Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Pepperstone vs Questrade, 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 Questrade are both reputable online brokers, each with its own strengths. Founded in 2010, Pepperstone is distinguished by holding three Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, ratings that underscore a high level of trust and reliability. With a stellar Trust Score of 95 from ForexBrokers.com, Pepperstone is highly trusted within the industry. Although not a publicly traded company or a bank, Pepperstone's regulatory standing makes it a favored choice for those seeking a secure trading platform.
On the other hand, Questrade, established in 2000, holds two Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses, which places it in the trusted category with a Trust Score of 86 according to ForexBrokers.com. Like Pepperstone, Questrade is neither a publicly listed company nor a bank, but its solid regulatory credentials provide peace of mind for traders. Both brokers offer unique features, but if regulatory recognition and trust are key considerations, Pepperstone edges slightly ahead, offering more assurances to users.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2000 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
Pepperstone and Questrade present different fee structures that cater to varying trading needs. Pepperstone shines with a 4.5-star rating for its commissions and fees, earning the #10 spot out of 62 brokers. It offers competitive pricing, especially for high-volume traders using its Razor account combined with the Active Trader program. The Razor account provides an attractive spread of 0.10 pips on the EUR/USD, leading to an all-in cost of 0.80 pips when commission equivalents are considered. In contrast, its Standard account is commission-free but presents a higher spread of 1.1 pips on the EUR/USD, making it a pricier option compared to the Razor account.
Questrade, on the other hand, has a more straightforward fee structure with a target spread of 1.9 pips on the EUR/USD, which is relatively high against the industry average. This places Questrade at a rating of 3 stars for commissions and fees, ranked #57 among 62 brokers. While it offers simplicity, active traders might find the spread less appealing compared to Pepperstone's offerings.
For those interested in maximizing cost efficiency, Pepperstone's Active Trader program offers rebates that improve as trading volume increases, with potential spread reductions available across different regions, such as the UK and Australia. These discounts can be essential for professional clients who maintain high trading volumes and are looking to minimize their trading costs effectively.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| 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 | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Pepperstone and Questrade both provide traders with extensive trading opportunities but differ in the range of available investments. Pepperstone shines with its vast offering of 1,726 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs, allowing users to engage with global markets primarily through CFDs. However, Pepperstone does not provide direct access to buying exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, nor does it allow for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, though it offers derivatives in this space. Pepperstone also supports copy trading, giving it an innovative edge for those interested in mimicking other traders' strategies. Pepperstone garners a 4-star rating for its range of investments, ranked #26 by ForexBrokers.com.
Questrade, on the other hand, offers a different kind of versatility, especially for clients interested in directly trading on stock exchanges. With 641 tradeable symbols and an extensive selection of 110 forex pairs, Questrade enables users to buy exchange-traded securities such as Apple shares on U.S. exchanges, as well as international transactions like Vodafone shares on the London Stock Exchange. Although it does not support copy trading or the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, it does provide cryptocurrency derivatives. Questrade is rated 5 stars for its range of investments, securing a commendable #11 ranking by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its strong appeal to those seeking a broader spectrum of traditional securities.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 641 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 110 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing Pepperstone and Questrade for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a range of features catered to varying trading needs. Pepperstone provides the MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms, which are popular among forex traders, while Questrade does not. Both brokers have developed their own proprietary platforms, ensuring tailored user experiences. They each offer simulated trading accounts, allowing users to practice their skills without financial risk. Windows-based desktop and web-based platforms are available with both brokers, enabling traders to access markets from multiple devices. While Pepperstone excels with copy trading and additional tools like DupliTrade, Questrade does not offer copy trading but does include DupliTrade.
