How to Buy Shares on Easy Equities

Buying shares for the first time can feel intimidating, but Easy Equities has been designed to remove as much of that friction as possible. Whether you are a student making your first investment, a young professional trying to grow your savings, or simply someone who has been putting off investing for too long, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to buy shares on Easy Equities in 2026.

The Easy Equities platform has been designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, so even though this might be new territory for you, once you get going you will find investing to be an easy and simple process. This guide covers the step-by-step buying process, which shares to consider, when to buy, how fees work, and the most common mistakes beginners make. For a full platform overview including account types and regulatory details, read our complete Easy Equities Review.

What Is Easy Equities and How Does It Work?

Easy Equities is an investment platform that allows individuals to buy and sell shares, exchange-traded funds, and fractional shares. It simplifies investing, making it accessible and affordable, enabling people to invest in local and international markets with ease.

One of the standout features of the platform is fractional share investing. You can invest in Fractional Shares Rights, investing with as much money as you have available in a piece of a share, with all the benefits of owning a full one, buying up to 1/10,000th of a share. This means you do not need to save up enough money to buy an entire share in Naspers or Apple. You invest the rand amount you have available and receive a proportionate stake in the company.

Easy Equities is a good choice, as it has low fees in general. Its trading fees are low and its non-trading fees are low.

How to Buy Shares on Easy Equities (Step-by-Step)

This is the core of what you need to know. The process is simple once you understand it. Below is a clear, step-by-step breakdown.

Step 1: Create an Account

To start trading on the Easy Equities platform, you will need to open an account. This is a simple and streamlined process. Click on one of the multiple Register buttons located on the Easy Equities Home Page.

You must now select your country of citizenship, residence, and birth. You must then select your account type. The profile type is for individuals aged 18 and above. You must now create a username, provide a valid email address, and register with a unique password. Here you must enter your personal information, including your date of birth and contact details.

Step 2: Verify Your Account (FICA)

South African law requires all investment platforms to verify the identity of their users before allowing trading. This is known as FICA compliance and it protects both the investor and the platform.

To open an account, you need to register online by providing personal information, identification documents, and banking details. The platform verifies your information to comply with regulations, after which your account is activated and you can start investing immediately.

You will need to upload a copy of your South African ID, passport, or driver’s license along with a recent proof of residence document such as a bank statement or utility bill.

Step 3: Deposit Money

Once an account has been successfully set up and verified, the next step to making an investment is to fund the account. Each account type will come with its unique funding methods.

There are no account minimums needed and no minimum investment size. You can deposit via EFT, Instant EFT, Capitec Pay, or card. Easy Equities recommends deposits and withdrawals be carried out by Electronic Funds Transfer rather than by credit or debit card to reduce costs.

Step 4: Search for a Share

Navigate to the Invest section where you will find a list of available shares. You can filter by sector, market cap, or other criteria.

There is a filtering tool that allows you to narrow down your search by investment type and category tags. Investment Type covers asset classes such as equities or ETFs. Category Tags filter for industries in the case of stocks and for risk profile in the case of ETFs.

Click on a company’s name to see detailed information, including financials, news, and performance charts. This helps you make informed decisions.

Step 5: Buy the Share

Once you have decided which shares to buy, select the share you want to buy by clicking on it. Enter the rand amount you want to invest rather than the number of shares you want to purchase. Review your order summary, confirm the details, and place the trade.

You can also place buying and selling instructions when the market is closed. Your order will then be executed when the market opens during trading hours.

How to Buy Shares on Easy Equities for Beginners

If this is your very first investment, the most important thing to understand is that you do not need a large sum of money to get started. There are no account minimums needed and no minimum investment size. You can invest in Fractional Share Rights, investing with as much money as you have available in a piece of a share, with all the benefits of owning a full one.

Here are a few practical principles for beginners:

Start small and build gradually. There is no need to invest everything at once. Begin with an amount you are comfortable with and increase your contributions as your confidence grows.

