Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs Markets.com, 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 Markets.com are both established names in the world of online trading, catering to global investors with their comprehensive brokerage services. Founded in 2010, Pepperstone has a strong reputation bolstered by three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses. Although not listed on any stock exchange or functioning as a bank, Pepperstone achieves a high Trust Score of 95 out of 99, signaling a highly trusted status among traders worldwide.
In comparison, Markets.com has been in operation since 1999, offering its services over a longer period. It also holds three Tier-1 licenses, signifying a similarly strong level of reliability, along with one Tier-2 license. Like Pepperstone, Markets.com is neither publicly traded nor operates as a bank. With a Trust Score of 93 out of 99, it is also regarded as a highly trusted broker, but slightly trails behind Pepperstone in terms of overall trust metrics. Both platforms offer secure and reliable options for investors seeking reputable brokers.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Pepperstone shines in the area of commissions and fees, particularly for high-volume traders using its Razor account alongside the Active Trader program. With a commission-based pricing model, the Razor account offers an average total cost of 0.80 pips for EUR/USD, which is competitive within the industry. In contrast, Pepperstone’s Standard account operates commission-free but has a higher average spread of 1.1 pips, making it a pricier choice compared to the Razor account. Depending on your trading volume, Pepperstone's Active Trader program offers rebates on spreads, with varying percentages based on regional tiers, benefiting professional clients significantly. Overall, Pepperstone ranks #10 out of 62 brokers and boasts a commendable 4.5-star rating in the commissions and fees category.
Markets.com, on the other hand, does not provide specific average spread data, which makes a direct cost comparison challenging. Despite this lack of transparency, Markets.com remains a feasible option for traders who may prioritize other features over cost specifics. However, with a 3.5-star rating for commissions and fees and a ranking of #49 out of 62 brokers in this category, Markets.com lags behind Pepperstone, especially for cost-conscious traders who focus on minimizing fees and maximizing rebates.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| 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 Markets.com both offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, providing traders the flexibility to engage in currency markets. While Pepperstone provides access to 1726 tradeable symbols, Markets.com surpasses this with 2179 symbols, expanding potential trading opportunities. Pepperstone shines with a broader range of tradeable forex pairs, offering 65 compared to Markets.com's 57. Neither platform facilitates the purchase of exchange-traded securities, whether on U.S. or international exchanges, making them similar in this aspect.
Both platforms provide the option to engage in copy trading, allowing users to replicate the strategies of successful traders. When it comes to trading cryptocurrencies, Pepperstone and Markets.com only offer cryptocurrency derivatives rather than actual coins. Despite the differences in tradeable symbols and forex pairs, both brokers receive a four-star rating for their range of investment offerings. In rankings conducted by ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone stands at #26, slightly ahead of Markets.com's #29, reflecting their strength in providing diverse trading opportunities.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 57 |
| 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 Markets.com both offer comprehensive trading platforms with features suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. Each provides simulated trading through a free virtual demo account, allowing users to practice and hone their skills without financial risk. Both brokers boast proprietary platforms developed in-house and offer popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. Additionally, they provide options for trading on a Windows-based desktop download platform and a convenient web-based browser platform. Copy trading is also available with both brokers, allowing traders to emulate the strategies of successful counterparts. However, Pepperstone edges ahead in terms of platform versatility with the inclusion of DupliTrade, which Markets.com does not offer.
When it comes to tools, Pepperstone provides a deeper array of options, supporting 30 drawing tools for charting, compared to the 4 offered by Markets.com. Pepperstone also allows trading directly from stock charts, a feature not available with Markets.com. While both brokers receive a solid 4-star rating for trading platforms and tools, Pepperstone's slight advantage is reflected in its higher ranking by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at 22nd out of 62 brokers, compared to Markets.com's 26th place. Each broker offers several columns for watch lists, with Pepperstone providing 7 columns and Markets.com offering 6. Both brokers are well-regarded in the trading community, but Pepperstone delivers a slightly broader range of tools and features that could be more appealing to traders seeking more comprehensive charting capabilities.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 89 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 4 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When choosing an online broker for mobile trading, comparing Pepperstone and Markets.com reveals some key differences. Both offer iPhone and Android apps, and they provide features such as stock and forex price alerts. They also allow for the syncing of watchlists between mobile and online accounts. Pepperstone stands out with its 30 technical studies for charting, whereas Markets.com defaults to the MT4 technical offerings. Both apps permit drawing trendlines on charts, but only Pepperstone offers multi-timeframe viewing, automatic saving of chart drawings, and ranks higher at #21 compared to Markets.com's #33 out of 62 brokers in the mobile trading apps category.
Despite offering robust functionalities like watchlist creation with real-time quotes, both apps share a four-star user rating for mobile trading. Pepperstone, however, excels with several enhanced features, including automatic chart drawing saves, making it a slightly better option for detail-oriented traders. Markets.com, while still a competent choice, lacks some of the advanced technical features offered by Pepperstone's app, such as multiple timeframe viewing and auto-saving chart annotations. This makes Pepperstone a more comprehensive choice for traders seeking a bit more flexibility and depth in their mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Pepperstone and Markets.com both offer comprehensive market research features that cater to traders looking for insightful daily commentary and up-to-date forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools, allowing users to view ratios of long or short positions on currency pairs and other instruments. An economic calendar is available from each broker, keeping traders informed of current and upcoming global news events. However, they diverge when it comes to technical analysis tools. Pepperstone integrates features from Autochartist, enhancing traders' technical analysis capabilities, whereas Markets.com does not offer these tools.
In terms of research ratings, Pepperstone edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating, compared to Markets.com's 4-star rating from ForexBrokers.com. This distinction is further reflected in their respective research rankings, with Pepperstone positioned at #12 and Markets.com at #17 out of 62 brokers. Neither platform includes features from Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, demonstrating that while both offer valuable research tools, there is room for enhancement in their market research services.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
When it comes to educational resources tailored for beginners, Pepperstone stands out in comparison to Markets.com. Pepperstone provides over 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, a feature that Markets.com does not offer. Both platforms host monthly webinars for ongoing learning, but Pepperstone gives you the added benefit of accessing a searchable archive of past webinars. This makes it easier for learners to catch up or revisit essential topics at their own pace.
Both Pepperstone and Markets.com offer a selection of beginner and advanced trading videos, making them suitable for all levels of traders. However, Pepperstone takes a step further with an investor dictionary containing over 50 investing terms, a resource absent from Markets.com. In ratings, Pepperstone scores 4.5 stars for education, outperforming Markets.com's 4-star rating. Additionally, Pepperstone ranks higher in the Education category on ForexBrokers.com, positioned at #18 out of 62 brokers, compared to Markets.com's position at #34. This indicates a stronger overall commitment to educational resources for both new and seasoned traders on Pepperstone's platform.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 Markets.com. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 |
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Both Pepperstone and Markets.com do not offer the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers, Pepperstone offers a more diverse range of deposit and withdrawal options than Markets.com, including ACH, SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while Markets.com lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options but supports Skrill, Visa, 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 | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
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| Regulation | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1999 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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 | No | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 57 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 89 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 4 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review |
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