9 Pepperstone Alternatives for 2026

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Ryan Hardy sitting before his forex trading desk
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Pepperstone is one of the best Australian forex brokers and also one of the best in the world. The broker is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, charges low trading fees, and executes client orders in less than a second. It has won multiple industry-standard awards for excellence.

However, no forex or CFD broker is a perfect fit for all traders. In case there are reasons why you prefer not to deal with Pepperstone, then, you have come to the right place. In this article, we have committed our time, resources, and experience to prepare a list of forex and CFD brokers that can serve as alternatives to Pepperstone.

Pepperstone Overview

Pepperstone At a Glance

Pepperstone At a Glance
  • Founded In: 2010
  • Founder: Owen Kerr and Joe Davenport
  • Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
  • Minimum Deposit: No Minimum Deposit 
  • Maximum Leverage: Up to 30:1 (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, BaFin & DFSA Retail), 200:1 (SCB retail), 400:1 (CMA retail), and 500:1 (Professional); varies by jurisdiction and client categorization
  • Regulations: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFIN, DFSA, CMA, and SCB
  • Trading platform: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
  • Account Types: Standard, Standard (cTrader/MetaTrader 4&5),  Razor (MT4, MT5, cTrader & TradingView)
  • Trading Styles: All, including Scalping, Hedging, News Trading, EA Trading
  • Payment Options: Bank Wire (BankTransfer/SWIFT), VISA, MasterCard, Local Bank Transfers, M-Pesa, Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, UnionPay ( Availability varies per region)
  • US Clients: Not Accepted
73-89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs

A List of Pepperstone Alternatives for 2026

  • ActivTrades: Best for EU Traders
  • FP Markets: Best for High-Volume Trading
  • Eightcap: Best for Smart Trading Tools  
  • eToro: Social Copy Trading Platform
  • IC Markets: Best for Tight Spreads  
  • AvaTrade: Best Market Maker Broker 
  • FBS: Best for High Leverage 
  • Exness: Instant Deposit and Withdrawal
  • XM: Best for Deposit  Bonus 

Pepperstone Alternatives Comparison Table (Pepperstone with Competitors)

Best Overall
Pepperstone

Pepperstone

  • Founded In:  2010
  • Minimum Deposit: No minimum deposit
  • Maximum Leverage:  Up to 30:1 (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, BaFin & DFSA Retail), 200:1 (SCB retail), 400:1 (CMA retail), and 500:1 (Professional); varies by jurisdiction and client categorization
  • Regulations: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFIN, DFSA, CMA, and SCB
  • Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and Own Trading Platforms
  • Trading Instruments:1350+ CFD instruments, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Currency Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Shares, ETFs, and CFD Forwards.
Lowest Cost
Fusion Markets

Fusion Markets

  • Founded In:  2017
  • Minimum Deposit: $1000
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:500
  • Regulations : ASIC, VFSC, and FSA
  • Trading Platforms : MT4, MT5, cTrader
  • Trading Instruments: Forex, Metals, Indices, Energy & Soft Commodities, Cryptocurrency, US Share CFDs
FP Markets

FP Markets

  • Founded In:  2005
  • Minimum Deposit: 100 AUD or equivalent.
  • Maximum Leverage: 500:1
  • Regulations: ASIC, CySEC, SVGFSA, FSCA
  • Trading Platforms : MT4, MT5, cTrader, WebTrader, IRESS
  • Trading Instruments: Forex, Shares, Metals, Commodities, Indices, Digital Currencies, Bonds, ETFs 
BlackBull Markets

BlackBull Markets

  • Founded In: 2014
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:500
  • Regulations : FCA, ASIC, NFA, or CySEC. 
  • Trading Platforms : MT4,MT5, Ctrader ,Tradingview, Copytrader
  • Trading Instruments: Forex ,Share, CFDs and Commodities
Best for Cryptos
Eightcap

Eightcap

  • Founded In:  2009
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:500
  • Regulations : ASIC,FCA, CySEC, SCB
  • Trading Platforms : MT4, MT5, TradingView, Webtrader
  • Trading Instruments: Forex,Commodities,Indices,Shares,Crypto
Best for Bonus
XM

XM

  • Founded In:  2009
  • Minimum Deposit: $5
  • Maximum Leverage: 1000:1
  • Regulations :FSC
  • Trading Platforms : MT4, MT5
  • Trading Instruments: Forex , Commodities, Stock ,Indices , Crypto , Turbo Stocks Equity indices , Precious Metals , Energies
Instant Deposit Withdrawal
Exness

Exness

  • Founded In:  2008
  • Minimum Deposit: $200
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:2000
  • Regulations :FSA,CBCS,FSC,FSCA, Cysec,FCA,CMA
  • Trading Platforms :MT4, MT5, MetaTrader WebTerminal, MetaTrader Mobile,  Exness Trade App , Exness Terminal
  • Trading Instruments: Forex , Commodities, Stock ,Indices , Crypto
Highest leverage
Just Markets

Just Markets

  • Founded In:  2012
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:3000
  • Regulations : FSA, Cysec, FSCA, FSC
  • Trading Platforms :MT4, MT5
  • Trading Instruments: Forex, CFDs, Gold, Oil
Tickmill

Tickmill

  • Founded In:  2014
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:500
  • Regulations : FCA, CySEC, FSA, FSA (Labuan), and FSCA.
  • Trading Platforms : MT4, MT5, WebTrader Platform, MetaTrader for Mac , Tickmill Mobile App
  • Trading Instruments: Forex , Stock Indices, Commodities,Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Stocks
ThinkMarkets

ThinkMarkets

  • Founded In:  2010
  • Minimum Deposit: $0 (Standard Account), $500 (ThinkZero account)
  • Maximum Leverage: 500:1
  • Regulations : ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSC, NZFMA, DFSA, JFSA, FSCA, CIMA
  • Trading Platforms : MT5, ThinkTrader, ThinkCopy
  • Trading Instruments:  Forex, cryptocurrencies, shares CFDs, indices, metals, and commodities.

Top 9 Alternatives of Pepperstone for 2026 (Reviewed and Tested)

1. ActivTrades

Founded in 2001, ActivTrades is a well-established forex and CFD broker that provides services to both retail and institutional traders worldwide. Founded by Alex Pusco as a stock brokerage in Switzerland in 2001, the company relocated to London in 2005. The broker introduced MetaTrader 4 in 2007 and expanded its offerings to include CFDs on indices and commodities in 2008. Today, ActivTrades offers over 1,000 trading instruments across seven asset classes, including forex, shares, indices, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, commodities, bonds, and more.

Pros:

  • Regulated by FCA, SCB, CMVM.
  • There is no Minimum Deposit. You may deposit as low as possible
  • The maximum leverage is as high as 400:1.
  • Free deposit and withdrawal.
  • Allows scalping, news trading, and EA trading.
  • Offers 1000+ trading instruments.
  • Spreads start from 0.5 pips.
  • Provides fast order execution.
  • Lloyds of London insurance up to $1,000,000.
  • Offers 24-hour customer support in 14 languages.
  • Available to customers in more than 140 countries

Cons:

  • Not regulated by ASIC or CySEC.
  • Only forex and CFDs are offered; no real tradable instruments are available.
  • No passive investment programs like PAMM or MAM accounts.
  • Not authorized to trade real stocks.
  • A bank wire withdrawal fee is applicable.
  • An inactivity fee may be charged.
  • The minimum deposit for Brazilian and Chinese traders is $500.

2. FP Markets

First Prudential Markets is a trusted forex and CFD broker that began operations in 2005. The broker gives its clients access to trade more than 10,000 instruments on its MT4, MT5, cTrader, and IRESS platforms. FP Markets insists that its spreads are raw; starting from 0.0 pips as streamed from its Liquidity providers.

CFD traders are given direct market access (DMA) via the IRESS platform. Trading of real stocks from the Australian exchange is available. There are no restrictions on strategies. Compared to other competitors, its trading fees are low. FBS does not charge deposit, withdrawal, or inactivity fees.

Pros

  • Regulated by the ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSC Mauritius, FSA Seychelles
  • Research and trading tools like daily reports, market analyses, Autochartist, Trading Central, etc
  • Free VPS to high-volume traders.
  • Social trading is available through ‘Copy Trading’.
  • The customer support desk is available 24/7 and speaks multiple languages.

Cons

  • International withdrawals via bank transfers attract a fee.
  • IRESS platform requires a deposit of at least AUD 1,000
  • No proprietary trading platforms.
  • Clients from certain countries are restricted from opening accounts.

3. Eightcap

EightCap was registered in Melbourne, Australia in 2009. The broker allows the trading of over 800 forex and CFDs on its platforms which include MT4, MT4, and TradingView. Traders are provided with tools like free VPS, Crypto Crusher, Capitalise.ai, FlashTrader, Trade Idea, outlook, etc

Pros

  • Regulated by ASIC, FCA, VFSA 
  • The Maximum Leverage is as high as 1:500
  • Offers passive investment programme(MAM, PAMM accounts) 
  • No Deposit/Withdrawal Fees
  • Easy To Open An Account
  • Scalping and EA Trading are allowed 
  • 100+ Crypto CFDs available

Cons

  • Minimum deposit is $100
  • No Investor Protection for non-EU Clients
  • The Broker is not regulated by FCA UK 
  • Conditions and trading costs vary according to the entity
  • Hedging is not allowed with the ASIC entity
  • No joint accounts, copy trading, referral program, or other options for passive income

4. ThinkMarkets

Founded in 2010 by Nauman and Faizan Anees, ThinkMarkets is an Australian-based forex and CFD broker that offers online trading services worldwide.  The company has offices in London, Tokyo, Chicago, Melbourne, Limassol, Dubai, Sofia, and Johannesburg. On its MetaTrader and ThinkTrader platforms, clients can trade over 4,000 instruments. Real stock trading is available on the ThinkTrader app. Traders are supported with free VPS, Signal Centre, Dynamic leverage, Traders’ Gym, etc. 

