Skilling Review 2026
The full Skilling write-up for South Africa traders: the kitchen inspection, the ingredient costs, the bill, and our straight verdict.
Regulation in South Africa
| Regulator | FSA FSA, Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) |
| Licence Number | SD042 |
| Regulated Entity | Skilling Ltd (SC) |
| Max Leverage (Forex) | 1:500 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| EUR/USD Spread | From 0.7 pips |
| Instruments | 1,000+ |
| Platforms | Skilling Trader, cTrader, MT4 |
| Copy Trading | ✗ |
| Real Stocks | ✓ |
| Inactivity fee | Inactivity fee: EUR10/month after 12 months |
Verdict
Cooks under FSA (licence SD042). Cover charge $100. In South Africa, forex leverage is capped at 1:500.
About Skilling
Skilling opened its doors in 2016 out of a kitchen in Limassol, Cyprus. Its menu runs to 1,000 tradeable instruments, forex pairs alongside CFDs on stocks, indices and commodities. It holds licences across several jurisdictions, with the head licence carried by Skilling Ltd (SC) under FSA.
In South Africa, Skilling serves as Skilling Ltd (SC), cleared by FSA under licence number SD042. Under FSA house rules, South Africa traders are poured no more than 1:500 leverage on forex pairs.
Trading Platforms
Pros
- FSA regulated, licence SD042
- 1,000+ instruments to trade
- Negative balance protection in South Africa
- Platforms: Skilling Trader, cTrader, MT4
- Real stock ownership (not CFD)
- Established in 2016, over a decade in the market
Cons
- Inactivity fee: EUR10/month after 12 months
- 76% of retail clients burn their fingers
- CFDs only, you trade the price, you never own the dish
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skilling regulated?
Yes. Skilling is authorised by FSA, issued to the entity Skilling Ltd (SC), an authorisation you can look up for yourself on the official FSA public register.
What is the minimum deposit for Skilling in South Africa?
The cover charge is $100, the smallest amount South Africa traders need to open a live account with Skilling under FSA rules.
What leverage does Skilling offer in South Africa?
In South Africa, FSA rules cap Skilling at 1:500 on forex pairs. A larger pour is sometimes available through offshore-regulated entities, with thinner protection to match.
Is Skilling safe to trade with?
The kitchen passes inspection: Skilling cooks under FSA. A tier-1 regulator insists on segregated client money, negative balance protection and independent audits, while lighter offshore regimes offer weaker cover and often no compensation scheme. That does not make trading risk-free, so check which entity holds your account and what protections actually apply before you deposit.
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