With its innovative service, Netflix has become a strong presence in the market in the last ten years. But its innovative idea and its success in the market precede its fame, dating back to the 90s. Since its initial public offering in 2002, buying Netflix shares has been a popular option for investors.
This article will teach you how to buy Netflix shares from South Africa through online brokers such as Interactive Brokers.
Overview of Netflix
Netflix, Inc. was founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. Headquartered in Los Gatos, California, the business began by renting and selling DVDs by mail. In 1999 it introduced a monthly subscription model, letting customers choose titles on Netflix’s website that were then mailed to them. From its early days, the company invested in algorithms to predict viewers’ preferences, and in 2007 it launched the streaming service that would transform the business.
Today, Netflix is the world’s leading streaming platform, with over 300 million subscribers globally and a catalogue spanning original series, films, documentaries, games, and increasingly live programming. The company has grown steadily over the years – 2025 revenue reached around $45 billion (up roughly 16% year-on-year), with net income of about $11 billion – and it remains consistently profitable, which has made NFLX a popular stock among investors. Netflix also completed a 10-for-1 stock split in 2025, lowering its per-share price and making the stock more accessible to smaller investors.
Netflix shares trade on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker NFLX, which operates between 09:30 and 16:00 Eastern Time (ET) – that’s roughly 15:30 to 22:00 South African Standard Time (SAST). If you want to know how to buy Netflix shares in South Africa, check our guide below to start investing!
How to buy Netflix shares in South Africa
1. Choose an online broker
To trade Netflix shares, you’ll need an online broker – a platform that lets investors buy and sell shares. There are plenty of options available to South African investors, which can feel overwhelming, so further down this guide we’ve highlighted a couple of brokers where you can buy Netflix shares from South Africa.
2. Open a brokerage account
The first step to buying Netflix shares in South Africa is to open a brokerage account. Most online brokers ask you to complete a form with your personal and financial details, followed by an ID verification (FICA) process.
Before investing real money, many brokers offer paper trading – a risk-free way to practise using virtual funds. It’s useful for beginners learning the ropes and for experienced traders testing new strategies. Platforms like Interactive Brokers let you open a demo account to explore the features and simulate trades.
Once you’re comfortable with the platform, you can open a live investment account and buy Netflix shares.
3. Deposit money
Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit requirement, so you can fund your account with an amount that suits you. On withdrawals, IBKR offers one free withdrawal per month, with a small fee (around $1 or the local-currency equivalent) for each additional withdrawal in the same month. Bear in mind that funding a USD-denominated account from South African rand (ZAR) will involve a currency conversion, so factor in IBKR’s low FX conversion fee (0.03%) when depositing.
4. Place a “buy order” on Netflix
Once you’ve chosen a broker, opened your investment account, and made your initial deposit, you’re ready to buy Netflix shares. Simply search for the Netflix ticker NFLX within your broker’s platform and place a buy order. You can buy whole shares or, with brokers that offer fractional shares (including Interactive Brokers), invest a fixed amount rather than buying a full share.
Best broker to invest in Netflix from South Africa
#1 Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers at a glance
Founded in 1978, Interactive Brokers is one of the most established and reliable online brokers in the market, with a sophisticated, feature-rich trading platform. It suits both experienced investors and beginners – the latter especially via its more streamlined mobile app, IBKR GlobalTrader. The broker is known for its reliability, versatility, and very wide range of investment options, which include Netflix shares. To learn more, check our Interactive Brokers review.
Interactive Brokers is available to investors in South Africa and worldwide, charges low fees, and has no minimum deposit. You can fund your account or withdraw via bank transfer, and it provides access to over 150 markets across 30+ countries. The broker is supervised by several top-tier regulators – South African clients are typically served by Interactive Brokers Ireland Ltd (regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland) – and offers stocks, ETFs, forex, bonds, commodities, and derivatives (options, futures, and CFDs). For a South African investor buying US shares like Netflix, IBKR’s low US stock commissions and competitive 0.03% currency conversion fee (for converting ZAR to USD) make it a strong, cost-effective choice.
Bottom line
Choosing the right broker for your investments can feel like a daunting task. If you want to invest in Netflix shares from South Africa, we’ve outlined options to help you get started, each with its own advantages and trade-offs. Our aim is to help you make well-informed decisions – but remember that all investments carry risk, and it’s up to you to do your own due diligence to decide whether Netflix shares are right for you. We hope this guide has answered your questions and set you on the right path!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invested. Currency fluctuations between the South African rand (ZAR) and US dollar (USD) can also affect the value of your returns when investing in US-listed shares like Netflix.
Other FAQs
Is it safe to invest in Netflix?
Netflix shares are considered volatile. This means that your investment may have high returns, but may also bring you higher losses as well. You can avoid this risk by diversifying your portfolio by buying non-correlated assets or investing in index funds or ETFs, which allow you to invest in multiple companies via one single financial instrument.
How can I avoid scams?
The best way to avoid losing your money to online scams is to use regulated investment platforms. This is one of the reasons why it is important to wisely choose your broker.
What is the difference between investing in stocks and CFDs?
By trading the CFD of the stock, you do not acquire its ownership. Instead, you are speculating on its price. You can leverage your position when trading CFDs, which is a risky strategy that can occur in massive losses.
Does Netflix distribute dividends?
Netflix’s strategy is to reinvest the profits in the company. It is not likely that the company will distribute dividends in the foreseeable future.
