In a head to head comparison, ATFX and Pepperstone clash on regulation, costs, and platform choice. The outcome hinges on which strengths matter most to you.
Pepperstone outperforms ATFX on the editorial score (4.7 vs 4.2) and leads in category scores across trust, pricing, and tools. ATFX remains competitive in regulation breadth and no minimum deposit.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ATFX if…
Choose ATFX if you want MT4 only and strong multi-regulation with no minimum deposit.
Choose Pepperstone if…
Choose Pepperstone if you want MT4/MT5 with cTrader and raw spreads via Razor accounts.
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 1.80 pips for ATFX, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Pros
FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), and FSCA (SA) licensing
300+ instruments including ETF CFDs and bond CFDs
FSCS protection up to GBP 85,000 for UK clients
No minimum deposit, no inactivity fee
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ATFX | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Pepperstone rates 4.7/5 versus 4.2/5 for ATFX. Pepperstone edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Pepperstone starts from 0 pips, tighter than ATFX's 1.8 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither ATFX nor Pepperstone requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both ATFX 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, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
ATFX lists maximum leverage of 400:1, 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.
Pepperstone charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for ATFX are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
ATFX supports MetaTrader 4, while Pepperstone supports cTrader, IRESS, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. Pepperstone has exclusive access to cTrader and IRESS and MetaTrader 5 and TradingView.
Pepperstone wins with FCA, ASIC, BaFin, CySEC, DFSA, offering broader oversight.
Pepperstone, thanks to advanced charting tools and ECN-style Razor accounts.
Pepperstone is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
Pepperstone wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and IRESS.
ATFX offers no minimum deposit and MT4 simplicity for newcomers.
Pepperstone leads with about 1200 instruments; ATFX offers 300.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Melbourne, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 1.8 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.7 pips |
| Max Leverage | 400:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | 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 FSCA CySEC | FCA ASIC DFSA FMA BaFin CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | 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
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
MT4 only, no MT5, cTrader, or proprietary platform
Standard spreads from 1.8 pips are not ECN-competitive
Relatively young broker, founded 2017
No raw spread account option
Limited charting capabilities
Cons
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
Personalised recommendation
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