Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Swissquote, founded in 1996, stands as a highly trusted choice for online trading, boasting a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded company and a bank, Swissquote showcases its credibility with five Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com, and two Tier-2 licenses. This bolstered regulatory background offers users a sense of security as they engage in various financial transactions.
In comparison, Pepperstone, established in 2010, is noted for its strong trust credentials with a Trust Score of 95. Although not publicly traded or a bank, Pepperstone maintains a reputable presence with three Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses. These licenses, combined with its relatively high trust score, make Pepperstone a reliable platform for traders seeking a secure trading environment.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing Swissquote and Pepperstone for their commissions and fees, it's clear that each offers distinct advantages depending on your trading needs. Swissquote, a Swiss banking conglomerate, ranks #52 out of 62 brokers and has a 3.5-star rating in the Commissions and Fees category. Despite its prestigious banking background, Swissquote's trading costs are higher compared to lower-cost forex competitors. Of its various entities, Swissquote U.K. presents the most competitive option with its Elite account, which requires a $10,000 deposit and offers lower spreads with a $5 charge per trade. Meanwhile, the Luxembourg branch and Swiss entity provide similar pricing structures, though the Swiss branch's spreads begin higher than the industry average.
Pepperstone, on the other hand, shines with a 4.5-star rating and is ranked #10 by ForexBrokers.com for Commissions and Fees. Known for its agency-execution model, Pepperstone offers excellent pricing, particularly through its Razor account. With an average spread of 0.10 pips for the EUR/USD and a commission-equivalent of 0.70 pips, the all-in cost totals 0.80 pips, aligning closely with the industry average. Pepperstone also features a commission-free Standard account with an average 1.1 pip spread, though the Razor account remains more cost-effective considering its active trader rebates based on volume.
Both brokers cater to active traders, but Pepperstone's Active Trader program stands out by offering tiered rebates on spreads based on monthly trading volumes. Professional clients in the UK or the EU who trade significant volumes can benefit from up to a 25% rebate on spreads, while Australian clients can receive up to a 30% reduction in effective spread. In summary, while Swissquote offers a secure banking experience with a slight premium, Pepperstone provides more competitive pricing and diverse opportunities for high-volume traders.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.00 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.70 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Swissquote and Pepperstone concerning the range of investments they offer, you'll notice distinct differences catering to diverse investor preferences. Swissquote provides clients the opportunity to trade 472 symbols, including 80 forex pairs. It allows trading both on U.S. and international exchanges, enabling investors to purchase shares like Apple on the NASDAQ or Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange. In addition, Swissquote supports both spot forex contracts and forex CFDs. If you're into cryptocurrencies, Swissquote presents the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, making it a versatile choice for diverse investment opportunities and achieving a top rating in this category.
On the other hand, Pepperstone presents an impressive selection of 1726 tradeable symbols, surpassing Swissquote in this specific metric. However, it offers 65 tradeable forex pairs, slightly fewer than Swissquote. Also available are forex CFDs and cryptocurrency derivatives. Unlike Swissquote, Pepperstone does not facilitate direct trading on U.S. and international exchanges, meaning you won't be able to purchase stocks directly like Apple or Vodafone. While both platforms provide options for copy trading, Swissquote’s broader range of investment options and higher ranking by ForexBrokers.com reflect its superior versatility, as indicated by its 5-star rating compared to Pepperstone's 4 stars.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1726 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by Swissquote and Pepperstone, both brokers stand out with their comprehensive features but have unique strengths. Swissquote and Pepperstone both provide traders the opportunity to practice with free virtual demo accounts, ensuring users gain confidence before trading with real funds. Both brokers also deliver proprietary platforms and support Windows-based desktop downloads. Furthermore, they offer web-based trading platforms, enhancing accessibility for traders on different devices. Users seeking copy trading will find both platforms accommodating, though only Pepperstone provides DupliTrade, while neither supports ZuluTrade. Swissquote shines with a higher number of drawing tools for charting and a more detailed watch list with eleven columns, compared to Pepperstone's seven. Both platforms allow traders to execute orders directly from stock charts, catering to those who want efficiency in their trading workflows.
