Pepperstone and Vanguard square off on cost, platform breadth, and investment approach. The clash highlights broad exchange access versus long-term, fund-focused investing.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose Pepperstone if you value 24/5 live chat and a broad regulatory footprint.
Choose if…
Choose Vanguard if you want ISA/SIPP access and low-cost funds.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Pepperstone | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Fail |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
The scores are close: Pepperstone rates 3.9/5 and Vanguard rates 4.1/5. Vanguard 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. Current spread data is not available for Vanguard. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Pepperstone has no minimum deposit, while Vanguard requires at least $100. This makes Pepperstone more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Pepperstone and Vanguard 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.
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.
Pepperstone lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while Vanguard lists up to 1:1. 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 trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Vanguard are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
Pepperstone supports IRESS, TradingView, cTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, while Vanguard supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Pepperstone has exclusive access to IRESS and TradingView and cTrader and MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Vanguard has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Neither Pepperstone nor Vanguard 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.
Both Pepperstone and Vanguard are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
Pepperstone wins for safety & regulation with a broader multi-regulatory footprint.
Vanguard wins for long-term investing with ISA/SIPP access and low-cost funds.
Pepperstone wins for active traders with multiple platforms and broad stock CFDs.
Vanguard wins for beginners with ISA/SIPP and simple wealth-building approach.
Pepperstone wins for global market access with eight exchanges.
Vanguard wins for low-cost trading due to low platform fees and cheap fund expense ratios.
| 0.7 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrill | Bank transferDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | No |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC CySEC FCA DFSA BaFin FMA | FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | IRESS TradingView cTrader MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Pepperstone and Vanguard are closely matched overall, but Pepperstone offers access to eight exchanges versus Vanguard's one.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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