Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs IFC Markets, 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, founded in 2010, and IFC Markets, established in 2006, are both online brokers with distinct regulatory standings. Neither is publicly traded or operates as a bank, but when it comes to trustworthiness, there are notable differences. According to ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone holds three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, earning a high Trust Score of 95, indicating it is highly trusted. In contrast, IFC Markets, with no Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, has a Trust Score of 73, categorizing it as average risk.
These figures suggest that Pepperstone might be a more reassuring choice for those prioritizing security and regulatory oversight, given its excellent trust score and numerous top-tier licenses. On the other hand, IFC Markets could be suited for traders who are comfortable with a moderate level of risk, reflected in its Trust Score. This essential information offers potential investors a clear understanding of each broker's credibility and regulatory framework.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Pepperstone’s commissions and fees are most attractive on its Razor account. On EUR/USD, Razor showed an average spread of 0.10 pips, and after its commission (about 0.70 pips), the all-in cost is 0.80 pips as of July 2024. The Standard account is commission-free but listed a 1.1‑pip average spread, making it pricier than Razor. High‑volume traders can cut costs further with the Active Trader program: in the U.K. and EU, Professional clients get a 15% spread rebate per lot from £20 million in monthly volume, rising to 25% above £200 million; in Australia, Professional clients start from 100 lots (over three months) with a 10% discount per lot, scaling to a 30% reduction from 3001+ lots monthly. Pepperstone is rated 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers.
IFC Markets’ standard pricing is less competitive: the average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips versus the 1.08‑pip industry average. Active traders may prefer the ECN account, where the effective spread is about 1.1 pips after the 0.005% commission charged on both sides of a trade. IFC Markets also avoids inactivity fees and offers active‑trader discounts. For commissions and fees, IFC Markets holds a 4/5 star rating and ranks #40 out of 63.
Pepperstone vs IFC Markets on costs: frequent forex traders are likely to find Pepperstone’s Razor all‑in 0.80‑pip pricing and volume‑based rebates cheaper than IFC Markets’ ECN effective 1.1‑pip cost. For casual traders, Pepperstone’s 1.1‑pip Standard spread is still tighter than IFC Markets’ 1.44 pips, though IFC’s lack of inactivity fees may suit those who take breaks from trading. Overall, Pepperstone’s higher rating (4.5/5, #11/63) points to better cost competitiveness than IFC Markets (4/5, #40/63), especially at higher volumes.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Pepperstone vs IFC Markets: When it comes to range of investments, Pepperstone lists 1,726 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, provide copy trading, and let you speculate on cryptocurrency via CFDs, but neither broker lets you buy actual crypto coins.
For stocks, neither broker offers access to U.S.-listed shares as exchange-traded securities (non-CFDs). However, IFC Markets does provide exchange-traded shares on certain international exchanges, whereas Pepperstone does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com assessments for Range of Investments, Pepperstone earns 4 stars and ranks 27th out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 44th. In short, Pepperstone suits traders seeking a larger overall instrument list, and IFC Markets stands out if you want access to select international exchange-traded stocks.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 630 |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Pepperstone and IFC Markets both check the key boxes for platform choice and ease of use. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform, and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade in a browser or download a Windows desktop platform, and both brokers support copy trading. Chart trading is available at both, letting you place orders directly from price charts. While specific counts for indicators and watch list fields aren’t provided, both brokers include the staples most traders expect for analysis and monitoring.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. Pepperstone, however, ranks higher overall at #22 of 63 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #37. If you want a slight edge in third-party platform depth and overall polish, Pepperstone may appeal; if you simply need MT4/MT5 access, web and desktop options, copy trading, and a demo account, either broker fits the bill.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 IFC Markets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, synced watchlists that carry over between mobile and web, and charting with 30 technical indicators. You can draw trendlines and your chart annotations auto-save, making it easy to pick up where you left off on any device.
Both brokers earn 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but Pepperstone ranks higher in the ForexBrokers.com list (#21 of 63) compared with IFC Markets (#53 of 63). If you want the same core mobile features—alerts, syncing, and solid charting—either app fits. If industry ranking matters to you, Pepperstone has the edge in this Pepperstone vs IFC Markets mobile app comparison.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| 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 vs IFC Markets: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions. Where they differ is in premium sources and add‑ons. Pepperstone includes forex news from top-tier outlets such as Bloomberg or Reuters and offers Autochartist for pattern and idea scanning. IFC Markets does not provide these two extras. Neither broker currently features Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
For overall research quality, Pepperstone earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #41. Traders who want timely news and Autochartist’s scanning may prefer Pepperstone, whereas IFC Markets covers the essentials with commentary, a calendar, and sentiment data.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| 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 IFC Markets both provide beginner-friendly forex and CFD education with well over 10 learning pieces, including extensive video lessons. Each broker offers at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so new traders can build skills and later dive into deeper topics. One key difference is live training: Pepperstone hosts client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not offer monthly webinars.
For overall quality, Pepperstone earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #17 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #30 out of 63. If you want ongoing live webinars alongside a large video library, Pepperstone is the stronger fit. If you mainly want on-demand beginner and advanced videos without live sessions, IFC Markets still delivers a solid learning path.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 IFC Markets. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Pepperstone vs IFC Markets: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs instead.
Pepperstone vs IFC Markets: Pepperstone supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while IFC Markets supports bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; neither broker offers Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 630 | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Pepperstone | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill