Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs ATFX, 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 ATFX are both online brokers offering various trading services. Pepperstone, established in 2010, holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 95, indicating it is highly trusted. Meanwhile, ATFX, founded in 2017, has a Trust Score of 85, placing it in the trusted category. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. These aspects make both firms accessible for traders looking for well-regulated platforms without the complexity of bank-run operations.
When it comes to regulatory strength, ATFX holds four Tier-1 licenses, while Pepperstone has three. In addition, both brokers have two Tier-2 licenses, further securing their standing in the trading industry. These credentials suggest that both brokers comply with high regulatory standards, ensuring a safer trading environment for their users. Whether you prioritize experience with Pepperstone's longer establishment or ATFX’s slightly broader Tier-1 regulation, both provide secure trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Pepperstone delivers lower trading costs than ATFX in our Commissions and Fees ratings. Pepperstone earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 of 63 brokers, while ATFX earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #61 of 63. The gap reflects Pepperstone’s competitive Razor account pricing and volume-based rebates, versus ATFX’s more limited transparency around average spreads.
With Pepperstone, the Razor account uses a commission-plus-spread model across TradingView, MetaTrader (MT4/MT5), and cTrader. As of July 2024, the average spread on EUR/USD was 0.10 pips; including the commission (about 0.70 pips), the all-in cost comes to roughly 0.80 pips—near the industry average. The Standard account is commission-free but pricier at about 1.1 pips on EUR/USD. High-volume traders can cut costs further through the Active Trader program: in the U.K. and EU, Professional clients trading at least £20 million per month can receive about 15% spread rebates per lot, scaling up to 25% beyond £200 million. In Australia, Professional clients need at least 100 lots over three months to qualify; Tier One offers about a 10% discount per standard lot, rising to about 30% for more than 3,001 lots monthly.
ATFX does not publish average spread data for a like-for-like comparison, which makes precise cost analysis harder. Given its 3/5 star Commissions and Fees rating and #61/63 ranking at ForexBrokers.com, ATFX trails Pepperstone on pricing overall. If tight spreads and volume-based rebates matter to you, Pepperstone’s Razor account and Active Trader discounts may deliver better value than ATFX, while Pepperstone’s Standard account remains the costlier option within Pepperstone’s lineup.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| 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 offers a wider range of investments than ATFX. Traders get 1,726 tradeable symbols at Pepperstone versus 150 at ATFX, including 65 forex pairs at Pepperstone and 44 at ATFX. Both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs/spot and support copy trading. For crypto, neither broker lets you buy real coins, but both offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
Neither Pepperstone nor ATFX provides direct share dealing on U.S. or international exchanges (non-CFD stocks). Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments ratings, Pepperstone scores 4 stars and ranks #27 out of 63 brokers, while ATFX scores 3.5 stars and ranks #58—signaling Pepperstone’s broader selection overall.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 ATFX both make it easy to get started with a free demo account and support popular ways to trade, including Windows desktop and web platforms. Each broker offers copy trading and the full MetaTrader suite (MT4 and MT5), and both let you place trades directly from charts. One key difference is that Pepperstone also provides its own in-house platform, while ATFX sticks with third-party options like MetaTrader.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Pepperstone 4 stars (ranked #22 out of 63 brokers), ahead of ATFX at 3.5 stars (ranked #63). In practice, that means Pepperstone may offer a broader, more flexible platform lineup, whereas ATFX can suit traders who are comfortable focusing on MetaTrader. Your best choice comes down to whether you want an extra proprietary platform alongside MT4/MT5.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / 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 ATFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts and real-time watchlists included. The big usability difference is watchlist syncing: Pepperstone syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while ATFX does not. That makes it easier on Pepperstone to manage the same list across devices without rework.
For charting, Pepperstone provides 30 technical studies compared with 7 on ATFX. Both apps let you draw trendlines and automatically save your drawings. In independent reviews, Pepperstone earns 4 stars and ranks 21st for mobile trading apps on ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX scores 3.5 stars and ranks 64th. If you want deeper chart tools and seamless watchlist syncing, Pepperstone is the stronger pick; if you only need the essentials, ATFX covers the basics.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Pepperstone vs ATFX for market research: both brokers deliver daily market commentary and a clear economic calendar. Pepperstone provides forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and includes a sentiment tool that shows the long/short ratio across instruments. Both offer Autochartist for technical setups, while only ATFX adds Trading Central research. Pepperstone does not include TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools; ATFX’s access to TipRanks or Acuity Trading was not specified.
Ratings from ForexBrokers.com favor Pepperstone for research, with 4.5/5 stars and a #12 ranking out of 63 brokers, versus ATFX’s 3/5 stars and #55 ranking. In short, choose Pepperstone if you want top-tier news and sentiment data alongside Autochartist; pick ATFX if Trading Central’s analytics are a priority.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Pepperstone and ATFX both give beginners a clear starting point with video lessons: each offers at least 10 beginner videos that explain core trading ideas for forex and CFDs. Pepperstone goes a step further with live, education-focused client webinars held at least once a month, which can help you practice and ask questions in real time. If you plan to advance your skills, Pepperstone also supplies 10+ advanced videos, while ATFX doesn’t reach that level yet.
For education overall, Pepperstone earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #17 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its stronger mix of beginner and advanced materials plus ongoing webinars. ATFX earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #28 out of 63, making it a straightforward pick for basic learning but less ideal if you want deeper training and regular live sessions.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 ATFX. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 |
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Both Pepperstone and ATFX do not facilitate the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency but do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Pepperstone vs ATFX: for deposits and withdrawals, Pepperstone supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers, while ATFX supports bank wires and Skrill but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
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