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Brokers With Best Welcome Bonuses In South Africa 2026

Compare the best welcome trading bonuses in South Africa by size and rules to find the right offer for you. We’ve verified that each joining bonus below is available by using a South African IP address and checked for withdrawal restrictions by reading every word of their terms and conditions.

Author Image Written By
Christian Harris
Fact Checker Image Fact Checked By
Royston Wild
Editor Image Edited By
Michael MacKenzie
Updated
October 21, 2026

Safety warning: While South Africa’s FSCA permits trading bonuses, they remain high risk. We believe, based on the thousands of Rands worth of bonuses that we’ve traded with, that sign-up deals are best used for testing a broker or experimenting with strategies.

Your capital is at risk. Trade only with funds you can afford to lose.
Tested with a live trading account Accept traders from South Africa
South AfricaOur Top Pick in South Africa 1 XM 4.8/5
Bonus Offer: $30 No Deposit Bonus, 100% Deposit Bonus
2 FXCC 4.6/5
Bonus Offer: 100% First Deposit Bonus Up To $2,000
3 RoboForex 4.5/5
Bonus Offer: $30 Deposit Bonus
4 Vantage 4.7/5
Bonus Offer: 50% Welcome Deposit Bonus, earn redeemable rewards in the Vantage Rewards scheme, Demo contests with prizes up to $2000
Brokers With:
Showing 5 of 20 matching brokers
  1. 1

    XM

    4.8/5 our rating
    South Africa Available in South Africa South Africa Not available in South Africa ZAR Account
    Rating breakdown
    Regulation & Trust 4.5
    Assets & Markets 4.5
    Fees & Costs 4.0
    Platforms & Tools 4.8
    Customer Support 4.9
    Education 4.8
    Research 4.3
    Accounts & Banking 4.5
    Visit XM Read Review
    76.15% of retail accounts lose money.

    XM is a trusted global forex and CFD broker with over 20 million clients in more than 190 countries. Since 2009, it has offered low trading fees on 1000+ instruments. XM provides a full MetaTrader experience that we have tested firsthand. 100% deposit bonus + further offers up to $4500100% deposit bonus + further offers up to $4500

    XM Bonus Offer

    $30 No Deposit Bonus, 100% Deposit Bonus
    Demo Account
    ✓
    Minimum Deposit
    $5
    Minimum Trade
    0.01 Lots
    Leverage
    1:10001:30
    Copy Trading
    ✓
    Regulator
    CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, SCA, FSA, FSC-Belize, FSC-Mauritius, CMA-Kenya, CMA-UAE
    Instruments
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, Energies
    Platforms
    MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
    Account Currencies
    USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, ZAR
    Automated Trading
    Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
    AI
    ✓
    Guaranteed Stop Loss
    ✗
  2. 2
    4.6/5 our rating
    South Africa Available in South Africa South Africa Not available in South Africa
    Rating breakdown
    Regulation & Trust 3.6
    Assets & Markets 3.8
    Fees & Costs 4.5
    Platforms & Tools 3.8
    Customer Support 4.8
    Education 2.5
    Research 2.0
    Accounts & Banking 3.8
    Visit FXCC Read Review
    84.6% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

    FXCC is a well-established broker providing low-cost online trading since 2010. It is registered in Comoros Union and regulated by CySEC, known for its ECN trading, no minimum deposit, and quick account opening in under 5 minutes.

    FXCC Bonus Offer

    100% First Deposit Bonus Up To $2,000
    Demo Account
    ✓
    Minimum Deposit
    $0
    Minimum Trade
    0.01 Lots
    Leverage
    1:1000 (Exceeds FCA limits; high risk) (Exceeds CIRO limits; high risk)
    Copy Trading
    ✓
    Regulator
    CySEC, MISA
    Instruments
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Metals, Energies, Crypto
    Platforms
    MT4, MT5
    Account Currencies
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD
    Automated Trading
    Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
    AI
    ✗
    Guaranteed Stop Loss
    ✗
  3. 3
    4.5/5 our rating
    South Africa Available in South Africa South Africa Not available in South Africa
    Rating breakdown
    Regulation & Trust 3.3
    Assets & Markets 4.0
    Fees & Costs 3.8
    Platforms & Tools 4.2
    Customer Support 4.6
    Education 4.1
    Research 4.4
    Accounts & Banking 4.3
    Visit RoboForex Read Review
    RoboForex Ltd and its affiliates do not target EU/EEA/UK clients. Please be aware that you are able to receive investment services from a third-country firm at your own exclusive initiative only, taking all the risks involved.

