Updated October 17, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IG vs Pepperstone
Where IG and Pepperstone differ
| Compare |  IG | Pepperstone ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0.020 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Spread betting | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69% | 74.1% |
| Platforms | Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, Pepperstone platform |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), SIPC | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 2.5% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- IG scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Markets: only IG offers Options, Futures, Spread betting.
- Markets: only Pepperstone offers Metals.
- Platforms: only IG offers Mobile trading, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime.
- Platforms: only Pepperstone offers CTrader, Pepperstone platform.
Our verdict on each
IG
IG suits traders who want shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting under a single roof, with an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5% on uninvested balances. Share dealing runs commission-free, while the retail loss rate is 69%.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone is a CFD broker with several platforms and a demo account. It suits active traders, though leveraged CFDs carry a high risk of quick losses.
Score breakdown
| Area | IG | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 8.9 |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCommission-free share dealing, a stock trade fee of £0, an account fee of €0 and cash interest of 2.5%. | 9.5 |
| Trust | 9.5 | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | IG | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 48 of 471 | 22 of 471 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | IG | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Metals | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | IG | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | IG Europe GmbH | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Germany | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | IG | Pepperstone | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $10below the median | $25 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69%below the median | 74.1%above the median | 72.21% |
| Interest on cash | 2.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 136 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
IG
Pros
- Markets list stocks, etfs and forex, so shares, ETFs, forex, contracts for difference, options, futures, crypto and spread betting sit together.
- Regulated by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, with client protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Platform choice runs Mobile trading, L2 Dealer and ProRealTime.
Cons
- Retail accounts that lose money come to 69%.
- The commission-free model in commission free applies to share dealing, and it does not extend to trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options or futures.
- Accounts sit with IG Europe GmbH in Germany, so compensation stops at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Pepperstone
Pros
- Several platforms, including MetaTrader, cTrader and TradingView.
- Two pricing styles, one all in and one commission based.
- A demo account with virtual funds before going live.
Cons
- Leverage can cause fast losses, and a high share of retail accounts lose money.
- Overnight positions can pay or earn interest, with larger midweek rollovers.
- Withdrawals must go to an account or card in your own name.
Who each suits
IG
Who it suits
- Traders who want stocks, etfs and forex reachable from the same account rather than several platforms.
- Share buyers who want dealing on a commission-free basis, since commission free covers their trades.
- EU clients who weight regulation and compensation, given Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC and EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a platform built around share dealing and crypto alone should compare CFI, whose stocks, etfs and forex is a shorter, simpler list.
- Investors priced in dollars rather than euros should weigh eToro, where the stock trade fee is $0.
- Anyone weighing only the account charge should know Vantage lists $0, so IG's €0 is not the only way to hold an account cheaply.
Pepperstone
Who it suits
- Traders who want a choice of MetaTrader, cTrader and TradingView.
- Frequent FX, gold or index CFD traders.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who cannot accept fast losses from leverage.
- Long term investors who want to own shares outright.
Questions about each
IG
What does it cost to trade shares with IG?+
Share dealing runs on a commission-free model, with a stock trade fee of £0 and an account fee of €0. Those are the two figures that matter for holding and trading, and both sit at the floor of the site tables. Trading costs on forex, contracts for difference, options and futures are quoted apart from share dealing.
Who regulates IG and is my money protected?+
The regulators are Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and SIPC, and the licences listed are MiCA CASP 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 and SIPC member 71021. Client protection in the EU is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so a claim against the firm is covered only up to that ceiling. Any balance above the cap is your own exposure.
Pepperstone
Does Pepperstone charge fees on deposits or withdrawals?+
The company charges no internal funding or withdrawal fees, though your bank or payment provider may apply its own charges. Deposits can be made by debit or credit card, digital wallet, or domestic and international bank transfer. Withdrawals must go to an account or card in the same name.
Can I practise on a demo account first?+
Yes. A demo account uses virtual funds in a live market environment and runs on the same platforms as live accounts. You can test strategies, try order types and explore charts and indicators without risking capital. Demo accounts cannot be reactivated once closed, so keep notes on what you tested.
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