Reviews
Pepperstone Review
Pepperstone, is one of the leading brokerage firms worldwide, founded in 2010 by a management team experienced in the field of technology. The international broker that has gained popularity for its offering of CFDs and Forex, as well as its strong regulation across multiple jurisdictions.
With over 1,200 instruments available, this broker has established itself as a leading choice for traders in the UK and around the world. Throughout this article, we will explore its platforms, products, fees, and all the key information needed to start trading with Pepperstone.
Pros and Cons
| Pros of Pepperstone | Cons of Pepperstone | ||
| ✅ Fast and Reliable: High execution speed with a 99.95% order fulfilment rate and no dealing desk intervention. | ❌ Few Account Types: Limited account options compared to some competitors. | ||
| ✅ Tight Spreads: Spreads from 0.0 pips with no requotes, helping to reduce trading costs. | ❌ Variable Spreads Only: No fixed spread accounts, spreads can widen in volatile markets. | ||
| ✅ Secure: Regulated by two Tier 1 authorities, ensuring strong investor protection. | ❌ Modest Educational Content: Educational resources are somewhat limited. | ||
| ✅ Great Platforms: Supports TradingView, MetaTrader 4 & 5, and cTrader for flexible trading. | ❌ No Ownership of Assets: CFDs don't grant ownership of underlying stocks or commodities. | ||
| ✅ Wide Market Access: Over 1,200 instruments including CFDs on global shares from major markets. |
| Pros of Pepperstone | Cons of Pepperstone |
| ✅ Fast and Reliable: High execution speed with a 99.95% order fulfilment rate and no dealing desk intervention. | ❌ Few Account Types: Limited account options compared to some competitors. |
| ✅ Tight Spreads: Spreads from 0.0 pips with no requotes, helping to reduce trading costs. | ❌ Variable Spreads Only: No fixed spread accounts, spreads can widen in volatile markets. |
| ✅ Secure: Regulated by two Tier 1 authorities, ensuring strong investor protection. | ❌ Modest Educational Content: Educational resources are somewhat limited. |
| ✅ Great Platforms: Supports TradingView, MetaTrader 4 & 5, and cTrader for flexible trading. | ❌ No Ownership of Assets: CFDs don't grant ownership of underlying stocks or commodities. |
| ✅ Wide Market Access: Over 1,200 instruments including CFDs on global shares from major markets. |
Is it safe?
Yes, Pepperstone is considered safe for traders in the UK. Here’s why:
Strong Security Measures: Pepperstone employs robust security protocols to protect user data and funds.
Regulated by the FCA: Pepperstone is authorised and regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is one of the strictest and most reputable financial regulators worldwide. This means Pepperstone must adhere to high standards of transparency, security, and customer protection.
Client Funds Protection: Under FCA rules, client funds are held in segregated accounts, separate from the company’s own money. This protects your money in the event of financial difficulties at the broker.
Compensation Scheme: UK clients are eligible for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which can protect investments up to £85,000 if the broker were to fail.
Available Investment Products
Pepperstone offers a very broad range of products. It’s worth emphasising that their portfolio includes over 1,200 instruments, all available through CFDs. These allow direct trading on Forex, indices, shares, cryptocurrencies, energy, commodities, and more.
To begin trading, you will need to create an account on their online platform. Pepperstone offers several types of accounts, which will be explained in more detail later.
Which markets does Pepperstone operate in?
Pepperstone has expanded to operate in the most popular and in-demand markets for UK traders:
- Forex: Trade over 60 major, minor, and exotic currency pairs with low commissions and competitive spreads.
- Indices: Access leading indices such as the US30, US500, and NAS100.
- CFDs on Shares: Trade CFDs on local and international shares, particularly US stocks like Apple, Boeing, and Tesla, with commissions starting from just USD 0.20.
- Commodities: Trade popular commodities including gold, platinum, palladium, and silver.
- CFDs on ETFs: Choose from over 100 ETFs across various sectors including mining, energy, and technology.
- Cryptocurrencies: Trade CFDs on major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Please note, this is CFD trading, so you do not own the underlying crypto assets.
- Currency Indices: Diversify your portfolio with currency indices like USDX, EURX, and JPYX.
Fees and Commissions
Fees are only charged on Razor accounts when trading CFDs on Forex:
GBP: £2.25
USD: $3.50
EUR: €2.60
CHF: CHF 3.30
Additionally, the commissions for CFD Accounts are as below:
| Share Category | Commission per side | Minimum commission | SpreadBet spreads | ||||
| Australia Share CFDs | 0.07% | No minimum commission | 0.10% | ||||
| German Share CFDs | 0.10% | No minimum commission | 0.10% | ||||
| Hong Kong Share CFDs | 0.20% | No minimum commission | 0.10% | ||||
| UK Share CFDs | 0.10% | No minimum commission | 0.10% | ||||
| US Share and ETF CFDs | 0.02 USD per share | 0.02 USD | 4pt | ||||
| European Equities | 0.10% | No minimum commission |
| Share Category | Commission per side | Minimum commission | SpreadBet spreads |
| Australia Share CFDs | 0.07% | No minimum commission | 0.10% |
| German Share CFDs | 0.10% | No minimum commission | 0.10% |
| Hong Kong Share CFDs | 0.20% | No minimum commission | 0.10% |
| UK Share CFDs | 0.10% | No minimum commission | 0.10% |
| US Share and ETF CFDs | 0.02 USD per share | 0.02 USD | 4pt |
| European Equities | 0.10% | No minimum commission |
Account Types
Pepperstone offers one spread betting account and two CFD accounts - Standard and Razor.
