Here is our detailed broker comparison between Pepperstone vs ActivTrades across 11 different core broker criteria.
Pepperstone vs ActivTrades Comparison
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| Pepperstone VS ActivTrades | 
First | 
Second | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation | FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), SCB (Bahamas), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (Dubai) | FCA (UK), CSSF (Luxembourg), SCB (Bahamas), CVM (Brazil) | |
| Number of Instruments | 1200+ (Forex, indices, shares, cryptocurrencies, commodities) | 500+ (Forex, indices, shares, ETFs, commodities, and more) | |
| MT4 | |||
| MT5 | |||
| cTrader | |||
| Proprietary Platform | |||
| TradingView Integration | |||
| Commission (Forex) | From £5 ($6) per lot (Razor Account) | None (spread-only model) | |
| Spreads | From 0.0 pips (Razor Account) | From 0.5 pips (spread-only) | |
| Free VPS Access | |||
| Islamic Accounts | |||
| Customer Service | 24/5, multilingual | 24/5, multilingual | |
| Education | Extensive (webinars, third-party resources, analysis) | Comprehensive (webinars, tutorials, analysis) | |
| Copy Trading | |||
| Deposit Requirements | None | None | |
| Join Pepperstone | Join ActivTrades |
Broker Comparison Criteria Breakdown
1. Trading Instruments
Winner: Pepperstone (for a wider variety of instruments)
ActivTrades: Offers a solid range of over 500 instruments, including forex, commodities, indices, shares, and ETFs. However, cryptocurrencies are available only for professional clients due to regulatory restrictions, which limits its appeal to retail traders in the crypto space.
Pepperstone: Stands out with access to 1,200+ instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, shares, and ETFs. This broader selection provides greater flexibility and choice, especially for traders interested in cryptocurrencies and a diverse range of instruments.
2. Account Types
Winner: Pepperstone (broader selection of accounts)
ActivTrades: Offers a standard account, a professional account, and an Islamic account. It does not offer raw spread accounts or commission-based account options, which might limit its attractiveness to high-frequency traders.
Pepperstone: Provides Standard and Raw Spread accounts, as well as Islamic accounts for traders needing swap-free conditions. The Raw Spread account is ideal for active traders as it features spreads from 0.0 pips with a low commission, while the Standard account is more suited for beginners with wider spreads but no commissions.
3. Spreads and Commissions
Winner: Pepperstone (for lower spreads and competitive commissions)
ActivTrades: Uses a spread-only model, with spreads starting from 0.5 pips on major forex pairs. While this is competitive, it lacks the ultra-tight spreads that some advanced traders look for, and it doesn’t offer commission-based options for high-volume trading.
Pepperstone: Known for offering tight spreads, especially on its Raw Spread account, which starts at 0.0 pips with a £5 ($6USD) per lot commission on forex trades. This account is particularly appealing to high-frequency and professional traders looking for lower trading costs.
4. Platforms
Winner: Pepperstone (offers additional cTrader platform)
ActivTrades: Offers the widely recognized MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, as well as its proprietary ActivTrader platform, which features advanced charting and analysis tools with a sleek and modern interface.
Pepperstone: In addition to MT4 and MT5, Pepperstone provides access to cTrader, a popular platform that is well-suited for algorithmic traders and those looking for an intuitive interface with advanced charting and execution features. cTrader is particularly appealing to professional traders because of its deep market depth features.
5. Automated Trading and Copy Trading
Winner: Pepperstone (better suited to automated trading)
ActivTrades: Supports Expert Advisors (EAs) for automated trading on MT4 and MT5, as well as its proprietary ActivTrader platform. However, it lacks a robust built-in copy trading feature, although you can manually copy trade via third-party services.
Pepperstone: Fully supports automated trading via EAs on MT4, MT5, and cTrader. Moreover, Pepperstone offers copy trading functionality via Myfxbook and DupliTrade, making it easier for less experienced traders to follow and mirror successful strategies from more advanced traders.
6. Execution Speed
Winner: Pepperstone (ECN-like execution model)
ActivTrades: Provides market execution with minimal slippage but may experience delays during periods of high volatility due to its market maker model.
Pepperstone: Offers an ECN-like environment with no dealing desk intervention, ensuring faster execution speeds with minimal slippage. This execution model is particularly beneficial for high-frequency traders and scalpers who rely on rapid trade placement and precise execution.
7. Educational Resources
Winner: Draw (both offer excellent educational support)
ActivTrades: Offers comprehensive educational content, including webinars, video tutorials, market analysis, and educational courses. The broker also publishes weekly outlooks and hosts trading webinars that are popular among both beginners and more experienced traders.
Pepperstone: Also provides a robust array of educational resources, including webinars, tutorials, market reports, and access to third-party educational platforms. Pepperstone’s educational content is highly regarded, offering value to traders of all experience levels.
8. Customer Support
Winner: Draw (both offer similar customer service).
ActivTrades: Offers 24/5 multilingual support via live chat, phone, and email. Customer feedback suggests a responsive and helpful support team, though the availability in certain languages may be limited.
Pepperstone: Also offers 24/5 customer service in multiple languages. Pepperstone is known for its fast response times and effective assistance, especially for traders using more complex platforms like MT5 and cTrader.
9. Deposit and Withdrawal
Winner: Draw (for flexibility and no minimum deposit)
ActivTrades: Has no minimum deposit requirement. The broker supports deposits via Visa, Mastercard, bank transfers, and e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller. Withdrawals are processed promptly, though fees may apply depending on the payment method.
Pepperstone: Has no minimum deposit requirement. Pepperstone provides a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal methods, including credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill. Importantly, there are no deposit or withdrawal fees.
10. Regulation
Winner: Draw (both have robust regulation).
ActivTrades: Regulated by top-tier authorities, including the FCA in the UK, CSSF in Luxembourg, and SCB in the Bahamas. This offers traders a high level of protection and ensures compliance with strict financial guidelines.
Pepperstone: Similarly, Pepperstone is regulated by multiple major financial authorities, including the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), SCB (Bahamas), and DFSA (Dubai). This extensive regulation ensures traders’ funds are secure and that the broker adheres to stringent regulatory standards globally.
11. VPS Access and Automated Trading
Winner: Pepperstone (for offering free VPS access)
ActivTrades: Offers VPS services for automated trading, but this service is not free and has certain requirements for activation. It’s particularly useful for traders using Expert Advisors who require 24/7 access with minimal latency.
Pepperstone: Offers free VPS access to traders who meet certain trading volume requirements, making it ideal for algorithmic traders and those relying on Expert Advisors. This is especially appealing to high-frequency traders who depend on low-latency trading environments.
Verdict: Which is Better Pepperstone or ActivTrades?
Both ActivTrades and Pepperstone are solid spread betting brokers, but they cater to slightly different types of traders.
ActivTrades offers a well-rounded platform with a strong focus on manual trading. The ActivTrader proprietary platform provides excellent risk management tools and educational content, making it a great fit for traders who prefer manual strategies. While it may not have the tight spreads or the vast instrument list of Pepperstone, it remains a solid choice, particularly for UK and EU-based traders.
Pepperstone is the better choice for traders seeking low-cost trading, automated trading, and fast execution. It offers tighter spreads, a broader range of account types (especially with the Raw Spread account), and better support for algorithmic and copy trading. For traders looking for VPS access, free of charge, and superior platform choices like cTrader, Pepperstone is the clear winner.
James is a former FTSE100 AI Director and trader with 10+ years trading his own capital. He is the Managing Director of SpreadBet.AI and currently trades his own capital through both CFD trading & spread betting as well as working with one of the leading prop firms in the world.
