Two established brokers, Pepperstone and Windsor Brokers, are contrasted on regulation, pricing, and platform choice. The tension centers on regulatory breadth and available instruments.
Pepperstone wins on the higher editorial score and broader regulation, supported by 1200 tradable instruments; Windsor Brokers remains solid but with fewer assets.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Pepperstone if…
Choose Pepperstone if you value a broad regulator footprint and a large instrument universe. You also gain MT4/MT5, plus cTrader and TradingView access.
Choose Windsor Brokers if…
Choose Windsor Brokers if you value CySEC regulation with EU investor protections. You get MT4 and MT5 with ECN Zero options and transparent pricing.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.00 pips.
| Editorial score | 4.7/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Pepperstone | Windsor Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| 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 | 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 | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Pepperstone rates 4.7/5 versus 4/5 for Windsor Brokers. Pepperstone edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Both Pepperstone and Windsor Brokers start from 0 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
Pepperstone has no minimum deposit, while Windsor Brokers requires at least $100. This makes Pepperstone more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Pepperstone holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, DFSA), providing stronger investor protections. Windsor Brokers may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
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.
Pepperstone lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while Windsor Brokers 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, lower than Windsor Brokers's $8 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Pepperstone supports cTrader, IRESS, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while Windsor Brokers supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Pepperstone has exclusive access to cTrader and IRESS and TradingView.
Pepperstone wins for safety and regulation with a broader license set.
Pepperstone wins for active traders with larger instrument universe and advanced tools.
Pepperstone is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($7/lot).
Pepperstone wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5, cTrader, and TradingView.
Pepperstone wins for beginners with $0 minimum deposit and transparent pricing.
Pepperstone wins for instrument variety with 1200 options vs Windsor's 200.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2010 | 1988 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia | Nicosia, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips | 0 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot▼ lower | $8/lot |
|---|
| 0.7 pips▼ lower | 0.8 pips |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| 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 | CySEC FSCA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader IRESS MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Pros
35+ years of continuous operation, one of the longest track records in retail forex
CySEC regulated with EU investor protections
ECN Zero account from 0.0 pips + $8 commission
Islamic swap-free accounts available
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
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
Cons
Platform limited to MT4 and MT5, no cTrader or proprietary option
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
ECN commission slightly above IC Markets and Pepperstone
No top-tier regulatory licence
Limited charting capabilities
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
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