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Is Pepperstone safe?

Pepperstone was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Here's how it's regulated and what that means for your money.

Where Pepperstone is regulated

FCA
ASIC
DFSA
BaFin
SCB
CMA

Check which of these entities your account is opened with. Your protections depend on it.

How to verify it yourself

Find the broker's licence and check it on the regulator's register.
Note which entity your account will be opened with.

What protects your money

Segregated client funds. Regulated brokers must keep your money in bank accounts separate from the company's own money, so it can't be used to pay the broker's bills.
Negative balance protection. In the UK, the EU and Australia, retail clients can't lose more than their account balance on CFDs. Elsewhere, check whether your entity offers it.
Compensation schemes. Some countries cover clients if a regulated firm fails. In the UK, for example, the FSCS covers eligible clients up to £85,000 per person per firm. Many offshore entities have no scheme at all.
Complaint routes. A good regulator gives you an independent ombudsman or dispute service if the broker refuses to help.

None of these protect you from trading losses. They protect you if the broker itself does something wrong or goes out of business.

Countries where we list Pepperstone

FXSpreadMeter Ratings

Top Rated Forex Brokers 2026

Compare highly rated brokers across trading costs, platforms, regulation and overall conditions.

Broker

FXSpreadMeter rating

Best for

Why it ranks here

Open account

#1

FP Markets

9.3/ 10

Shares and FX in one place

FP Markets pairs raw-spread FX pricing with direct-market-access share dealing, so cost-sensitive traders and multi-asset investors can work from one account group. Five platform choices, regulation across ASIC, FSCA, SCA, FSA and CMA, and no minimum deposit make it our strongest all-round pick this quarter.

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#2

IC Markets

8.9/ 10

Raw-spread trading

IC Markets is built around cheap execution rather than hand-holding. If you already know how you want to trade and value platform choice, the Raw Spread tier is one of the more compelling cost structures available. Read the entity disclosure carefully: the leverage headline you see may come from the offshore arm rather than the ASIC-regulated one.

View Profile Register

#3

XM Group

8.7/ 10

New traders

XM is a sensible starting point rather than a cost leader. The tiny minimum deposit, deep education library and responsive support suit traders still finding their footing; once volume grows, the Standard account's spread-only pricing starts to look expensive next to raw-spread rivals.

View Profile Register

#4

eToro

8.5/ 10

Copy trading

eToro trades execution cost for accessibility. The social layer and multi-asset account are genuinely useful if you want to follow others or hold equities alongside FX, but active intraday traders will feel the spread and miss MetaTrader.

View Profile Register

#5

XTB

8.7/ 10

Traders who prefer a single proprietary platform

XTB is a listed international broker running its own xStation platform, with a research and education layer that suits traders who prefer one integrated interface.

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#6

Capital.com

8.5/ 10

Newer CFD traders who want guided tools

Capital.com combines a clean proprietary platform with MT4 access and an in-app learning layer aimed at newer CFD traders.

View Profile Register

Rank #1

FP Markets

Rating

9.3 / 10

Best for: Shares and FX in one place
Why it ranks here: FP Markets pairs raw-spread FX pricing with direct-market-access share dealing, so cost-sensitive traders and multi-asset investors can work from one account group. Five platform choices, regulation across ASIC, FSCA, SCA, FSA and CMA, and no minimum deposit make it our strongest all-round pick this quarter.

View Profile Register

Rank #2

IC Markets

Rating

8.9 / 10

Best for: Raw-spread trading
Why it ranks here: IC Markets is built around cheap execution rather than hand-holding. If you already know how you want to trade and value platform choice, the Raw Spread tier is one of the more compelling cost structures available. Read the entity disclosure carefully: the leverage headline you see may come from the offshore arm rather than the ASIC-regulated one.

View Profile Register

Rank #3

XM Group

Rating

8.7 / 10

Best for: New traders
Why it ranks here: XM is a sensible starting point rather than a cost leader. The tiny minimum deposit, deep education library and responsive support suit traders still finding their footing; once volume grows, the Standard account's spread-only pricing starts to look expensive next to raw-spread rivals.

View Profile Register

Rank #4

eToro

Rating

8.5 / 10

Best for: Copy trading
Why it ranks here: eToro trades execution cost for accessibility. The social layer and multi-asset account are genuinely useful if you want to follow others or hold equities alongside FX, but active intraday traders will feel the spread and miss MetaTrader.

View Profile Register

Rank #5

XTB

Rating

8.7 / 10

Best for: Traders who prefer a single proprietary platform
Why it ranks here: XTB is a listed international broker running its own xStation platform, with a research and education layer that suits traders who prefer one integrated interface.

View Profile Register

Rank #6

Capital.com

Rating

8.5 / 10

Best for: Newer CFD traders who want guided tools
Why it ranks here: Capital.com combines a clean proprietary platform with MT4 access and an in-app learning layer aimed at newer CFD traders.

View Profile Register

Affiliate disclosure: FXSpreadMeter may receive compensation from some broker partners when users register through links on our website. This does not guarantee a broker's suitability or performance. Trading involves significant risk.