Between 74-89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Pepperstone: Our verdict
Pepperstone is a world-class, trusted broker that has great Trustpilot reviews and offers value for money with raw spreads, fast trade adjustment speeds and execution of orders, and peace of mind with their regulation and client fund segregation.
Traders can access over 1,200 instruments across a range of asset classes, and can use three powerful platforms for free (TradingView, MetaTrader 4 & 5, and cTrader).
The broker also offers complete control of the account through a safe and secure client area, and award-winning customer support is available 24/5. Professional clients can also join the Active Trader program for cash rebates on high volume trading.
It’s easy to see why Pepperstone is one of the top trading brokers out there and is the broker of choice for over 400,000 traders, worldwide.
Are you looking for a broker that prioritises safety, with a wide range of tradeable instruments, award-winning customer care, access to top-quality charting tools and attractive fees? If this is the case, Pepperstone may well be for you.
How to decide if Pepperstone is right for You?
Below, we have put together a unique table of key information (Pepperstone at a glance) to help you make an informed decision on whether Pepperstone is right for you.
For traders looking for lower cost spreads Pepperstone is a great choice for those who use their Razor Accounts. However, for those who only have access to the standard accounts the costs are about average, so keep this in mind if the costs are a deciding factor for you.
It’s also important to add, at the time of writing this article, if you are a beginner trader and you are looking for lots of educational materials, you won’t find as much with Pepperstone when compared with industry leaders such as eToro and IG. That being said, they are keeping up with the average players in this regard.
Pepperstone at a glance…
| Key information | Pepperstone details |
|---|---|
| Regulators | (FCA, BaFin, CySec, ASIC, DFSA, SCB, CMA) |
| Additional security aspects | Client funds are held in segregated tier 1 banks |
| Recommended minimum deposit amount (Optional) | AUD$200, or equivalent |
| Deposit/withdrawal methods | Visa, Mastercard, Bank transfer, PayPal |
| Deposit time | Immediate (1-3 days for bank transfers only) |
| Withdrawal time | 1-3 working days |
| Deposit/withdrawal fees | Free |
| Standard EURUSD avg. spread | 1.12 |
| Spread bet EURUSD avg. spread | 0.82 |
| US Tech 100 min. spread | 1 |
| Spot Crude Oil avg. spread | 0.014 |
| Apple shares spread bet min. | 0.8 + market spread |
| Number of tradable instruments | 1,200+ |
| Types of available instruments | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares, ETFs and more |
| Users | 400,000+ Worldwide |
| Daily value of trades managed (March 2018 – March 2020) | $12.55bn worth of trades processed daily |
| Available trading platforms | TradingView, MT4, MT5, cTrader |
| Trading formats | Spread betting and CFDs (contracts for difference) |
| Compatible platforms | Windows, Mac OS, iOS & Android, WebTrader |
| Educational videos | ✔ |
| Trading education (CFDs, forex, shares, and general trading information) | ✔ |
| Webinars | ✔ |
| Trading guides | ✔ |
| Market analysis | ✔ |
| Economic calendar | ✔ |
| Market analysts | ✔ |
| Trading tools | ✔ |
| Algorithmic trading | ✔ |
| Trading bots (Capitalise.ai) | ✔ |
| Visit Pepperstone |
What’s in this article?
In this article we will cover all of the necessary information required to help you make a decision on whether Pepperstone is the right broker for your trading needs.
What are the pros and cons of opening an account with Pepperstone? Are they a safe broker? What types of tradeable instruments do the provide access to and what are their fees and commission rates? We will answer all of these questions and more within our detailed review of Pepperstone as a broker and the services they offer.
You can go straight to the setup process on Pepperstone’s website by using the ‘Visit Pepperstone’ button if you are ready to make your decision now, or read-on to learn more about Pepperstone and its features.
Pros and cons of Pepperstone as a broker
Pros of Pepperstone
- Fast trade adjustment and execution times.
- Tighter spreads (lower costs) on the Razor Accounts.
- Over 1,200 tradeable instruments to choose from.
- Better than average market trading research.
- Better than average trading educational materials.
- A good choice for both beginners and more experienced traders.
- Client funds are held in segregated bank accounts in tier 1 regulated banks.
- Founded in 2010, with a solid track record within the sector.
