Pepperstone and Skilling compete in the crypto CFD space with different platform ecosystems and regulatory footprints. The battleground centers on regulation, coin coverage, and platform quality.
Pepperstone leads overall with a higher editorial score (4.0 vs 3.7) and 24/5 live chat support, compared with Skilling.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose Pepperstone if…
Pepperstone: you value 24/5 live chat support. Pepperstone: you prefer FCA and ASIC backed regulation with segregated funds and 30+ crypto CFDs. Skilling: you want 40+ crypto CFDs on a proprietary platform. Skilling: you prefer CySEC/FCA/FSCA oversight and a pan-EU regulatory approach.
Choose Skilling if…
Pepperstone: you value 24/5 live chat support. Pepperstone: you prefer FCA and ASIC backed regulation with segregated funds and 30+ crypto CFDs. Skilling: you want 40+ crypto CFDs on a proprietary platform. Skilling: you prefer CySEC/FCA/FSCA oversight and a pan-EU regulatory approach.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
Pepperstone wins for security due to stronger, multi-jurisdictional regulators and higher trust score.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 3.7/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $50 |
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.7 pips |
| Taker Fee | 7.00% | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Pepperstone | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| Security | ||
| Cold storage for assets | Fail | Fail |
| Proof of reserves published | Fail | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees | ||
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Staking available | Fail | Fail |
| DeFi integration | Fail | Fail |
| NFT trading | Fail | Fail |
| 500+ coins listed | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Fail | Fail |
The scores are close: Pepperstone rates 4/5 and Skilling rates 3.7/5. Pepperstone has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Pepperstone lists a lower spread from 0, compared with Skilling's 0.7. Crypto trading costs are typically quoted as a percentage of the trade value; check each exchange's full fee schedule, as maker/taker rates and volume discounts vary.
Pepperstone has no minimum deposit, while Skilling requires at least $50. This makes Pepperstone more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
Both Pepperstone and Skilling hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each exchange's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Pepperstone has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both exchanges provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Pepperstone offers up to 2:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus Skilling's 2:1 cap. Margin and futures trading carry higher risk than spot crypto; confirm product availability and jurisdiction-specific limits on each exchange's website.
Pepperstone charges $7 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Skilling are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Crypto fees are typically quoted as maker/taker rates rather than fixed per-trade commissions; check each exchange's fee schedule for volume-based discounts.
Pepperstone supports cTrader, IRESS, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while Skilling supports cTrader, Skilling Trader, MetaTrader 4. Both provide cTrader and MetaTrader 4. Pepperstone has exclusive access to IRESS and MetaTrader 5 and TradingView. Skilling has exclusive access to Skilling Trader.
Pepperstone wins for low fees with transparent pricing and a higher fees score.
Skilling wins for coin selection with 40+ crypto CFDs compared with Pepperstone's 30+.
Pepperstone is best for beginners with a $0 minimum deposit.
Equally matched.
| 0.7 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 90 days) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrill | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA FMA BaFin CySEC | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Cold Storage | No | No |
|---|
| Proof of Reserves | No | No |
|---|
| Staking | No | No |
|---|
| DeFi Integration | No | No |
|---|
| NFT Trading | No | No |
|---|
| 500+ Coins | No | No |
|---|
| P2P Trading | No | No |
|---|
| Crypto Earn / Savings | No | No |
|---|
| Token Launchpad | No | No |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.7 / 5
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