Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Plus500 vs Pepperstone: Plus500 (founded 2008) and Pepperstone (founded 2010) are online brokers, and neither is a bank. Plus500 is publicly traded, while Pepperstone is privately held. ForexBrokers.com assigns Trust Scores of 99/99 to Plus500 and 94/99 to Pepperstone; scores of 90–99 mean highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted.
On regulation, Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, while Pepperstone holds 3 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses. Both land in the highly trusted bracket by score, but Plus500 has more top-tier authorizations and is listed on a stock exchange, whereas Pepperstone has fewer licenses and is not publicly traded.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Pepperstone comes out ahead of Plus500 for most traders. Plus500 is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks #24 out of 36 brokers for this category, with pricing that sits slightly above the industry average. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, and it does not offer retail discounts, although eligible Professional clients may receive cash rebates.
Pepperstone is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its Razor account is the stronger value, with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips as of July 2024, and an all-in cost of about 0.80 pips after commission. That is close to the industry average and generally better than Plus500’s pricing. Pepperstone’s Standard account is commission-free, but its spreads are higher than Razor, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.1 pips.
For active traders, Pepperstone also offers rebate programs that can lower costs further, depending on trading volume and client status. In simple terms, Plus500 is the easier-to-understand option, but Pepperstone usually gives traders lower overall costs, especially on the Razor account.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Plus500 offers a wider selection than Pepperstone. Plus500 gives traders access to 5,500 tradeable symbols, compared with 1,726 at Pepperstone, while both brokers offer 65 forex pairs and forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. Plus500 also stands out for letting clients buy actual shares on U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone, while Pepperstone does not offer exchange-traded securities.
Both brokers support cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrency. Pepperstone does offer copy trading, which Plus500 does not. Still, Plus500 scores higher for range of investments, with a 4.5-star rating and a #16 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, versus Pepperstone’s 4-star rating and #23 ranking. Overall, Plus500 is the stronger choice for investors who want more asset variety.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1726 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and Pepperstone both give traders a free demo account, plus a web-based platform and an in-house platform built by the broker. That makes each one easy to try out in a browser before opening a live trade. Plus500 also earns a slightly higher rating for trading platforms and tools, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #14 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with Pepperstone’s 4 stars and #21 ranking.
Where Pepperstone stands out is in platform choice and extra tools. It offers a Windows desktop app, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from a chart, while Plus500 does not. For traders who want a simple web platform, Plus500 can be a good fit, but Pepperstone is the stronger pick for those who want more platform options and added trading features.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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) | 115 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing Plus500 and Pepperstone for mobile trading, both brokers cover the basics well. Each offers iPhone and Android apps, plus stock or forex price alerts, watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. That makes either choice convenient for traders who want to monitor markets and manage watchlists on the go.
Plus500 stands out for charting depth, offering 115 technical studies in its mobile app compared with Pepperstone’s 30. It also holds a slightly better mobile trading apps rating, with 4.5 out of 5 stars versus Pepperstone’s 4 stars, and ranks higher with ForexBrokers.com at #14 out of 36 brokers, compared with Pepperstone at #19. One advantage for Pepperstone is that its mobile app auto-saves chart drawings, while Plus500 does not.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and Pepperstone both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. Each is also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for research, which suggests both platforms offer a solid amount of useful market insight for everyday trading decisions.
The main difference is in the source and range of research tools. Pepperstone stands out for offering forex news from top names like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental analysis. Plus500, on the other hand, includes Trading Central tools but does not provide top-tier forex news or Autochartist. In ForexBrokers.com’s research ranking, Pepperstone places higher at #13 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 sits at #16.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning tools, both Plus500 and Pepperstone give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex or CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, monthly online client webinars, and a wide range of videos for both beginners and more experienced traders. They are also tied on Education ratings, with each earning 4.5 out of 5 stars, so in terms of basic learning support, neither broker clearly falls short.
The main difference shows up in third-party rankings. ForexBrokers.com places Pepperstone higher for Education at #15 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 comes in at #26. That suggests Pepperstone may offer a slightly stronger overall learning experience for beginners, even though both brokers cover the core education basics very well.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 Plus500 is better than Pepperstone. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #17.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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Pepperstone
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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In the Plus500 vs Pepperstone comparison, neither broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs instead.
Plus500 vs Pepperstone: For deposits and withdrawals, Plus500 offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA, whereas Pepperstone supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires but not Skrill; Visa/Mastercard availability was not specified for either broker.
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 | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1726 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | 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 | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Pepperstone Review |
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