AvaTrade vs Pepperstone (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared

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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

AvaTrade

Trust rank #12 · Founded 2006

AvaTrade is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering multiple trading platforms, broad market access, and educational resources. It provides market research and risk management tools with an emphasis on platform reliability…

Read the AvaTrade review

Pepperstone

Trust rank #10 · Founded 2010

Pepperstone is a well-regarded forex broker offering access to forex and CFD markets through multiple trading platforms, with tools for analysis and risk management.

Read the Pepperstone review

AvaTrade (Ireland, founded 2006) holds 8 regulatory licences (ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ…), 3 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. Pepperstone (Australia, founded 2010) holds 8 regulatory licences (ASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA…), 3 of them tier-1, offers cTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 215 countries; AvaTrade is available in 1 countries where Pepperstone is not, and Pepperstone in 14 where AvaTrade is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • AvaTrade leads on track record.
  • Pepperstone leads on trust rank, platform choice and country coverage.
  • Level on regulatory coverage, instrument range, fee level and tier-1 licences.

Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.

AvaTrade vs Pepperstone: side-by-side data

CriteriaAvaTradePepperstone
Trust rank#12#10
Founded20062010
HeadquartersIrelandAustralia
RegulatorsADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, ISA, JFSAASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA, SCB
Broker typeMarket MakerECN, STP
PlatformsMT4, MT5, ProprietarycTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
InstrumentsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals
Countries accepted216 countries229 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD TradingCFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use casesCopy Trading, Retail TradingCopy Trading, Professional Trading, Retail Trading

Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.

Pros

AvaTrade

  • Multi-jurisdiction regulation
  • MT4/MT5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions support
  • Fixed-spread account option
  • ZuluTrade and DupliTrade copy trading
  • AvaProtect trade-loss protection

Pepperstone

  • Raw spreads from 0.0 pips + low commissions
  • Ultra-low-latency market execution, deep liquidity
  • NDD/STP model with scalping, hedging, and EAs allowed
  • MT4/MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and API support
  • Top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC)

Cons

AvaTrade

  • Market-maker model (no ECN/DMA)
  • Higher spreads than ECN brokers
  • Inactivity and administration fees
  • Not available to U.S. residents
  • Not FCA-regulated (UK)

Pepperstone

  • No guaranteed stop-loss orders
  • Negative balance protection limited to EU/UK retail clients
  • Not available to U.S. residents
  • CFDs-only offering (no real stocks/ETFs)
  • No proprietary trading platform

Key features

AvaTrade

  • Multi jurisdiction regulation client fund segregation and negative balance protection
  • MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 AvaTradeGO and WebTrader platforms
  • Forex and CFD trading on indices commodities metals equities and cryptocurrencies
  • Vanilla FX options trading with AvaOptions
  • Copy trading with ZuluTrade DupliTrade and AvaSocial
  • AvaProtect risk management for loss protection

Pepperstone

  • Agency model no dealing desk market execution
  • Razor raw spreads and Standard pricing
  • MT4 MT5 cTrader and TradingView platforms
  • Advanced tools Autochartist Smart Trader Tools cTrader Automate and VPS
  • Tier 1 regulation and segregated client funds ASIC FCA CySEC DFSA BaFin
  • Wide range of CFDs forex indices commodities shares and crypto where permitted

Country availability: AvaTrade vs Pepperstone

Available at both (215): Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and 175 more.

Only AvaTrade (1): Spain.

Only Pepperstone (14): Afghanistan, Algeria, Guernsey, India, Iraq, Isle of Man, Jersey, Lebanon, Libya, New Zealand, Somalia, South Sudan, United Kingdom, Yemen.

Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.

AvaTrade vs Pepperstone: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, AvaTrade or Pepperstone?

AvaTrade holds more regulatory licences: AvaTrade (ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, ISA, JFSA) versus Pepperstone (ASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA, SCB). Tier-1 licences: AvaTrade 3, Pepperstone 3.

Which trading platforms do AvaTrade and Pepperstone offer?

AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary; Pepperstone offers cTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView.

Which has lower fees, AvaTrade or Pepperstone?

Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.

Which is older, AvaTrade or Pepperstone?

AvaTrade is the older of the two, founded in 2006; Pepperstone was founded in 2010.

Are AvaTrade and Pepperstone available in the same countries?

They overlap in 215 countries. AvaTrade is additionally available in 1 countries (Spain) and Pepperstone in 14 countries (Afghanistan, Algeria, Guernsey, India, Iraq, Isle of Man and 8 more).

Keep comparing

AvaTrade

Pepperstone

Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.