Avoid emotional buying. Do not invest in a company simply because it is trending on social media or because friends are talking about it. Click on a company’s name to see detailed information, including financials, news, and performance charts. This helps you make informed decisions.

Understand risk before you invest. Movements in the price of foreign exchange and commodities are very unpredictable; hence Easy Equities cannot guarantee a maximum loss that a trader may suffer. All investing carries risk. Only invest money you can afford to leave invested for an extended period.

Use the demo account first. Easy Equities offers a demo account loaded with virtual money, which allows you to practice buying and selling shares without risking real capital. This is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to understand how the platform works before committing real funds.

The platform includes features like watchlists, price alerts, and portfolio analysis. While it is primarily beginner-friendly, it offers enough tools for more experienced investors to monitor markets, set investment strategies, and manage multiple accounts efficiently.

When to Buy Shares on Easy Equities

One of the most common questions new investors ask is when the right time to buy shares is. The honest answer is that timing the market perfectly is something even professional fund managers struggle to do consistently.

The most proven approach for long-term investors is a strategy called dollar-cost averaging, where you invest a fixed amount at regular intervals regardless of what the market is doing. You can set up a recurring investment so that you automatically contribute to your investment monthly, quarterly, or annually. This removes the stress of trying to pick the perfect entry point and builds discipline over time.

There are, however, some practical principles worth understanding:

Market dips can present buying opportunities. When the prices of quality shares fall due to broader market events rather than company-specific problems, it can be a good time to add to your position. The key is knowing the difference between a temporary market correction and a fundamentally weak company.

Avoid buying purely on hype. Some shares experience short-term price spikes driven by news headlines or social media trends. Buying at the peak of a hype cycle often leads to losses when the excitement dies down.

Think in years, not days. The longer you hold a quality investment, the more time it has to grow. Trying to profit from short-term price movements as a beginner is a high-risk strategy that rarely works out well.

Which Shares to Buy on Easy Equities (2026 Guide)

Choosing the right investments depends on your goals, your time horizon, and your tolerance for risk. Easy Equities offers shares, exchange-traded funds, ETFs, fractional shares, and tax-free investment options. Investors can access both local and international markets, diversify their portfolios, and choose investments that align with their risk tolerance and financial goals.

For a curated list of specific companies recommended for South African investors, read our guide on the top 10 companies to invest in on Easy Equities.

Popular South African Shares (JSE)

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange gives you access to well-established South African companies across financial services, retail, telecommunications, and resources. Some of the most widely held JSE shares among Easy Equities investors include:

Naspers and Prosus: Naspers is one of the largest companies on the JSE and holds a significant stake in Prosus, which in turn holds a major stake in the Chinese technology giant Tencent. These shares give South African investors indirect exposure to global technology growth.

Sasol: A major energy and chemical company with operations in South Africa and internationally. Sasol’s share price is influenced by oil prices and rand-dollar exchange rates, making it a more volatile option but one with significant upside potential when conditions are favourable.

MTN Group: One of Africa’s largest telecommunications companies with operations across multiple African and Middle Eastern markets. MTN pays dividends and offers exposure to the growing mobile data market across the continent.

Capitec Bank: Capitec has been one of the best-performing JSE shares over the past decade. Its focus on affordable banking for ordinary South Africans has driven strong growth, and it remains a popular pick for long-term investors.

Popular US Shares

You can invest in USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD. Through the USD account on Easy Equities, you can access thousands of shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.

Tesla: One of the most popular US shares among South African investors. Tesla operates in the electric vehicle and clean energy space and is known for its high volatility, offering both significant gains and significant losses depending on market conditions.

Apple: One of the world’s largest companies by market capitalisation. Apple’s diversified business model across hardware, software, and services makes it a popular choice for investors seeking long-term growth with relatively lower volatility compared to other tech stocks.

Amazon: A global leader in e-commerce and cloud computing through its Amazon Web Services division. Amazon is widely held by long-term investors looking for exposure to both consumer spending and enterprise technology growth.

ETFs for Beginners

ETFs are widely considered the most beginner-friendly investment option available on Easy Equities. They provide instant diversification at very low cost, removing the need to pick individual winners.

Satrix 40 ETF: This ETF tracks the FTSE/JSE Top 40 index, which represents the 40 largest companies listed on the JSE by market capitalisation. It gives you broad exposure to the South African stock market in a single investment.

Satrix MSCI World ETF: This ETF tracks the performance of large and mid-cap companies across 23 developed markets globally. It is a popular choice for South African investors who want international diversification without opening a USD account.

Sygnia Itrix S&P 500 ETF: This ETF tracks the performance of the 500 largest US companies. It is a popular option for investors who want exposure to the US market in rands without the complexity of foreign exchange.

Examples: How to Buy Specific Shares

How to Buy Tesla Shares on Easy Equities

To buy Tesla shares, log in to your Easy Equities account and navigate to the Invest section. Select your USD account, as Tesla is listed on NASDAQ. Use the search bar to find Tesla by typing the company name or its ticker symbol, TSLA. Enter the rand or dollar amount you want to invest and confirm the trade. Note that you will need to convert rands to dollars first using the EasyFX tool, which carries a currency conversion cost.

How to Buy SAB Shares on Easy Equities

SABMiller was delisted from the JSE following its acquisition by AB InBev in 2016. If you are looking to invest in AB InBev, you can search for it through the USD account as it is listed internationally. Always verify the current listing status of any company before searching for it on the platform, as corporate actions and delistings can change share availability.

How to Buy SAB Zenzele Kabili Shares on Easy Equities

SAB Zenzele Kabili is an empowerment scheme linked to AB InBev’s South African business. Shares in SAB Zenzele Kabili have been available on the JSE under the ticker SABKB. To buy these shares on Easy Equities, search for the company name or ticker in the ZAR account, enter your investment amount in rands, and place the order. It is important to check current availability on the platform before attempting to invest, as empowerment scheme shares can have restrictions on trading eligibility.

Easy Equities Fees Explained

Understanding what you pay is a critical part of investing responsibly. Easy Equities is known for keeping costs low, but there are still fees you need to be aware of.

Brokerage Commission

The broker commission charge is charged at 0.25% of the rand value of each transaction, both buy and sell, that you enter into on the Easy Equities platform. A minimum charge of 1c per transaction will apply and the charge will be rounded to the nearest cent.

Thrive Monthly Fee

There are a few small fees applicable depending on how you use your account. A brokerage fee of 0.25% per transaction applies with a 1c minimum. A Thrive fee of R25 per month applies, which is waived if you reach Thrive Level 3 or are under 21 or over 65.

FX Fees for US Stocks

A currency conversion fee, referred to as the EasyFX transfer fee, is charged when you convert your funds between ZAR, USD, and AUD accounts. The cost is 2% above the mid-FX spot rate, which is considered quite high. This is an important cost to factor in when investing in international shares, as it applies every time you convert currency.

Clearing Fee

For equity and ETF trades, Easy Equities charges a 0.25% commission plus a 0.31% clearing fee on each trade, and VAT on costs.

Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

Deposits made via EFT incur no charges from Easy Equities but may be subject to charges from your bank. Withdrawals are free of charge at Easy Equities. You will not have to pay a fee for moving funds out of your brokerage account.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Shares

Learning what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. Here are the most common mistakes beginner investors make on Easy Equities.

Buying hype stocks. Social media and online forums regularly promote shares that are already at inflated prices. Buying into the excitement at the wrong time often leads to significant losses when the hype fades. Always research a company independently before investing.

Not diversifying your portfolio. Putting all your money into a single share or sector dramatically increases your risk. A well-diversified portfolio across different industries, asset classes, and geographies smooths out the ups and downs of individual investments over time.

Investing money you need in the short term. The stock market can go through significant downturns that can last months or even years. Only invest money you can afford to leave invested for at least three to five years. Selling shares at the wrong time to cover short-term expenses is one of the most common ways new investors lock in losses.

Ignoring fees on international investments. The currency conversion fee is charged when you convert your funds between ZAR, USD, and AUD accounts at a cost of 2% above the mid-FX spot rate, which is considered quite high. Frequent buying and selling of US shares can result in these fees adding up significantly over time.

Checking your portfolio every day. Constantly monitoring the value of your investments can lead to emotional decision-making. Long-term investing requires patience, and short-term price movements are a normal part of how markets work.

Is Easy Equities Safe in South Africa?

Easy Equities is a legitimate brokerage. Easy Equities is the brand of First World Trader (Pty) Ltd in South Africa, which is a Financial Services Provider authorized by South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority.

Easy Equities is part of the Purple Group, which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. This means the parent company is subject to JSE listing requirements, additional disclosure obligations, and shareholder scrutiny, all of which add an extra layer of accountability and transparency.

A review found no evidence of misconduct or malpractice by this broker during its decade-long history.

Easy Equities has clear fee reports. You can access the reports by clicking Account Overview. You can easily check the value of your portfolio and the costs you paid.

FAQs

1. How do I buy shares on Easy Equities step by step?

To start trading on the Easy Equities platform, you will need to open an account. Click on one of the multiple Register buttons located on the Easy Equities Home Page. Once registered and verified, deposit funds into your chosen account, navigate to the Invest Now section, search for the share you want, enter your investment amount in rands, and confirm the order.

2. How much money do I need to start on Easy Equities?

There are no account minimums needed and no minimum investment size. You can invest in Fractional Share Rights, investing with as much money as you have available in a piece of a share, with all the benefits of owning a full one. You can start with as little as R5 on the ZAR account.

3. Which shares should beginners buy on Easy Equities?

Easy Equities offers shares, exchange-traded funds, fractional shares, and tax-free investment options. Investors can access both local and international markets, diversify their portfolios, and choose investments that align with their risk tolerance and financial goals. Beginners are generally advised to start with broad-market ETFs like Satrix 40 or the Satrix MSCI World before moving into individual shares.

4. Can I buy US shares on Easy Equities?

Yes. You can invest in USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD. To buy US shares, you need to fund your USD account using the EasyFX conversion tool and then search for the US-listed company you want to invest in. Note that currency conversion fees apply.

5. When is the best time to buy shares on Easy Equities?

There is no single perfect time to buy shares. The most reliable approach for long-term investors is to invest consistently over time rather than trying to time market movements. You can set up a recurring investment so that you automatically contribute to your investment monthly, quarterly, or annually. This strategy removes the pressure of trying to predict short-term price movements.

6. Is Easy Equities good for beginners in South Africa?

Easy Equities provides a user-friendly web platform and mobile app, allowing investors to buy and sell shares, ETFs, and fractional shares. Both platforms are designed for simplicity, with real-time pricing, portfolio tracking, and educational tools to support informed investing. The combination of no minimum investment, fractional shares, and a straightforward interface makes it one of the most beginner-friendly platforms available in South Africa.

7. Can I lose money on Easy Equities?

Yes. All investing involves risk and the value of your shares can go down as well as up. Movements in the price of foreign exchange and commodities are very unpredictable; hence Easy Equities cannot guarantee a maximum loss that a trader may suffer. It is important to only invest money you can afford to lose and to diversify your portfolio to manage risk.

8. How long should I hold shares on Easy Equities?

The general principle is that the longer you hold quality investments, the better your chances of generating meaningful returns. Short-term trading requires a high level of market knowledge and carries significantly more risk than long-term investing. Most financial educators recommend a minimum holding period of three to five years for equity investments. Setting up a recurring investment so that you automatically contribute monthly, quarterly, or annually and leaving those investments to grow over time is one of the simplest and most effective strategies for building long-term wealth.