AvaTrade vs Pepperstone: Comparison and Analysis

AvaTrade vs Pepperstone: A Comparison Summary

When choosing between AvaTrade and Pepperstone as brokers, it’s important to consider several factors such as security, demo accounts, account opening, social-copy trading, markets, trading fees, platforms, education, and customer care. Here’s a comparison summary to help you decide which broker is best for you.

Security

Both brokers are highly regulated by reputable authorities, including ASIC, FCA, CySEC, and others. They have high security ratings of 94.

Demo Accounts

AvaTrade offers a demo account with $10,000 virtual funds for 21 days, which can be restored by contacting customer support. In contrast, Pepperstone offers a demo account with $50,000 virtual funds for 30 days for MT4 and MT5 accounts and unlimited for cTrader accounts, which can also be restored by contacting customer support.

Account Opening

AvaTrade has a minimum deposit of $100, while Pepperstone does not have a minimum deposit in place but suggests a minimum deposit of $200. AvaTrade offers various account types, including a Standard account, Spread Betting account, Islamic account, and Professional account. Pepperstone offers a Standard account, Razor account, Spread Betting account, MAM/PAMM account, and Professional account.

Social-Copy Trading

Both AvaTrade and Pepperstone offer social-copy trading through third-party platforms such as ZuluTrade and DupliTrade. AvaTrade also has its own proprietary platform, AvaSocial. On the other hand, Pepperstone allows traders to engage in copy trading through their account on third-party platforms like Duplitrade and Myfxbook.

Markets

AvaTrade offers 53 forex pairs, 19 commodities, 31 indices, 20 crypto assets, 610+ stocks, 60+ ETFs, and 54+ futures and options. Pepperstone offers 70 forex pairs, 15 commodities, 14 indices, 70 crypto assets, and 60+ stocks. Pepperstone does not offer ETFs or futures and options, so it is more suitable for short-term investing.

Trading Fees

AvaTrade’s spread type is fixed, with spreads starting from 0.9 pips on forex. Pepperstone’s spreads are variable, starting from 0 pip on forex, which is lower than the market average. Pepperstone also charges commissions per lot traded, up to $7 per lot. AvaTrade’s trading fees are higher than Pepperstone’s, making Pepperstone a better option for scalping.

Platforms

AvaTrade offers its proprietary platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and AvaOptions, all available via web, desktop, and mobile. They also have AvaSocial designed for social-copy trading. Pepperstone offers MT4, MT5, and cTrader, which are also available via web, desktop, and mobile. All the platforms offered by Pepperstone allow traders to engage in algo trading. Pepperstone also offers VPS services.

Education/Customer Care

Both brokers offer educational materials, but AvaTrade has a more robust offering, including in-depth webinars for professional traders. Pepperstone’s educational material is more geared towards beginner traders. Both brokers have easy-to-reach customer care through phone, email, and live chat, with over 25 languages available for AvaTrade and over 12 languages for Pepperstone. Pepperstone won the “Best Customer Service in Europe” award in 2019.

Conclusion

AvaTrade and Pepperstone are both excellent brokers with high security ratings and reputable regulations. Choosing the best broker for you will depend on your trading style, the markets you want to trade, and your trading fees. AvaTrade is better suited for long-term investing, while Pepperstone is more suitable for short-term investing and scalping. Pepperstone offers lower trading fees, making it a better option for scalpers. On the other hand, AvaTrade has a wider range of markets and account types, making it more suitable for long-term investors.