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.
When comparing online brokers XTB and Pepperstone, both companies boast strong regulatory credentials, providing high levels of trust for their users. XTB, founded in 2002, holds two Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses. It is publicly traded, enhancing its transparency for investors, and has achieved a high Trust Score of 96 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. Despite being younger than its counterpart, having been founded in 2010, Pepperstone is not publicly traded but impressively holds three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, earning it a Trust Score of 95 out of 99.
Both XTB and Pepperstone are non-bank brokers, ensuring dedicated services specifically for trading. The fact that neither institution holds banking status might appeal to investors looking for firms that concentrate solely on brokerage services. With their impressive legal credentials and high Trust Scores, XTB and Pepperstone stand out as reliable choices for traders in the online brokerage space.
| 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 | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing the commission and fee structures of XTB and Pepperstone, both brokers provide competitive options for traders, though differences arise based on account types and trading volumes. XTB, rated 4.5 stars, offers a spread-only Standard account ideal for retail forex traders. With average forex spreads for the EUR/USD at 1 pip based on Q4 2023 data, XTB's pricing aligns with the industry average. While its commission-based Professional account is being phased out in most regions, active traders within the EU who qualify as elective professionals can benefit from rebates through XTB's Lower Spread Group, receiving discounts of up to 30% on spreads.
Pepperstone, also rated 4.5 stars, provides a standout Razor account with competitive pricing when combined with its Active Trader program. This commission-based account, available on platforms like TradingView and MetaTrader, has a low average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips, with an all-in cost of 0.80 pips when commissions are included. In contrast, Pepperstone's Standard account, which is commission-free, features a higher average spread of 1.1 pips. Active traders can earn rebates, with Professional clients in the UK and EU eligible for up to 25% on significant monthly trading volumes, a feature that distinguishes Pepperstone in this category.
Overall, both XTB and Pepperstone secure high rankings for their commissions and fees, with XTB placed 11th and Pepperstone 10th out of 62 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com. Each broker has tailored offerings to attract different trader profiles, making the choice between them a matter of individual trading needs and geographical considerations.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | 0.70 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | 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 XTB and Pepperstone in terms of their range of investment options, XTB emerges as a more comprehensive platform. XTB stands out with a vast array of 7,184 tradeable symbols, whereas Pepperstone offers 1,726. Both brokers facilitate forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, but XTB offers a slight advantage with 71 tradeable forex pairs compared to Pepperstone's 65. XTB further differentiates itself by providing clients the ability to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, a feature not available with Pepperstone. This means investors can directly purchase stocks such as Apple and Vodafone when using XTB.
In contrast, Pepperstone focuses more on innovation with features like copy trading, which allows users to follow and replicate successful trading strategies, something XTB does not currently offer. Both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB earns a superior five-star rating for its range of investments and ranks #14 out of 62 brokers, while Pepperstone is rated four stars and ranks #26. This suggests that investors seeking a broader set of investment opportunities might find XTB the more attractive option.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 1726 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
When comparing trading platforms and tools offered by XTB and Pepperstone, both brokers provide virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice without financial risk. XTB and Pepperstone each have proprietary platforms and offer options for trading via Windows-based desktop downloads and web browsers. However, Pepperstone extends its platform offerings with access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, unlike XTB, which does not support these platforms. Additionally, Pepperstone provides copy trading and tools such as DupliTrade, whereas XTB focuses on their proprietary platform without copy trading features. When evaluating charting tools, XTB offers a slightly wider array of drawing tools with 32 options compared to Pepperstone’s 30, but both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts.
In terms of customization, XTB provides watch lists with 8 columns, just edging out Pepperstone’s 7 columns. These features have contributed to XTB's higher rating for trading platforms and tools at 4.5 stars, compared to Pepperstone's 4 stars. On the ForexBrokers.com ranking list, XTB is positioned at #9 among 62 brokers in the category, significantly ahead of Pepperstone, which is ranked #22, indicating a stronger overall user experience and satisfaction in terms of platforms and tools offered by XTB.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of XTB and Pepperstone, both brokers offer applications compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Users can receive stock or forex price alerts on both platforms, ensuring they stay updated with market movements. However, only Pepperstone's mobile app supports watchlist symbol syncing with the online account, providing seamless updates across devices. In terms of charting capabilities, XTB provides 39 technical studies compared to Pepperstone's 30 and offers similar features such as drawing trendlines and reviewing multiple time frames. Both apps auto-save chart drawings and allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes.
In terms of user ratings, XTB's mobile trading app earns a slightly higher score with 4.5 stars compared to Pepperstone's 4 stars. Reflecting this, XTB ranks #8 among 62 brokers for mobile trading apps according to ForexBrokers.com, while Pepperstone holds the #21 position. Overall, both apps are well-equipped for mobile trading, but XTB slightly edges out Pepperstone in terms of technical features and user satisfaction.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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.
When comparing XTB and Pepperstone in terms of market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Both platforms cater to traders who value access to insightful daily information. Where XTB sets itself apart is in its coveted ranking, secured as the 7th best in research according to ForexBrokers.com, with a top-tier 5-star research rating. Pepperstone, while highly commendable with a 4.5-star rating, holds a respectable 12th place rank among 62 brokers, demonstrating its commitment to providing quality research despite the slightly lower star rating.
On the technical side, Pepperstone offers tools from Autochartist, enhancing its research capabilities with sophisticated analysis features, which XTB does not provide. However, neither broker offers tools from Trading Central or research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. Both XTB and Pepperstone provide a sentiment-based trading tool and an economic calendar that keeps traders informed about global events. Deciding between these two largely depends on one's preference for additional technical tools, with Pepperstone having the edge in offering Autochartist, while XTB stands out with its higher overall research ranking.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners offered by XTB and Pepperstone, both online brokers stand out with comprehensive offerings. They each provide more than ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and webinars. Beginners can also benefit from monthly online educational webinars hosted by both brokers, complete with access to recorded sessions. Furthermore, each broker has a robust collection of educational videos geared specifically for beginner traders, alongside a selection for more advanced users.
One key difference is that Pepperstone offers an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, a feature not available from XTB. In terms of ratings, XTB slightly edges out Pepperstone, securing a 5-star rating for education compared to Pepperstone's 4.5 stars. Ranking-wise, XTB holds the 11th position as per ForexBrokers.com, surpassing Pepperstone, which stands at 17th out of 62 brokers. Both brokers demonstrate a strong commitment to educating their clients, though XTB receives higher marks overall in this comparison.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 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 #16.
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’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 95 |
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Both XTB and Pepperstone do not offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both XTB and Pepperstone provide multiple options for depositing and withdrawing account funds, including PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires; however, while XTB does not support ACH or SEPA transfers, Pepperstone does offer these additional transfer methods.
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 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Pepperstone | |
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| Regulation | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 95 | |
| 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 | 0 | 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 (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) | XTB | 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 | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 1726 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | 0.70 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 30 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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 | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | 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 | XTB Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | XTB | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Pepperstone Review |
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