    RoboForex is an online broker founded in 2009 and registered with Belize’s FSC. It offers five account types: Prime, ECN, R StocksTrader, ProCent, and Pro. Trading starts at 0.01 lots, with spreads from 0 pips. RoboForex also offers CFDs, a stock trading platform, and the CopyFX system.

    RoboForex Bonus Offer

    $30 Deposit Bonus
    Demo Account
    ✓
    Minimum Deposit
    $10
    Minimum Trade
    0.01 Lots
    Leverage
    1:2000
    Copy Trading
    ✓
    Regulator
    FSC
    Instruments
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Crypto
    Platforms
    R StocksTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
    Account Currencies
    USD, EUR
    Automated Trading
    Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, Strategy Builder in R StocksTrader
    AI
    ✗
    Guaranteed Stop Loss
    ✗

    Read More

  4. 4
    4.7/5 our rating
    South Africa Available in South Africa South Africa Not available in South Africa
    Rating breakdown
    Regulation & Trust 4.6
    Assets & Markets 4.5
    Fees & Costs 4.4
    Platforms & Tools 4.3
    Customer Support 4.4
    Education 4.0
    Research 4.0
    Accounts & Banking 4.5

    Founded in 2009, Vantage offers 1,000+ CFD products to millions of clients. Trade Forex CFDs from 0.0 pips on a RAW account using TradingView, MT4, or MT5. Vantage is ASIC regulated, with segregated client funds. Social trading tools are also available.

    Vantage Bonus Offer

    50% Welcome Deposit Bonus, earn redeemable rewards in the Vantage Rewards scheme, Demo contests with prizes up to $2000

    Demo Account
    ✓
    Minimum Deposit
    $50
    Minimum Trade
    0.01 Lots
    Leverage
    1:20001:500
    Copy Trading
    ✓
    Regulator
    FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC, CIMA
    Instruments
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Spread betting
    Platforms
    ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
    Account Currencies
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, HKD, SGD, PLN
    Automated Trading
    Myfxbook AutoTrade, Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
    AI
    ✗
    Guaranteed Stop Loss
    ✗
  5. 5
    3.9/5 our rating
    South Africa Available in South Africa South Africa Not available in South Africa
    Rating breakdown
    Regulation & Trust 2.5
    Assets & Markets 4.0
    Fees & Costs 3.9
    Platforms & Tools 3.6
    Customer Support 3.5
    Education 3.5
    Research 4.0
    Accounts & Banking 3.5

    Established in 2024 and headquartered in Seychelles, Bullwaves is a MetaTrader-only broker providing access to over 250 assets, including forex, metals, indices, stocks, and ETFs. Traders can select from three account types: Classic, VIP, and Elite, designed for various experience levels and budgets.

    Bullwaves Bonus Offer

    100% Deposit Bonus up to $5000
    Demo Account
    ✓
    Minimum Deposit
    $100
    Minimum Trade
    0.01 Lots
    Leverage
    1:500
    Copy Trading
    ✓
    Regulator
    FSA
    Instruments
    CFDs, Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Crypto
    Platforms
    MT5
    Account Currencies
    USD, EUR, GBP
    Automated Trading
    Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
    AI
    ✓
    Guaranteed Stop Loss
    ✗

Welcome Bonuses Available To South African Traders Compared

Review the size of bonus credit, core terms and conditions:

Broker
South Africa
ZAR Account
Bonus
Key Rules
FSCA License
XM
✓ $30 No Deposit Bonus, 100% Deposit Bonus No deposit bonus credit cannot be withdrawn, but profits generated from the bonus can. Withdrawing profits from the no deposit bonus results in a proportional removal of bonus credit. With the deposit bonus, there's no wagering. XM treats this as trading credit, generally up to $500, followed by a 20% tier up to a total of $5,000. It is not cash: it can’t be withdrawn, and any withdrawal removes the bonus proportionally. Profits generated from trading remain withdrawable, but the bonus itself is for margin support only. ✓
FXCC
✗ 100% First Deposit Bonus Up To $2,000 No wagering. Bonus credit added to account for trading purposes. Withdrawals remove the bonus in the same proportion, and the credit can also be removed if equity falls to the specified threshold. ✗
RoboForex
✗ $30 Deposit Bonus Clients can withdraw own funds and profit without limitations. However, you still need account verification and a minimum $10/€10 card deposit. Also, the $30 bonus itself typically cannot be withdrawn until a specific volume is met (usually 1 lot per $2 of bonus). ✗
Vantage
✗ 50% Welcome Deposit Bonus, earn redeemable rewards in the Vantage Rewards scheme, Demo contests with prizes up to $2000 No wagering.The bonus is non-withdrawable credit, while profits generated from trading with it are withdrawable. This is a margin-credit bonus, not a cash bonus. ✓
Bullwaves
✗ 100% Deposit Bonus up to $5000 ✗ ✗
Broker
South Africa
ZAR Account
Bonus
Key Rules
FSCA License

