IG vs Pepperstone: Which Broker Suits You?
IG scores 4.2 and Pepperstone 3.6 out of 5 on our published methodology. IG leads on Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Asset Range; Pepperstone leads on Costs & Fees, and they tie on Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the UK, the EU and other countries.
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
| IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Mixed | CFDs only |
| Available assets | CFDs and spread betting, plus genuine UK share dealing and ISAs | Forex and CFDs across major asset classes |
| Regulated by | FCA, ASIC and other regional regulators | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others |
| Stands out for | Trading since 1974, LSE-listed, with very wide market access | Raw spreads with a choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView |
| Watch out for | Most of the range is leveraged rather than owned | Derivatives only — there is nothing here to buy and hold |
| Accepts clients in | The UK, the EU and other countries | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is IG cheaper than Pepperstone?
On our Costs & Fees score, Pepperstone rates 4/5 against IG’s 3/5, so it is generally the cheaper of the two for the costs we assess: commissions, spreads, currency conversion and account fees. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, IG or Pepperstone?
IG is regulated by FCA, ASIC and other regional regulators; Pepperstone by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others. IG scores higher on our Regulation & Trust measure (5/5 against 4/5). 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, IG scores 3/5 and Pepperstone 2/5. IG 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
IG
- Tends to suit
- Established multi-market trading
- Stands out for
- Trading since 1974, LSE-listed, with very wide market access
- Watch out for
- Most of the range is leveraged rather than owned
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.