A plain-language, experience-based overview of the most popular investment platforms available to South Africans today — what each one does, who it suits, and what to be aware of, including South Africa’s Top Investment Apps.
By Nomzamo · Financial Literacy Educator & Solopreneur · elevatefinancepartners.online
“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.”
Ecclesiastes 11:1 · Spread your investments. Act with intention. Trust what time and consistency produce.
Full transparency: I have accounts on Luno, Stash, Vault22, Franc, EasyEquities, Fedgroup, and Standard Bank’s Auto Share Invest. I also hold a Retirement Annuity and managed funds with Discovery. That is a lot of platforms for one person.
- Some I use consistently. Some I opened with good intentions and then life got in the way. And I want to say something most financial content creators will not say: I am not a millionaire. Not yet. I carry debt, like so many South Africans navigating the tension between building a future and managing the weight of the present.
But I have never let debt be the reason I do not invest. Because wealth is not built in the absence of debt — it is built alongside it. Small, consistent investment does not pause your debt repayment journey. Done wisely, the two run in parallel.
Part of what shaped this mindset is my time working in banking. That environment taught me something no textbook quite captures: opportunity does not announce itself loudly or wait for you to be ready. It appears in windows — sometimes briefly, sometimes quietly — and the people who benefit are not always the most qualified or the most wealthy. They are the ones paying attention, and the ones willing to move when the conditions are favourable. I carry that lesson into every investment decision I make, however small. See the window. Assess the conditions. Act.
“Reduce what you owe. Grow what you own.”
This post is not a product endorsement or financial advice. It is a plain-language overview of each platform — what it is, how it works, and what South Africans should know before signing up. Always consult an FSCA-registered financial advisor before making investment decisions specific to your circumstances.
Know What You Are Looking For First
Different platforms serve different needs. Before comparing apps, it helps to know which type of investor you are right now:
Starting out with small amounts: Stash or Franc are designed for this.
Investing toward a specific goal: Franc or Vault22 work well here.
Building a diversified portfolio: EasyEquities offers the widest range.
Crypto exposure: Luno is South Africa’s most regulated option.
Impact and alternative investing: Fedgroup for investors drawn to tangible, impact-driven alternative assets.
South Africa’s Top Investment Apps: A guide to help you choose the best platform for your investment journey.
Retirement: Your RA sits in a separate category entirely and should never be replaced by an app.
The Platforms
1. Stash by Liberty — For starting small with no barrier
R5 per day Minimum
2.5% once-off per contribution (earned back if held 12+ months) Fee
FSCA · Liberty Group FSP no. 2409 Regulated by
Stash was built around one insight: most South Africans do not invest because they believe they cannot afford to. The R5 daily minimum removes that barrier. The platform links to your bank account, checks your balance before deducting, and wraps contributions in a Tax-Free Savings Account automatically.
It also includes behavioural triggers — invest based on your step count, the weather, or a daily habit. These features make saving feel accessible rather than intimidating. Stash for Kids allows parents to open a tax-free investment in a child’s name from birth, with the child taking ownership at 18.
✔ No meaningful barrier to entry
✔ TFSA wrapper included automatically
✔ Stash for Kids feature for parents
✔ Backed by Liberty — established and regulated
⚠ Limited investment options — Top 40 index or Cash+
⚠ Not designed for portfolio diversification
2. Franc — For simple, guided, goal-based investing
R10 (no stated minimum) Minimum
1% per year — R1 for every R100 invested annually Fee
FSCA FSP no. 49998 Regulated by
Franc was South Africa’s first robo-advisory investment app, founded in 2017. It uses a short questionnaire to recommend an appropriate fund — either the Allan Gray Money Market Fund or the Satrix Top 40 ETF — removing the decision paralysis that stops many people from starting. The 1% annual fee is transparent and low.
I registered for Franc long ago and only recently began using it properly. That delay had nothing to do with the platform — it was my own inconsistency. For anyone sitting on a registration they have not activated, the process to make a first contribution is straightforward. Franc also now offers a Retirement Annuity option.
Some users have reported delays with withdrawals and customer service response times. This is worth factoring in if you plan to use it for funds you may need to access quickly.
✔ Extremely low barrier to entry
✔ Transparent 1% annual fee
✔ Robo-advisor removes choice paralysis
✔ Goal-based features built in
✔ RA option now available
⚠ Only two fund options — no individual shares
⚠ Some reported delays with withdrawals and support
3. Vault22 (formerly 22seven) — For seeing your full financial picture
R500 via Vault Wealth Minimum
0.75% advisory fee · No platform fee Fee
FSCA · Old Mutual subsidiary Regulated by
Most South Africans will know this as 22seven — the budgeting app that connects to your bank accounts and categorises spending automatically. It has since been rebranded as Vault22 and added an investment feature through Vault Wealth.
Its primary strength remains financial overview. Connect all your accounts — bank, credit, investments — and Vault22 shows everything in one dashboard. For anyone managing irregular income, that visibility is genuinely useful. The Vault Wealth investment feature offers curated ETF portfolios from R500, backed by Old Mutual, with a 0.75% advisory fee and no additional platform cost.
