Compare Pepperstone and IG across platforms, spreads, fees, leverage, and key features to pick the best forex broker for your trading strategy.

Pepperstone and IG are established Forex and CFD brokers with different strengths. Pepperstone focuses on raw spread pricing, platform choice, fast execution, and active Forex trading. IG combines a much larger market catalog with proprietary and third-party platforms, specialist execution tools, and extensive research. This Pepperstone vs IG comparison examines the brokers independently before comparing their verified features directly.

Regulation and Trustworthiness

Pepperstone: Regulation and Client Protection

Pepperstone was established in 2010 and currently reports 9 licensed entities globally. Its regulatory network includes the Financial Conduct Authority, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Dubai Financial Services Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Capital Markets Authority of Kenya, Securities Commission of The Bahamas, and BaFin in Germany. Client money is held separately from company funds under applicable regulatory requirements. During our regulatory check, Pepperstone showed substantial coverage across Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, and international markets.

IG: Regulation and Client Protection

IG was established in 1974 and operates regulated businesses across several major financial centers. The wider group is authorized or supervised by regulators including the FCA, BaFin and Deutsche Bundesbank, ASIC, FINMA, FSCA, MAS, FMA, DFSA, Japanese financial authorities, the CFTC, and NFA. Client money protection varies by entity, with segregated client money arrangements used in several jurisdictions. IG therefore combines more than 50 years of operating history with an extensive international regulatory structure.

Direct Comparison

Both brokers operate through multiple regulated entities rather than relying on one financial license. Pepperstone reports 9 licensed entities and has built a broad regulatory structure since 2010. IG has the longer operating history and regulatory coverage across a larger number of major financial centers. The protection available to an individual trader at either broker depends on the legal entity that holds the account.

Trading Platforms

Pepperstone: Platforms and Trading Tools

Pepperstone provides five main trading environments: its proprietary Pepperstone platform, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView. MT4 and MT5 support Expert Advisors and automated strategies, while cTrader provides advanced order management and algorithmic tools. TradingView adds another technical charting environment. In our platform check, Pepperstone provided several options for manual trading, technical analysis, algorithmic strategies, and scalping.

IG: Platforms and Trading Tools

IG's broader platform lineup includes its proprietary web and mobile platforms, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer. MetaTrader supports automated strategies, while ProRealTime provides specialist charting and automation tools. L2 Dealer is IG's direct market access platform for supported markets and eligible traders. The platform range gives users several ways to trade without relying entirely on IG's proprietary software.

Direct Comparison

Pepperstone and IG both support MetaTrader and TradingView alongside proprietary software. Pepperstone adds cTrader, while IG adds ProRealTime and L2 Dealer. Pepperstone provides strong flexibility for MetaTrader and cTrader users, while IG offers more specialist platform choices for advanced charting and direct market access.

Trading Instruments

Pepperstone: Available Markets

Pepperstone's current account specifications list 1,444 tradable instruments. These include 93 Forex pairs, 26 indices, 40 commodities, 1,162 share CFDs, and 95 ETF CFDs, alongside additional cryptocurrency and other CFD markets. The 93-pair Forex selection covers major, minor, cross, and exotic currencies. During our market check, Forex and share CFDs accounted for most of Pepperstone's instrument depth.

IG: Available Markets

IG Group's broader offering covers approximately 18,000 markets. This includes more than 13,000 international shares and more than 80 Forex pairs, alongside indices, commodities, ETFs, bonds, cryptocurrencies, options, and other derivatives. IG provides both common markets such as EUR/USD and gold and a much larger selection of global equity and specialist products.

Direct Comparison

IG has the larger total market catalog, with approximately 18,000 markets compared with Pepperstone's 1,444 instruments. IG also lists more than 80 Forex pairs, while Pepperstone lists 93. Pepperstone therefore has the larger published Forex pair count, while IG provides substantially more overall market choice.

Spreads and Fees

Pepperstone: Spreads and Trading Costs

Pepperstone's Razor account offers raw Forex spreads from 0 pips with commission starting from $3.50 per standard lot per side. This equals $7 for opening and closing one standard lot when the base commission applies. The Standard account does not charge a separate Forex dealing commission, with the trading cost incorporated into the spread. Pepperstone does not charge an account maintenance or inactivity fee. Standard deposits and withdrawals are also free from Pepperstone charges, although an international bank wire withdrawal can carry a $20 fee and external banking charges can apply.

