Pepperstone vs XTB: Which Broker Suits You?
Pepperstone scores 3.6 and XTB 3.6 out of 5 on our published methodology. Pepperstone leads on Costs & Fees; XTB leads on Asset Range, and they tie on Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the UK, the EU and other countries.
Level on overall score
Pepperstone
3.6/5
Best for: Forex & CFD trading
Read the full Pepperstone 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | CFDs only | Mixed |
| Available assets | Forex and CFDs across major asset classes | Real stocks and ETFs alongside 5,400+ CFDs |
| Regulated by | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others | FCA, KNF, CySEC, DFSA and others |
| Stands out for | Raw spreads with a choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView | Commission-free stocks and ETFs up to a high monthly threshold |
| Watch out for | Derivatives only — there is nothing here to buy and hold | The product range is CFD-weighted, and availability varies by country |
| Accepts clients in | The UK, the EU and other countries | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is Pepperstone cheaper than XTB?
On our Costs & Fees score, Pepperstone rates 4/5 against XTB’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 XTB?
Pepperstone is regulated by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA and others; XTB by FCA, KNF, 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, Pepperstone scores 2/5 and XTB 4/5. XTB 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
XTB
- Tends to suit
- European CFD & stock trading
- Stands out for
- Commission-free stocks and ETFs up to a high monthly threshold
- Watch out for
- The product range is CFD-weighted, and availability varies by country
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.