For traders valuing advanced charting and a feature-rich platform, Swissquote is highly rated at 4.5 stars, standing at the 12th position in the Trading Platforms and Tools category by ForexBrokers.com. This makes it a strong contender for those who prioritize sophisticated trading tools. Pepperstone, while slightly lower at 4 stars and ranked 22nd, still offers significant functionality, including support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), making it a solid choice for traders who appreciate flexible trading options and tool-rich environments. Both brokers have built reliable platforms to meet the diverse needs of their clients, but your preference might lean toward the broker providing the features that most align with your trading style.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Swissquote and Pepperstone offer comprehensive mobile trading apps for both iPhone and Android users, complete with essential features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and multiple time frame viewing options. Each platform provides 30 technical studies for chart analysis, making them competitive choices for traders looking to manage and analyze their investments on the go. Users can also create watchlists with real-time quotes, and any drawings made on charts are automatically saved for convenience. However, when it comes to syncing watchlist symbols between mobile apps and online accounts, Pepperstone stands out by offering this feature, while Swissquote does not.
In terms of user ratings and rankings, Swissquote edges ahead with a 4.5-star mobile app rating compared to Pepperstone's 4 stars. This user preference is also reflected in their rankings on ForexBrokers.com, where Swissquote holds the 11th position out of 62 brokers, indicating a higher satisfaction level among its users compared to Pepperstone, which is ranked 21st. Thus, both apps offer robust trading tools and user-friendly interfaces, but Swissquote might slightly appeal more to those prioritizing app coherence and user satisfaction.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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.
Both Swissquote and Pepperstone are strong contenders when it comes to providing comprehensive market research tools for their users. Both brokers offer daily market commentary and forex news updates from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. They also provide technical analysis tools from Autochartist, enhancing the trading experience by supplying essential insights and strategies. However, neither offers tools from Trading Central or TipRanks, nor do they offer research tools from Acuity Trading. They both feature an economic calendar that keeps you updated with current and upcoming global economic events.
Where they differ is in the availability of sentiment-based trading tools; Pepperstone offers this feature, allowing users to access data on the ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs, while Swissquote does not. In terms of accolades, Pepperstone holds a slight edge with a 4.5-star rating for research, ranking 12th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Swissquote isn’t far behind, with a respectable 4-star rating and a 16th place ranking. This positions Pepperstone as the more highly-rated platform in terms of market research, but both platforms provide valuable tools for informed trading decisions.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders seeking educational resources, both Swissquote and Pepperstone offer a comprehensive selection. Each broker provides over ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. These pieces are tailored to help new traders understand the complexities of trading. Furthermore, both companies host online educational webinars at least once a month, which are invaluable for ongoing learning. Additionally, recorded webinars are carefully archived and available for all users to explore at their convenience, ensuring that traders can access past insights and learn at their own pace.
In terms of video content, both Swissquote and Pepperstone offer more than ten beginner educational videos to introduce core trading topics. For advanced traders, each platform also boasts a library with more than ten videos aimed at developing deeper trading strategies. Alongside these resources, both brokers provide an investor dictionary with over fifty definitions of investing terms, helping beginners familiarize themselves with essential terminology. However, it's worth noting that while Swissquote is rated four stars for education, Pepperstone edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating and a higher ranking of 17th among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared to Swissquote's 21st place. This slight difference might influence new traders when choosing their educational ally in the world of trading.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Swissquote is better than Pepperstone. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 |
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Swissquote allows users to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Pepperstone only provides the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Swissquote and Pepperstone offer a variety of funding options for depositing and withdrawing account funds, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or 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 | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1726 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.00 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.70 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Pepperstone Review |
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