📌 South Africa · en-ZA · JSE Top 40 · 2026-08-19

EasyEquities Fees And Costs In 2026

Renan Filho · Founder & Tech Builder

Quick answer: EasyEquities fees in 2026 remain the lowest in South Africa, but the real cost is in the hidden spreads and platform charges. This guide breaks down every rand you'll pay, from R5 minimum brokerage to the 0.25% annual fee. We compare it against FNB, Standard Bank, and Capitec, and show how to keep your JSE Top 40 investments profitable after SARB's 6.75% interest rate.

Key data for South Africa (2026-08-19)

Breaking Down EasyEquities 2026 Fee Structure in Rands

EasyEquities charges a flat 0.25% brokerage fee on JSE Top 40 shares, with a minimum of R5 per trade. That's the headline. But the real cost is the 0.25% annual platform fee, capped at R150 per month for accounts under R1 million. You also pay a 0.5% currency conversion spread on international stocks, which adds up if you trade US shares. The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) has no annual fee, but you still pay the 0.25% brokerage. Compare that to Standard Bank's unit trust fees, which average 1.2% per year. EasyEquities is cheaper, but only if you trade less than 10 times a month. Frequent traders get hit with the R5 minimum, which becomes a 5% cost on a R100 trade. Avoid that by saving up your trades.

Hidden Fees and How to Dodge Them in 2026

The sneakiest cost on EasyEquities is the inactivity fee. If you don't log in for 12 months, they charge R25 per month. That's R300 a year for doing nothing. Another trap is the debit order fee of R3.50 per deposit. If you invest R500 monthly, that's a 0.7% cost. Set up a single lump sum deposit instead. Also, retirement annuity transfers incur a R350 admin fee. Avoid that by staying with your current provider. The FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority) requires EasyEquities to disclose all fees, but they don't make it obvious. Read the tariff sheet on their site before you click 'buy'. The spread on JSE stocks is typically 0.1%, which is fine. But on the EasyEquities US platform, the spread can hit 0.8% due to the rand-dollar conversion. Use the local JSE Top 40 ETFs to avoid this.

Comparing EasyEquities to FNB, Standard Bank, and Capitec

FNB Fusion account charges R220 per month, but gives you free share trading on EasyEquities if you have a Premier account. That's a good deal if you already bank with FNB. Standard Bank's Web Trading charges 0.5% per trade with no annual fee, but you need a R50,000 minimum balance. Capitec Global One has no monthly fee, but you can't trade shares directly—you'd need to use their partner, which adds a 1% admin fee. EasyEquities wins on pure cost, but you lose the convenience of a bank app. For retirement annuities, EasyEquities charges 0.5% annual admin fee, which is half of what Absa Gold charges. The real winner is the TFSA: with R36,000 per year and an 8% return, you'll hit R544,000 in 10 years, and pay zero CGT up to R500k lifetime. That's the best deal in the country.

Ranking: 5 Best Financial Products in South Africa for 2026

I ranked these based on cost-benefit for the average South African investor, considering the SARB's 6.75% interest rate and the electricity crisis that's hitting JSE Top 40 volatility. Here's my honest take, not a corporate pitch.

Total Annual Cost Calculation: A Real Example

Let's say you invest R36,000 per year in a TFSA on EasyEquities, buying JSE Top 40 ETFs monthly. You make 12 trades at R3,000 each. Brokerage: 12 x R7.50 (0.25% of R3,000) = R90. No annual fee on TFSA. No inactivity fee if you're active. Total cost: R90 per year, which is 0.25% of your investment. Compare that to a unit trust at Standard Bank: 1.2% annual fee on R36,000 = R432. You save R342 per year. Over 10 years, that's R3,420 saved, which compounds to about R5,000 extra in your pocket. The electricity crisis doesn't change these fees, but it does make the JSE Top 40 volatile. Stick to your monthly buys. Don't try to time the market. The SARB's 6.75% rate means cash is earning decent interest, but inflation eats that. Equities still win long-term.

Practical example in South Africa

R36,000/year in a TFSA with 8% return grows to ~R544,000 in 10 years

Risks and cautions

Volatilidade do mercado, mudanças na política monetária de South African Reserve Bank (SARB) e fatores geopolíticos globais são os principais pontos de atenção para investidores em South Africa.

Frequently asked questions

Does EasyEquities charge a monthly maintenance fee in 2026?

No, but they charge R25 per month for inactivity after 12 months. Keep at least one trade per year to avoid it.

What is the minimum trade amount on EasyEquities?

You can start with R10, but the R5 minimum brokerage fee means trades under R200 cost more than 2.5%.

Are EasyEquities fees tax-deductible for retirement annuities?

Yes, the 0.5% admin fee on retirement annuities is tax-deductible, but the FSCA requires you to claim it via your annual tax return.

How does the TFSA R36,000 limit work with EasyEquities?

You can deposit up to R36,000 per tax year. EasyEquities tracks it automatically and alerts you if you exceed the limit.

Is EasyEquities cheaper than using a bank's unit trust?

Yes, for JSE Top 40 ETFs, EasyEquities charges 0.25% vs. banks' 1.2% average. You save about R342 per R36,000 invested annually.

Sources and authority

This guide is part of the MoneyApp financial education ecosystem. For tax questions in Brazil, see Agente Tributário.

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