- Retail traders’ money is not used in hedging activity at Pepperstone.
- Your money and assets will always be kept separate from Pepperstone’s own money and assets.
- In the unlikely event of Pepperstone’s insolvency, your money and assets are protected from creditors.
Cons of Pepperstone
- Whilst their educational materials are better than the average within the sector, what’s on hand is not as good as some of the leaders within the sector such as eToro and IG.
- Pepperstone do not currently provide access to Options trading.
Is Pepperstone safe?
Pepperstone is a very safe broker and near top of class in this regard. As a brand, it takes security very seriously and has implemented various measures to ensure the safety of client funds.
Some of these measures include:
- Being authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and complying with strict client money and asset rules.
- Holding client funds in segregated bank accounts at several tier 1 leading banks. This ensures client money remains easily identifiable and protected from creditors in the unlikely event of insolvency.
- Distributing all retail client money across major banks, regularly assessed against Pepperstone’s risk criteria.
- Ensuring that client money and assets are never merged with Pepperstone’s own money and assets and that retail client money is not used for hedging trades with other counterparties.
- Protecting all client money and assets from creditors in the unlikely event Pepperstone goes into liquidation.
- The platform also provides negative balance protection, ensuring clients’ account balances cannot go negative due to market volatility.
- Being a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) provides compensation of up to £85,000 per person per institution in case of a loss of funds due to liquidation or bank failure.
Advanced Encryption
Pepperstone uses advanced encryption technology to protect clients’ personal information and transactions, ensuring that all data is transmitted securely.
Tradeable instruments at Pepperstone
Pepperstone offers a whopping 1,200+ tradeable instruments for traders to access. Some of these include forex, indices, shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), commodities and currency indices. Here’s a more detailed overview of each instrument:
- Forex: Pepperstone offers forex trading with razor sharp pricing, low spreads, and top tier liquidity for over 60 currency pairs, including majors, minors, crosses, and exotics. They do this with a 99.94% fill rate, fast execution, and no dealing desk intervention.
- Commodities: Pepperstone offers top-tier liquidity and consistently competitive spreads as low as 0.05 points on Gold, with no commissions. Their Commodities trades are filled full with no partial execution or requotes on market orders. With a 99.72% fill rate, fast execution, no dealing desk intervention and award-winning customer support available 24/5, traders can seize all opportunities in spot markets with leverage, no expiry, and no rollovers.
- Indices: Pepperstone offers the ability to trade on the movement of major stock market indices globally with razor sharp pricing, low spreads, and fast execution for Indices. They offer fixed competitive spreads as low as 1 point on UK100, 0.9 on GER40, with no commissions. They offer 24-hour pricing on major indices, including UK100, GER40, and US30, from Sunday night to Friday night.
- Shares: Pepperstone’s share offering allows traders to go long or short with Share CFDs and Spread Bets, simplifying short-selling stock and providing leveraged trading opportunities on falling stock prices. They offer out-of-hours trading on significant US shares to seize all trading opportunities. Traders can also pay less tax by spread betting, with no capital gains tax, and eliminate currency risk by trading in GBP.
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): Pepperstone offers over 100 ETFs to trade through contracts-for-difference (CFDs), which enable traders to express a view on the underlying price of the ETF without purchasing or selling the stake on a particular exchange. Pepperstone’s commissions for ETF CFDs include a $0.02 (USD) commission per share, per trade, with no additional mark-ups added to the bid/offer spread.
- Currency indices: Pepperstone offers Currency Index CFDs that measure direct changes in the value of a currency against a basket of other currencies, which differs from a currency pair as it is measured against more than one other currency. The most heavily weighted currency index, USDX, is the benchmark for the value of the US dollar and can be traded with leverage of up to 1:10, with 6 currencies in total making up the basket. Pepperstone also offers the Euro Index and Japanese Yen Index, with respective leverages of 5:1 and minimum spreads of 0.6 and 1.
Commissions and fees
Below, is a breakdown of the commissions and fees that are associated with using Pepperstone:
- Spreads: The spread is the difference between the bid and ask price of a financial instrument. Pepperstone offers low spreads on its platform, starting from as low as 0.0 pips for some instruments.
- Commissions: In addition to the spread, Pepperstone charges a commission on trades placed through its Razor account. The commission is charged per lot, starting from £3.50 per side. The standard account does not charge a commission, but the spreads are slightly higher.
