In this head to head comparison of IG 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.
Regulation
IG vs Pepperstone: IG was founded in 1974 and is publicly traded, while Pepperstone launched in 2010 and is privately held. IG is a bank; Pepperstone is not. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, below 59 not trusted), IG scores 99 and Pepperstone 94—both in the highly trusted range.
For regulation, IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). Pepperstone holds 3 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses. With more top-tier licenses and a perfect 99 score, IG has the edge for those prioritizing the most extensive oversight, while Pepperstone remains a highly trusted, well-regulated option.
| Feature | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded info | 1974 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) info | Yes | No |
| Bank info | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses info | 8 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses info | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses info | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses info | 1 | 2 |
Fees
If you’re weighing commissions and fees, both IG and Pepperstone earn 5 out of 5 stars, with Pepperstone ranked #6 of 63 and IG ranked #7 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com. Pricing is close: Pepperstone’s Razor account posts an all-in cost around 0.80 pips on EUR/USD (July 2024), while IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) pricing comes in near 0.82 pips using July 2023 data. Your actual costs will depend on the account type you choose, your trading volume, and when you trade.
IG isn’t a discount broker, but it delivers competitive pricing for active forex traders. On its CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads averaged about 0.69 pips during the main session in July 2023 (0.98 pips across the full day, and 1.18 pips at IG US). IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) account averaged a 0.62-pip spread on EUR/USD in July 2023, with an all-in cost near 0.82 pips once commission is included. High-volume, professional clients can lower costs further via tiered spread rebates (generally 10%–20%), which can trim the effective all-in cost to roughly 0.60 pips. IG’s commissions and fees rating: 5/5 stars; ranking: #7 of 63.
Pepperstone uses agency execution and shines on its commission-based Razor account available on MetaTrader, cTrader, and TradingView. As of July 2024, the Razor account listed a 0.10-pip average spread on EUR/USD; after a commission-equivalent of 0.70 pips, the all-in cost is about 0.80 pips. The commission-free Standard account averaged 1.1 pips, making it pricier than Razor. Active traders may qualify for spread rebates: in the U.K./EU, professional clients can receive roughly 15%–25% back depending on monthly volume; in Australia, tiered discounts run about 10%–30% based on lots traded (requirements apply and rates vary by product). Pepperstone’s commissions and fees rating: 5/5 stars; ranking: #6 of 63.
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Range of investments
Comparing the range of investments, IG offers far broader market access than Pepperstone. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, but IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while Pepperstone offers 1,726 symbols and 65 pairs. Reflecting this depth, IG holds a 5-star Range of Investments rating and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, versus Pepperstone’s 4 stars and #23 ranking.
IG also supports exchange-traded stocks on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy shares like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Vodafone (LSE: VOD) directly—Pepperstone doesn’t offer exchange-traded shares. For crypto, IG provides both real coin purchases and crypto CFDs; Pepperstone limits crypto to CFDs only. One edge for Pepperstone is copy trading, which IG doesn’t offer. In short, choose IG if you want the widest selection including direct share dealing and real crypto, and pick Pepperstone if you prefer a CFD-focused setup with access to copy trading.
Trading platforms and tools
IG and Pepperstone both check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free demo account for practice, an in-house proprietary platform, and access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade from a chart on both, and they’re available on the web and as a Windows desktop download. One notable difference: Pepperstone supports copy trading, while IG does not—so if you want to mirror other traders, Pepperstone has the edge.
In independent testing, IG scores higher for platforms and tools with a 5-star rating and the #1 spot out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Pepperstone earns 4 stars and ranks #21. If you’re prioritizing top-rated platform features, IG leads; if copy trading is a must-have, Pepperstone may be the better fit.
Forex trading apps
Comparing IG vs Pepperstone for mobile trading, both brokers check the key boxes: iPhone and Android apps, price alerts for stocks and forex, synced watchlists between app and web, and chart tools that let you draw trendlines with drawings saved automatically. For charting depth, IG offers 33 technical studies, while Pepperstone offers 30, giving IG a slight edge for traders who rely on indicators.
In overall quality, IG leads with a 5-star Mobile Trading Apps rating and a #1 ranking out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Pepperstone earns 4 stars and ranks #19. If you want the strongest all-around mobile experience and more built-in studies, IG stands out; if you’re already using Pepperstone, its app still covers the essentials very well.
Market research
When comparing IG and Pepperstone for their market research offerings, both brokers stand out by delivering daily market commentary and providing forex news from trusted sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, they both incorporate Autochartist tools for better technical and fundamental research, along with sentiment-based trading tools showing the long or short position ratio across currency pairs. Furthermore, both offer an economic calendar with current global news events, enhancing their research capabilities.
However, there are notable differences between the two. IG has the edge in terms of variety and depth, offering insights from platforms like TipRanks and additional tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, which Pepperstone lacks. Rated at 5 stars compared to Pepperstone’s 4.5, IG secures the #2 position in research rankings by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers, while Pepperstone sits at #12. This indicates IG’s superior position when it comes to comprehensive market research features.
| Feature | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist info | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central info | No | No |
| Client sentiment data info | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks info | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading info | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar info | Yes | Yes |
Beginners and education
For beginners comparing IG vs Pepperstone on education, both brokers make it easy to start learning. Each hosts educational client webinars at least once a month and offers 10+ beginner-friendly videos that explain trading basics step by step. As you progress, both libraries also include 10+ advanced videos, so you can grow from first lessons to more complex topics without leaving the platform.
Where they differ is in third-party scores. IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Pepperstone scores 4.5 stars and ranks #15. If you want the highest-rated learning path, IG has a slight edge; if you prefer a strong lineup of webinars and beginner videos, Pepperstone remains an excellent choice for getting started.
| Feature | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Webinars info | Yes | Yes |
| Videos – Beginner Trading Videos info | Yes | Yes |
| Videos – Advanced Trading Videos info | Yes | Yes |
Winner
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than Pepperstone. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Pepperstone finished with an overall rank of #17.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.