Pepperstone Review 2024

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Pepperstone is an award-winning forex, CFD, and spread betting broker. With nearly 90,000 users globally, it is one of the most popular in the industry. Our UK broker review will explore the key details you need to know, including platform options, fees, regulation, customer support, and more. Find out if becoming a Pepperstone trader is right for you.

Pepperstone Headlines

Pepperstone was founded in 2010 and was originally located in Australia. Since then, the brokerage has expanded internationally and now has multiple branches registered under the Pepperstone Group, all of which are heavily regulated in their respective countries.

Its UK headquarters are based in London, next to the Bank of England, and were set up in 2016. On the path to global expansion, Pepperstone has excelled, picking up multiple industry awards and establishing itself as one of the leading CFD and forex brokers.

Trading Platforms

Pepperstone offers three industry-leading platforms: MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader. All the platforms offer comprehensive access to trading markets and can be run on desktop, WebTrader, or mobile apps.

MetaTrader 4

Key features of the MT4 platform include:

• Price signals
• Historical price data
• Multi-screen interface
• Automated trading via APIs
• Range of chart timeframe options
• Integrated daily news reports with live updates

MetaTrader 5

In addition to the MT4 capabilities, MetaTrader 5 also includes the following features:

• Stop-loss alerts
• 21-time frames
• Strategy development and testing
• Highly customisable to fit any trading style
• Numerous pending order and execution types
• Advanced technical indicators and analysis tools

cTrader

cTrader offers a more user-friendly interface, and is straightforward enough for beginners to use. Clients benefit from:

• 26 built-in chart views
• Programmable algorithms
• 50+ customisable trading templates
• Selection of technical indicators and timeframes

Products

Pepperstone has several asset classes available to trade, these include:

• 14 index CFDs, including UK100 and US30
• 20+ commodities including gold, silver, and oil
• Five cryptocurrency CFDs, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Litecoin (LTC)
• 60+ forex pairs, including majors, minors and exotics, notably: GBP/USD and EUR/USD

Plus, Peppperstone provides spread betting on stocks, currencies, indices and commodities.

Commission & Fees

Pepperstone offers competitive spreads vs many of its industry alternatives. In particular, on the Razor account, spreads start at zero pips on major forex pairs. The Razor account has lower spreads compared to the standard account, for example on EUR/USD, the Razor account comes in at 0.09 pips, compared with 0.75 pips on the Standard. However, Razor account holders are subject to commission. On MT4 and MT5, a commission of GBP 0.02 (GBP 0.05 round turn) per 1000 units is applied. But on cTrader, commission is charged at 0.0035%.

Spreads on indices, such as the UK100 and Nas100, are 1.0 pip.

Pepperstone also charges fees for positions held overnight (known as the swap rate) and commissions on CFDs depending on currency traded and the platform used.

UK Leverage

In line with FCA regulations, Pepperstone applies a maximum leverage restriction. This is variable by asset class:

• Equities – 1:5
• Commodities – 1:10
• Major forex pairs – 1:30
• Non-major forex pairs and major indices – 1:20

Mobile Trading

All three of Pepperstone’s trading platforms offer a mobile app and are available to download on Android and iOS devices. This means that investors can execute trades and track strategies on the go. Clients can utilise a suite of drawing and analysis tools and implement automated trading algorithms. Push notifications also mean traders are kept up to date with the latest price changes and market movements.

Deposits & Withdrawals

Pepperstone offers a range of deposit and withdrawal options to UK traders. These include:

• Visa
• PoLi
• BPay
• Skrill
• PayPal
• Neteller
• Union Pay
• Mastercard
• Bank Transfer

All funding and withdrawals can be made via the Pepperstone secure client login area. However, the payment methods available may vary depending on account type. The broker has a minimum deposit of £200 or equivalent. Typically, deposits are instant and withdrawals requested before 08:00 GMT will be processed the same day. After 8 am GMT, withdrawals can take up to 3-5 working days.

Demo Account

Pepperstone offers a 30-day free demo account where traders can practice with £50,000 of virtual funds. Here, investors can familiarise themselves with the platforms available before committing themselves to a live account.

Regulation Review

Pepperstone is one of the most highly regulated brokers in the industry. It’s registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) in Australia, and The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). This level of regulation should offer UK traders confidence when investing.

Additional Features

Pepperstone offers a range of additional features to enhance the trading experience, these include:

• Copy trading
• Market analysis
• Economic calendar
• Trading guides with webinars and tutorials
• Unique trading tools, including VPS trading and Autochartist

Account Types

Pepperstone offers two account types: the Standard and Razor account. Both offer the following key features:

• 180+ asset classes
• Access to MT4 and MT5
• Social/copy trading tools
• Mobile, desktop, and web trading
• Minimum deposit of £200 or equivalent
• Leverage capped at 1:30 in line with FCA regulations

Plus, when comparing the Standard account vs the Razor account, there are some advantages to selecting the latter:

• Access to cTrader
• Faster execution
• Generally lower fees

Islamic, swap-free trading is only available on the Standard account.

Whilst both trading accounts provide a comprehensive suite of features, the Standard account is best suited to new traders. The Razor account will be attractive to more experienced investors looking to employ more technical strategies, such as scalping or algorithmic trading.

Pros & Cons

Advantages

• Demo account
• Range of payment methods
• Multiple additional features including copy trading
• Regulated by reputable bodies, including the FCA
• Access to industry-leading trading platforms: MT4 and MT5
• Focus on consumer protection, with negative balance protection and segregated funds

Disadvantages

• No live chat service
• Limited account options
• No bonus scheme (a condition of FCA regulation)
• Fewer assets available compared to other brokers

Trading Hours

Pepperstone trading hours vary depending on the asset being traded. However, most FX pairs are available to trade 24/5. Information on specific asset trading hours is available on the company’s website.

The Pepperstone server time is set at GMT + 3 hours during US daylight saving and GMT +2 outside of this period. This aligns Pepperstone’s chart candles to close in conjunction with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Customer Support

Pepperstone offers many customer support options:

• Contact email – support@pepperstone.com
• UK toll-free phone number – 0800 046 5473
• Email enquiry form with a 24-hour response rate

Most brokers offer a live chat service, enabling customers to access support instantly. Unfortunately, Pepperstone does not provide this, but it does offer a comprehensive FAQ section with in-depth answers. Customers will find they can self-serve many of the most popular queries.

Security

As well as being heavily regulated, Pepperstone also prioritises client security. All retail funds are kept in a segregated bank account to protect their account balance in the event of liquidation. Plus, Pepperstone is signed up to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and for those trading on margin, negative balance protection is available.

Should You Trade With Pepperstone?

Pepperstone is popular with traders and it’s easy to see why. Regulated with the FCA, it prioritises client trust, while offering industry-leading platforms in MetaTrader 4 and 5. The option of both Razor and Standard account, means the needs of traders of all levels of expertise are met. Plus, with bespoke features such as copy trading and APIs, there’s sufficient functionality for most trading strategies.

FAQs

Top 3 Pepperstone Alternatives

These brokers are the most similar to Pepperstone:

1. IG Index - Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
2. IC Markets - IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.
3. FP Markets - Established in 2005 in Australia, FP Markets is an ASIC- and CySEC-regulated broker boasting an extensive suite of tradable assets. Its Standard and Raw accounts cater to traders at every level, while it packs a punch in the tooling department, from the MetaTrader suite and intuitive TradingView to actionable trading ideas from Trading Central and AutoChartist.

Pepperstone Feature Comparison

Trading Instruments Comparison

Pepperstone vs Other Brokers

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