Pepperstone vs Saxo Bank: Which Broker Suits You?
Pepperstone scores 3.6 and Saxo Bank 4.0 out of 5 on our published methodology. Pepperstone leads on Costs & Fees and Account Access & Support; Saxo Bank leads on Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Asset Range. Both accept clients in the UK, the EU and other countries.
Higher overall score
Saxo Bank
4.0/5
Best for: Premium multi-asset investing
Read the full Saxo Bank review →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 | Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | CFDs only | Real assets |
| Available assets | Forex and CFDs across major asset classes | Stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, futures and forex across 50+ exchanges |
| Regulated by | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others | Danish FSA as a licensed bank, plus FCA and others |
| Stands out for | Raw spreads with a choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView | Professional-grade platforms and exceptional instrument breadth |
| Watch out for | Derivatives only — there is nothing here to buy and hold | Premium pricing, with custody fees in some countries |
| Accepts clients in | The UK, the EU and other countries | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is Pepperstone cheaper than Saxo Bank?
On our Costs & Fees score, Pepperstone rates 4/5 against Saxo Bank’s 2/5, 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 Saxo Bank?
Pepperstone is regulated by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others; Saxo Bank by Danish FSA as a licensed bank, plus FCA and others. Saxo Bank 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, Pepperstone scores 2/5 and Saxo Bank 2/5. Neither has a clear edge for a first account. 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
Saxo Bank
- Tends to suit
- Premium multi-asset investing
- Stands out for
- Professional-grade platforms and exceptional instrument breadth
- Watch out for
- Premium pricing, with custody fees in some countries
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.