Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Pepperstone, 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.
IG, founded in 1974, and Pepperstone, established in 2010, are both prominent online brokers with distinct features and strengths. While IG is publicly traded and operates as a bank, Pepperstone remains privately held and is not a bank. These differences contribute to the regulatory landscape surrounding each company. IG holds an impressive 8 Tier-1 licenses considered highly trusted and 2 Tier-2 licenses regarded as trusted, leading to an exceptional Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Pepperstone, with 3 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, achieves a remarkable Trust Score of 95 out of 99.
The licensing and trust scores signify that both IG and Pepperstone are reliable choices for traders, though IG's longer history and more extensive regulatory reach may provide additional assurance to those seeking a broker with more stringent oversight. Each company offers a unique blend of benefits to suit varied trading needs, ensuring that both new and experienced investors can find a trustworthy partner in their trading journey.
| Feature |
IG
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When it comes to trading commissions and fees, IG and Pepperstone are compelling options, each with unique features that cater to different trading styles. IG impresses with its active trader pricing available through its Forex Direct accounts, making it an excellent option for those who frequently engage in large orders. Its spreads are around the industry average, with an all-in cost of 0.82 pips when you factor in a per-trade commission. On top of that, IG offers active trader rebates, with discounts up to 20% for those trading over £300 million a month. IG earns a 5-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked 8th out of 63 brokers in this category.
Pepperstone, meanwhile, offers agency execution and competitive pricing through its Razor account, recommended for high-volume traders. With an average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips combined with a commission-equivalent cost, the all-in cost comes to 0.80 pips, keeping it near the industry average. However, its Standard account, though commission-free, features higher spreads. Like IG, Pepperstone offers an Active Trader program with rebates depending on monthly trading volume. Pepperstone secures a 4.5-star rating and ranks 10th for commissions and fees among 63 brokers.
Overall, both brokers provide appealing options, with IG specializing in variable execution methods and trader rebates while Pepperstone excels in agency execution and competitive pricing for active traders. Choosing between the two ultimately depends on your trading volume and the specific trading platform you prefer. Both brokers offer strong benefits designed to enhance your trading experience, with IG slightly edging ahead in our overall ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.00 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.70 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and Pepperstone both offer extensive platforms for trading various financial instruments, including forex trading as a CFD or spot contract. IG stands out with a remarkable 19,537 tradeable symbols, vastly surpassing Pepperstone's 1,726. Furthermore, IG offers investors access to a broad selection of 97 tradeable forex pairs, whereas Pepperstone provides 65 pairs. IG's unique advantage extends to offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing investors the opportunity to buy stocks like Apple and Vodafone directly. On the flip side, while Pepperstone does not offer this service, it provides robust copy trading features, appealing to those interested in mirroring successful trading strategies.
When it comes to cryptocurrency, IG provides the capability to buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as cryptocurrency derivatives. Pepperstone, while enabling the purchase of cryptocurrency derivatives, does not allow for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Rated 5 stars for its range of investments, IG is ranked #4 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for this category, a testament to its comprehensive offerings. Pepperstone, with a 4-star rating, stands at #26 in the same category, presenting a solid yet more limited selection of investment options compared to IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1726 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | |
| 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.
When comparing IG and Pepperstone for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers cater to a wide range of traders by offering essential features like simulated (paper) trading via free virtual demo accounts and proprietary platforms developed in-house. Each broker also provides a Windows-based desktop download platform and a web-based trading platform accessible through a browser. While IG comes with the widely-used MetaTrader 4 platform, Pepperstone takes it a step further by also offering MetaTrader 5. Additionally, Pepperstone supports copy trading and platforms like DupliTrade, which are absent from IG's lineup.
