Investec Clarity: Fees, CFDs and Who Can Sign Up

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In short: Investec Clarity (branded Clarity, by Investec) is a self-directed app and website for trading South African and international shares and ETFs from R25. There are no account, platform or commission fees. Clarity earns through a spread of up to 0.2% on each trade, plus up to 0.5% when you convert rand to dollars. Every trade is a CFD with Investec Bank, so you do not own the shares in your name. You do not need an Investec bank account. Confirm fees and criteria on nowclarity.com before you sign up. Not financial advice.

What Clarity is

Clarity is a trading and investing platform originally built by Investec Bank. The Clarity disclaimer names the provider as Investec Bank Limited trading as Clarity, an authorised financial services provider (FSP 11750). It offers over 700 local and international shares and funds on the web or the NowClarity app for Android and iPhone. Clarity does not give advice: you choose what to buy and sell.

What it costs

Clarity’s pricing page lists these charges:

  • Minimum first deposit: R25 for a ZAR account, or $1 for a USD account
  • Broker commission: 0%
  • Platform, admin and withdrawal fees: no charge
  • Spread: up to 20 basis points (0.2%) added on the buy or sell side of each trade
  • Rand to dollar conversion: up to 50 basis points (0.5%) on the forex spot rate
  • Margin rates (only if you use margin): local long positions at repo plus 2% and short positions at repo minus 1.5%; US positions at the Fed funds rate plus 2% long or minus 2% short

As a rough example, the full 0.2% on a R1,000 trade is about R2, built into the price. The underlying spread also moves with liquidity and volatility, so check the buy and sell price before you confirm.

Who can sign up

Clarity’s getting started page lists two criteria: you must be 18 or older and hold a valid South African ID. Clarity’s help centre adds that if you do not bank with Investec Private Bank, you must also be born in South Africa, be a South African citizen, live in South Africa and be employed in South Africa. Clarity says there is no paperwork and no sign-up fee. For the sign-up steps, see our guide to setting up an Investec Clarity account.

What you can do on Clarity

  • Buy part of a share. Because trades are CFDs, putting R50 into a R100 share gives you half a share’s exposure.
  • Trade offshore. Clarity offers exposure to major markets in North America, Europe and Asia, with real-time conversion from ZAR to USD.
  • Save cash. Overnight savings accounts in rand and dollars earn interest on balances. Rates are not listed on the pricing page, so check them in the app.
  • Short and trade on margin. Both are optional and aimed at experienced traders.

CFDs and margin: what you actually hold

A CFD (contract for difference) is a contract with Investec Bank that tracks the price of a share or fund. You share in its gains and losses but do not own the underlying share. If direct ownership matters to you, our EasyEquities investment guide covers a share-ownership alternative.

Margin lets you control a bigger position with less money. In Clarity’s example, R1,000 at 1:10 leverage trades like R10,000. That amplifies profits and increases the risk of losses, and the margin rates above apply.

Before you sign up

  • If you are investing for the long term, compare a tax-free investment account. Clarity’s pricing and features pages do not list one.
  • Check the live spread on the share you want, plus the conversion cost if you are buying US shares.
  • Leave margin alone until you understand how losses build up.
  • Only use nowclarity.com and the official NowClarity app listings. Treat investment “offers” on WhatsApp or Telegram as suspect (see our guide to WhatsApp money scams).

Still comparing? Our guide on how to choose an investment platform in South Africa covers what to weigh up.

Official sources

This page is general information, not financial advice. CFDs and margin trading carry a high risk of loss, and trading is for adults 18+ only. Investec Bank Limited is an authorised financial services provider (FSP 11750) and a registered credit provider (NCRCP 9). Confirm current fees, rates and criteria on nowclarity.com.

Last checked October 2026

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