Introduction: Investing Made Simple in South Africa
Investing used to be complicated, expensive, and reserved for a select few. But in 2025, South Africans can build wealth straight from their smartphones with user-friendly apps like EasyEquities and Satrix. Whether you’re saving for a dream home, your child’s education, or simply want to beat inflation, these platforms make it possible to start investing with as little as R50. In this guide, we’ll compare EasyEquities and Satrix, highlight their strengths, and help you choose the best investment app for your financial goals.
- Introduction: Investing Made Simple in South Africa
- EasyEquities: Investing With Flexibility and Choice
- Satrix: Passive Investing for Long-Term Growth
- Fees and Costs: What You’ll Really Pay
- Investment Options: Customise Your Portfolio
- Safety, Regulation, and Investor Protection
- Getting Started: Practical Tips for South Africans
- Which App Is Best for You?
- Conclusion: Take Action and Start Investing Today
- Related Articles
- Sources & Further Reading
EasyEquities: Investing With Flexibility and Choice
EasyEquities has become a household name in South Africa’s investment landscape. What makes it stand out is its flexibility and the sheer range of options. You can buy fractional shares, meaning you don’t need thousands to get started. The app lets you invest in local shares, global stocks, a variety of ETFs, and even property via EasyProperties. There’s also a crypto token (EC10) for those wanting a taste of digital assets.
- Low minimum investment: Start investing with any amount, even R50.
- Wide range of assets: Choose from South African companies, US stocks, ETFs, and more.
- Fractional shares: Own a piece of high-value companies without buying a whole share.
- EasyProperties: Invest in South African real estate from your phone.
- User-friendly experience: The mobile app is simple and intuitive, perfect for beginners.
With EasyEquities, you can diversify your portfolio across sectors and geographies. For instance, you could buy shares in Shoprite Holdings for local exposure, invest in the Satrix RESI ETF for resources, and add something like the Sygnia Itrix MSCI Japan ETF for international diversification. This flexibility makes EasyEquities ideal for hands-on investors who want to pick and mix their investments.
Satrix: Passive Investing for Long-Term Growth
Satrix is the go-to app for South Africans who prefer a passive, long-term strategy. The SatrixNOW platform focuses exclusively on index-tracking funds and unit trusts, making it perfect if you want to invest in the market without picking individual shares. Satrix products have a strong track record, regularly winning awards for their performance.
- Direct ownership: You own the underlying assets, not derivatives or CFDs.
- Low-risk approach: Index investing reduces the risk of picking “losers.”
- No minimum investment: Just like EasyEquities, you can start with any amount.
- Strong performance: Satrix’s ETFs frequently top the South African Listed Tracker Awards.
- Tiered admin fees: Fees decrease as your investment grows, making it increasingly cost-effective for larger portfolios.
SatrixNOW is best for those who want to “set and forget” their investments. You can buy into ETFs like the Satrix RAFI 40 Portfolio, which tracks 40 of South Africa’s top companies based on fundamentals like sales and dividends. This provides broad exposure without the need to research individual stocks.
Fees and Costs: What You’ll Really Pay
Fees can eat into your returns, so it’s essential to understand what you’ll pay on each platform. EasyEquities is known for low brokerage fees, with no monthly account charges, making it especially attractive for small investors. You only pay when you buy or sell, and these costs are clearly displayed before you confirm each trade.
SatrixNOW uses a tiered annual admin fee structure:
- 0.50% on the first R500,000
- 0.40% on R500,000 to R1 million
- 0.30% above R1 million
Satrix’s fees can be higher for smaller portfolios, but they become more competitive as your portfolio grows. Both platforms also charge standard transaction costs for buying and selling. Keep in mind that ETFs themselves have expense ratios, which cover the fund’s operating costs. These are generally low but vary between funds.
Investment Options: Customise Your Portfolio
EasyEquities offers maximum flexibility. You can invest in individual shares, ETFs, commodities, and even cryptocurrencies. This suits investors who want to build a customised portfolio or explore different asset classes.
Popular ETFs on EasyEquities include the Satrix RAFI 40 Portfolio, CoreShares SciBeta Multi-Factor ETF, and Sygnia Itrix MSCI Japan ETF. These funds provide instant diversification across sectors and geographies. For those with specific values, options like the Satrix Inclusion & Diversity ETF or NEWFUNDS SHARIA TOP40 are available.
Related: Best Investment Apps South Africa
SatrixNOW, in contrast, focuses on Satrix’s own ETFs and unit trusts. These are perfect for a hands-off approach. You can invest in the Satrix Top 40 ETF, which tracks the largest companies on the JSE, or the Satrix RESI ETF for exposure to resources. The platform makes index investing simple and accessible.
Safety, Regulation, and Investor Protection
Both EasyEquities and SatrixNOW are licensed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), ensuring your money is protected by South African regulations. SatrixNOW gives you direct ownership of assets, which means you have full shareholder rights. EasyEquities allows you to own shares or ETFs directly, not just trade derivatives, adding an extra layer of safety.
Always use platforms that are properly regulated, and never invest money you cannot afford to lose. While both apps take security seriously, it’s wise to enable two-factor authentication and choose strong passwords to protect your account.
Getting Started: Practical Tips for South Africans
Starting your investment journey is easier than ever. Here are practical tips for South Africans new to these investment apps:
- Set clear goals: Decide whether you’re saving for retirement, a major purchase, or just want to grow your wealth.
- Diversify: Don’t put all your money into one share or ETF. Mix local and international assets for balance.
- Start small: Both apps allow you to begin with R50 or even less. Build confidence before committing larger amounts.
- Automate your investments: Use debit orders to invest monthly. This builds discipline and takes advantage of Rand cost averaging.
- Keep learning: Both platforms offer educational resources. Read blogs, join webinars, and follow market updates.
- Review fees: Check the cost breakdown before investing. Small differences can add up over time.
- Link your local bank: Both apps make it easy to deposit funds from major South African banks like FNB, Standard Bank, ABSA, and Nedbank.
Which App Is Best for You?
Choosing between EasyEquities and Satrix comes down to your investment style.
- Pick EasyEquities if you want flexibility, access to a wide range of asset classes, and the ability to buy fractional shares in both local and international markets.
- Choose SatrixNOW if you prefer a straightforward, passive investment approach with a focus on index funds and long-term growth.
- Some South Africans use both apps to diversify their investments and take advantage of each platform’s strengths.
Ultimately, the best investment app is one that matches your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment knowledge. There’s no need to choose just one. You can easily start small, learn as you go, and expand your portfolio over time.
Conclusion: Take Action and Start Investing Today
South African investors have more options than ever to build their wealth in 2025. EasyEquities and SatrixNOW are leading the charge, making investing accessible, affordable, and safe. Whether you want to pick your own shares or invest passively in ETFs, both platforms offer excellent features tailored to local needs. The most important step is to get started. Open an account, set your goals, and begin your investment journey. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow. Happy investing!
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