Australian ECN-style broker with raw-spread accounts on MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView; EU clients are served by Pepperstone EU in Cyprus.
- Headquarters
Australia
- Founded
- 2010
- Type
- Forex & CFD brokers
- Licences on record
- 7 (3 European)
- EU client entity
- Pepperstone EU Limited (CySEC) and Pepperstone GmbH (BaFin)
- Platforms
- MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView
- Products
- Forex, CFDs, Spread betting
- Website
- pepperstone.com
Strengths
- Raw-spread "Razor" accounts suited to active and algorithmic trading
- MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView all available
- EU entities in Cyprus and Germany, plus FCA, ASIC and other licences
- Known for execution quality and support
Watch-outs
- Few products beyond CFDs and spread bets
- Research and education are adequate rather than outstanding
- Beginners may prefer a simpler all-in-one app
Overview
Pepperstone was founded in Melbourne in 2010 and grew into one of the largest retail FX and CFD brokers by volume, with a focus on active traders using third-party platforms.
Which entity serves you
European residents are onboarded by Pepperstone EU Limited, licensed by CySEC, or Pepperstone GmbH, supervised by BaFin; UK clients by Pepperstone Limited (FCA). ESMA retail protections apply to EU retail clients. International clients may be served by a Bahamas entity – check your agreement.
Platforms and pricing
Pepperstone offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView, plus its own platform. Two main pricing models: a Standard account with costs in the spread and a Razor account with raw spreads plus commission. Scalping, news trading and Expert Advisors are generally permitted.
Our view
For traders who care about execution and platform choice, Pepperstone is among the strongest options with a genuine EU entity. Compare the all-in cost of Standard vs Razor with the trading cost calculator.
Licences on record
Brands often operate several companies. The one that onboards you depends on where you live, and that company's regulator decides your protection. Confirm the entity on the official register before you deposit.
| Regulator | Jurisdiction | Type | Check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCA Financial Conduct Authority | UK | Official register | |
| CySEC Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | EU/EEA – passportable | Official register | |
| BaFin Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) | EU/EEA – passportable | Official register | |
| ASIC Australian Securities and Investments Commission | Non-European | Regulator website | |
| DFSA (Dubai) Dubai Financial Services Authority | Non-European | Regulator website | |
| CMA Kenya Capital Markets Authority (Kenya) | Non-European | Regulator website | |
| SCB Securities Commission of The Bahamas | Offshore | Regulator website |
What protection would you get?
If you are a retail client of Pepperstone's European entity, these safeguards apply by law. Which one applies to you depends on the entity you sign with.
- Investor compensation: Up to £85,000 per person per firm for investments – Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
- Leverage for retail clients: capped at 30:1 on major currency pairs, down to 2:1 on crypto. Details
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Margin close-out: positions are closed when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
- Complaints: Financial Ombudsman Service
- Best forex brokers in United Kingdom
- Investor compensation: 90% of the covered claim, capped at €20,000 per investor – Investor Compensation Fund for CIF clients (ICF)
- Leverage for retail clients: capped at 30:1 on major currency pairs, down to 2:1 on crypto. Details
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Margin close-out: positions are closed when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
- Complaints: Financial Ombudsman of the Republic of Cyprus
- Best forex brokers in Cyprus
- Investor compensation: 90% of the claim, up to €20,000 per investor (investment firms) – EdW – Entschädigungseinrichtung der Wertpapierhandelsunternehmen
- Leverage for retail clients: capped at 30:1 on major currency pairs, down to 2:1 on crypto. Details
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Margin close-out: positions are closed when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
- Complaints: Bankenombudsmann (private banks) or BaFin arbitration board
- Best forex brokers in Germany
Verify Pepperstone yourself
- Find the exact company name in the footer of the website and in the client agreement you are asked to sign.
- Search that name on the register of the regulator listed for your country (links above). Make sure the register shows the same website domain.
- Check warning lists for look-alike names: IOSCO I-SCAN covers alerts from regulators worldwide.
- Never download remote-access software or move money because someone "from the broker" phoned you. How clone-firm scams work.
Protection Score breakdown
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Holds at least one European licence (EU/EEA, UK or Swiss) | +40 |
| ESMA/FCA retail protections available (leverage caps, negative balance protection, compensation scheme) | +15 |
| Supervised in 5 strong jurisdictions | +12 |
| Operating for 16 years | +7 |
| Total | 74/100 |
The score measures structural protection from licences and corporate facts, not costs, service or platform quality. A high score does not mean a firm is right for you. Methodology.
Trader experiences
No verified experiences yet. Have you used Pepperstone? Share what happened with deposits, withdrawals, execution and support.
Share your experience
About this data
Profile type: reviewed profile. Licence data is from our research and has not yet been re-checked against every register; confirm it on the official register before relying on it. Last updated 30 September 2026.