DEGIRO vs Pepperstone: Which Broker Suits You?
DEGIRO scores 3.4 and Pepperstone 3.6 out of 5 on our published methodology. DEGIRO leads on Asset Range; Pepperstone leads on Platform & Tools and Account Access & Support, and they tie on Costs & Fees and Regulation & Trust. Both accept clients in the EU.
Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| DEGIRO | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | CFDs only |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds across many European and global exchanges | Forex and CFDs across major asset classes |
| Regulated by | BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others |
| Stands out for | Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe | Raw spreads with a choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView |
| Watch out for | Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents | Derivatives only — there is nothing here to buy and hold |
| Accepts clients in | The EU | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is DEGIRO cheaper than Pepperstone?
Both score 4/5 on Costs & Fees, so neither has a clear overall cost advantage on our measures; which is cheaper for you depends on what you trade, how often, and in which currency. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, DEGIRO or Pepperstone?
DEGIRO is regulated by BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch; Pepperstone by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others. Both score 4/5 on our Regulation & Trust measure. Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, DEGIRO scores 3/5 and Pepperstone 2/5. DEGIRO is the gentler place to start. Beginners should know that CFDs are leveraged derivatives rather than ownership, and that most retail accounts trading them lose money.
Who each one tends to suit
DEGIRO
- Tends to suit
- Low-cost European investing
- Stands out for
- Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe
- Watch out for
- Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents
Pepperstone
- Tends to suit
- Forex & CFD trading
- Stands out for
- Raw spreads with a choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView
- Watch out for
- Derivatives only — there is nothing here to buy and hold
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.