Broker Details Comparison

Broker
Demo Account
Minimum Deposit
Minimum Trade
Leverage
Assets
Platforms
XM ✓ $5 0.01 Lots 1:10001:30 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, Energies MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
FXCC ✓ $0 0.01 Lots 1:1000 (Exceeds FCA limits; high risk) (Exceeds CIRO limits; high risk) CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Metals, Energies, Crypto MT4, MT5
RoboForex ✓ $10 0.01 Lots 1:2000 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Crypto R StocksTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
Vantage ✓ $50 0.01 Lots 1:20001:500 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Spread betting ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
Bullwaves ✓ $100 0.01 Lots 1:500 CFDs, Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Crypto MT5
Broker
Demo Account
Minimum Deposit
Minimum Trade
Leverage
Assets
Platforms

Comparison for Advanced Traders

Compare how suitable the Brokers With Best Welcome Bonuses In South Africa 2026 are for advanced or professional traders.

Broker
Automated Trading
VPS
API
AI
Pro Account
Leverage
Low Latency
Extended Hours
XM Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗ 1:10001:30 ✓ ✗
FXCC Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ 1:1000 (Exceeds FCA limits; high risk) (Exceeds CIRO limits; high risk) ✓ ✗
RoboForex Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, Strategy Builder in R StocksTrader ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ 1:2000 ✗ ✗
Vantage Myfxbook AutoTrade, Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ 1:20001:500 ✗ ✗
Bullwaves Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗ 1:500 ✗ ✗
Broker
Automated Trading
VPS
API
AI
Pro Account
Leverage
Low Latency
Extended Hours

Detailed Rating Comparison

Here's how our top brokers for welcome bonuses in South Africa performed in our hands-on tests:

Broker
Trust
Platforms
Assets
Mobile
Fees
Accounts
Research
Education
Support
XM
4.5
4.8
4.5
4.3
4.0
4.5
4.3
4.8
4.9
FXCC
3.6
3.8
3.8
4.6
4.5
3.8
2.0
2.5
4.8
RoboForex
3.3
4.2
4.0
4.6
3.8
4.3
4.4
4.1
4.6
Vantage
4.6
4.3
4.5
3.8
4.4
4.5
4.0
4.0
4.4
Bullwaves
2.5
3.6
4.0
4.7
3.9
3.5
4.0
3.5
3.5
Broker
Trust
Platforms
Assets
Mobile
Fees
Accounts
Research
Education
Support

Customer Ratings

Compare how customers of these brokers feel about them, with real user ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Broker
Customers
Trustpilot Score
Trustpilot Reviews
Android App Rating
iOS App Rating
XM 20,000,000
2.0
3,096
3.9
4.7
FXCC ✗
4.5
230
4.4
4.8
RoboForex 700,000
2.0
775
4.4
4.7
Vantage 5,000,000
4.4
16,078
3.9
3.6
Bullwaves 10,000
3.4
670
4.6
4.8
Broker
Customers
Trustpilot Score
Trustpilot Reviews
Android App Rating
iOS App Rating

Broker Popularity

Here's how many clients our best brokers offering joining bonuses have:

Broker Popularity
XM
20,000,000
Vantage
5,000,000
RoboForex
700,000
Bullwaves
10,000

Why Trade With XM?

4.8/5
With a $5 minimum deposit, MT4 and MT5 charting, a growing market range, and a Zero account with spreads from 0.0, XM offers key tools for active traders.
Christian Harris Christian Harris
Review Author

Pros

  • XM has updated its platform with integrated TradingView charts and an XM AI assistant for faster execution, smarter analysis, and a more intuitive trading experience.
  • In late 2025, XM received a category 5 license from the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of the United Arab Emirates, enhancing its regulatory standing and positioning it as a strong choice for traders in the Middle East.
  • XM’s Zero account is ideal for trading with spreads from 0.0 pips, 99.35% of orders executed in <1 second, without requotes or rejections.

