Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs BDSwiss, 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 BDSwiss, both recognized online brokers, cater to global traders but differ in their regulatory credentials. Founded in 2010, Pepperstone has established itself as a highly trusted broker with a Trust Score of 95 out of 99, according to ForexBrokers.com. It boasts three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, underscoring its credibility in the financial world. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, Pepperstone provides a sense of security for its users through this extensive regulatory coverage.
BDSwiss, established in 2012, also serves traders internationally but has a more moderate Trust Score of 73, positioning it within the average risk range. The firm holds one Tier-1 license, offering a basic but essential level of assurance to its clients. However, BDSwiss lacks Tier-2 licenses, which may influence the perception of trust when compared to its competitor, Pepperstone. Like Pepperstone, BDSwiss is neither publicly traded nor operates as a bank. This makes understanding their regulatory footprints crucial for traders choosing between them.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing Pepperstone and BDSwiss on commissions and fees, Pepperstone stands out with its Razor account, particularly when enhanced by its Active Trader program for high-volume traders. This account offers a competitive pricing structure with a low average spread of 0.10 pips for EUR/USD, effectively making the all-in cost 0.80 pips after adding the commission. On the other hand, Pepperstone's Standard account is commission-free but less attractive due to its higher average spread of 1.1 pips on EUR/USD. Notably, Pepperstone offers rebates for active traders that vary based on trading volume, providing further incentives for frequent traders.
BDSwiss, in contrast, features a Classic account with a higher spread of 1.5 pips for EUR/USD, making it less favorable compared to industry leaders. Its Raw account offers slightly better conditions with a total effective spread of 1.3, calculated with a 0.3 pip spread plus a $5 commission per side. The VIP account offers an effective spread of 1.2 pips. While offering respectable execution statistics, BDSwiss's fee structure might appeal less to cost-sensitive traders compared to Pepperstone's more attractive options.
In terms of ratings, Pepperstone earns a strong rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, securing the 10th position out of 62 brokers as ranked by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, BDSwiss receives a 4-star rating, placing it at 30th out of 62 brokers. These rankings highlight Pepperstone's edge in offering more cost-effective trading conditions for various trader profiles.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Pepperstone and BDSwiss both cater to forex traders by offering trading through CFDs or spot contracts. With Pepperstone, investors have access to a more extensive selection of 1,726 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs. In comparison, BDSwiss provides investors with 1,081 tradeable symbols, featuring 53 forex pairs. Neither broker allows for the purchasing of actual shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, sticking instead to trading through derivatives.
Both Pepperstone and BDSwiss offer copy trading and the opportunity to trade cryptocurrency derivatives rather than the cryptocurrencies themselves. While BDSwiss and Pepperstone share an equal 4-star rating for their range of investments, Pepperstone is slightly better ranked at 26th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to BDSwiss's position at 34th. This suggests both platforms provide solid investment options, with Pepperstone offering a slightly wider range of symbols and forex pairs.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | 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 BDSwiss both offer a range of features for traders looking for comprehensive trading platforms and tools. Both brokers provide simulated trading with free demo accounts, allowing users to practice without financial risk. They each have proprietary platforms and offer trading on popular software like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as user-friendly web-based and Windows desktop platforms. Copy trading is available through both, although Pepperstone gives traders access to DupliTrade while BDSwiss does not offer this service.
When it comes to charting tools, Pepperstone edges ahead with 30 drawing tools compared to BDSwiss's 15. Both platforms allow trading directly from stock charts and support the same number of columns in watch lists, offering 7 fields. Despite these slight differences, both brokers earn a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. According to ForexBrokers.com, out of 62 brokers, Pepperstone is ranked 22nd while BDSwiss closely follows at 24th, reflecting the overall strong performance of both brokers in this category.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Pepperstone and BDSwiss provide comprehensive mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android devices, packed with features to suit traders' needs. Users of both apps can enjoy stock or forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and access to thirty technical studies for charting. Additionally, both apps allow viewing multiple time frames on charts and offer the convenience of creating watchlists with real-time quotes. Importantly, any drawings made on charts are auto-saved, enhancing the ease of switching between devices or sessions without losing progress.
However, when it comes to watchlist symbol syncing, Pepperstone provides seamless integration with a client's online account, ensuring watchlist changes are synchronized regardless of where they are made. This feature gives Pepperstone a slight edge over BDSwiss, which lacks this functionality. Both apps boast a four-star rating for mobile trading experiences, with Pepperstone ranked at #21 and BDSwiss at #24 in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com. This ranking reflects their overall reliability and user satisfaction, positioning both as strong contenders for traders looking for a dependable mobile trading solution.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Pepperstone and BDSwiss both deliver daily market commentary and include technical analysis tools from Autochartist for their users. However, when it comes to forex news, Pepperstone takes the lead by offering insights from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which BDSwiss does not provide. Pepperstone also enhances its research toolkit with a sentiment-based trading tool, allowing traders to better gauge market positions. In contrast, BDSwiss includes tools from Trading Central, offering different analysis options that Pepperstone does not feature.
Both brokers offer economic calendars to keep traders informed about global events, but Pepperstone's offerings in the research domain seem to provide more breadth. Pepperstone scores 4.5 stars for research compared to BDSwiss’s 4 stars, ranking 12th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss is ranked 24th. These distinctions highlight Pepperstone’s stronger emphasis on providing comprehensive market insights and tools.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
If you're a beginner exploring the world of forex and CFDs, both Pepperstone and BDSwiss provide a wealth of educational resources to enhance your trading knowledge. Each platform offers over 10 educational resources including articles, videos, and archived webinars. They both host regular online educational webinars at least once a month, providing learners with ongoing learning opportunities. For those who prefer learning at their own pace, archived webinars are easily accessible at any time. Both platforms feature a collection of over 10 beginner-focused videos, helping new traders to understand and get started with trading. Advanced traders are also catered to with at least 10 specialized videos on each platform.
In addition to visual and interactive learning materials, Pepperstone and BDSwiss offer investment dictionaries explaining over 50 trading terms, which can be a valuable tool for new traders navigating the complexities of the financial world. When it comes to educational quality, Pepperstone holds a slight edge with a rating of 4.5 stars compared to BDSwiss's 4 stars. This distinction is further highlighted by their ranking in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, with Pepperstone positioned at #17 out of 62 brokers, while BDSwiss comes in at #19. Whether you're just starting or looking to advance your trading education, both brokers provide comprehensive and accessible resources to support your journey.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Pepperstone is better than BDSwiss. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
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BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 |
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Both Pepperstone and BDSwiss do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Pepperstone and BDSwiss both support ACH, SEPA, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers for depositing and withdrawing funds, but only Pepperstone additionally offers PayPal as a payment option.
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 | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Pepperstone Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | BDSwiss Review |
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