IG: Spreads and Trading Costs

IG's EUR/USD spread starts from 0.6 pips. Forex and most non-share CFD trading costs are primarily incorporated into the spread, while share CFDs use commission-based pricing. Additional costs can include overnight funding, currency conversion, guaranteed stop premiums, market data, and optional platform services. IG entities can also apply inactivity charges after an extended period without trading, with the exact fee depending on the entity and account currency.

Direct Comparison

Pepperstone has the lower minimum Forex spread, with Razor pricing from 0 pips compared with IG's EUR/USD minimum of 0.6 pips. Pepperstone's Razor account adds commission starting from $3.50 per lot per side, while IG primarily includes its Forex trading charge in the spread. Pepperstone does not charge an inactivity fee, whereas inactivity charges can apply under IG entities.

Leverage

Pepperstone: Maximum Leverage

Pepperstone offers Forex leverage of up to 1:1000 for eligible professional clients. Its professional schedule also lists leverage up to 1:1000 on gold, 1:400 on major indices, and 1:400 on Bitcoin CFDs under the relevant account conditions. The maximum Forex ratio applies to eligible major and minor currency pairs rather than every instrument available through the broker.

IG: Maximum Leverage

IG publishes professional margin requirements as low as 0.45% on selected markets. A 0.45% margin requirement is equivalent to leverage of approximately 1:222. The available margin rate changes according to the market, position size, and client classification.

Direct Comparison

Pepperstone has the higher maximum Forex leverage, reaching 1:1000 compared with approximately 1:222 at IG. Both headline figures apply only under qualifying conditions rather than to every trader or instrument. Maximum leverage can be lower because of the regulatory entity, client classification, position size, and market being traded.

Order Execution and Speed

Pepperstone: Execution Model and Published Speed

Pepperstone currently publishes execution speeds from 50 milliseconds and a 99.32% fill rate, with no dealer intervention. The fill-rate figure is based on Pepperstone trading data from late 2025, with updated regional material also referencing data from the first quarter of 2026. Pepperstone sources pricing from multiple liquidity providers. During our execution review, the published speed and fill-rate data provided useful measurable information for traders using short-term or automated strategies.

IG: Execution and Direct Market Access

IG provides standard execution through its proprietary and MetaTrader platforms and also offers direct market access through L2 Dealer. L2 Dealer displays Level 1 and Level 2 pricing and gives eligible traders access to supported exchange order books. Forex Direct is IG's Forex DMA service and is available to eligible professional clients through L2 Dealer. IG also provides trading APIs for traders building automated execution systems.

Direct Comparison

Pepperstone publishes a 50 millisecond starting execution speed and a 99.32% fill rate. IG provides a different specialist advantage through L2 Dealer, Forex Direct, and trading APIs. The available official information does not provide a directly comparable current execution-speed test between the two brokers, so the published figures should not be used to claim that one is universally faster.

Customer Support and Education

Pepperstone: Customer Support and Learning Resources

Pepperstone provides customer support 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday and 18 hours a day during weekends. Available channels include live chat, telephone, WhatsApp, and email at [email protected]. Educational resources include trading guides, videos, webinars, market analysis, and platform material. The broker's education is closely connected to Forex, CFDs, trading strategies, and supported trading platforms.

IG: Customer Support and Learning Resources

IG International provides support 24 hours a day except for a scheduled Saturday window. Contact options include live chat, WhatsApp, telephone, and email, with [email protected] used for international client support. IG Academy provides beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses with practical exercises and quizzes. IG also offers webinars, market analysis, Reuters news, and educational material covering trading strategies and risk management.

Direct Comparison

Pepperstone provides weekday support plus 18 hours of weekend coverage, while IG International also operates close to round-the-clock coverage with a Saturday service window. Both support live communication through several channels. IG has the more structured education program through beginner, intermediate, and advanced IG Academy courses, while Pepperstone provides education focused closely on trading and its supported platforms.

Account Types and Features

Pepperstone: Account Types and Features

Pepperstone's two main CFD accounts are Standard and Razor. Both currently provide access to more than 1,350 markets and have a $10 minimum funding amount under the global account table. Razor uses raw Forex spreads with commission, while Standard uses spread-based pricing without a separate Forex dealing commission. Pepperstone also provides demo accounts, professional classification for qualifying traders, and Swap-Free accounts in supported markets.

IG: Account Types and Features

IG's account range changes by jurisdiction and can include CFD trading, professional accounts, share dealing, spread betting, and additional investment products. Where share dealing is supported, traders can buy and own real shares rather than using share CFDs. IG's wider share offering includes more than 13,000 international shares. Demo trading is also available, with IG International providing $20,000 in virtual funds.

Direct Comparison

Pepperstone uses a simpler Standard and Razor CFD account structure, with the main difference centered on spread and commission pricing. IG provides more varied trading and investment account structures in supported jurisdictions and also offers dedicated real share investing. Pepperstone's setup is more focused on choosing a Forex and CFD pricing model, while IG offers a wider range of trading and investment products.

Deposit and Withdrawal Methods

Pepperstone: Funding and Withdrawal Options

Pepperstone supports payment methods including debit and credit cards, bank transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Apple Pay, Google Pay, BPAY, and PayID across its wider network. Most electronic methods have a $10 minimum deposit and are credited immediately, while domestic bank transfer can have no minimum. Pepperstone does not charge for standard deposits and withdrawals, although international bank wire withdrawals can incur a $20 fee and third-party charges may apply.

IG: Funding and Withdrawal Options

IG International supports debit cards, credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal. Card funding has a $50 minimum, while bank transfers have no minimum funding requirement. Debit card funding is free, while the current international schedule lists a 1% charge for Visa credit cards and 0.5% for Mastercard credit cards. Bank transfer processing can require up to three business days.

Direct Comparison

Pepperstone supports more electronic wallet and digital payment options in its broader funding lineup. Its electronic funding minimum can start at $10, while domestic bank transfer can have no minimum. IG International has a $50 card minimum and no minimum for bank transfers. Both brokers therefore allow funding without a fixed bank transfer minimum, but their card, wallet, and processing conditions differ.

Mobile Trading

Pepperstone: Mobile Trading Platforms

Pepperstone traders can use the proprietary Pepperstone mobile app alongside MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView mobile environments. These platforms support charting, order placement, position management, watchlists, and account monitoring. Traders who use MetaTrader or cTrader on desktop can continue using the same platform ecosystem from a mobile device.

IG: Mobile Trading Platforms

IG provides its proprietary mobile trading app alongside mobile access to supported MetaTrader platforms. The IG app includes charts, alerts, watchlists, account controls, research, market monitoring, and order management. The broader IG platform ecosystem also connects mobile trading with its proprietary web platform and specialist third-party software.

Direct Comparison

Pepperstone provides more distinct mobile platform choices through its proprietary app, MetaTrader, cTrader, and TradingView. IG focuses more heavily on its proprietary mobile environment while also supporting MetaTrader. Pepperstone is stronger for traders who want to keep using several independent platform ecosystems, while IG places more of its own research and account tools inside its native app.

Research and Market Analysis

Pepperstone: Research and Market Analysis

Pepperstone provides market analysis, trading guides, webinars, videos, economic information, and commentary from its analyst team. Research covers Forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and major economic events. Traders can also use the analytical tools built into MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. During our research check, Pepperstone's material remained closely connected to active trading and technical market analysis.

IG: Research and Market Analysis

IG provides in-house market analysis, Reuters news, economic calendars, client sentiment, trading signals, technical charts, and market commentary. TradingView and ProRealTime add further technical analysis options. IG Academy, webinars, and analyst content also connect research with educational material. The wider research package covers Forex, shares, indices, commodities, and macroeconomic developments.

Direct Comparison

Both brokers provide market commentary, education, charting tools, and economic information. Pepperstone connects its research closely with MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. IG adds Reuters news, client sentiment, trading signals, ProRealTime, and a larger in-house education structure. IG therefore provides the broader research environment, while Pepperstone remains well equipped for technical and active-trading analysis.

Conclusion

Pepperstone: Main Strengths

Pepperstone is strongest for traders who prioritize raw Forex spreads, high leverage, cTrader, MetaTrader, TradingView, and published execution statistics. Its Razor account starts from 0 pips with commission from $3.50 per standard lot per side. The current account specifications list 93 Forex pairs and 1,444 instruments, while eligible professional Forex leverage reaches 1:1000.

IG: Main Strengths

IG is strongest for traders who want a much larger total market catalog, specialist platforms, direct market access, and extensive research. IG Group's wider offering covers approximately 18,000 markets and more than 80 Forex pairs. Its platform range includes proprietary software, MetaTrader, TradingView, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer, while professional margin requirements can fall as low as 0.45%.

Direct Comparison

Pepperstone has the advantage for raw Forex pricing, maximum leverage, published execution statistics, and access to cTrader. IG has the advantage for overall market coverage, direct market access, specialist platform choice, and research depth. Pepperstone reaches 1:1000 maximum Forex leverage and lists 93 Forex pairs, while IG provides approximately 18,000 total markets and professional margin as low as 0.45%. Regional regulations can reduce leverage and change available products, account types, fees, and payment methods at both brokers.