✔ Best financial overview tool available locally
✔ Connects to 120+ South African financial institutions
✔ Backed by Old Mutual
⚠ Investment feature limited compared to standalone platforms
⚠ R500 minimum higher than Franc or Stash
⚠ Some users report syncing issues with certain banks
4. EasyEquities — For building a diversified portfolio
No minimum — fractional shares from R10 Minimum
0.25% brokerage per trade + R25/month Thrive fee (conditions apply) Fee
FSCA FSP no. 22588 · JSE-listed parent company Regulated by
EasyEquities was founded in 2014 with a specific mission: make the stock market accessible to ordinary South Africans. Its fractional share model means you can hold a piece of any listed share — local or international — from as little as R10. The platform covers South African and US shares, ETFs, unit trusts, themed investment baskets, a Retirement Annuity, a Tax-Free Savings Account, and crypto through EasyCrypto.
One feature worth highlighting specifically is EasyProperties. It allows investment in income-generating commercial and residential properties from as little as R10, with rental income distributed proportionally. For South Africans who see property as a wealth-building tool but cannot afford a bond, this offers an accessible entry point into the property market.
The R25 monthly Thrive fee is waived for investors under 21 or over 65, and at higher engagement levels. Fractional shares on EasyEquities are held as Fractional Share Rights — a derivative structure that provides economic exposure to the underlying share rather than direct registered ownership.
✔ Widest investment range of any local platform
✔ Includes RA, TFSA, crypto, and property
✔ No minimum — fractional shares from R10
✔ Automated portfolio tools available
✔ EasyProperties opens property investment to small investors
⚠ R25 monthly Thrive fee applies in some cases
⚠ Breadth of choice can overwhelm new investors
⚠ Customer support flagged as slow by multiple users
⚠ Fractional shares give you exposure to a share, but they are not the same as holding the full share in your own name.
5. Luno — For regulated crypto exposure
No stated minimum Minimum
0%–3.9% depending on transaction type Fee
FSCA-licensed Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) Regulated by
Luno was founded in 2013 by South Africans and serves over 11 million users across 40 countries. It holds formal FSCA licensing as a Crypto Asset Service Provider — significant in a space where many platforms remain unregulated.
Beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, Luno now offers access to over 44 tokenised stocks and ETFs — including major US-listed companies and the S&P 500 — all purchasable in rands without currency conversion costs or US trading hours restrictions. The DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging) feature allows automatic recurring purchases, which many consider the most measured approach to crypto investment.
One development every South African crypto investor should be aware of: the 2026 Budget Speech announced that draft regulations will be published to formally bring crypto assets into South Africa’s capital flow management framework under the Currency and Exchanges Act. Cross-border crypto flows will be formally governed for the first time. This signals that crypto is moving into the mainstream regulatory framework. Investors are encouraged to use licensed platforms, maintain transaction records, and monitor the draft regulations as they are published.
✔ FSCA-licensed — one of the most regulated crypto platforms locally
✔ Founded by South Africans, built for this market
✔ Tokenised stocks give international equity access in ZAR
✔ Clean, beginner-friendly interface
✔ Staking available in South Africa
⚠ Limited to major cryptocurrencies
⚠ Fees higher in South Africa than some other regions
⚠ Not designed for complex or advanced trading
6. Fedgroup — For impact-driven and alternative asset investing
R300 Minimum (Impact Farming)
Zero fees on Impact Farming
Established 1990 FSCA-licensed FSP — Impact Farming itself is currently unregulated
Fedgroup has been operating in South Africa since 1990 and offers something genuinely distinctive: the Impact Farming product. Rather than investing in shares or funds, you invest in a physical asset on a real farm — a beehive, a solar panel, a macadamia tree, a blueberry bush. Expert farmers manage the asset, and you earn income from your share of the harvest or energy output when it is collected. Harvest cycles vary by product, with some paying monthly and others annually.
For investors drawn to stewardship and tangible impact, Fedgroup carries a particular resonance. Each investment supports food security, job creation, and environmental sustainability in South Africa. Returns have tracked in line with projected targets of around 10% internal rate of return over the asset lifetime, though real-world factors such as weather conditions and export demand influence outcomes.
An important disclosure: while Fedgroup holds FSCA licences and offers regulated financial products, the Impact Farming product specifically is currently unregulated. Fedgroup is transparent about this and has structured the product in alignment with the incoming COFI framework, which is expected to bring alternative assets into the formal regulatory environment from 2026 onwards. Prospective investors should read all disclosure documents carefully and treat Impact Farming as a higher-risk alternative asset class.
