Pepperstone and XTB are leading global Forex brokers, but which one should you trust for your Forex portfolios?

I have conducted an in-depth review of Pepperstone vs. XTB to determine which broker is the better overall choice and which traders will benefit most from each.

Headquarters
AustraliaUnited Kingdom
Regulators
ASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, SCBN/A
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established
20102002
Execution Type(s)
No Dealing Desk, NDDMarket Maker
Minimum Deposit
$0$0
Trading Platform(s)
Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary platform, Trading View+Proprietary platform
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
1.1 pips0.1 pips ($1.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.4 pips0.2 pips ($2.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$2.50 $0.04
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.15$0.36
Retail Loss Rate
74-89%N/A
Minimum Raw Spreads
0.0 pipsN/A
Minimum Standard Spreads
1.0 pipsN/A
Minimum Commission for Forex
6.00 per round lot (cTrader) / $7.00 per round lot (MT4/MT5)N/A
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
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A snapshot of the most notable advantages of Pepperstone:

  • Low Pepperstone trading fees and a volume-based rebate program
  • Capitalise AI MT4 plugin for algorithmic trading in a code-free environment
  • VPS hosting for 24/5 low-latency Forex trading
  • Deep liquidity pools and NDD order execution
  • Average order execution speeds of 30 milliseconds
  • 28-plugin Smart Trader Tools package and Autochartist upgrades for MT4
  • TradingView for social traders to engage with 50M+ peers

A snapshot of the most notable advantages of XTB:

  • A quality proprietary trading platform, also available as a mobile app
  • Trading tools including sentiment analysis, market commentary and simplified trade and risk management
  • Islamic account and demo account options
  • AutoInvest and Investment Plans

Features and Platforms

MT4
MT5
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin
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Available Markets

Currency Pairs
N/A
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks (non-CFDs)
N/A
ETFs
Futures
Synthetics
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Pepperstone and XTB offer well-balanced asset selections, including ETFs, where XTB has more choices. The former features 1,350+ assets, including currency indices and cryptocurrencies, versus 7,400 at the latter.

Why Pepperstone is a better choice for most traders:

  • Deeper liquidity and faster order execution
  • Lower fees with a volume-based rebate program

Typical Spreads and Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
1.1 pips0.1 pips ($1.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.4 pips0.2 pips ($2.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$2.50 $0.04
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.15$0.36
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin
25$100.00
Minimum Raw Spreads
0.0 pipsN/A
Minimum Standard Spreads
1.0 pipsN/A
Minimum Commission for Forex
6.00 per round lot (cTrader) / $7.00 per round lot (MT4/MT5)N/A
Deposit Fee
N/A
Withdrawal Fee
N/A
Inactivity Fee
$0N/A
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Pepperstone offers commission-free and commission-based accounts versus commission-free at XTB, but which is cheaper?

XTB lists lower minimum spreads, but Pepperstone maintains lower average spreads. The commission-free and commission-based Pepperstone fees are identical. Both brokers offer volume-based rebates. Pepperstone has an overall edge in spreads and fees with lower final costs.

Account Types

Account Types
Pepperstone
XTB
Commission-free Accounts
Yes
Yes
Commission-based Accounts
Yes
No
Demo Accounts
Yes
Yes
Islamic Accounts
Yes
Yes
Social / Copy Trading
Yes
No
Managed Accounts
Yes
No

XTB commission-free accounts are available as Standard and Pro, while Pepperstone account types include commission-free and commission-based accounts. Neither broker has a minimum deposit, and both offer unlimited demo accounts, swap-free Islamic accounts, volume-based rebates, and multiple payment processors.

Are there any other noteworthy differences in the account structure between Pepperstone vs. XTB?

Here is what stands out the most:

  • XTB does not support algorithmic trading
  • Pepperstone features cutting-edge trading tools

Minimum Deposit

Deposit Snapshot
Pepperstone
XTB
Minimum Deposit
$0
$0
Deposit Fees
Third-party
Third-Party
E-wallets
Yes
Yes
Cryptocurrencies
No
No
Localized Methods
Yes
No
Total Deposit Methods
9
5
Supported Deposit Currencies
10
All fiat currencies

How Difficult Is It to Deposit at Pepperstone vs. XTB?

While neither broker has a minimum deposit requirement, the Pepperstone deposit process is more trader-friendly due to more low-cost payment processors, including localized options, with instant to near-instant processing times. Neither broker levies internal deposit fees, but third-party costs may apply. XTB notes a 0.5% currency conversion fee and deposit fees for non-EU/UK residents.

Minimum Withdrawal

Withdrawal Snapshot
Pepperstone
XTB
Minimum Withdrawal
$0 (payment processor dependent)
$30
Internal Withdrawal Fees
$0 (third-party processing fees may apply)
$0 if above $50 (third-party fees may apply)
Internal Processing Times
Same-day to 24 hours
Within one business day

Which Has a Better Withdrawal Process, Pepperstone or XTB?

The Pepperstone withdrawal process is better, as it offers more payment processors, including e-wallets. Pepperstone processes withdrawals the same day if requests arrive before 12:00 AEST/AEDT. XTB only processes bank wires, which it processes on the same day if traders submit their requests before 13:00 GMT. Neither broker allows cryptocurrency withdrawals.

Security and Trust

Country of the Regulator
United Arab Emirates, Australia, The Bahamas, Cyprus, Germany, Kenya, United KingdomBelize, Cyprus, Poland, United Kingdom
Name of the Regulator
ASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, SCBN/A
Regulatory License Number
414530, 91279, 128, 388/20, F004356, 684312, F217000302/438, 522157, 169/12, 0000217580
Regulatory Tier
N/A4, 1, 1, 1
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Which Broker Is More Secure and Trustworthy?

XTB has a longer track record and is a publicly listed company in Poland. Both segregate client deposits from corporate funds, offer negative balance protection, and maintain a secure, trustworthy trading environment with a clean track record. Therefore, I rank them on par in security and trust.

Pepperstone versus XTB Verdict H2

Pepperstone

Pros
Cons
Excellent choice of trading platforms consisting of MT4/MT5 and cTrader
The competitiveness of trading conditions depends on the operating subsidiary
Market-leading MT4/MT5 upgrade package, Autochartist, and API trading
Social trading via Pepperstone Copy Trading in partnership with Pelican Trading
Leverage of up to 1:500 and superb trade execution

XTB

Pros
Cons
Outstanding trading costs, ranking among the best Forex spreads industry-wide
Absence of MT4 and no algorithmic trading
Well-balanced asset selection with high leverage
Fast NDD order execution and deep liquidity
Quality training academy for beginner traders

Which Forex Broker Is Better?

Pepperstone and XTB are industry-leading brokers, and I recommend traders test the trading environments in their respective demo accounts.

Here is my verdict:

XTB is a high-quality broker for manual traders and long-term investors, where its AutoInvest and Investment Plans shine. Pepperstone is the overall superior choice for active, demanding traders.

FAQs

Are these brokers good for beginners?

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Pepperstone and XTB are good for beginners, as they feature educational content, no minimum deposit requirement, and support micro-lot trading.

How long does the withdrawal at Pepperstone & XTB take?

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Both brokers offer same-day withdrawal processing for verified clients if traders make their requests before the daily cut-off time. Otherwise, Pepperstone and XTB will process withdrawals on the next business day.

Is Pepperstone or XTB safe for CFD trading?

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Pepperstone and XTB are equally safe for CFD trading and have stood the test of time with 15+ and 22+ years of operational excellence.

Is XTB a reliable broker?

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XTB, founded in 2002, is a reliable broker and a publicly listed company in Poland.