AMarkets and Pepperstone clash over offshore risk, leverage, and stock CFD access. This matchup probes which broker better balances safety with global market reach.
Pepperstone outperforms AMarkets on editorial score due to broader regulatory oversight and wider market access. It also offers a compensation scheme and negative balance protection that AMarkets lacks.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose AMarkets if…
Choose AMarkets if you value ECN pricing and a broad equity CFDs range with MT4/MT5 copy trading.
Choose Pepperstone if…
Choose Pepperstone if you want broad regulator coverage and access to 1,000+ stock CFDs across MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Pepperstone wins with top-tier regulators and investor protections.
| Editorial score | 3.2/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $100 | No minimum▼ lower |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot▼ lower | $7/lot |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AMarkets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
Pepperstone rates 3.9/5 versus 3.2/5 for AMarkets. Pepperstone edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Both AMarkets and Pepperstone start from the same spread of 0. For stock trading, also compare per-trade or per-share commissions to determine the total cost per transaction.
Pepperstone has no minimum deposit, while AMarkets 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. AMarkets 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.
Pepperstone stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
AMarkets lists maximum leverage of 3000:1, while Pepperstone lists up to 20:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
AMarkets charges $6 per trade, lower than Pepperstone's $7 per trade. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
AMarkets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Pepperstone supports cTrader, IRESS, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Pepperstone has exclusive access to IRESS and TradingView.
Neither AMarkets nor Pepperstone is listed as offering commission-free trading in our data. Compare each broker's commission schedule directly, as fees vary by account type and the markets you trade.
Pepperstone scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
Pepperstone wins with multiple platforms and DMA access via IRESS.
Pepperstone wins with 8 exchanges versus AMarkets 4.
AMarkets wins for low cost trading due to ECN pricing and competitive spreads.
Pepperstone wins for long-term investors with stronger regulation and protections.
| 0.6 pips▼ lower |
| 0.7 pips |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | SVGFSA | FCA ASIC DFSA FMA BaFin CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | cTrader IRESS MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.2 / 5
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