Updated October 17, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Interactive Brokers vs Pepperstone
Where Interactive Brokers and Pepperstone differ
| Compare |  Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $0.020 |
| Markets | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Platforms | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation | TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, CTrader, Pepperstone platform |
| Regulators | SEC, FCA, SIPC | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74.1% |
| Margin rate | 4.38% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.38% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.2.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $10.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $0.020.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, Funds, Futures.
- Markets: only Pepperstone offers CFDs, Crypto, Metals.
- Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
- Platforms: only Pepperstone offers TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Support channels: only Interactive Brokers offers Community.
- Support channels: only Pepperstone offers Email.
Our verdict on each
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
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 | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. | 8.9 |
| Offer | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. | 9.5 |
| Trust | 9.8 | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | FCA 208159 | Not confirmed |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 53615 | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 44 of 471 | 22 of 471 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
Interactive Brokers
- interactivebrokers.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersway.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- toponlineforexbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euinvestinghub.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Pepperstone
- pepperstone.com: 6 facts, checked October 17, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1978 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Pepperstone | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $10below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0.020above the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 74.1%above the median | 72.21% |
| Margin rate | 4.38%below the median | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 3.38%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 136 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
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
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
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
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
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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