- Swap Rates: Pepperstone charges swap rates on positions that are held overnight. Swap rates are the interest rates charged for holding a position overnight. The swap rates charged by Pepperstone vary depending on the instrument being traded and the direction of the trade.
- Inactivity Fee: Pepperstone charges an inactivity fee of £12 per month for accounts that have been inactive for 12 months or more.
- Deposit and Withdrawal Fees: Pepperstone does not charge any fees for deposits or withdrawals made using bank transfers. However, fees may apply for deposits and withdrawals using other payment methods, such as credit/debit cards or e-wallets.
Overall, Pepperstone offers competitive pricing on its platform, with low spreads and commissions. While some fees, such as swap rates and inactivity fees, may apply, these are in line with industry averages and standards.
Forex Spreads
| Currency Pair | Razor – Min Spread | Razor – Avg Spread | Standard – Min Spread | Standard – Avg Spread | Spread Bet – Min Spread | Spread Bet – Avg Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD | 0 | 0.12 | 1 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.79 |
| GBPUSD | 0 | 0.69 | 1 | 1.19 | 0.9 | 1.49 |
| USDJPY | 0 | 0.47 | 1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.05 |
| AUDUSD | 0 | 0.22 | 1 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.87 |
| USDCAD | 0 | 0.50 | 1 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.61 |
| USDCHF | 0 | 0.52 | 1 | 1.3 | 1 | 1.35 |
| EURGBP | 0 | 0.40 | 1 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.26 |
Indices Spreads
| Index | Symbol | Minimum CFD Spread | Minimum Spreadbet Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| US30 | US30 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
| GER40 | GER40 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| UK100 | UK100 | 1 | 1 |
| NAS100 | NAS100 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| US500 | US500 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Commodities Spreads
| Instrument | Minimum Spread | Average Spread |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 0.05 | 0.14 |
| Silver | 0.012 | 0.019 |
| Crude (WTI) | 0.02 | 0.03 |
| Spot Brent | 0.02 | 0.04 |
| Natural Gas | 0.012 | 0.014 |
Shares Spreads
| Instrument | 0 + Market Spread | Spread Bet Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | 0 + market spread | 0.8 + market spread |
| 0 + market spread | 0.8 + market spread | |
| Tesla | 0 + market spread | 0.8 + market spread |
| Uber | 0 + market spread | 0.8 + market spread |
| Amazon | 0 + market spread | 0.8 + market spread |
Deposits and withdrawals at Pepperstone
Is there a minimum deposit amount?
There is no minimum deposit requirement for Pepperstone, although their own guidance on the subject is as follows: ‘The recommended minimum deposit to trade with Pepperstone is AUD$200, or equivalent. However, clients are welcome to deposit less than this.’
Are there any deposit time restrictions?
No. Most deposits will take effect immediately. The only exception to this is bank transfers and this will typically take anywhere between 1-3 working days to process.
Are there any withdrawal time restrictions?
All withdrawals with Pepperstone will typically take between 1-3 working days.
What types of accounts are available with Pepperstone?
Pepperstone offers two primary CFD trading accounts called the Razor account and the Standard account. It also offers access to a spread betting account and has a demo account available as well. Demo accounts are great for beginners wanting to learn how to trade in real market conditions, but without any capital risk.
This broker also offers a swap-free account for those following the Islamic faith and MAM and PAMM Accounts that are aimed at more experienced and qualified fund managers with the relevant licenses. More on this further down the page…
CFD (contracts for difference) Accounts
Both of the CFD accounts have access to the same features, but some differences are seen, depending on your preference. Here’s a summary of each CFD account:
| Account Type | Trading Platforms | Commission | Avg. EURUSD Spread | Instruments Offered | Account Currencies | Available Leverage | Expert Advisors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razor Account | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | From £2.25 per lot per side on FX | 0.0 – 0.3 pips | 1200+ | GBP, USD, EUR, CHF | 1.30 | Yes |
| Standard Account | MT4, MT5, cTrader | No commission | 1.1 pips | 1200+ | GBP, USD, EUR, CHF | 1.30 | Yes |
Spread Betting Account
Pepperstone also offers a spread betting account for UK residents, which is ideal for traders looking for tax-free profits, a user-friendly platform, and access to educational resources.
If you are a trader that uses your own personal capital for funds, you’ll be classified as a retail trader. Retail traders have access to the same platform functionality as professional traders, but with lower leverage (30:1 for retail traders compared with 200:1 to 500:1 for professional traders).
How to choose between a CFD and Spread Betting account?
Here is a video from Pepperstone which will help you understand some of the key differences and similarities between CFDs and Spread Betting. It will also help you understand which option may be best for your personal requirements when choosing between Pepperstone’s CFD and Spread Betting accounts.
All trading carries with it a large degree of risk, so please review the information carefully before making your decision on which account is best for you. Your decision should be based on facts to make sure you are as informed as possible.
Demo Account
For newcomers looking to practice trading strategies in a risk-free environment, Pepperstone offers a demo account option. Complete a simple application form, choose your preferred trading platform (TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, or WebTrader), and practice with virtual funds and real market pricing for 30 days.
Swap-Free Islamic Account
Designed for Muslim traders in compliance with Sharia law, this account features straight-through processing and standard spreads without swaps, or rollover interest on overnight positions, which is against the Muslim faith.
MAM and PAMM Accounts
Aimed at money managers and professional fund managers, the Multi Account Manager (MAM) and Percent Allocation Management Module (PAMM) accounts offers a technical solution for institutional traders and qualified fund managers. These accounts are only accessible for qualified and experienced fund managers with relevant licences and industry experience.
Pepperstone Pro
Pepperstone offers an opportunity for professional and experienced traders to apply for a Professional Client Account. This account provides exclusive features such as higher leverage, tailored lot size options, cash rebates, and credit facilities.
With a Pro Account, traders have the ability to increase their leverage beyond what is offered to non-Premium customers. However, it is important to note that by applying for a Professional Account, traders will lose some retail client protections such as negative balance protection and leverage restrictions.
We’ve included a table below on the differences in leverage for the listed instruments for both professional and retail accounts.
| Instrument | Professional leverage | Retail leverage |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | Up to 500:1 | 30:1 |
| Indices | Up to 400:1 | 20:1 |
| Gold | Up to 500:1 | 20:1 |
| Other commodities | Up to 200:1 | 10:1 |
| Cryptocurrencies | Up to 10:1 | NA |
| Equities | Up to 20:1 | 5:1 |
What is Pepperstone’s Active Trader Program?
This program is targeted at active, high-volume traders and institutions and provides high-level services, including Electronic Communication Network access and execution. It offers benefits such as cash rebates (paid daily) and reduced commissions for professional traders generating a minimum of 200 lots of volume traded per month.
What trading platforms are provided by Pepperstone?
Pepperstone offers a variety of trading platforms designed to cater to traders with different levels of experience and preferences. These platforms include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, and Pepperstone’s very own WebTrader app, each with unique features and benefits.
- MetaTrader 4: MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is a widely used and free trading platform known for its advanced charting tools, technical indicators, and trading signals. Despite being an older version, many traders still prefer MT4 to its successor, MetaTrader 5. MT4 is available as a desktop application, web-based platform, and mobile app. However, some users report that it can be somewhat slow in executing trades.
- MetaTrader 5: MetaTrader 5 (MT5) builds upon the success of MT4, offering enhanced features and functionality. MT5 allows users to trade a broader range of financial instruments, including stocks and futures. With excellent reviews, it is considered an industry-leading trading app.
- cTrader: Designed for more advanced traders, cTrader offers sophisticated charting and order execution features along with an array of technical analysis tools. It has earned a reputation as a worthy competitor to MetaTrader.
- TradingView: TradingView is an innovative trading platform that integrates advanced charting, market analysis, and social features. It enables traders to share their ideas, learn from others, and collaborate in a community-driven environment. TradingView is a web-based platform that offers a wide range of tools and resources for traders of all levels.
- WebTrader: Pepperstone’s WebTrader is a versatile, web-based trading app that can be accessed from any browser. It boasts advanced features such as one-click trading, charting, and technical indicators.
How easy is it to open a live account with Pepperstone?
Opening an account with Pepperstone is relatively simple and in-line with what you would expect when opening a trading account with any broker. Aside from the time it takes for verification of personal documents, an account can be set up within minutes.
Below, are the steps to help get you started with a live account:
- Visit the Pepperstone website: Visit Pepperstone
- Create your login: Enter your personal details and chosen password to create your account.
- Take Pepperstone’s ‘appropriateness test’: This is an essential part of most broker registrations to assess whether trading derivative products is appropriate for you.
- Verify your identity: Upload a copy of your passport, driver’s license, or national ID card, along with a recent utility bill, or bank statement, to confirm your identity.
- Fund your account and start trading: After approval and verification, fund your account using payment methods like credit/debit cards, bank transfers, or e-wallets to gain access to the trading capabilities within the platform.
Below, is a quick video from Pepperstone on how to open an additional account. This will give you a clear understanding of what it takes to open an account with this broker and some of the options available.
Pepperstone’s trading tools
Capitalise.ai
Capitalise.ai is a trading automation tool that offers code-free automation for traders. The tool is free for Pepperstone customers and offers benefits such as saving time, trading around the clock, and eliminating emotional influence.
The platform provides several features, including code-free trading automation, research and analysis, smart notifications, a strategies library, and advanced trading features. Traders can access the platform using their existing Pepperstone MetaTrader 4 trading account and password.
The platform also offers a learning centre with videos, guides, examples, and tutorials. Traders can create new strategies using the panel on the left-hand side of the screen or browse through examples and templates.
Smart Trader Tools
Smart Trader Tools and Figaro are a suite of expert advisor tools available to retail and Pepperstone Pro clients. The tools are designed to help traders improve their trade execution and management by optimizing their trading strategy, managing risk, and enhancing their overall trading experience.
The suite includes 28 smart trading apps, including expert advisors and indicators, and is available exclusively for the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 trading platforms. The tools offer sophisticated alarms and broadcast facilities, with up-to-date market data and functions integrated within the MetaTrader interface.
Some of the tools included in the suite are Mini Terminal and Smart Lines, Trade Terminal with enhanced functionality, Correlation Matrix, Sentiment Trader, Trade Simulator, and various indicators such as Pivot Point, Renko, and Symbol Info. These tools are easy to use, install, and access and can help traders unlock their full trading potential.
cTrader Automate
cTrader Automate is an algorithmic trading solution that lets traders backtest and optimize their trading strategies by building automated trading robots and custom indicators using the cTrader API and C# language. It was formerly known as cAlgo and is natively integrated with cTrader, working seamlessly alongside all other functionalities of the platform.
The cTrader Automate.API is specifically designed for margin trading and supports all aspects of trading forex and CFDs, including market data, trading history, all order types, and position modification settings. It uses a programming language that is easily readable by both developers and traders, and symbol, account, connectivity, and error information is available to incorporate as much detail as possible into automated strategies.
Autochartist
IAutochartist is a market scanner tool that helps traders focus on the trade by removing market noise and highlighting the currency pairs, data intervals, and technical indicators that signify key market events. It provides statistically significant market movements and identifies important price levels that have proven to be catalysts for market movements.
The tool also includes a built-in filter for market events that have shown significant trading value over six months of historical backtesting. Autochartist’s Risk Calculator is a risk management tool that provides expected market movement ranges for the next hour, 4 hours, and 24 hours, and guides traders to the trading volume they need to set in order to remain within their risk tolerance.
Traders can receive automatic notifications from Autochartist when emerging and completed chart patterns are identified, and use volatility analysis to set appropriate take profit and stop-loss levels based on expected market volatility.
Daily market reports are also available for subscription to receive high-impact economic events and actionable trading opportunities for preferred trading sessions. Autochartist alerts are built directly into the MetaTrader trading platform, making it easy to view and analyze alerts alongside other indicators.
Algorithmic trading
Pepperstone offers automated trading solutions for traders looking to quickly access market opportunities. The broker supports the use of EAs and offers a Trading Simulator through its Smart Trader Tools package to backtest trading strategies.
Traders can also find EAs and code algorithms for use across Pepperstone’s 1000+ CFD instruments, including 60+ FX pairs. The broker offers sharp spreads and micro lots on FX CFDs from 0 pips on its Razor account, and is a trusted MT4, MT5, and cTrader broker.
Pepperstone supports many EAs across its platforms, making it a suitable choice for traders with various trading strategies.
API trading
Pepperstone offers support for automated trading through its API, making it ideal for traders using automated trading systems or developing their own custom-built system.
Trading with the Pepperstone API provides increased ability to see depth of market, peace of mind knowing that the broker has a segregated client account for traders’ capital, and access to multiple liquidity providers to ensure the best pricing.
Current account holders with a minimum of €160m trading volume per month can apply for a FIX Demo Environment to test Pepperstone’s FIX capabilities. Overall, the Pepperstone API provides a reliable and convenient solution for traders seeking to automate their trading strategies.
VPS hosting
Pepperstone offers VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting to allow traders to run automated algorithmic strategies, including expert advisors, 24/7 on a virtual machine.
Trading using VPS hosting minimizes the chance of system downtime due to technology and connectivity failures, providing traders with increased reliability and stability. ForexVPS offers ultra-low latency of approximately 1 millisecond, a 100% uptime guarantee, and the ability to install any Expert Advisor.
Their team of experts is available 24/7 to help traders install any EAs, third-party tools, or fix any issues. When traders join Pepperstone, they receive a 25% discount on ForexVPS plans. Pepperstone has also partnered with New York City Servers to provide a customized low latency solution for traders with stable connections, fast executions, and high-powered servers built to run 24/7.
NYC services are backed by around-the-clock support via email, support tickets, live chat, and telephone. Traders joining Pepperstone receive a 25% discount on any VPS plan.
Pepperstone’s social trading feature
DupliTrade is a social trading strategy marketplace offered by Pepperstone, which allows users to automate their trading while diversifying their investment. By using signals from experienced traders, DupliTrade helps users build trading knowledge and gain an understanding of professional trading techniques.
Access to DupliTrade’s portfolio of leading strategy providers is available with a minimum deposit of AUD$5,000 and can be automatically traded on the user’s MT4 account. Users can also practice strategies on their demo account. To get started, users can open a live trading account with Pepperstone, create a DupliTrade account and link it to their trading account.
Market research available at Pepperstone
We have provided analysis of the market research tools and resources available from Pepperstone, below:
- Economic Calendar: Pepperstone provides an economic calendar that includes important market events and announcements, such as central bank meetings, economic data releases, and more. This calendar can be a valuable resource for traders looking to stay up-to-date with the latest market developments.
- Market Insights: Pepperstone provides a range of market insights, including daily and weekly market analyses, trading signals and sentiment indicators. These resources can be valuable for traders looking to stay informed about market trends and potential trading opportunities.
- Technical Analysis: Pepperstone provides various technical analysis tools, including charting, drawing, and technical indicators. These tools can analyse the markets and identify potential trading opportunities.
- Fundamental Analysis: Pepperstone provides fundamental analysis tools, including news feeds, economic data releases, and market analysis reports. These tools can be used to analyse the impact of macroeconomic events on the markets and to identify potential trading opportunities.
- Trading Central: Pepperstone offers access to Trading Central, a third-party research provider with technical and fundamental analysis tools, trading signals and other research resources.
Educational resources from Pepperstone
Pepperstone provides various educational resources to help traders of all levels improve their trading knowledge and skills.
Here’s an overview of the educational resources that are available:
- Trading Guides: Pepperstone offers a range of trading guides covering topics like forex trading, technical analysis, and more. These guides provide traders with a solid foundation in trading principles.
- Video Tutorials: Pepperstone provides a range of video tutorials covering topics like trading strategies, technical analysis, and platform tutorials. These videos are available on the Pepperstone website and are designed to be accessible to traders of all levels.
- Pepperstone hosts regular webinars designed to help traders improve their trading skills and knowledge. These webinars cover various topics, including technical analysis, trading psychology, and more.
- Economic Calendar: Pepperstone provides an economic calendar that includes important market events and announcements, such as central bank meetings, economic data releases, and more. This calendar can be a valuable resource for traders looking to stay up-to-date with the latest market developments.
- Market Insights: Pepperstone provides a range of market insights, including daily and weekly market analyses, trading signals and sentiment indicators. These resources can be valuable for traders looking to stay informed about market trends and potential trading opportunities.
Overall, Pepperstone provides various educational resources to help traders of all levels improve their trading knowledge and skills. Whether a beginner or an experienced trader, these resources can be valuable to your trading toolkit.
Pepperstone’s customer service reviews
Pepperstone has received an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot with a total of 1,915 reviews, indicating high levels of customer satisfaction with the platform. A significant 81% of customers gave a 5-star rating, with many using positive adjectives to describe their experiences with Pepperstone, such as “great”, “fantastic”, “easy”, “reliable”, “helpful”, “patient”, and “friendly”.
However, 6% of reviewers gave them a 1-star rating, highlighting some negative issues. Some reviewers have reported delays in withdrawing funds, poor customer service, slippage issues, and malfunctioning features. Despite these negative reviews, Pepperstone has acknowledged these issues and responded to customer feedback, promising to improve and address customer concerns.
Overall, Pepperstone has a strong reputation on Trustpilot, with customers endorsing its reliability, authenticity, trustworthiness, and ease of use as a financial trading platform.
Here’s a summary of the different customer service options available on Pepperstone:
- Live Chat: Pepperstone provides a live chat service that allows traders to chat with a customer service representative in real time. This service is available 24/5 and is a convenient way to answer questions quickly or resolve issues.
- Email Support: Pepperstone also offers email support, which allows traders to submit questions or requests to the customer service team. The team typically responds to email inquiries within 24 hours.
- Phone Support: Pepperstone offers phone support to its clients, which can be helpful for more complex issues or for traders who prefer to speak directly with a customer service representative. Phone support is available 24/5.
- Knowledge Base: Pepperstone provides a comprehensive knowledge base on its website, which includes articles and guides on various topics, including platform tutorials, account management, and trading strategies. This resource can be a valuable source of information for traders who prefer to find answers to their questions independently.
- Social Media: Pepperstone is active on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Traders can use these channels to ask questions or get updates on the latest news and market events.
(74-89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs)
Meet Pepperstone’s experts
Chris Weston, Quasar Elizundia, Tyrone Abela and Thomas Atkinson are four of the key staff members at Pepperstone. They play important roles within the brand and you can learn more about each of them by clicking on their bios below.
Chris Weston
With over 19 years of experience in the financial services industry, Chris Weston serves as Pepperstone’s Head of Research. He has worked with retail and institutional clients at top firms such as Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, IG, and Morgan Stanley in research, sales, and trading roles.
Chris possesses extensive knowledge of the FX, equities, and fixed income markets, enabling him to provide valuable insights, research, ideas, and risk-management strategies that support traders at every level. He is a well-known global media figure, frequently appearing on major news outlets such as Bloomberg, Bloomberg Arabia, Channel News Asia, and Sky News Business.
Quasar Elizundia, CMT
Quasar Elizundia is a Research Strategist at Pepperstone, specializing in the LATAM region. He has gained extensive experience in the trading world while working at the research desks of FXCM and IG Group. With a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business, a Master’s degree in Investments and Capital Markets, a Master’s Degree in Finance, and currently pursuing the CMT designation, Mr. Elizundia has a solid perspective on market trends and how traders can benefit from proper technical analysis.
Tyrone Abela and Thomas Atkinson / FX Evolution / Technical Analysis
FX Evolution, founded by Tyrone Abela and Thomas Atkinson, is a training and research company. As Investment Manager and Chief Technical Analyst respectively, they utilise a systematic research approach that combines technical and fundamental analysis across a wide range of financial instruments. Their webinars, called ‘Learn it Live’, are designed for traders of all levels and offer easy-to-understand analysis.
Some background on Pepperstone as a broker
Pepperstone is a top-tier trading broker with that boasts a miriad of rewards and that is based and founded in Melbourne, Australia. The brand is highly regarded within the trading community.
They’ve been providing access to global financial markets since 2010 and since then they have seen exponential growth in having attained over 400,000 traders that use their platform, Worldwide.
Hearing from the Chief Executive of Pepperstone, Owen Kerr, in 2015; he has a lot to say about how Pepperstone disrupted the market and was able to bring the trading costs down to make the markets more accessible to the average retail trader. Listening to this, it’s easy to see why the brand has become one of the world’s leading brokers.
You can watch that video below:
Alternatives to Pepperstone
While Pepperstone is a highly reputable and popular trading platform, there are also several other options available that may be worth considering. Here’s a guide to some of the best alternatives to Pepperstone:
- eToro: eToro is a social trading platform that allows traders to follow and copy the trades of other traders. You’ll find slightly better trading tools on Etoro but the market research is more comprehensive on Pepperstone. The eToro mobile APP is also the best in the industry, by our analysis. » MORE Read our review on eToro here: eToro review.
- IG: IG is a highly respected trading platform that offers a range of financial instruments, including forex, stocks, and commodities. It may offer very slightly better pricing than Pepperstone, but it’s very difficult to say which is btter.
- AvaTrade: AvaTrade is a popular trading platform that offers a range of financial instruments, including forex, stocks, and commodities. We prefer the trading tools and APP on AvaTrade, but the market research on Pepperstone.
- Plus500: Plus500 is a popular trading platform offering various financial instruments, including forex, stocks, and commodities. We marginally prefer the trading APP on Plus500, but the market research on Pepperstone is unbeatable.
- Saxo Bank: Saxo Bank is a highly respected trading platform that offers a range of financial instruments, including forex, stocks, and commodities. The trading experience is slightly better on Saxo to Pepperstone, but otherwise they are broadly comparable.
Pepperstone FAQs
What are the differences between Pepperstone’s CFD and Spread Betting accounts?
The main differences between CFD and Spread Betting accounts with Pepperstone are as follows:
- There is no capital gains tax to pay from profits made on a spread betting account (within the UK), whereas profits made vis a CFD account are liable for capital gains.
- There is zero commission charged on spread betting accounts, however, there are some commissions to pay for certain assets traded on CFD accounts.
- The format in how to you will trade will differ. On spread betting accounts you trade with an amount of pounds per point and with a CFD account you trade in lot sizes (number of contracts).
- There is no corporate account available with spread bet accounts, but there is one available with CFD accounts.
- The currency deal size is calculated in pounds sterling which makes things much easier to understand quickly. For CFD accounts the currency deal size is calculated in the currency of the contract you are trading which clearly increases your risk of foreign currency exposure.
- Calculating the profit and loss is slightly more complex on a CFD account when compared with a spread betting account.
NB: On the last point above, we have questioned some our staff at Business Expert who have multiple years’ experience trading the markets. The resounding response was that being able to calculate your likely profit and loss ahead of placing the trade is a very important key factor when it comes to money management (a large part of consistently profitable trading).
Is Pepperstone regulated?
Yes, Pepperstone carries 7 licenses, including regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
What is the minimum deposit for Pepperstone?
There isn’t an official minimum deposit amount with Pepperstone. However, they do recommend that you deposit a minimum of AUD$200, or the equivalent of this amount in your own currency. That being said, it is up to you.
What trading platforms does Pepperstone offer?
Pepperstone offers a range of trading platforms, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Trading View and their own proprietary platform, Pepperstone WebTrader.
Does Pepperstone offer demo accounts?
Yes, Pepperstone offers demo accounts that allow traders to practice trading in a risk-free environment.
What are the fees associated with trading on Pepperstone?
Pepperstone charges competitive spreads on trades, and does not charge commissions on trades made through their Razor account. They also offer fee-free funding options for deposits and withdrawals.
How can I deposit funds into my Pepperstone account?
Pepperstone offers a variety of deposit options, including credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill.
What customer support options does Pepperstone offer?
Pepperstone offers customer support via phone, email, and live chat, and their support team is available 24/5.
Is Pepperstone suitable for beginners?
Pepperstone is suitable for traders of all experience levels, including beginners. They offer educational resources and a demo account to help new traders get started.
What is the maximum leverage offered by Pepperstone?
The maximum leverage offered by Pepperstone varies depending on the type of account and the asset being traded. The maximum leverage for major forex pairs is 30:1 for retail clients and 500:1 for professional clients, while for shares it can be up to 20:1.
Does Pepperstone allow scalping?
Yes, Pepperstone allows scalping as a trading strategy. They cater to traders who employ various strategies, including those who scalp off 15- or 30-minute charts and traders using shorter timeframes such as 5 minutes or lower.
Does Pepperstone allow hedging?
Yes, hedging trades are allowed.
Can Pepperstone be trusted?
Two high-trust tier-1 authorities regulate Pepperstone: the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), meaning it can be trusted as a safe and reliable trading platform.
What’s the Pepperstone Withdrawal time?
Pepperstone offers several payment methods for withdrawals, all of which are free of charge. Withdrawal processing times for Visa and Mastercard debit/credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal are similar, generally taking 1-3 working days to complete.
