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 |
Pepperstone is generally cheaper than BDSwiss for EUR/USD when you choose its Razor account. Pepperstone earns 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss earns 4/5 stars and ranks #31 out of 63.
Pepperstone’s Razor account uses a commission model and lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips; adding the commission-equivalent of 0.70 pips brings the all-in cost to about 0.80 pips. Its Standard account is commission-free at about 1.1 pips, so it’s pricier than Razor. High-volume traders can reduce costs further via Pepperstone’s Active Trader program: in the UK/EU, eligible pros starting at £20 million in monthly forex volume get roughly a 15% per-lot rebate that can rise to 25% above £200 million; in Australia, pros need 100 lots over three months for a 10% discount (Tier One), with up to 30% off for more than 3001 lots per month (Tier Three).
BDSwiss’ pricing is higher on EUR/USD by comparison. The Classic account is about 1.5 pips, VIP is around 1.2 pips, and the Raw account is 0.3 pips plus $5 commission per side (about 1.3 pips all-in). Against Pepperstone’s Razor at roughly 0.80 pips all-in, BDSwiss’ lowest-cost option is still higher, and its Classic spread is wider than Pepperstone’s Standard. Always check live spreads and your eligibility for any rebates before you trade.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Pepperstone and BDSwiss both cover the essentials for traders who want variety without buying actual shares or crypto. Each broker supports forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, offers copy trading, and provides cryptocurrency CFDs (but not delivered crypto). Neither broker lets you buy exchange‑traded stocks on U.S. or international exchanges. Where they differ is breadth: Pepperstone lists 1,726 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while BDSwiss offers 1,081 symbols and 53 pairs—giving Pepperstone the edge if you want more markets to choose from.
Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments on ForexBrokers.com, yet Pepperstone ranks higher overall (#27 of 63) compared with BDSwiss (#35 of 63). In short, if your priority is a wider selection of instruments and forex pairs, Pepperstone stands out; if you mainly want popular markets with copy trading and crypto CFDs, either broker can fit the bill.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 53 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| 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 BDSwiss stack up closely for trading platforms and tools. Both online brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, proprietary platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based platforms. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus copy trading. You can also trade directly from charts with either broker, which is handy for quick entries and exits.
In independent reviews, both earned 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, with Pepperstone ranked #22 out of 63 brokers and BDSwiss ranked #24. The exact counts for technical indicators and watchlist columns weren’t specified. If you’re deciding between them, consider which platform lineup you prefer (in-house vs. MetaTrader), the convenience of desktop and web access, the ability to trade from charts, and the availability of a risk-free demo account—features both brokers provide.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 BDSwiss both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with price alerts. Their charting tools are evenly matched: each app includes 30 technical studies, supports drawing trendlines, and auto-saves your chart drawings so you can pick up where you left off.
The main difference is watchlist syncing. Pepperstone syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while BDSwiss does not. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but Pepperstone holds a slightly higher spot in ForexBrokers.com’s rankings (#21 vs. BDSwiss at #24 out of 63). If syncing your symbols across devices matters to you, Pepperstone has the edge; otherwise, both deliver comparable charting and alert features.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When comparing the market research features of Pepperstone and BDSwiss, it's clear both brokers have their strengths. Pepperstone stands out with its inclusion of daily market commentary and forex news sourced from top-tier providers like Bloomberg and Reuters—a feature not offered by BDSwiss. Additionally, Pepperstone provides a sentiment-based trading tool that offers insights into trading positions across currency pairs, giving traders a unique perspective on market sentiment. Also, both platforms offer technical analysis tools from Autochartist, yet Pepperstone does not utilize Trading Central research tools, which BDSwiss does to enhance their market analysis capabilities.
Both brokers provide users with an economic calendar for tracking global news events, but where Pepperstone excels in research, it's evident in its superior ranking and rating. Boasting a 4.5-star research rating, Pepperstone ranks 12th among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss, with a still commendable 4-star rating, ranks 24th. Despite neither broker offering market insights from TipRanks or Acuity Trading, Pepperstone's access to high-quality forex news and unique trading tools gives it an edge over BDSwiss for those placing a high value on comprehensive market research.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing Pepperstone vs BDSwiss for beginner education: both brokers offer forex and CFD learning hubs with at least 10+ pieces of content, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each runs online client webinars at least once a month, and both provide 10+ beginner videos along with 10+ advanced videos, so newcomers can start with the basics and progress to more detailed topics at their own pace.
Pepperstone earns 4.5/5 stars for Education and ranks #17 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss earns 4/5 stars and ranks #22. For most beginners, that means Pepperstone has a slight edge in overall quality and breadth, though BDSwiss still offers a full learning path with regular webinars and ample beginner-friendly videos. If you want the higher-rated library, pick Pepperstone; if you prefer BDSwiss’s platform or style, you’ll still get plenty of useful training content.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 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
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 |
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Pepperstone vs BDSwiss: Neither broker allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Pepperstone vs BDSwiss: both support ACH/SEPA for deposits and withdrawals; Pepperstone also supports PayPal and bank wire transfers but not Skrill, while the availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for BDSwiss, and Visa/Mastercard for Pepperstone, was not specified.
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) | |||
| 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 | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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