Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs Markets.com, 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 Markets.com are both established names in the world of online trading, catering to global investors with their comprehensive brokerage services. Founded in 2010, Pepperstone has a strong reputation bolstered by three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses. Although not listed on any stock exchange or functioning as a bank, Pepperstone achieves a high Trust Score of 95 out of 99, signaling a highly trusted status among traders worldwide.
In comparison, Markets.com has been in operation since 1999, offering its services over a longer period. It also holds three Tier-1 licenses, signifying a similarly strong level of reliability, along with one Tier-2 license. Like Pepperstone, Markets.com is neither publicly traded nor operates as a bank. With a Trust Score of 93 out of 99, it is also regarded as a highly trusted broker, but slightly trails behind Pepperstone in terms of overall trust metrics. Both platforms offer secure and reliable options for investors seeking reputable brokers.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing Pepperstone and Markets.com in terms of commissions and fees, Pepperstone stands out for its competitive pricing strategies, particularly for high-volume traders using its Razor account. This account can be accessed on popular platforms like TradingView, MetaTrader, and cTrader, offering an average spread of 0.10 pips for EUR/USD. When commissions are included, the total cost becomes 0.80 pips, aligning well with industry standards. In contrast, Pepperstone’s Standard account offers commission-free trading but comes with higher average spreads of 1.1 pips for EUR/USD, making it less cost-effective than the Razor account.
Pepperstone further benefits high-frequency traders through its Active Trader program, which offers rebates based on trading volume and region. Professional clients in the UK and EU can receive rebates starting at 15%, improving with higher volumes up to 25%. In Australia, similar rebates start at 10% for those trading 100 lots over three months, increasing to 30% for those surpassing 3001 lots monthly. This pricing strategy helps make Pepperstone appealing for professional traders looking to maximize savings on transaction costs.
Yet, when considering commissions and fees, Markets.com trails behind, lacking available average spread data, which affects its transparency and desirability for cost-conscious traders. In total, Pepperstone earns a strong 4.5-star rating for its commissions and fees, ranking it 10th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. However, Markets.com's offering results in a lower 3.5-star rating and a 50th place ranking among the same brokers, indicating a less favorable option for those concerned with trading costs.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| 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.
Both Pepperstone and Markets.com provide extensive options when it comes to forex trading, offering forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. While Pepperstone presents a broader selection of forex pairs with 65 available, Markets.com falls slightly behind with 57. However, when looking at the overall number of tradeable symbols, Markets.com takes the lead with 2,179, compared to Pepperstone's 1,726. It’s important to note that neither broker offers access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international markets, meaning clients cannot buy shares like Apple on the NASDAQ or Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange through these platforms.
For those interested in cryptocurrency derivatives, both brokers have options available. Additionally, both Pepperstone and Markets.com support copy trading, which can be appealing for those looking to replicate the trades of expert investors. Despite these offerings, neither broker allows clients to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency. In terms of ratings, Pepperstone and Markets.com both earn 4 stars for Range of Investments, though Pepperstone ranks slightly higher at 26th compared to Markets.com’s 29th out of 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. This suggests a competitive yet slightly distinguishable edge for Pepperstone in the investment range offered.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 57 |
| 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 Markets.com both offer a comprehensive range of trading platforms and tools, making them accessible to a wide variety of traders. Both brokers offer simulated paper trading with free virtual demo accounts, giving you the chance to hone your skills risk-free. Each also features proprietary platforms developed in-house and Windows-based desktop download options, alongside offering the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. Web-based trading is also available from each, ensuring flexibility in how you manage your trades. However, Pepperstone stands out by offering DupliTrade, which is not available with Markets.com, although neither provides ZuluTrade. Both brokers cater to those interested in copy trading, supporting diverse trading strategies.
When it comes to charting tools, Pepperstone offers 30 drawing tools compared to Markets.com’s 4, providing more ways to customize your analysis. Additionally, Pepperstone supports trading directly from stock charts, a feature not available with Markets.com. In terms of enhancing your watchlist experience, Pepperstone allows for 7 columns compared to Markets.com’s 6. Despite these differences, both platforms have garnered 4-star ratings for their trading platforms and tools. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone is listed slightly higher at #22 out of 63 brokers, while Markets.com is at #27, underscoring minor differences in platform offerings that could influence your choice depending on your trading needs.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 89 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 4 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Pepperstone and Markets.com both offer comprehensive mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users, ensuring that traders can access their accounts and manage their investments on the go. Both platforms allow users to receive stock or forex price alerts and offer watchlist symbol syncing, which means any changes made on a mobile app or online account will automatically sync across devices. While both apps allow users to draw trendlines on charts, Pepperstone stands out by offering the ability to view multiple time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, a feature not available on Markets.com. Additionally, Pepperstone automatically saves chart drawings, providing extra convenience and ease for on-the-go traders, a feature absent from Markets.com's app.
When it comes to technical studies, Pepperstone provides a more enriched experience, offering 30 different options for charting compared to the limited default provided by Markets.com on the MT4 app. Both platforms let traders create watchlists with real-time quotes, keeping users well-informed of market changes. In terms of user satisfaction, each broker receives a four-star rating for their mobile trading app. However, according to ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone is ranked 21st out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, whereas Markets.com is listed at 33rd, highlighting Pepperstone's slight edge in overall mobile app performance.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Pepperstone and Markets.com both excel in providing daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, catering to traders eager for timely information. While both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools that help traders gauge market mood, Pepperstone sets itself apart with the inclusion of Autochartist tools. These tools provide enhanced technical and fundamental analysis capabilities that Markets.com does not match. On the flip side, neither broker offers analysis tools from Trading Central or market insights from TipRanks or Acuity Trading, which keeps the playing field level on these fronts.
When it comes to additional resources, both Pepperstone and Markets.com offer economic calendars that showcase global news events, aiding traders in making informed decisions. In terms of research quality, Pepperstone is rated slightly higher, earning 4.5 stars compared to Markets.com's 4 stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings with ForexBrokers.com, where Pepperstone holds the 12th spot among 63 brokers, while Markets.com ranks at 17th. These distinctions illustrate Pepperstone's slightly stronger position in market research offerings compared to Markets.com.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Pepperstone stands out in providing educational resources suited for beginners interested in forex and CFDs trading. It offers a diverse selection of over 10 educational materials, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars specifically focused on forex and CFDs. Pepperstone also hosts monthly online educational webinars and maintains a searchable archive of previous webinars for clients to revisit. In addition, Pepperstone features over 10 beginner-friendly educational videos and provides an investor dictionary with definitions for more than 50 investing terms. With a high rating of 4.5 stars for its educational offerings, Pepperstone is ranked 17th among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for its educational services.
In comparison, Markets.com offers monthly online educational webinars and over 10 beginner educational videos to engage new traders. However, it falls short of providing a wide range of educational materials, with fewer than 10 resources centered on forex and CFDs. Unlike Pepperstone, Markets.com does not offer a searchable archive of recorded webinars, nor does it provide an investor dictionary with 50 or more defined investing terms. Despite these limitations, Markets.com offers over 10 advanced educational videos and holds a solid 4-star rating for its educational services. It is ranked 34th among 63 brokers in the education category by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 Markets.com. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 |
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Both Pepperstone and Markets.com do not offer the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers, Pepperstone offers a more diverse range of deposit and withdrawal options than Markets.com, including ACH, SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while Markets.com lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options but supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 57 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 89 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 4 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
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