Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 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 and ActivTrades are two established online brokers, with Pepperstone founded in 2010 and ActivTrades in 2001. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank, ensuring they focus entirely on providing quality trading services. Both brokers are licensed, adhering to strict international standards. Pepperstone holds three Tier-1 licenses, affirming a high level of trust, while ActivTrades holds two, signaling a strong compliance record as well.
When it comes to trustworthiness, Pepperstone scores an impressive 95 out of 99 on ForexBrokers.com's Trust Score, indicating it is highly trusted. ActivTrades also fares well with a Trust Score of 81, placing it in the trusted category. Additionally, Pepperstone has two Tier-2 licenses compared to ActivTrades' one, further showcasing its commitment to maintaining trusted regulatory practices. Both brokers are poised as reliable choices for those venturing into online trading.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
Pepperstone earns 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #11 of 63 brokers, while ActivTrades scores 4/5 stars and ranks #29 of 63. Both are competitively priced, but Pepperstone’s best pricing is tied to its Razor account and Active Trader rebates, whereas ActivTrades offers simple, one-tier pricing without discounts for high-volume traders.
Pepperstone’s Razor account uses commissions plus tight spreads and is available on TradingView, MetaTrader (MT4/MT5), and cTrader. As of July 2024, the EUR/USD averaged 0.10 pips; adding the commission-equivalent of 0.70 pips brings the all-in cost to about 0.80 pips. The commission-free Standard account averaged 1.1 pips on EUR/USD, making it pricier than Razor. Active Trader rebates can further cut costs for professionals: in the U.K./EU, forex spread rebates start at 15% per lot for at least £20 million in monthly volume and rise to 25% above £200 million; in Australia, Tier One starts at a 10% discount after 100 lots over three months, and Tier Three reaches a 30% reduction above 3001 lots per month.
ActivTrades’ fees are straightforward across its Individual, Professional, and Islamic accounts, with no special pricing for heavy trading. Spreads are the same across account types and will vary by asset and platform; the average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024, and spreads can widen during rollover. Bottom line: Pepperstone’s Razor all-in cost of about 0.80 pips on EUR/USD (before any rebates) is lower than ActivTrades’ 0.98 pips, though Pepperstone’s Standard account is higher than both.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.1 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Pepperstone vs ActivTrades: both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support copy trading. Pepperstone lists 1,726 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while ActivTrades offers 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Each provides cryptocurrency trading via CFDs but does not support buying actual, delivered crypto. Neither broker offers access to U.S.-listed shares (non-CFDs). However, ActivTrades does offer real, exchange-traded international shares (not CFDs), while Pepperstone does not.
For Range of Investments, both earn 4 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com rankings, Pepperstone places #27 of 63, ahead of ActivTrades at #32. Choose Pepperstone if you want a larger overall lineup and more forex pairs; consider ActivTrades if you need access to actual international shares alongside CFDs and forex.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Pepperstone and ActivTrades offer similar platform coverage for traders. Each provides a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform in addition to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Windows desktop and web-based platforms, copy trading, and the ability to trade straight from charts. Indicator totals and watchlist column counts aren’t specified in our data.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. In the same category, Pepperstone is ranked #22 out of 63 brokers, while ActivTrades is ranked #32 out of 63. If you’re choosing between them, consider which proprietary interface you prefer and any extras tied to copy trading or chart workflows, since the core platform lineup is comparable.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Pepperstone and ActivTrades both check the basics for mobile traders. Each offers an iPhone and Android app, supports stock and forex price alerts, and includes 30 technical indicators for charting. You can draw trendlines on both apps, and your drawings are saved automatically, making it easy to pick up where you left off.
The key difference is watchlists: Pepperstone syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while ActivTrades does not. As for quality scores, both earn 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s 63-broker lineup, ActivTrades ranks #19 and Pepperstone ranks #21. If cross-device watchlist syncing matters, Pepperstone is the better fit; if rankings sway you, ActivTrades has the edge. Either way, both apps offer similar charting tools, alerts, and mobile trading features.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Pepperstone and ActivTrades both cover the essentials for market research: daily market commentary, forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning, and a clear economic calendar. Neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. The key difference is tools: Pepperstone offers Autochartist for pattern recognition and trade ideas, while ActivTrades does not.
On quality scores, Pepperstone is rated 4.5/5 for Research and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds a 4/5 rating and ranks #31. If you want broader built-in analysis features, Pepperstone has the edge; if you mainly need daily insights and reliable news, both brokers deliver.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Pepperstone and ActivTrades both offer forex and CFD education with libraries that meet the 10+ piece threshold. Each runs client webinars at least monthly and provides at least 10 beginner-focused trading videos, making it easier for newcomers to learn basics like order types, risk control, and platform tips. For education overall, Pepperstone earns 4.5 stars (ranked #17 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com), while ActivTrades earns 4 stars (#38 out of 63).
As you progress, both brokers also supply at least 10 advanced videos, so you won’t outgrow their materials quickly. If top-rated education is a priority, Pepperstone’s higher star rating and ranking give it an edge for beginners who want a clear learning path supported by frequent webinars. ActivTrades remains a good pick if you value regular live sessions and a sizable beginner video catalog, even if its overall education ranking is lower.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Pepperstone is better than ActivTrades. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 95 | 81 |
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Pepperstone vs ActivTrades: neither broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
In the Pepperstone vs ActivTrades comparison of deposit and withdrawal methods, Pepperstone offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers, whereas ActivTrades offers Skrill and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.1 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | ActivTrades Review |
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