In terms of charting and watch list features, Pepperstone offers 30 drawing tools for creating detailed charts and provides seven fields for creating watch lists. On the other hand, Questrade offers 20 drawing tools but impressively excels with 52 fields for comprehensive watch lists. Both platforms support trading directly from stock charts, enhancing trading efficiency. Rated with four stars each for their trading platforms and tools, Pepperstone sits at a slightly higher ranking of 22 with ForexBrokers.com, compared to Questrade's rank of 34 out of 62 brokers. This comparison highlights Pepperstone's slight edge in certain features while showcasing Questrade's strengths in watch listing capabilities.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | Yes | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 64 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 52 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Pepperstone and Questrade both offer convenient mobile trading solutions with apps available for iPhone and Android users. By providing features like real-time price alerts and watchlist syncing between mobile and online platforms, both brokers ensure you're always connected to the market. Charting capabilities are comprehensive on both apps, allowing users to draw trendlines and view different time frames like daily or intraday. However, Questrade edges out in technical studies with 64 options compared to Pepperstone's 30, giving traders more analytical tools on mobile devices.
Both apps auto-save chart drawings and allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, adding a level of customization and ease of use. With each app rated at four stars for mobile trading, they are well-regarded in the industry. Though closely matched in features, Pepperstone is ranked slightly higher at number 21, compared to Questrade's position at number 34 in the ForexBrokers.com category for Mobile Trading Apps. This ranking difference highlights a subtle edge in user satisfaction or feature set, but both apps offer strong platforms for mobile traders.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 64 |
| 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 Pepperstone and Questrade for market research offerings, Pepperstone stands out for its comprehensive services. Pepperstone provides daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, catering to traders who prioritize staying informed. Additionally, Pepperstone features tools from Autochartist to assist in technical analysis and offers a sentiment-based trading tool, providing insights into currency pair positions. Both platforms include economic calendars to track global news, but when it comes to star ratings for research, Pepperstone leads with 4.5 out of 5, ranking 12th among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Questrade integrates Trading Central's tools offering Technical Analytics and collaborates with TipRanks for market research, which could appeal to traders interested in these specific resources. However, Questrade does not provide daily market commentary or top-tier forex news, and lacks a sentiment-based trading tool, which might limit immediate market insights. Rated 3.5 stars for research quality, Questrade ranks 51st on ForexBrokers.com, reflecting fewer comprehensive research options compared to Pepperstone. Both brokers present various tools, but Pepperstone offers a wider range of news and analytical features that may benefit traders looking for extensive and real-time updates.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Pepperstone and Questrade provide a solid foundation in forex and CFD education, offering over ten pieces of educational material each. However, Pepperstone takes things a step further by hosting monthly online webinars for clients, a feature not available with Questrade. Both brokers provide a searchable archive of these recorded webinars, allowing learners to revisit past sessions at their convenience. In terms of video content, Pepperstone and Questrade each offer an array of beginner-focused educational videos, with Pepperstone also stepping up by providing videos aimed at more advanced traders.
Another notable distinction lies in their investor dictionaries, where Pepperstone excels with a comprehensive glossary featuring over fifty investing terms, something Questrade currently lacks. These educational offerings are reflected in their ratings and rankings; Pepperstone scores a strong 4.5 stars, placing it 18th among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for education. In comparison, Questrade receives 3.5 stars, ranking 36th. For beginners seeking extensive education with additional advanced learning materials and tools, Pepperstone proves to be a more attractive choice.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Questrade. Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #16, while Questrade finished with an overall rank of #32.
Pepperstone offers a growing range of tradeable markets, good-quality research, and support for multiple social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
Pepperstone
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 95 | 86 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Pepperstone and Questrade do not offer the capability to purchase actual cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for buying cryptocurrency derivatives.
Pepperstone offers a more versatile array of fund transfer options including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, and Skrill, alongside Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Questrade supports Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks options like ACH, SEPA, PayPal, and Skrill.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2000 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1726 | 641 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 110 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 52 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 64 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 64 | |
| 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 | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Questrade Review |
| Overall | Pepperstone | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Pepperstone Review | Questrade Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill