Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Founded in 2008, Plus500 is a well-established online broker known for its high trustworthiness in the trading community. It boasts a perfect Trust Score rating of 99 by ForexBrokers.com, making it highly trusted. Plus500 is publicly traded and holds an impressive six Tier-1 licenses, enhancing its credibility. It also has three Tier-2 licenses, further supporting its trusted status. Despite not being a bank, Plus500's regulatory standing makes it a go-to choice for many investors.
Pepperstone, founded in 2010, is another reputable online broker with a solid Trust Score of 95, indicating a high level of trust. Unlike Plus500, it is not publicly traded but still carries significant weight with three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses under its belt. While Pepperstone is not a bank, it remains a favored option for traders due to its commendable regulatory approval and trusted reputation in the industry.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
Pepperstone generally edges out Plus500 on commissions and fees for most cost-focused traders. Pepperstone earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 of 63 brokers for the Commissions and Fees category at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 scores 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks #24 of 63. In short, Pepperstone’s Razor account can deliver lower all-in costs for active traders, whereas Plus500’s pricing sits slightly above the industry average and offers limited discounts for retail clients.
Plus500’s spreads on major forex pairs are higher than many peers: the EUR/USD averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024. Plus500 doesn’t discount spreads for retail traders. However, if you qualify as a Professional client, you may receive cash rebates similar to an active trader program.
Pepperstone offers two main price setups. The Razor account is commission-based and posted an average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips (July 2024); once you add the commission equivalent of 0.70 pips, the all-in cost comes to 0.80 pips, which is close to the industry average and typically cheaper than Pepperstone’s commission-free Standard account (1.1 pips on EUR/USD). High-volume traders can further cut costs with Pepperstone’s Active Trader program. In the U.K. and EU, Professional clients trading at least £20 million per month can earn a 15% per-lot rebate, rising to 25% above £200 million. In Australia, Professional clients who trade 100 lots over three months can access Tier One (10% discount per lot), with Tier Three delivering a 30% spread reduction for more than 3001 lots per month.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.00 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.70 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Plus500 vs Pepperstone: for the widest range of investments, Plus500 offers about 5,500 tradeable symbols compared with Pepperstone’s 1,726. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot with 65 currency pairs each. For crypto, each offers cryptocurrency CFDs but neither lets you buy actual coins. One key difference is copy trading—Pepperstone offers it, while Plus500 does not.
If you want to buy real shares, Plus500 allows direct investing in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges (for example, Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London), not just CFDs. Pepperstone does not offer direct share dealing. Reflecting this coverage, Plus500 is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #22 out of 63 for Range of Investments at ForexBrokers.com, while Pepperstone earns 4 stars and ranks #27. In short, Plus500 suits traders seeking more markets and access to actual shares, whereas Pepperstone fits those who value copy trading within a smaller lineup.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1726 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and Pepperstone both provide free demo (paper) accounts and offer proprietary, web-based trading platforms. Plus500 is web-first with no Windows desktop download, while Pepperstone adds a full Windows desktop platform. Pepperstone also supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), offers copy trading, and lets you place trades directly from charts. By contrast, Plus500 does not support MT4/MT5, copy trading, or chart trading.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Plus500 4.5/5 and ranks it #14 of 63 brokers, while Pepperstone earns 4/5 and ranks #22. Choose Pepperstone if you want MetaTrader compatibility, copy trading, and a downloadable desktop app. Pick Plus500 if you prefer a simple browser platform with an easy demo to practice.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and Pepperstone both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts for stocks and forex and watchlist syncing between mobile and web. In third-party testing by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earned 4.5 stars and ranked #14 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Pepperstone earned 4 stars and ranked #21.
For charting, both apps let you draw trendlines, but their tools differ. Plus500 provides 115 technical studies, giving indicator-focused traders plenty to work with. Pepperstone includes 30 studies, yet it autosaves your chart drawings, so your annotations are there when you return. If you want a wider set of indicators, Plus500 gets the nod; if keeping your drawings saved is a priority, Pepperstone offers that convenience.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research tools, both Plus500 and Pepperstone provide an engaging selection for traders, but their offerings have distinct differences. Plus500 offers daily market commentary and a sentiment-based trading tool, complete with an economic calendar to help traders stay informed. Additionally, Plus500 integrates Trading Central for those interested in technical analytics. However, it lacks forex news from major sources like Bloomberg or Reuters and does not provide tools from Autochartist.
Pepperstone, on the other hand, matches Plus500 with daily market commentary and a sentiment analysis tool, but has a slight edge with top-tier forex news from sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. It also offers tools from Autochartist, catering to traders seeking advanced technical and fundamental research options. Despite both brokers being well-regarded, Pepperstone's market research features have earned it a higher rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared to Plus500's 4.0, as well as a better ranking in the research category by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Plus500 and Pepperstone both deliver plenty of forex and CFD education for beginners. Each provides well over 10 learning pieces, including sizable video libraries with at least 10 beginner-focused videos and 10 advanced videos to help you progress from basics to more detailed topics. Both also host online client webinars at least once a month, giving you regular live sessions to build skills and ask questions.
Pepperstone edges out Plus500 in independent ratings for education, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #17 rank out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Plus500’s 4.0 stars and #31 rank. If you want a slightly stronger overall learning experience, Pepperstone is the better pick. If you prefer a straightforward path that still covers beginner and advanced concepts with frequent webinars, Plus500 remains a solid choice.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Plus500 is better than Pepperstone. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 |
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In the Plus500 vs Pepperstone comparison, neither broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs instead.
Plus500 vs Pepperstone: For deposits and withdrawals, Plus500 offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA, whereas Pepperstone supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires but not Skrill; Visa/Mastercard availability was not specified for either broker.
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 | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1726 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.00 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.70 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Pepperstone Review |
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