Pepperstone vs Plus500: Which Broker Suits You?
Pepperstone scores 3.6 and Plus500 3.0 out of 5 on our published methodology. Pepperstone leads on Costs & Fees, Platform & Tools and Account Access & Support, and they tie on Regulation & Trust and Asset Range. 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
| Pepperstone | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | CFDs only | CFDs only |
| Available assets | Forex and CFDs across major asset classes | CFDs on shares, indices, forex, commodities and crypto |
| Regulated by | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS and others |
| Stands out for | Raw spreads with a choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView | A simple proprietary platform backed by an LSE-listed parent |
| Watch out for | Derivatives only — there is nothing here to buy and hold | No real asset ownership at all, and no MT4 or MT5 |
| Accepts clients in | The UK, the EU and other countries | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is Pepperstone cheaper than Plus500?
On our Costs & Fees score, Pepperstone rates 4/5 against Plus500’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, Pepperstone or Plus500?
Pepperstone is regulated by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others; Plus500 by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS 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, Pepperstone scores 2/5 and Plus500 3/5. Plus500 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
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
Plus500
- Tends to suit
- Simple CFD trading
- Stands out for
- A simple proprietary platform backed by an LSE-listed parent
- Watch out for
- No real asset ownership at all, and no MT4 or MT5
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.