Cons

  • XM is trusted and regulated in some regions but also operates under weaker regulators, including FSC (Belize) and FSA (Seychelles). It no longer accepts UK clients, limiting its market reach.
  • While the XM app is easy to use and offers exclusive copy trading products, its technical analysis tools need improvement for advanced traders.
  • XM only offers MetaTrader desktop platforms, with no in-house downloadable option for beginners or unique features.
Visit XM Read Review
76.15% of retail accounts lose money.

Why Trade With FXCC?

4.6/5
FXCC is an excellent choice for traders, offering over 70 currency pairs, ultra-tight spreads from 0.0 pips during testing, and a free VPS for eligible traders.
James Barra James Barra
Review Author

Pros

  • FXCC has expanded its services by including MT5 in its platforms, adding hundreds of stocks and more cryptocurrencies, as well as introducing copy trading and more margin trading options.
  • Customer support still depends on human agents, providing live chat response times of under three minutes in our tests, with knowledgeable representatives. This is a welcome change from the often frustrating AI chatbots now common among brokers.
  • FXCC is a strong choice for algo traders due to its free VPS for eligible traders and the option to build or buy EAs on MetaTrader.

Cons

  • FXCC's offshore entity, though regulated by CySEC, operates under limited oversight from MISA and may not offer protections such as investor compensation if the broker becomes insolvent.
  • Despite improvements to the economic calendar, FXCC provides limited market research, offering only basic daily technical analysis and aggregated news. It lacks tools such as Autochartist and social sentiment data.
  • FXCC imposes high withdrawal fees, such as $45 for bank transfers and 2% for cryptocurrency transfers, which can reduce the earnings of traders who frequently withdraw funds.
Visit FXCC Read Review
84.6% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Why Trade With RoboForex?

4.5/5
RoboForex offers 12,000+ markets, ECN accounts, charting tools, and loyalty promotions. Its R StocksTrader platform supports 3,000+ shares, fees from $0.01, and advanced watchlists.
Christian Harris Christian Harris
Review Author

Pros

  • RoboForex offers tight spreads starting at 0 pips and low minimum deposits from $10, making it affordable. Trading with micro lots additionally reduces entry barriers for new traders.
  • The broker provides two free withdrawals each month in the Free Funds Withdrawal program, assisting traders in reducing transaction expenses.
  • RoboForex offers more than 12,000 instruments for trading. This includes forex, stocks, indices, ETFs, commodities, and futures. Comparatively, this surpasses the trading opportunities available from most online brokers.

Cons

  • RoboForex, despite having many platforms, does not yet support the commonly used cTrader. This can dissuade traders who favor this platform for trading, which is accessible with firms such as Fusion Markets.
  • RoboForex provides fair spreads, but some of its account types have high trading commissions up to $20 per lot, which are more expensive compared to more affordable brokers like IC Markets.
  • RoboForex offers many account types which, although flexible, can be daunting for new traders to select the most appropriate for their trading preferences. Other platforms like eToro simplify the process with a single retail account option.
Visit RoboForex Read Review
RoboForex Ltd and its affiliates do not target EU/EEA/UK clients. Please be aware that you are able to receive investment services from a third-country firm at your own exclusive initiative only, taking all the risks involved.

Why Trade With Vantage?

4.7/5
Vantage is a solid choice for CFD traders looking for a strictly-controlled broker that offers the dependable MetaTrader platforms. The registration process is swift and there’s a $50 minimum deposit, making it easy for traders to start quickly.
James Barra James Barra
Review Author

Pros

  • An excellent range of trading software, including the award-winning MT4 and MT5 platforms
  • Hedging and scalping are allowed with no restrictions on short-term trading strategies.
  • The broker has expanded its range of CFDs, offering more trading opportunities.

Cons

  • Unfortunately, some customers may have to sign up with an offshore company, providing less regulation protection.
  • Test results show that average transaction speeds of 100ms-250ms are slower than other trading options.
  • To enjoy optimal trading conditions, a significant deposit of $10,000 is required. These conditions include a commission fee of $1.50 per side.