Spread Betting
- Tax-free profits: Spread betting is considered as gambling in the UK and other tax authorities meaning profits are not subject to UK Capital Gains Tax or stamp duty on shares. This makes it an appealing option for those looking to maximise returns without incurring additional tax liabilities.
- No commission: All costs are included in the spread – the difference between the buy and sell price – providing transparent pricing and a cost-effective way to take advantage of market movements.
- Trade GBP in any market: Your stake is always placed in pounds per point, helping you avoid currency conversion fees and eliminating exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.
- Trade 1350+ markets, including shares, indices, forex, commodities and more.
- Minimum funding amount - £10
| Total number of instruments | 1432 | ||
| Forex | 91 | ||
| Indices | 26 | ||
| Commodities | 40 | ||
| Shares | 1162 | ||
| ETFs | 95 |
| Total number of instruments | 1432 |
| Forex | 91 |
| Indices | 26 |
| Commodities | 40 |
| Shares | 1162 |
| ETFs | 95 |
Standard CFD Account
- All fees, apart from overnight funding, are included in the spread and there is no commission to pay.
- Trade 1350+ markets, including shares, indices, forex, commodities and more.
- Minimum funding amount - £10
- Commission only on shares starting at 0.1% per side on UK share CFDs.
| Total number of instruments | 1444 | ||
| Forex | 93 | ||
| Indices | 4 | ||
| Commodities | 40 | ||
| Shares | 1162 | ||
| ETFs | 95 |
| Total number of instruments | 1444 |
| Forex | 93 |
| Indices | 4 |
| Commodities | 40 |
| Shares | 1162 |
| ETFs | 95 |
Razor CFD Account
- Includes commission-based pricing on forex.
- Raw spreads from 0.0 points include commissions of £2.25 per lot, per side.
- Trade 1350+ markets, including shares, indices, forex, commodities and more.
- Minimum funding amount - £10
| Total number of instruments | 1444 | ||
| Forex | 93 | ||
| Indices | 4 | ||
| Commodities | 40 | ||
| Shares | 1162 | ||
| ETFs | 95 |
| Total number of instruments | 1444 |
| Forex | 93 |
| Indices | 4 |
| Commodities | 40 |
| Shares | 1162 |
| ETFs | 95 |
Deposits and Withdrawals
Pepperstone does not have a minimum deposit for a live account, nor does it charge any additional fees for withdrawals. However keep in mind that there may be extra fees on payments to and from certain non-UK banks.
Trading Platforms
With 11 trading platforms, Pepperstone gives you access to some of the best trading platforms in the industry, including:
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
About: MT4 is one of the most popular trading platforms in the world, ideal for Forex and CFD trading.
Key Features: Advanced charting tools, custom indicators, automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs), and one-click trading.
Mac Compatibility: Pepperstone offers a tailored version of MT4 for Mac users, although MacOS users may need additional tools (like Wine or PlayOnMac) for full functionality due to Apple restrictions. - MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
About: The successor to MT4, MT5 offers expanded features including more order types, depth of market (DOM), and improved charting.
Best For: Traders who need multi-asset support and more sophisticated analytics. - Smart Trader Tools
A suite of 28 expert indicators and tools designed to enhance the MT4 and MT5 experience.
Includes tools for trade execution, sentiment analysis, risk management, and alarms—ideal for improving decision-making and automation. - WebTrader (MT4/MT5)
Trade directly from your browser without installing software.
Compatible with all modern browsers and retains most MT4/MT5 features, such as charting and order management. - Mobile Trading (iPhone, Android, iPad/Tablet)
Full-featured mobile apps for MT4, MT5, and cTrader available via iOS and Android.
Stay connected to markets with real-time quotes, interactive charts, and mobile order execution.
- cTrader Suite
- cTrader
A powerful platform known for speed, transparency, and intuitive design.
Offers advanced charting, Level II pricing, and custom layouts. - cTrader WebTrader
Browser-based version of cTrader with full functionality—no download needed.
Great for those switching devices or trading from different locations. - cTrader Automate (formerly cAlgo)
Enables algorithmic trading with C# and .NET integration.
Develop, test, and run automated strategies with powerful backtesting capabilities. - cTrader Mobile
Dedicated mobile app with clean design and robust performance for traders on the go.
More brokers to compare
FAQs
What is it?
Pepperstone was founded in 2010 in Australia, where it enjoys a strong reputation. Since then, it has successfully expanded and now offers trading on over 1,200 instruments.
Beyond CFDs and Forex, Pepperstone provides CFD trading on cryptocurrencies, shares, indices, commodities, and energy through contracts for difference.
Today, it is regarded as one of the most efficient and competitive brokers currently available and is considered one of the best brokers for trading in the foreign exchange market from the UK. Additionally, it offers an ideal environment for investors, with fair spreads, user-friendly platforms, and fast execution speeds.
How can I fund my Pepperstone account?
Pepperstone supports multiple deposit methods including:
- Bank transfer
- Debit/credit cards
- PayPal
- Skrill and Neteller
Deposits are typically free, and most methods are processed instantly.
Is my money safe with Pepperstone?
Yes. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at Tier 1 UK banks and are protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000.
Does Pepperstone offer a demo account?
Yes. You can open a free demo account on MT4, MT5, or cTrader to practise trading with virtual funds in a risk-free environment.
What are Pepperstone’s trading hours?
Pepperstone operates 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday, in line with global market hours. Specific instruments may have different trading sessions.
Can I use automated trading strategies?
Absolutely. Pepperstone fully supports algorithmic trading on MT4 (via Expert Advisors), MT5, and cTrader Automate (formerly cAlgo).
