Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
XTB vs Pepperstone at a glance: XTB was founded in 2002 and is publicly traded (listed on a stock exchange), while Pepperstone started in 2010 and is privately held. Neither broker is a bank.
On regulation and trust: ForexBrokers.com rates both brokers as highly trusted, with Trust Scores of 96 for XTB and 94 for Pepperstone (90–99 = highly trusted). XTB holds 2 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted), while Pepperstone holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
XTB and Pepperstone both offer pricing that can work well for active traders, but they do it in different ways. XTB has a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, though the Pro option is being phased out in most regions. Its pricing is generally close to the industry average, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1 pip on the Standard account. XTB also offers an active trader rebate program called Lower Spread Group, which can return 5% to 30% of spread costs based on trading volume. XTB is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers.
Pepperstone tends to stand out more for low-cost trading on its Razor account, which uses commission-based pricing plus tight spreads. In July 2024, its average EUR/USD spread on Razor was 0.10 pips, and after adding the commission equivalent, the all-in cost came to about 0.80 pips. That makes it close to the industry average overall, while its commission-free Standard account is usually more expensive, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.1 pips. Pepperstone also has an Active Trader program with volume-based rebates for high-volume clients. Pepperstone is rated 5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers.
In simple terms, XTB may suit casual retail traders who want a straightforward spread-only account, while Pepperstone is often the stronger pick for traders who want tighter raw spreads and may benefit from volume-based discounts. For most cost-focused traders, Pepperstone has the edge overall, especially on the Razor account, while XTB remains a solid mid-range choice with some added savings for active traders.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB offers a wider range of investments than Pepperstone overall, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more variety. XTB supports forex trading, and it lists 10,521 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with Pepperstone’s 2,631 symbols and 65 forex pairs. XTB also lets clients buy actual shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, while Pepperstone does not offer exchange-traded securities in these markets. Both brokers offer forex trading, actual cryptocurrency, and crypto CFDs.
For extra features, Pepperstone stands out with copy trading, which XTB does not provide. Still, XTB earns a higher rating for range of investments, with 5 stars versus Pepperstone’s 4 stars, and it ranks better in ForexBrokers.com’s range of investments category, at #15 out of 36 brokers compared with Pepperstone’s #23. Overall, XTB is the better pick for investors who want a broader selection, while Pepperstone may appeal more to those looking for copy trading tools.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 2631 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes |
| 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). | 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.
XTB and Pepperstone both give traders a free demo account, a web-based platform, and the option to trade directly from a chart. Each broker also offers its own in-house platform, so you can use a built-in trading experience without relying only on outside software. For traders who prefer a simple browser setup, both brokers are a good fit.
The main differences come down to desktop and extra tools. Pepperstone supports a Windows desktop download, plus MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while XTB does not offer those options. XTB still stands out for its trading platforms and tools, with a 4.5-star rating and a #9 ranking from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Pepperstone’s 4-star rating and #21 ranking.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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) | 92 | 90 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and Pepperstone both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus useful features like price alerts and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and your online account. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts, and both save those drawings automatically, which is helpful if you switch between devices.
The biggest difference is charting depth and overall app rating. XTB offers 104 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at Pepperstone, giving active chart users more tools to work with. XTB is also rated higher for mobile trading apps at 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Pepperstone is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #19. For traders who want a stronger mobile charting experience, XTB has the edge.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and Pepperstone both give traders useful market research features, including daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. However, Pepperstone has an edge when it comes to forex news because it includes coverage from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while XTB does not.
Neither broker offers research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Even so, XTB comes out slightly ahead overall, with a 5-star Research rating and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Pepperstone’s 4.5-star rating and #13 ranking.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB and Pepperstone both give beginners a strong set of learning tools, with each broker offering forex and CFD education, monthly educational webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. This means new traders can find material on the basics as well as more advanced topics, all in formats that are easy to work through at their own pace.
That said, XTB has the edge on overall education. It is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Pepperstone is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #15. For beginners comparing the two, both are good options, but XTB stands out slightly more for the depth and quality of its learning resources.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than Pepperstone. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #17.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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Pepperstone
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 94 |
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XTB and Pepperstone both let traders buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency as well as trade cryptocurrency CFDs, making them broadly similar for clients seeking either direct crypto ownership or leveraged CFD exposure.
XTB vs Pepperstone: XTB supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals but not ACH/SEPA, whereas Pepperstone offers ACH/SEPA plus PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | XTB | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Pepperstone | |
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| Regulation | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 2631 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). | 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 | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | 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 | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 92 | 90 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | XTB Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | XTB | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Pepperstone Review |
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