Pepperstone vs Trading 212: Which Broker Suits You?
Pepperstone scores 3.6 and Trading 212 3.2 out of 5 on our published methodology. Pepperstone leads on Platform & Tools and Account Access & Support, and they tie on Costs & Fees, Regulation & Trust and Asset Range. Both accept clients in the UK and the EU.
Overall score
Trading 212
3.2/5
Best for: Beginner-friendly UK investing
Read the full Trading 212 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | CFDs only | Real assets |
| Available assets | Forex and CFDs across major asset classes | Shares, ETFs and investment trusts |
| Regulated by | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others | FCA in the UK; CySEC or BaFin for EU clients |
| Stands out for | Raw spreads with a choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView | Pies and AutoInvest, with a £1 minimum to start |
| Watch out for | Derivatives only — there is nothing here to buy and hold | No mutual funds, bonds, desktop platform or phone support |
| Accepts clients in | The UK, the EU and other countries | The UK and the EU |
Is Pepperstone cheaper than Trading 212?
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, Pepperstone or Trading 212?
Pepperstone is regulated by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others; Trading 212 by FCA in the UK; CySEC or BaFin for EU clients. 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 Trading 212 5/5. Trading 212 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
Trading 212
- Tends to suit
- Beginner-friendly UK investing
- Stands out for
- Pies and AutoInvest, with a £1 minimum to start
- Watch out for
- No mutual funds, bonds, desktop platform or phone support
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.