Luno vs AltCoinTrader: fees, FSCA licensing, ZAR deposits and KYC compared

Direct answer

Luno and AltCoinTrader charge the same 0.60 % entry-tier taker fee, but Luno’s free EFT deposits, free normal withdrawals and cheaper Capitec Pay (R9.00 above R1,000 against 2 % capped at R95) make the whole trip cheaper; AltCoinTrader adds card and cash deposits and lets you trade before verifying. Both are FSCA-licensed.

The table above renders the verified fields for both platforms with sources and dates; both fee pages were re-read on 7 September 2026. We hold no affiliate agreement with either platform and have not opened an account at either.

Who each platform suits

Luno suits a beginner who wants free rand rails in both directions, stablecoin buyers (0.20 % taker on USDT/ZAR and USDC/ZAR), and Capitec or Absa customers who want the cheapest bank-linked instant route (Capitec Pay R9.00 above R1,000; Absa Pay 1.4 %).

AltCoinTrader suits someone who must fund by card (5 % local, 7 % international) or cash (an extra 5 %), or who wants to deposit and trade before sending FICA documents. Its maker rate (0.50 %) is higher than Luno’s (0.40 %) and every rand deposit and withdrawal carries a percentage fee.

Fees compared

Exchange trading

Luno Exchange Tier 1 (R0–R20,000 of 30-day volume): 0.40 % maker / 0.60 % taker on crypto/ZAR pairs, 0.20 % taker with a 0.01 % maker rebate on USDT/ZAR and USDC/ZAR, and 0.08 % / 0.10 % on crypto/crypto pairs, across 13 tiers. AltCoinTrader Tier 1 (R0–R100,000): 0.50 % / 0.60 % on every pair, falling to 0.40 % / 0.50 % above R100,000 across six tiers.

Worked examples on a R10,000 taker order at the entry tier (assumptions, not quotes): BTC/ZAR R60 at both; USDT/ZAR R20 at Luno against R60 at AltCoinTrader. As a maker on BTC/ZAR: Luno R40, AltCoinTrader R50.

One-tap buying

Luno’s buy and sell from the Portfolio screen cost 2 % each way (its 3.9 % card instant buy is listed as currently unavailable). AltCoinTrader lists an Easy Buy product without a published fee, so its instant-buy cost is unknown and not compared.

Deposits

Luno: bank transfer (EFT) free with no limit at full verification (near-instant from Standard Bank, up to two business days from other banks); instant deposit via Stitch 1.4 % up to R100,000; Absa Pay 1.4 %; Capitec Pay 1.25 % under R1,000 or R9.00 over R1,000; Apple Pay 2.5 % (R50–R30,000). Capitec and Absa customers cannot make an ordinary EFT to Luno. AltCoinTrader: EFT 0.5 % capped at R95; Capitec Pay 2 % capped at R95; Absa Pay 2.5 %; cards 5–7 %; cash an additional 5 %; no verification needed to deposit and no amount limit.

Withdrawals

Luno: normal withdrawal free (up to two business days after processing, sooner with Standard Bank); express same-day R20.00 to RTC banks or R80.00 to others. AltCoinTrader: R16 + 0.5 % with the 0.5 % capped at R95, plus R60 (or R140 above R100,000) for near-instant processing; processed through Standard Bank, other banks up to 72 hours.

Round trip on R10,000 (assumptions, not quotes)

EFT in, one taker buy and one taker sell on BTC/ZAR, one normal withdrawal, ignoring spread and price movement: Luno about R120 (R0 + R60 + R60 + R0); AltCoinTrader about R236 (R50 + R60 + R60 + R66). Through Capitec Pay instead of EFT: Luno about R129 (R9.00 in); AltCoinTrader about R281 (R95 in, the cap). The fee calculator has verified presets for both.

Deposits and withdrawals compared

For a Standard Bank, FNB, Nedbank or Investec customer, Luno is free in and free out; AltCoinTrader charges at both ends. For a Capitec customer, Luno’s flat R9.00 above R1,000 beats AltCoinTrader’s 2 % (up to R95) on any deposit above about R450. AltCoinTrader is the only one of the two with card and cash rails.

KYC compared

Luno grades rand limits by level: Level 1 R15,000 lifetime deposits and withdrawals, Level 2 R50,000 per month, fully verified no limits; it accepts an SA ID card, ID book, driver’s licence or passport, may ask for a colour selfie, and wants proof of address dated within three months, usually verifying automatically within minutes. AltCoinTrader allows deposits and trading at Level 1 with only a once-off R100 withdrawal, then requires proof of identity, proof of residence, a selfie holding the ID with a handwritten note and a verified cellphone number; Level 2 allows R200,000 per 24 hours and Level 3 (2FA for a month) R1,000,000.

Products compared

Luno: Exchange order book, instant buy/sell, staking (service fee 20–40 % of rewards), an OTC desk from about USD 50,000; no futures or margin published for South Africa. AltCoinTrader: order-book spot, Easy Save staking (in maintenance when checked), Easy Buy; no futures or margin.

Licensing compared

Both appear in Section A of the FSCA’s December 2025 list: LUNO (PTY) LTD at entry 166 (FSP 53314, Category I & II) and ALTCOIN TRADER (PTY) LTD at entry 15 (FSP 53614, Category I & II). Luno additionally publishes NCR and FIC registrations. Both are verified only to that list.

Limitations of this comparison

AltCoinTrader does not currently publish a minimum withdrawal and its Easy Buy fee is unpublished. Luno’s minimum deposit and withdrawal are not printed. Spreads are not published by either platform, fee tiers fall with volume, and both schedules can change without notice. This compares published data, not account experience.

Next steps

Read the full profiles for Luno and AltCoinTrader, the Luno fees guide, and the instant EFT guide for the Capitec Pay and Absa Pay details across platforms.