Why Trade With Bullwaves?

3.9/5
Bullwaves may attract new traders interested in MetaTrader chart platforms with expanding research tools, including AI market analysis. However, its short history and lack of strong regulation cast doubt on its reliability.
Christian Harris Christian Harris
Review Author

Pros

  • Registering and creating a Bullwaves account takes only a few minutes.
  • Bullwaves now offers copy trading, letting users follow traders across 900+ strategies with spreads from 0.01 pips.
  • Certain accounts (Classic and VIP) provide commission-free trading, allowing users to trade without extra costs apart from the spread.

Cons

  • Bullwaves offers few educational tools, making it less appealing to beginners compared to leaders like IG, which provides structured courses and interactive features.
  • Traders and scalpers may favor VIP or ECN accounts, but these need much higher initial deposits ($3,000 and $5,000) than many brokers with similar trading conditions and lower entry requirements.
  • Bullwaves operates without strong regulation in major jurisdictions, holding a license with one lower tier regulator, the Seychelles FSA, meaning it lacks oversight from reputable authorities to ensure compliance with strict financial standards.
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How We Selected The Best Trading Bonus Offers In South Africa

To create our rankings, we followed five steps:

  1. We opened a trading account with every broker in our evolving directory from an IP address in Johannesburg, South Africa.
  2. During the sign-up stage, we noted whether a welcome bonus was offered and the type of deal (deposit bonus, no deposit bonus, or other offer).
  3. We loaded the terms and conditions (T&Cs), which were typically accessible via a stand-alone link, read every word, and documented the key stipulations to be aware of, paying particular attention to wagering/volume/withdrawal conditions.
  4. Where possible, we accepted the sign-up bonus to confirm it was applied to accounts as advertised and where practical, traded the credit on various assets, which included ZAR/USD, oil, and US technology stocks.
  5. We assigned every broker an overall rating after considering nearly 300 data points, including whether the brokerage was licensed by South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) and offered a trading account based in South African Rand (ZAR), which together provide peace of mind for local traders and help minimize conversion fees. Lots of our top brokers for South African traders ultimely offer trading incentives.
XM South African website with a Johannesburg VPN

A Johannesburg VPN was used for bonus testing

Signing up for XM's welcome deposit bonus in South Africa

Claiming XM’s 100% welcome deposit bonus

Are Broker Bonuses Allowed In South Africa?

Yes, online trading bonuses are permitted in South Africa. The FSCA, unlike regulators in jurisdictions like Europe (European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)), the UK (Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ) and Australia (Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)), has not introduced a blanket ban on brokers offering retail clients incentives to trade forex or CFDs.

None of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act No. 37 of 2002, the Financial Markets Act (FMA) No. 19 of 2012, nor the regulatory filings governing derivative counterparties, specifically Conduct Standard 1 of 2018 (‘Criteria for Authorisation of OTC Derivative Providers’), contain prohibitions on retail trading incentives, including deposit matches or welcome credits.

Having said that, bonus providers should still follow the FSCA’s wider rules around market conduct oversight and consumer protection. Most notably, Section 2 of the FAIS General Code of Conduct for Authorised Financial Services Providers and Representatives makes clear that brokers are legally required to “at all times render financial services honestly, fairly, with due skill, care and diligence, and in the interests of clients and the integrity of the financial services industry.”

Additionally, Section 14 (Advertising and Direct Marketing) makes clear that promotional materials “must not obscure information” regarding “key limitations, exclusions, risks and charges” such as turnover rules. Meanwhile, Section 14(3)(n) prohibits campaigns designed to “exaggerate the need for urgency which could encourage the average targeted client to make unduly hasty decisions”, such as over-trading to meet unreasonable turnover deadlines.

In practice, the FSCA takes a liberal approach to trading bonuses, but still expects online brokers to structure them in a way that doesn’t encourage over-trading or gambling-like behavior, and they don’t want to see excessively restrictive wagering conditions that make it extremely difficult for users to withdraw profits from trading on bonus credit.

Note that FSCA-approved providers of CFDs should still hold an (over-the-counter derivative provider) ODP license if they act as the principal, with a standard financial services provider (FSP) FAIS license no longer being sufficient for CFD issuers.

