Two multi-regulated brokers square off over cost, platforms, and regulation. Admirals touts EU/UK coverage and education; Pepperstone expands regulator breadth and platform choices.
Pepperstone edges Admirals on editorial score due to broader regulation coverage and a wider platform mix. Admirals counters with a larger instrument universe.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Admirals if…
Choose Admirals if you want a very broad instrument universe and a relatively low entry point with a $100 minimum deposit, alongside strong FCA and CySEC regulation covering EU and UK traders. The trade-off is an inactivity fee and a platform stack limited to MT4/MT5.
Choose Pepperstone if…
Choose Pepperstone if you want a $0 minimum deposit and no inactivity fee, backed by a broad regulator set that includes FCA, ASIC, BaFin, CySEC, DFSA, and FMA. It also offers MT4/MT5, cTrader, TradingView and IRESS for diverse trading workflows.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Pepperstone offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.50 pips for Admirals, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Pros
Extensive range of accounts including Zero, Trade, and Invest
Strong FCA and CySEC regulation covering EU and UK traders
High-quality educational content including live webinars
Zero account offers spreads from 0.5 pips with $6 round-turn commission
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Admirals rates 4.3/5 and Pepperstone rates 4.7/5. 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 starts from 0 pips, tighter than Admirals's 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Pepperstone has no minimum deposit, while Admirals requires at least $100. This makes Pepperstone more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Admirals and Pepperstone hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker'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 brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Admirals lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while Pepperstone lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Admirals charges $6 per lot, lower than Pepperstone's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Admirals supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Pepperstone supports cTrader, IRESS, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Pepperstone has exclusive access to cTrader and IRESS and TradingView.
Pepperstone wins for safety & regulation due to broader regulator coverage (FCA, ASIC, BaFin, CySEC, DFSA, FMA).
Pepperstone wins for active traders with a robust active-trader rebate program.
Admirals is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($6/lot).
Pepperstone wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5, cTrader, TradingView and IRESS.
Admirals wins for instrument variety with about 8000 tradable instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | Melbourne, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot▼ lower | $7/lot |
|---|
| 1.1 pips | 0.7 pips▼ lower |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | FCA ASIC DFSA FMA BaFin CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | cTrader IRESS MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
FCA, ASIC, BaFin, CySEC, DFSA licensed
Razor account: tight spreads + transparent commission
TradingView + MT4 / MT5 / cTrader
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Platform-heavy, MT4 and MT5 only, no proprietary platform
Customer support quality varies by region
Not available to US clients
Inactivity fee applies
Cons
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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