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.
XTB vs Pepperstone at a glance: XTB was founded in 2002 and is publicly traded (listed on a stock exchange), while Pepperstone started in 2010 and is privately held. Neither broker is a bank.
On regulation and trust: ForexBrokers.com rates both brokers as highly trusted, with Trust Scores of 96 for XTB and 94 for Pepperstone (90–99 = highly trusted). XTB holds 2 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted), while Pepperstone holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses.
| 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 | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
XTB and Pepperstone both offer competitive trading costs, but they suit different types of traders. XTB is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 for commissions and fees. Its main option is the spread-only Standard account, while its commission-based Professional account is now limited to eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe. Based on recent pricing data, XTB’s EUR/USD spread averaged about 1 pip, which is around the market average. For most retail traders, the Standard account is usually the better fit, especially for smaller trade sizes.
Pepperstone is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 36 in this category. Its Razor account uses commission-based pricing and posted a very low average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips, though the all-in cost rises to about 0.80 pips once commission is included. That still makes it a strong choice for active traders, especially when paired with Pepperstone’s Active Trader program, which can lower costs further for high-volume clients. Its Standard account is commission-free, but the spreads are higher than on Razor.
Overall, XTB is simpler and can be a good value for smaller traders, while Pepperstone offers better pricing for frequent and high-volume forex trading. If low all-in trading costs are the priority, Pepperstone has the edge. If you want straightforward pricing with a spread-only account, XTB remains a solid option.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 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.
XTB offers a wider range of investments than Pepperstone overall, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more variety. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, but XTB lists 10,900 tradeable symbols compared with Pepperstone’s 1,726, and it also offers more forex pairs, with 71 versus 65. XTB stands out further because it lets clients buy exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while Pepperstone does not offer these shares.
Both brokers allow cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither supports buying actual, delivered crypto. Pepperstone does offer copy trading, which XTB does not, so it may appeal more to traders who want to follow others. Even so, XTB comes out ahead for range of investments, with a 5-star rating and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #14 out of 36, compared with Pepperstone’s 4-star rating and #23 ranking.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 1726 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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). | 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.
XTB and Pepperstone both give traders a good range of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, web-based trading, and Windows desktop downloads. Each also lets users place trades directly from a chart, which can be helpful for quick order entry and easier market analysis. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, XTB scores 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers, while Pepperstone scores 4 out of 5 and ranks #21.
The biggest difference is that Pepperstone adds more third-party platform support and features, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while XTB does not offer those options. That may make Pepperstone a better fit for traders who want access to MetaTrader or social trading tools. XTB, on the other hand, may appeal to traders who prefer a simpler setup with its own platform and strong overall platform rating.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and Pepperstone both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps available for each broker. Both apps also support price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings, which helps traders track the market and manage charts more easily from a phone or tablet. In terms of overall mobile experience, XTB holds the edge with a 4.5-star rating and a #8 ranking out of 36 brokers, while Pepperstone is rated 4 stars and ranks #19.
Where the two differ most is in watchlist syncing and chart tools. Pepperstone lets users sync watchlists between the mobile app and online account, so updates carry across devices, while XTB does not offer that feature. On the charting side, XTB provides 39 technical studies in its mobile app compared with 30 at Pepperstone, giving XTB a small advantage for traders who want more chart indicators on mobile.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and Pepperstone both give traders daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with key global events. In these core research areas, the two brokers are closely matched and both provide useful day-to-day market information for active traders.
The main difference is in added research tools. Pepperstone includes Autochartist, which can help spot chart patterns and trading opportunities, while XTB does not. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. Overall, XTB has a slight edge in research, with a 5-star rating and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with Pepperstone’s 4.5 stars and #13 ranking.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Pepperstone
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB and Pepperstone both give beginners a strong set of learning tools, with each broker offering forex and CFD education, monthly educational webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. This means new traders can find material on the basics as well as more advanced topics, all in formats that are easy to work through at their own pace.
That said, XTB has the edge on overall education. It is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Pepperstone is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #15. For beginners comparing the two, both are good options, but XTB stands out slightly more for the depth and quality of its learning resources.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than Pepperstone. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #17.
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
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Pepperstone
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| Trust Score | 96 | 94 |
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Online brokers XTB and Pepperstone do not allow buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
When comparing online brokers XTB vs Pepperstone for deposits and withdrawals, both support PayPal and bank wire transfers, XTB additionally supports Skrill, while Pepperstone uniquely offers ACH/SEPA transfers.
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 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Pepperstone | |
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| Regulation | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 94 | |
| 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 | 1 | 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 (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 1726 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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). | 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 account | 0.92 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 15 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | Pepperstone Review |
| Overall | XTB | Pepperstone | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Pepperstone Review |
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