IG stands out with a five-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking as the second best among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. This high rating highlights its user-friendly features like the ability to trade directly from stock charts and offering five columns for watch lists. Meanwhile, Pepperstone, with its four-star rating, secures the 22nd rank. It offers more drawing tools (30) compared to IG's 20, and provides seven columns for watch lists, making it an attractive choice for traders who seek detailed charting options. Both brokers promise a comprehensive trading experience, but IG edges ahead in its overall platform ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IG and Pepperstone provide comprehensive mobile trading apps available on both iPhone and Android platforms, ensuring traders can access their accounts on the go. These apps are equipped with essential features such as price alerts for stocks or forex and the ability to sync watchlists across devices, allowing users to easily track and react to market changes. IG takes a slight edge in charting functionalities, offering 33 technical studies compared to Pepperstone's 30, along with features like trendline drawing and multiple time frame viewing. Both apps also possess features that auto save chart drawings, facilitating a seamless experience for users who frequently update or adjust their analyses.
While both IG and Pepperstone deliver watchlists with real-time quotes, IG has earned a higher user rating of 5 stars for its mobile trading app, compared to Pepperstone’s 4 stars. In rankings compiled by ForexBrokers.com, IG leads the pack at first place out of 63 brokers for the Mobile Trading Apps category, while Pepperstone holds the twenty-first position. This strong performance suggests IG's mobile app might offer a slightly smoother and more intuitive user experience, although both apps bring competitive features to the table.
| Feature |
IG
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 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.
When comparing online brokers IG and Pepperstone in terms of market research tools, both offer comprehensive resources tailored to assist traders. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and forex news sourced from reputable outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters. They also incorporate tools like Autochartist for technical and fundamental research, as well as sentiment-based trading tools to guide decision-making. Furthermore, both IG and Pepperstone feature economic calendars, ensuring traders stay informed about global financial events.
However, IG stands out by offering additional tools and partnerships not found at Pepperstone, such as market research from TipRanks and analysis tools from Acuity Trading. This comprehensive offering contributes to IG's superior ranking, earning 5 stars and a #2 position out of 63 brokers for research on ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Pepperstone holds a respectable 4.5-star rating, coming in at #12 in the same category. This difference highlights IG's broader range of research offerings, making it a more complete choice for traders focused on extensive market insights.
| Feature |
IG
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners offered by IG and Pepperstone, both brokers stand out with their comprehensive range of materials. IG consistently leads the pack, boasting the top ranking in education among 63 brokers, with a perfect 5-star rating. The broker provides a plethora of educational materials, including more than ten pieces of content such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex or CFDs. They also offer monthly online webinars and an easily searchable archive of recorded sessions, tailored specifically to beginner traders. Additionally, IG offers a comprehensive investor dictionary with over 50 term definitions and a selection of beginner videos that help demystify trading concepts.
Pepperstone excels as well, with a commendable 4.5-star education rating. Like IG, they offer more than ten educational pieces centered on forex and CFDs, supplemented by at least ten beginner-friendly videos. Monthly webinars are also a staple feature at Pepperstone, and they maintain a searchable archive for those who wish to revisit previous sessions. For those progressing beyond the basics, Pepperstone provides more than ten advanced videos. Their investor dictionary mirrors IG's coverage with definitions for over 50 investing terms. Nevertheless, despite these extensive resources, Pepperstone ranks 17th in education out of 63 brokers, making IG the go-to choice for beginners seeking top-tier educational support in online trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than Pepperstone. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
IG allows traders to purchase actual cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while Pepperstone provides access to cryptocurrency derivatives only.
Both IG and Pepperstone offer a variety of payment options for depositing and withdrawing funds, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but unlike IG, Pepperstone also supports Skrill transactions.
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 | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | ||
| Bank | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | |||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | |||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | |||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | |||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1726 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | ||
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | ||
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | ||
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | ||
| 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 | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.00 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.70 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | ||
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | ||
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | ||
| cTrader | Yes | ||
| DupliTrade | Yes | ||
| ZuluTrade |
| Trading Tools | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 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 | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | |||
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IG Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Pepperstone Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill