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InstaForex Broker Review

2.9

/ 5

250
matches to this broker

Score out of 2,500: This reflects how many South African traders would likely match with this broker, based on an algorithm that compares the broker’s offering to the typical needs of South African traders.

Reviewed by

In this review

Minimum deposit

Platforms

Regulation

Tradable Markets

TradeFX Rating

2.9

/ 5

TFX Overall Score

The TradeFX score is calculated using our independent methodology, based on multiple broker criteria including regulation, fees, platform features, and trader experience.

We review and update our data regularly to keep comparisons current.

SA Focused

TradeFX evaluates brokers using an independent, criteria-based methodology designed to reflect what matters most to real traders. Our TradeFX score is calculated across multiple factors, including broker regulation and trust signals, total trading costs (spreads, commissions, swaps and non-trading fees), platform and tool quality, product offering, deposit/withdrawal experience, customer support responsiveness, and the overall trading experience across web and mobile.

We review and update our broker data regularly to keep our comparisons current and consistent. While we aim to provide objective, data-driven insights, trading and investing involve risk — so we always recommend that you do your own independent due diligence and verify key details directly with the broker and relevant official regulatory sources before making any financial decisions.

Learn more about our methodology and editorial policies.

Standout features for South African traders

Accepts South African Clients

No

Has Local Office

No

Trading Platforms

Mobile Trading

No

Tradable Markets

Account Types

Demo Account

No

Account Base Currencies

Maximum Leverage SA

Minimum Deposit

Local Deposits Available

No

Local Withdrawals Available

No

Same-Day Withdrawals

No

Islamic / Swap-Free Accounts

No

Automated Trading Allowed

No

Negative Balance Protection

No

Guaranteed Stop Loss

No

Stop-Out Level (%)

Promotions

Regulatory Bodies

Broker Trust and Regulation

Platforms and Tools

Fees and Spreads

Tradable Instruments

Trader Support

Deposits and Withdrawals

Account Types

InstaForex Broker Review
Trade Nation
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Accepts South African Clients ×No Yes Yes Yes
Trading Instrument CFDs CFDs, Spot Trading CFDs, Spread Betting
Tradable Markets Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares / Equities, Crypto, Precious Metals, Energy Markets Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares / Equities, Precious Metals, Energy Markets, Crypto Indices, Forex, Commodities, Shares / Equities, Energy Markets, Precious Metals, Bonds, Crypto, ETFs
Trading Platform MT4, Web Trading, MT5, Proprietary Trading Platform, Mobile App Trading MT4, MT5, Mobile App Trading, Proprietary Trading Platform, Web Trading Proprietary Trading Platform, MT4, TradingView, Mobile App Trading, Web Trading
Promotions No No Yes — Deposit Bonus, Trading Credits, Cashback / Rebates No
Account Base Currencies USD, ZAR, EUR, GBP, CAD, JPY, AUD, CHF USD, JPY, CHF, AUD, ZAR, GBP, EUR, CAD ZAR, GBP, AUD, USD, EUR
Maximum Leverage SA 1:2000 1:1000 1:500
Minimum Deposit R200 R100 R1,000
Has Demo Account ×No Yes Yes Yes
Same-Day Withdrawals ×No Yes ×No ×No
Negative Balance Protection ×No Yes Yes Yes

From a South African Perspective

The InstaForex brand, founded in 2007, brings together several companies that provide online trading services in various parts.

Nowadays, the firms that operate under the InstaForex name have a large customer that includes over seven million traders. InstaForex provides its customers with numerous chances for effective work on the worldwide forex market, including a variety of investing services ranging from opening a new account to withdrawing profits, as well as timely technical and client assistance.

If you are looking to open an account with InstaForex, consider our review first.

You can find our transparent InstaForex review below. Broker reviews are updated frequently!

We value your feedback: Rate this broker by leaving a comment and rating below this review.

>InstaForex Regulation

InstaForex is operating through several licenses in many jurisdictions, which guarantees its compliance with international protective laws and coverage of traders, which is a smart move on the company’s part to prevent any legal backlash. Instant Trading EU Ltd, fully licensed by CySEC, Cyprus.

In addition to the main license, the broker serves additional offshore zones, such as the BVIFSC, which is FSC-registered, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVGFSA).

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>Reliability

InstaForex is a member of the European Union’s Investor Compensation Fund (CIF) (EU). This means that InstaForex’s European clients are covered for up to €20,000 if their account balances are damaged. This membership is not a small thing – unruly brokers get their licenses taken away regularly for not complying with the CIF, so the membership is clearly a great incentive.

InstaForex also provides negative balance protection.
>InstaForex Tradeable products

As the name implies, InstaForex is primarily a Forex broker, which is obvious in the excellent currency asset variety. In addition, the availability of over 100 currency pairs allows pure Forex traders to adequately diversify their portfolios.