Turnover Requirements

The most important condition attached to most welcome bonuses is the requirement to trade a certain amount before you can request a withdrawal. This is often denominated in lots, e.g. 5 forex or metal lots (1 lot = 100,000 units of the base currency). Traders are also normally required to meet these requirements within a set period, often up to 60 days. This time pressure is what can encourage over-trading. That said, some brokers do not enforce a timeline.

To show you how this works in real life, let’s look at the terms and conditions of HFM’s 100% deposit welcome bonus. As you can see below, to move the bonus credit into withdrawable cash, you must meet the following standard lot requirement: Bonus amount (in USD) / 2. So if you deposit $400 USD and get a $400 credit bonus, you’re looking at $400/2 = 200 lots. There’s another worked example in the T&Cs:

HFM sign up bonus volume requirements

Welcome Deposit Bonuses Vs Welcome No Deposit Bonuses

The two types of sign-up bonuses we see most frequently offered to new clients in South Africa are deposit and no deposit bonuses. It’s important you understand the key differences in how these offers work:

Bonus Type Frequency Example How It Works Key Rules Suits Who Pros & Cons
Deposit Bonus Most common because it forces an upfront deposit. 100% deposit bonus Broker matches a percentage of deposited funds. Credit often can’t be withdrawn; high turnover to withdraw profits. Experienced traders wanting to take larger positions or test a broker. Pros: Boosts margin, allows for testing a broker or strategy with modest capital. Cons: High turnover requirements; can encourage reckless trading.
No Deposit Bonus (NDB) Less common because brokers absorb all financial risk; normally <$50. $30 no deposit bonus Broker credits accounts with $30/ZAR equivalent, with no deposit required (though ID docs sometimes are). Credit often can’t be withdrawn; normally expires within a period of 60 days; strategy restrictions. Beginners wanting to test brokers and execution without risking their own Rand. Pros: Zero-cost live trading; sometimes can withdraw profits. Cons: Profit withdrawal limits; balance limits position sizes; strict rules; can encourage reckless trading.
Welcome Deposit Bonus vs No Deposit Bonus Comparison

Common Mistakes That Void Bonuses

We have ourselves had bonuses that have been voided or cancelled. We’ve also read over 115 Trustpilot reviews concerning complaints about trading bonuses at brokers popular in South Africa. To help you avoid some of the issues others have run into, we’ve collated the most common problems that crop up:

  • Using strategies that are banned: We commonly see bonus terms that say certain strategies, notably scalping, high-frequency trading, hedging, and arbitrage, are not allowed and can lead to the removal of bonus credit, or when withdrawals are requested and the account activity is inspected, the withdrawal is refused.
  • Not meeting wagering requirements: Most bonuses require you to trade a certain volume within a period, e.g. 5 lots within 60 days. Fail to do this within the set time or request a withdrawal after only trading some of the required volume can lead to the bonus being revoked.
  • Trading assets that aren’t included: Sometimes only certain asset classes can be traded, such as forex and metals. Trading on excluded bonus assets such as volatile cryptocurrencies may mean any trades made don’t count towards turnover requirements.
  • Using a VPN when traveling or other reasons: We’ve read dozens of user reviews complaining that brokers withdrew bonuses because their account showed they traded from different IP addresses. If a brokerage suspects that multiple addresses, and thus people, may have traded with the bonus account, they may revoke the credit. This is because they might suspect bonus hunting, that someone is managing the account for you, or that you’re attempting to bypass regional restrictions, e.g. you’re not from South Africa.

To be transparent about common complaints from traders using welcome bonuses, we’ve collated some real examples below from broader brokers operating in South Africa, notably HFM and ATFX. Part of the problem is that bonus terms often give brokers significant discretion to revoke promotional credit without extensive explanation or even evidence sometimes. That’s why reading joining bonus T&Cs is essential before you start trading.

South African Trustpilot review complaining of bonus removal

Trustpilot user review

Trustpilot review complaining of bonus abuse

Trustpilot user review

Trustpilot review complaining a broker removed bonus due to vague internal policies

Trsutpilot user review

When Should You Accept Or Avoid A Joining Offer?

You do not have to accept a sign-up bonus. Some brokers we’ve tested encourage you to accept one during registration through pop-ups, or even automatically apply them to your account. However, you can normally reject a bonus during sign-up or by contacting the support team and asking them to remove it from your account.

Bonuses are ultimately not right for all traders. To help you decide whether you should accept or reject a welcome offer, use our decision tree as a starting guide:

Decision tree explaining when a trader should consider accepting a welcome bonus