✔ Unique alternative asset class — not replicated by any other local platform
✔ Tangible connection to investment — food security, energy, sustainability
✔ Zero fees on Impact Farming
⚠ Impact Farming is currently unregulated — read all disclosures carefully
⚠ Returns subject to weather, harvest cycles, and export demand
⚠ Higher-risk product — not suited to risk-averse investors
7. Standard Bank Auto Share Invest — For existing Standard Bank customers
Varies by product Minimum
Verify current rates directly with Standard Bank Fee
FSCA · Standard Bank Group Regulated by
The Auto Share Invest product integrates investment directly into your Standard Bank banking experience. For existing customers, the familiarity and convenience reduces the friction of getting started — no new accounts, no external platform, no separate login. I hold my Tax-Free Investment with Standard Bank for exactly this reason.
Bank-embedded investment products typically carry higher fees than standalone fintech platforms. This is a convenience trade-off rather than a quality concern. It is worth comparing fees periodically to understand what the premium for that integration costs over time.
✔ Integrated with existing Standard Bank banking
✔ Regulated, established institution
✔ Familiarity reduces friction to starting
⚠ Fees typically higher than standalone apps
⚠ Less investment range than EasyEquities
The Tax-Free Savings Account: Use It
No investment overview for South Africans is complete without the Tax-Free Savings Account. It is available across multiple providers — Standard Bank, EasyEquities, Stash, Old Mutual, Sanlam, and others — and it is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to ordinary investors.
What it is
A TFSA allows your money to grow completely free of tax. No income tax on interest. No dividends tax. No capital gains tax when your investment grows. Every rand of growth inside the account belongs entirely to you. Over a decade or more, that tax saving compounds into a meaningful difference.
What the 2026 Budget changed
Minister Godongwana’s 2026 Budget increased the annual TFSA contribution limit from R36,000 to R46,000 per year, effective 1 March 2026. In monthly terms, that is R3,833 per month sheltered from tax, up from R3,000 previously.
✔ New annual limit: R46,000 per year
✔ Monthly equivalent: R3,833 per month
✔ Lifetime limit: R500,000 (unchanged)
✔ Zero tax on interest, dividends, and capital gains inside the account
✔ Available across Standard Bank, EasyEquities, Stash, Old Mutual, Sanlam, and more
The one rule
The lifetime limit is cumulative and permanent. If you withdraw and reinvest, the reinvestment counts as a new contribution against your R500,000 lifetime allowance — you do not recover the space. A TFSA is a long-term wealth builder, not a short-term savings account or emergency fund.
“R3,833 a month. Every rand it earns is yours. No income tax. No dividends tax. No capital gains tax. The 2026 Budget just made it more powerful.”
Investing on an Irregular Income
Most investment guidance assumes a predictable monthly salary and a standing debit order. For solopreneurs, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, that is often not the reality. Here is what works when income is inconsistent:
Invest the day money arrives. When income is irregular, month-end debit orders miss the money that came in mid-month and got spent. Move a portion to your investment account the moment a payment lands.
Use platforms with no or low minimums. Franc and Stash are built for this reality. R10 invested is better than R0 waiting for a round number.
Keep your emergency fund separate. Before investing in growth assets, 3–6 months of expenses in a liquid, accessible account provides stability. Investing without this cushion means every market dip feels like a crisis.
Review quarterly, not daily. Irregular income already creates financial anxiety. Checking investments daily amplifies that anxiety without adding value.
Have a purpose for each platform. Multiple accounts are fine. Multiple accounts with no clear intention and no active contributions serve no one.
A Suggested Framework
This is not a prescription — every financial situation is different. It is simply one way of thinking about how these tools can work together:
Retirement (RA): Fund this first and consistently. The tax benefit on contributions is immediate and significant.
Emergency fund: 3–6 months of expenses in a money market or accessible account before committing to growth investments.
TFSA: Open one if you have not. Contribute what you can, regularly. Time in the market matters more than the amount.
Habit-building investment: Stash or Franc for small, consistent amounts while the habit is being established.
Growth portfolio: EasyEquities for broader diversification once the foundations are in place.
Crypto (optional): Luno for regulated exposure to major cryptocurrencies, as a small portion of a broader portfolio.
Financial overview: Vault22 to see everything in one place — what you have, what you owe, what you are building.
A Final Word
The fact that South Africans now have access to investment platforms with no minimums, transparent fees, and five-minute sign-ups is genuinely significant. The barrier to starting has never been lower.
What remains is the internal barrier — the belief that you need to be debt-free, income-stable, or financially ready before you begin. That moment rarely arrives on its own. The habit of investing, however small, is what creates the conditions for it.
Cast your bread upon the waters. In many different directions. Consistently. And trust what grows.
“Wealth is not built in the month you finally have enough. It is built in every month you chose to invest something.”
If this guide helped you understand investing in South Africa more clearly, share it with someone who is still waiting for the “right time” to start.
DISCLAIMER: This post is written for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice as defined under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act. Platform details, fees, and features are subject to change — verify current information directly with each provider before investing. For advice tailored to your personal circumstances, consult an FSCA-registered financial advisor. Nomzamo is a Financial Literacy Educator. Elevate Finance Partners does not earn commission or referral fees from any platform mentioned in this post.
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Written by Nomzamo · Financial Literacy Educator & Solopreneur · Elevate Finance Partners — Empowering Faithful Stewardship, Elevating Financial Futures.
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