Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs BDSwiss, 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 BDSwiss, both recognized online brokers, cater to global traders but differ in their regulatory credentials. Founded in 2010, Pepperstone has established itself as a highly trusted broker with a Trust Score of 95 out of 99, according to ForexBrokers.com. It boasts three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, underscoring its credibility in the financial world. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, Pepperstone provides a sense of security for its users through this extensive regulatory coverage.
BDSwiss, established in 2012, also serves traders internationally but has a more moderate Trust Score of 73, positioning it within the average risk range. The firm holds one Tier-1 license, offering a basic but essential level of assurance to its clients. However, BDSwiss lacks Tier-2 licenses, which may influence the perception of trust when compared to its competitor, Pepperstone. Like Pepperstone, BDSwiss is neither publicly traded nor operates as a bank. This makes understanding their regulatory footprints crucial for traders choosing between them.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
Pepperstone provides competitive pricing for its Razor account, especially when combined with the Active Trader program for high-volume traders. This account, which can be used with platforms such as TradingView and MetaTrader, offers a commission-based structure with an average total cost of 0.80 pips on the EUR/USD, sitting close to the industry average. In contrast, the Standard account is commission-free but less attractive, with a higher average spread of 1.1 pips on the same currency pair. Peppertone's Active Trader program offers rebates dependent on trading volumes and specific tiers, enhancing value for professional clients depending on their trading location.
BDSwiss offers solid order execution but tends to have higher spreads compared to some competitors. The Classic account comes with a spread of 1.5 pips on the EUR/USD, which is on the pricier side. For traders who prefer a more cost-effective option, the Raw account delivers a total spread of 1.3 pips when combining a 0.3 pip spread with a $5 commission per side. The VIP account offers a slightly better deal at 1.2 pips. BDSwiss provides a notable but not industry-leading fee structure.
For commissions and fees, Pepperstone receives a 4.5-star rating, reflecting its more advantageous pricing, and ranks #10 out of 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. BDSwiss, with a 4-star rating, ranks further down the list at #29, indicating room for improvement in its cost competitiveness.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Pepperstone and BDSwiss both cater to forex traders by offering trading through CFDs or spot contracts. With Pepperstone, investors have access to a more extensive selection of 1,726 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs. In comparison, BDSwiss provides investors with 1,081 tradeable symbols, featuring 53 forex pairs. Neither broker allows for the purchasing of actual shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, sticking instead to trading through derivatives.
Both Pepperstone and BDSwiss offer copy trading and the opportunity to trade cryptocurrency derivatives rather than the cryptocurrencies themselves. While BDSwiss and Pepperstone share an equal 4-star rating for their range of investments, Pepperstone is slightly better ranked at 26th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to BDSwiss's position at 34th. This suggests both platforms provide solid investment options, with Pepperstone offering a slightly wider range of symbols and forex pairs.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
Pepperstone and BDSwiss both offer a range of features for traders looking for comprehensive trading platforms and tools. Both brokers provide simulated trading with free demo accounts, allowing users to practice without financial risk. They each have proprietary platforms and offer trading on popular software like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as user-friendly web-based and Windows desktop platforms. Copy trading is available through both, although Pepperstone gives traders access to DupliTrade while BDSwiss does not offer this service.
When it comes to charting tools, Pepperstone edges ahead with 30 drawing tools compared to BDSwiss's 15. Both platforms allow trading directly from stock charts and support the same number of columns in watch lists, offering 7 fields. Despite these slight differences, both brokers earn a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. According to ForexBrokers.com, out of 62 brokers, Pepperstone is ranked 22nd while BDSwiss closely follows at 24th, reflecting the overall strong performance of both brokers in this category.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Pepperstone and BDSwiss, both platforms offer apps for iPhone and Android users. They also provide real-time price alerts and the capability to draw trendlines on charts. However, one notable difference is that Pepperstone offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and the online account, while BDSwiss does not. Both apps come with 30 technical studies and enable multiple time frame views, catering to various trading strategies.
In terms of user ratings, both Pepperstone and BDSwiss receive a commendable four out of five stars. Yet, when considering their rankings among 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, Pepperstone is slightly ahead at 21st place, compared to BDSwiss at 23rd. This marginal difference may influence the decision for traders who value integrated app features and seamless synchronization. Overall, both platforms deliver strong mobile trading experiences, each with their distinct advantages.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| 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.
Pepperstone and BDSwiss both cater to traders with daily market commentary and provide access to insightful tools such as those from Autochartist. However, Pepperstone holds an edge by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, whereas BDSwiss falls short in this area. When it comes to sentiment-based trading tools, Pepperstone again takes the lead, providing insights into long and short positions across various currency pairs, a feature BDSwiss doesn't offer. Both platforms supply traders with an economic calendar to track global news events, keeping them informed on market-moving developments.
On the technical analysis front, BDSwiss slightly surpasses Pepperstone by offering tools from Trading Central, a resource not available to Pepperstone's clients. Despite this, Pepperstone earns a higher research rating of 4.5 stars compared to BDSwiss's 4 stars. In the broader ranking by ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone stands at #12 out of 62 brokers for research, significantly ahead of BDSwiss, which positions at #23. These differences make Pepperstone a strong choice for traders seeking comprehensive market research and timely news updates, while BDSwiss remains a competent option with its own useful features.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to explore the world of online trading, both Pepperstone and BDSwiss offer solid educational resources designed to build foundational knowledge. Each broker provides over 10 educational materials, including articles, videos, and archived webinars with a focus on forex and CFDs, ensuring beginners have ample content to learn from. Both platforms also conduct online educational webinars monthly and maintain searchable archives for those who wish to revisit past sessions. Additionally, Pepperstone and BDSwiss cater to novices with at least 10 beginner-focused video tutorials, helping newcomers to grasp essential trading concepts.
For those advancing in their trading journey, both brokers go beyond beginner materials. They offer more than 10 advanced educational videos that tackle complex trading topics. To facilitate learning key trading terminologies, both brokers present an investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms. When considering user ratings, Pepperstone edges ahead with a score of 4.5 stars compared to BDSwiss's 4 stars for education. In terms of ForexBrokers.com's rankings out of 62 brokers, Pepperstone secures the 18th position, slightly leading BDSwiss, which is positioned at 19th.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pepperstone is better than BDSwiss. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
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BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 |
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Both Pepperstone and BDSwiss do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Pepperstone and BDSwiss both support ACH, SEPA, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers for depositing and withdrawing funds, but only Pepperstone additionally offers PayPal as a payment option.
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 | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
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| Review | Pepperstone Review | BDSwiss Review |
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | BDSwiss Review |
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