Pros:

  • Regulated by ASIC, FCA, CySEC, JFSA, FSA-S, DFSA 
  • The minimum deposit is as low as $1 
  • The Maximum Leverage is as high as 2000:1 
  • Allows scalping, EA trading, Copy trading
  • Offers social trading options PAMM, MAM Accounts
  • Negative balance protections for EU, UK, and Australian clients
  • Tight Spreads Starting From 0 pips 
  • MT4, MT5, and Thinktrader trading platforms are offered 

Cons:

  • Only Forex and CFDs are offered (not real assets).
  • There is no investment protection scheme for Global traders.
  • Ctrader and TradingView are not offered.
  • No bonuses or promotional offerings are available.
  • Conditions may vary according to regulation and entity.
  • Offshore Entity for international traders

5. IC Markets

Having been in operations for over 15 years and climbing to the top as one of the leading brokers in the industry, IC Markets deserves a place in our list of best forex brokers in Europe. The broker offers low spreads and true ECN trading of more than 2250 instruments on its 3 platforms. Multiple trading tools are provided to assist the trader.

IC Markets is one of the best brokers in Europe because of its affordable trading fees, non-trading fees, premium trading tools, and overall excellent performance through the years. 

Pros

  • Regulated by the ASIC, CySEC, SCB Bahamas, and FSA Seychelles.
  • You can trade on the MT4, MT5, or cTrader platforms.
  • Supports multiple social trading platforms; ZuluTrade, IC social, and AutoTrade by MyFxbook.
  • Trading tools like Autochartist, Trading Central analysis, Market Buzz, MT4 advanced trading tools, etc.
  • Free VPS, and rebates for high-volume traders.

Cons

  • $200 is the minimum account opening deposit.
  • No micro accounts

6. Avatrade

Founded in Sydney, Australia in 2007 by traders, Axi has grown into a global brand with 60,000 clients from over 100 countries. More than 220 forex and CFDs can be traded on its MT4 platform. The Axi Trading platform will soon be available for real trading. Tools like Autochartist and MT4 NextGen are provided while the Axi Copy Trading app is for social trading.

Pros

  • Free deposit and withdrawal options
  • Great research tools
  • a wide range of trading instruments
  • ability to trade from mobile devices
  • Unique social trading features
  • Impressive educational offerings
  • Negative balance protection
  • Does not charge any fees for deposits or Withdrawals
  • Offers commission-free trading
  • Offers negative balance protection
  • Supports multiple trading platforms and EAs

Cons

  • High inactivity fees
  • Not regulated by the FCA
  • Does not accept U.S. clients
  • No guaranteed stop-loss
  • Do not have 24/7 customer support 

7. FBS

Founded in 2009, FBS is an experienced forex and CFD broker that gives its clients access to trade over 500 instruments. The broker is known for high leverage; max is 1:3000, low spreads, and fast executions; 0.1 seconds. In addition to the MetaTrader platforms, FBS offers its proprietary FBS trader mobile platform; available on iOS and Android.

FBS has multiple account types such as cent accounts, standard, pro accounts, etc. Trading accounts can be funded using various methods including popular e-wallets and cryptos. The broker boasts of 23 million traders drawn from over 150 countries. It has also won over 70 industry awards for excellence in different areas of operation.

Pros

  • Regulated by CySEC, ASIC, FSCA and FSC Belize
  • Multiple account types to suit all traders.
  • Daily expert analysis is produced by a dedicated team of analysts.
  • Multiple training resources such as video lessons and Forex guidebook.
  • Client support is available in 8 languages via different channels 24/7.

Cons

  • Limited assets index.
  • Account currencies are few.
  • Premium analytics is reserved for only VIPs.
  • No services to clients from the USA, Iran, Israel, etc. 

8. Exness

Established in 2008, Exness is a regulated forex and CFD broker. It is regulated by multiple jurisdictions. The broker gives access to trade more than 230 tradable instruments on its MT4 and MT5 Trading platforms. The broker allows copy trading, news trading, and EA Trading. You can start trading with as low as 0.01 lot in Exness. The broker also offers a very tight spread starting from 0.3pips. However, Exness does not have ASIC regulation.

Pros

  • Top tire regulations ( FCA, CySEC, FSC, FSA-S SBCS, FSCA, BVI FSC, and so on. 
  • The maximum leverage is as high as 1:unlimited or 1:2000
  • The minimum deposit is as low as $1 or depends on payment methods
  • Free VPS hosting; to qualify, you need to trade for a minimum of 14 days and lifetime deposits of $500;
  • Competitive spreads starting from 0.2 pips on standard accounts
  • Swap-Free/Islamic Account Provided
  • Scalping, EA Trading, and Copy Trading are allowed 
  • Instant Withdrawal of Money 24/7

Cons

  • No Passive investment programme ( PAMM, MAM Accounts) 
  • No Ctrader, Tradingview, or ZuluTrade offered 
  • US Traders are not accepted 
  • Only MT4 and MT5 Trading Platforms 
  • Limited educational resources

9. XM

XM was established in 2009 as trading-point.com with a head office in Limassol, Cyprus. Today, it has become a global bro