Most non-Forex assets are CFDs on US stocks, with commodities limited to gold, silver, crude oil, and natural gas. The asset selection at InstaForex EU is completed by seven indices, CFDs, and five Cryptocurrencies. If you want to get engaged with the organisation, this is unquestionably a win-win situation.

If we talk about the Forex market, InstaForex EU may offer the most comprehensive list to traders and deserves consideration for this offering. In addition, the broker also offers the five most popular cryptocurrencies – Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash.

Overall, the offer of financial instruments is very comprehensive and includes just about everything a currency trader can wish for. If that is not an incentive, then we do not know what is.
>InstaForex Account types

InstaForex offers five account types: Insta Standard, Insta Eurica, Scalping, ECN, and ECN pro account.

The Insta Standard account is designed for all traders and has set spreads ranging from 2 to 7 pips, which explains why some fees are modest while others are hefty. For example, the EURUSD pair spread is three pips, nearly twice as much as other top forex brokers charge.

The Insta.Eurica account makes things easier for newcomers. Fees are paid in the form of commissions and range from 0.02 per cent to 0.07 per cent, which is extremely competitive. Furthermore, depending on the assets, Insta Eurica offers leverage of up to 1:1000.

InstaForex offers a scalping account as well. Scalping is a trading strategy in which traders execute very short trades with enormous quantities, resulting in small but consistent returns. The fees and minimum deposit are the same as on the ECN account; however, you must open a scalping account if you wish to trade forex using scalping.

The ECN trading account uses floating spreads, which are 1.2 pips on average. This is very cheap compared to Insta.Standard.

One step above this is the ECN Pro account, where the average spread is 0.8 pips. However, the Pro account requires a minimum deposit of $1,000.

The Insta.Eurica account creates the most competitive trading environment offered by InstaForex EU. The other is the ECN Pro account.

If you want to put your knowledge into practice, there is always the option of using an Instaforex sample account. It is a pretty useful exercise because this way, you can test and get used to executing your strategies without risking real money.

Average Standard Account Spreads on Majors

  • EUR/USD: 0.8
  • GBP/USD: 0.8
  • USD/JPY: 0.8
  • AUD/USD: 1.0

>Opening an account

InstaForex account opening is completely digital, quick, and simple. In 10 minutes, you can complete the online application form.

The following are the steps for creating an InstaForex account. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Fill in your country of residence, name, email address and password.
  • Enter your nationality, date of birth, phone number, and residential address.
  • Add your employment status and level of education.
  • Provide some financial information
  • Verify your identity and place of residence. To prove your identification, upload a copy of your national ID, passport, driver’s licence, and then take a selfie. InstaForex accepts utility bills and bank statements as proof of residency.

>Account currency

There are three base currencies for opening an account with InstaForex. They are:

USD, EUR, and RUB.

Unfortunately, as a South African, you can open an account in ZAR.
>Trading platform

When it comes to trading platforms, InstaForex sticks to the tried-and-true. As a result, there are just two trading platforms available on InstaForex: MetaTrader 4 and its speedier, younger sibling, MetaTrader 5.

MT4 is the most extensively used trading software on the market, and it is well regarded for its comprehensive capabilities, which is why many traders prefer it. Furthermore, traders worldwide see it as one of the best forex trading platforms due to its user-friendly interface and logical process.

InstaForex offers 18 plugins that provide various candlestick charting features. These alternatives are extremely useful for carrying out the most popular forex trading strategies.

MetaTrader 5 delivers a full set of trading features, just like its older sibling, but in a more modern-looking frame. MT5, on the other hand, has a more comprehensive range of charting choices and is a faster, smoother piece of software.

The only disadvantage of the new application is that it does not offer nearly as many personalised customisations to enhance your trading experience. However, if you do not require any customisations, MT5 is a superior trading platform for most accounts.
>InstaForex Commissions and fees

The average spread with the ECN Pro account is 0.8 pips, while the fixed spreads in the Insta. Standard accounts range from 2.0 to 7.0 pips. Other accounts have 1.2 pips mentioned. In addition, a 0.1 per cent commission is charged on both equity CFDs and cryptocurrency. While the fee structure is reasonable, the spreads in all account types, except the Insta Eurica account, are not particularly competitive.

The swap rates on overnight positions apply, and InstaForex EU is transparent about positive and negative spreads.
>Leverage

When trading with InstaForex, you have the option of using fixed or floating leverage. While this powerful tool may boost your possible gains promptly due to its ability to multiple accounts balances a specific number of times, keep in mind that proper leverage should be adjusted to various instruments, as it may also raise your potential losses.

