Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs Trading 212, 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 Trading 212 are two prominent online brokers, each offering unique strengths in the trading world. Established in 2010, Pepperstone has quickly built a reputation as a highly trusted platform with a Trust Score of 95 according to ForexBrokers.com. This score reflects Pepperstone's strong regulatory standing, supported by three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, which signify highly trusted and trusted categories respectively. In comparison, Trading 212, founded earlier in 2004, holds a Trust Score of 80 and also possesses three Tier-1 licenses but lacks any Tier-2 licenses, indicating a slightly less extensive regulatory backing.
Neither Pepperstone nor Trading 212 is publicly traded or operates as a bank, yet both are committed to providing secure and reliable trading services. Pepperstone's high trust score and multiple regulatory licenses suggest a more robust oversight compared to Trading 212. However, Trading 212 still maintains a strong level of trustworthiness with its Tier-1 licenses. This makes both brokers appealing choices for online traders depending on individual preferences for regulatory assurances and trust levels.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
Pepperstone and Trading 212 both offer unique approaches to commissions and fees, catering to different types of traders. Pepperstone shines with its Razor account, ideal for high-volume traders using platforms like TradingView, MetaTrader, or cTrader. This account features a competitive pricing structure with an average spread of 0.10 pips for the EUR/USD, rising to 0.80 pips when considering the commission-equivalent. In comparison, Pepperstone's Standard account, which is commission-free, registers an average spread of 1.1 pips on the same currency pair, making it less attractive cost-wise. Trading 212, meanwhile, operates on a zero-commission basis but requires traders to pay a spread for CFDs and forex. Despite its efforts for pricing transparency, Trading 212’s EUR/USD average spread of 2.7 pips as of April 2025 remains relatively high.
Pepperstone offers added benefits to high-volume traders through its Active Trader program, which provides spread rebates based on trading volumes. In regions like the United Kingdom, EU, and Australia, professional clients can enjoy rebates of up to 25% or spread reductions up to 30%, making it a favorable choice for professional trading environments. Conversely, Trading 212 does not have a similar rebate program, leaving its relatively higher spreads less offset by any additional discounts or rewards, which may impact cost-conscious traders seeking tighter pricing structures.
In terms of rankings and ratings, Pepperstone holds an edge with a commendable 4.5-star rating, placing it 10th in the Commissions and Fees category out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212, while maintaining a solid 4-star rating, ranks 49th in the same category. This distinction reflects Pepperstone's competitive edge, particularly for traders who prioritize lower costs tied to higher trading volumes.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 2.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Pepperstone and Trading 212 both offer the ability to trade forex as CFDs, but their range of available investments differs significantly. Pepperstone provides access to 1,726 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs, while Trading 212 offers an impressive 7,868 symbols, including 146 forex pairs. One notable difference is in their stock trading options. Trading 212 allows clients to buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, meaning users can purchase well-known stocks like Apple and Vodafone directly. In contrast, Pepperstone does not offer direct exchange-traded securities but supports copy trading, an option Trading 212 does not provide.
When it comes to cryptocurrency, both platforms allow for trading derivatives rather than actual cryptocurrencies. In terms of overall investment range, Pepperstone is rated 4 stars by industry experts, ranking #26 out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Trading 212 receives a higher rating of 5 stars, ranking #15. This gap reflects the broader investment options Trading 212 provides, making it a potentially better choice for investors seeking a more extensive variety of tradeable assets.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212 both provide impressive features for traders exploring their online options. Both platforms offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing beginners to practice and test strategies before investing real money. They also feature proprietary trading platforms designed in-house to cater to their users' specific needs. However, while Pepperstone supports a Windows-based desktop download option, Trading 212 does not. Both firms provide web-based trading platforms accessible through browsers, but Pepperstone takes the lead in copy trading services, offering tools like DupliTrade, whereas Trading 212 currently does not support copy trading.
When it comes to traditional trading software like MetaTrader, Pepperstone offers both MT4 and MT5, giving traders who prefer these platforms additional options. For charting capabilities, Pepperstone provides 30 drawing tools compared to Trading 212's 20. Furthermore, Pepperstone allows traders to trade directly from stock charts and organizes watch lists with 7 columns, a slight advantage over Trading 212's 5 columns. Both brokers have received a 4-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, with Pepperstone ranked 22nd and Trading 212 notably ahead at 20th according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Pepperstone and Trading 212 offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, providing a seamless trading experience on the go. Traders can receive real-time stock or forex price alerts and manage watchlists that sync with their online accounts across both platforms, ensuring that all changes are updated automatically. Both apps also support the drawing of trendlines and viewing charts in multiple time frames, from daily to intraday, with the convenience of auto-saving chart drawings.
However, when it comes to charting tools, Trading 212 offers a more extensive selection with 104 technical studies compared to Pepperstone's 30. Although both apps are rated 4 stars for mobile trading, Trading 212 holds a slightly higher ranking at #17 versus Pepperstone's #21 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Whether you prioritize a wide range of technical tools or seamless integration, both apps are strong contenders in the mobile trading space.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 |
| 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.
Pepperstone and Trading 212 each offer distinct advantages when it comes to market research, catering to different user needs. Pepperstone stands out with its daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. It also provides users with access to Autochartist tools, which are not available on Trading 212. However, both platforms supply a sentiment-based trading tool and feature an economic calendar to help traders stay informed on global news events.
Overall, Pepperstone is better reviewed for its market research capabilities, with a solid 4.5-star rating compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars. In terms of rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone flourishes in the 12th position, while Trading 212 is further down the list at 44th. If market research is a priority for your trading activities, considering these factors could lead you to favor Pepperstone over Trading 212.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| 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 and Trading 212 both provide a solid range of educational resources tailored for beginners, focusing on forex and CFDs. Both brokers exceed the requirement of delivering a minimum of 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and webinars on these subjects. However, Pepperstone has the added advantage of hosting monthly online webinars for clients, whereas Trading 212 does not offer this opportunity. Both brokers maintain a searchable archive of past webinars, making it easier for users to access previously recorded sessions for learning at their convenience.
In terms of video education, both platforms cater to beginners and advanced traders alike with at least 10 videos each, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience. Additionally, both Pepperstone and Trading 212 provide a comprehensive investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, aiding users in understanding complex terminology. When evaluated for educational quality, Pepperstone earns a higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars, and ranks 17th out of 63 brokers, slightly ahead of Trading 212, which ranks 20th. This positions Pepperstone as a slightly better option for beginners seeking educational resources.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Pepperstone is better than Trading 212. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 95 | 80 |
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Both Pepperstone and Trading 212 do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Pepperstone and Trading 212 provide numerous deposit and withdrawal methods, allowing users to transact via ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but unlike Trading 212, Pepperstone also supports Skrill.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2004 | |
| 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | 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) | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 2.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 104 | |
| 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 | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pepperstone Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | Trading 212 Review |
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