrappers. Its main drawbacks are the R25/month Thrive fee for inactive or low-activity users, the currency conversion fee when moving funds between accounts, a per-asset broker-transfer fee, basic research and charting tools, the absence of live customer support, and fractional positions structured as Fractional Share Rights rather than direct ownership.

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Trading fees & commissions

EasyEquities charges a 0.25% trading commission on stock and ETF trades with no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee. A R25/month Thrive platform fee applies to users below Thrive Level 3; it is waived for active users, under-21s, and over-65s. A currency conversion fee applies when funding or transferring between multi-currency accounts.

Fees

Item	Fee
Crypto	Bundled crypto fees vary by product; custody provided by EasyCrypto
Account	No account opening fee; R25/month Thrive platform fee (waived at Thrive Level 3 or above, or if under 21 or over 65)
Custody	No separate custody fee for shares and ETFs
Deposit	EFT: Free; instant EFT (SiD): approximately R1.60 + 1.5% of deposit; credit card: approximately R1.60 + 2% of deposit
Inactivity	None
Withdrawal	Free for ZAR accounts; minimum $20 for international withdrawals
Fx Conversion	EasyFX transfer fee applies when converting between ZAR, USD, AUD, GBP and EUR accounts
Account Transfer	ZAR 150 per SA asset, $25 per US asset, AUD 25 per AU asset when transferring out to another broker

Trading platform & features

Platforms

EasyEquities Web app
iOS app
Android app
EasyTrader (MetaTrader 5)

Regulation and investor protection

EasyEquities is operated by First World Trader (Pty) Ltd, authorised as a Financial Services Provider by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) under FSP 22588 and licensed as an over-the-counter derivatives provider (ODP 44). Client investments are held in a segregated nominee structure (FWT Nominees), legally separate from the company's own assets.

Broker FAQs

Is EasyEquities safe?

EasyEquities is operated by First World Trader (Pty) Ltd, authorised by the FSCA under FSP 22588. Client investments and cash are held in a segregated nominee structure (FWT Nominees), legally separate from the company's own assets.

Is EasyEquities a scam?

No. EasyEquities is operated by First World Trader (Pty) Ltd, regulated by the FSCA (FSP 22588) and is a subsidiary of JSE-listed Purple Group Limited. It has operated since 2014 and serves over two million users.

Is EasyEquities regulated and by whom?

Yes. EasyEquities is operated by First World Trader (Pty) Ltd, which is authorised by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) under FSP 22588 and holds an over-the-counter derivatives provider licence (ODP 44).

Does EasyEquities keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. All client shares and uninvested cash are held in FWT Nominees, a separate nominee entity that is legally distinct from First World Trader's own assets.

What happens to my money if EasyEquities goes bankrupt?

Client investments are held in FWT Nominees, legally segregated from the company's own assets. This structure means client funds are not part of the company's estate in the event of insolvency.

What products does EasyEquities offer?

EasyEquities offers stocks, ETFs, fractional shares, crypto bundles, unit trusts, ready-made investment bundles, retirement annuities, tax-free savings accounts, and multi-currency accounts denominated in ZAR, USD, AUD, GBP and EUR.

Does EasyEquities offer ETFs?

Yes. EasyEquities offers a range of ETFs across its ZAR and international currency accounts, charged at 0.25% commission per trade.

Does EasyEquities offer crypto?

Yes. EasyEquities offers crypto bundles through EasyCrypto, with custody provided as part of the service.

Can I buy fractional shares on EasyEquities?

Yes. EasyEquities pioneered Fractional Share Rights (FSRs) in South Africa, allowing users to invest any amount into a share regardless of its listed price. Fractional shares are structured as rights, not direct share ownership.

Does EasyEquities offer a tax-free savings account?

Yes. EasyEquities offers a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) that allows South African investors to invest up to the annual SARS limit with no tax on dividends or capital gains.

Does EasyEquities charge a monthly platform fee?

EasyEquities charges a R25/month Thrive platform fee for users below Thrive Level 3. The fee is waived for users who are active on the platform (for example by depositing more than they withdraw in a given month), as well as for users under 21 or over 65.

What does EasyEquities charge for stock trades?

EasyEquities charges 0.25% commission per trade on stock and ETF transactions, with a small minimum charge per transaction.

Does EasyEquities charge deposit fees?

Standard EFT (bank transfer) deposits are free. Instant EFT (SiD/Ozow) deposits carry a processing fee of approximately R1.60 plus 1.5% of the deposit amount. Credit card deposits carry approximately R1.60 plus 2% of the deposit amount.

Is there a withdrawal fee at EasyEquities?

Withdrawals from ZAR accounts are free. International account withdrawals have a minimum amount of $20. A currency conversion fee applies when transferring between different currency accounts using EasyFX.

Does EasyEquities charge an inactivity fee?

EasyEquities does not charge a traditional inactivity fee. However, a R25/month Thrive platform fee applies to users who do not reach Thrive Level 3 through activity such as depositing more than they withdraw in a given month. This fee is distinct from a pure inactivity fee but may apply to low-activity accounts.

What is EasyEquities' currency conversion fee?

EasyEquities charges an EasyFX transfer fee when converting funds between ZAR, USD, AUD, GBP and EUR accounts. The exact rate is disclosed at the point of conversion.

Does EasyEquities have a demo account?

Yes. EasyEquities automatically provides every new user with a free demo account: R100,000 in a ZAR demo account and $10,000 in a USD demo account.

Does EasyEquities have a mobile app?

Yes. EasyEquities provides apps for iOS and Android through the App Store and Google Play.

Is EasyEquities good for beginners?

EasyEquities is widely used by beginner investors in South Africa. It offers no minimum deposit, fractional shares, automatic demo accounts, and educational content via EasyAcademy. The platform's basic research tools are suited to long-term buy-and-hold investing rather than active trading.

Is EasyEquities good for long-term investing?

EasyEquities supports long-term investing through tax-free savings accounts, retirement annuities, fractional shares, recurring investment plans, and a range of ETFs and bundles. The 0.25% commission suits investors who make infrequent purchases; active users can avoid the R25/month Thrive platform fee.

Bottom line

EasyEquities suits users who want an accessible platform for long-term investing in South African and international equities, ETFs, crypto and tax-efficient wrappers with no minimum deposit. Active users can avoid the R25/month Thrive platform fee, keeping costs low. It may not suit users who require advanced charting tools, live customer support, direct share ownership of fractional positions, or active forex and CFD trading on the main platform.

EasyEquities

Beginner investors in South Africa

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.