The leverage of InstaForex is defined by various factors, the first of which is established following regulatory restrictions in one country or another. As a result, InstaForex leverage ranges from 1:1 to 1:1000.
>Deposits and Withdrawals

There are absolutely no drawbacks to InstaTrades’ deposit and withdrawal choices. All withdrawals are free and take up to three days to process. However, some costs may apply, although this is largely determined by your country’s laws and regulations. To be absolutely certain, contact the broker’s customer service and inquire about withdrawal fees.

Deposits are simple because you have various alternatives for putting money on your account balance. For example, you can deposit through Bank transfers, credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, RapidPay, Bitcoin, Litcoin, and UnionPay.

The great thing is you can also fund your account with BTC, which is a rare method among forex brokers. This shows that InstaForex is keeping up with the latest trends.
>Education and Research

InstaForex provides a wide range of charting tools and news feeds through its platforms, and 30 analysts provide research to the broker’s clients. Some of these scholars present more comprehensive data and stronger arguments than others, but you can choose those that appear to be the most correct for you.

You can also get regular updates from the broker’s YouTube channel, which contains analyst comments, projections, world events, and interviews with various guest experts. In addition, the channel monitors MT5 forums and posts the most popular articles and comments in regular videos.
>Customer Service

InstaForex provides customer support 24 hours a day, five days a week, and you can be served from either the main office in Cyprus or the representative office in Slovakia. Customer service is provided via email, phone callback, live chat, Skype, Facebook Messenger, Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
>Bonuses and Promotions

InstaForex offers three bonuses: the club bonus, 30% bonus, and 55% bonus. On the other hand, InstaForex EU does not allow any bonuses.

Moreover, InstaForex has created a variety of contests and promotions that provide traders with amazing possibilities to acquire valuable prices and user experience. Furthermore, by participating in InstaForex contests and receiving actual prize money to a live trading account, the trader can earn price trading through a demo account.
>Special features

The InstaForex toolbar provides quick access to streaming quotes and other parts of the InstaForex website.

In addition, social trading in the retail sector is becoming more popular, and InstaForex EU encourages it with its ForexCopy system. This is a good technique for traders who don’t have the resources to handle a portfolio effectively, and the minimum deposit is only $10.

Traders that offer their strategies have access to a pool of over 7,000,000 traders and rising and the opportunity to earn a commission if their plan is successful. On the other hand, retail traders offer a consistent trading approach but lack the necessary money to expand their earnings stream through the ForexCopy system.
>InstaForex South Africa

As a South African, you will be pleased to hear that InstaForex accepts South Africans. Unfortunately, it does not open an account in ZAR, so it is a bittersweet moment.

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>Affiliate program

InstaForex has an affiliate program, where you can earn for every qualified client you refer.
>Our verdict

All things considered, InstaForex is a well-rounded broker that primarily serves forex traders. The quantity of currency pairs is considerable, and you can spice up your portfolio with CFDs, which are currently scarce but constantly increasing in number. So, if you are connected to InstaForex in any manner, you have an advantage.

The trading platforms are simple to use and include thorough research as well as copy trading. That is something that not many brokers can say.

The educational offer is also great, though it would be perfect if all trading courses included instructional videos.

On the other hand, there are many less expensive brokers with perhaps more powerful platforms and research skills. Nonetheless, InstaForex does a superb job offering forex traders, regardless of skill level or starting budget, and comes out on top.
>From a South African perspective

Since 2007, InstaForex has provided online trading services. As of September 2017, the company had over 7,000,000 individual and corporate clients in 100 countries, and it had a large network of representative offices (265).

The trading platforms are simple to use and provide great research and copy trading, which is something not many brokers can boast about.

Feel free to try InstaForex.

We value your feedback: Rate this broker by leaving a comment and rating below this review.

>Broker FAQ

Thinking of Trading with InstaForex?

What is InstaForex’s minimum deposit?

The minimum deposit for all account types is $1.

How do I deposit/withdraw from my InstaForex account?

You can deposit/withdraw funds through bank transfers, credit/debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, RapidPay, Bitcoin, Litcoin, and UnionPay

Is InstaForex spreads high?

InstaForex offers tighter spreads on all major FX pairs.

What is the maximum leverage at InstaForex?

InstaForex offers maximum leverage of 1:1000

Does InstaForex use MetaTrader?

Yes, InstaForex uses MT4 and MT5.

Is InstaForex available in South Africa?

Yes, InstaForex is available for South African traders.

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TradeFX helps traders learn, compare brokers, and make informed decisions through independent insights and educational content.

TradeFX does not provide trading services.

Trade Now (PTY) Ltd – Registration No. 2025/947512/07

A juristic representative and agent of CFD Central Securities (PTY) Ltd Registration No. 2008/008752/07 (FSP No. 35731)

Registered Office: La Concorde, 57 Main Road, Paarl, Western Cape, 7646, South Africa

© 2026. TradeFX

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