TL;DR
The best investment app for a South African beginner depends on which stage they are at. For investors who want to practise before risking real money, Kora Markets Play (free) is the only simulation-first platform designed for the African market. For investors ready for real markets, EasyEquities offers the broadest selection, Franc offers the simplest experience, and Stash is optimised for micro-investing habits. All platforms listed here are FSCA-regulated.
How we evaluated these platforms
All platforms in this guide were evaluated on: FSCA regulatory status, minimum investment required, availability of a simulation or practice mode, quality of built-in education, fee structure, product range, and African market focus. No platform paid for inclusion or placement. Kora Markets is listed in this guide and is the publisher — this is disclosed. The comparison table reflects objective feature differences.
Full comparison
Feature Kora Markets EasyEquities Franc Stash
Free simulation
Investor Readiness Score
FSCA regulated
Free to start (Play) (R10 min)
JSE ETF access Via Invest Broad Curated Limited
Feature Kora Markets EasyEquities Franc Stash
Individual shares
International access
TFSA account Via Invest
Education built-in Core Basic Limited Some
African market focus Primary SA-focused SA-focused SA-focused
Minimum (real investing) TBC ~R100 R10 R10
Best for Practice-first beginners Ready investors, broad access Simplicity Micro-habits
Our recommendation by investor type
If you have never invested before: Start with Kora Markets Play (free). Spend 30–60 days building your Investor Readiness Score. Then open an EasyEquities TFSA account for your first real investment.
If you want the simplest possible start with real money: Franc. Open a TFSA, set a monthly contribution, let the platform handle allocation.
If you want the broadest product access: EasyEquities. JSE ETFs, individual shares, international markets, and the most active investor community in South Africa.
If you want to invest in very small amounts consistently: Stash or Franc. Both support micro-contributions and automate the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all of these platforms safe? All platforms listed are FSCA-registered. This means they are legally required to meet specific capital adequacy, governance, and conduct standards. You can verify each platform's registration on the FSCA register at fsca.co.za. No investment is without market risk — the FSCA regulates conduct, not returns.
Which platform has the lowest fees? Fee structures vary by product and activity level. As a general guide: passive ETF investing on any of these platforms is low-cost (TERs of 0.1–0.5%). EasyEquities charges a small brokerage fee per trade. Franc charges a platform fee. Kora Markets Play is free; Kora Markets Invest fee structure is available on the platform.
Can I use multiple platforms at once? Yes. There is no restriction on using multiple platforms. Many South African investors use Kora Markets Play for decision practice alongside EasyEquities for their real portfolio.
CLUSTER 04 — South African Market Context