AvaTrade vs Pepperstone

Quick Answer

Best for	Winner	Why
Starting small	Pepperstone	No minimum against $100
Raw-spread account	Pepperstone	AvaTrade has no raw-spread account
No inactivity fee	Pepperstone	AvaTrade: $50 after every 3 months of non-use, plus $100 after 12 months
cTrader	Pepperstone	AvaTrade doesn’t offer it

A “winner” here means the better published figure on that one line. It is not a recommendation: the right broker depends on where you live and how you trade.

Comparison Table

	AvaTrade	Pepperstone
Operating since	2006	2010 (founded in Melbourne)
Company for international clients	Ava Trade Markets Ltd, regulated by the BVI FSC	Pepperstone Markets Limited, licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217)
Regulators in the group	Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, Japan FSA, ADGM FSRA, BVI FSC, CMA Kenya, ISA	FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, CMA Kenya, SCB Bahamas
Minimum deposit	$100	No minimum (top-ups from $10)
Commission-free spreads	EUR/USD 0.8 pips on its instrument table (30 September 2026)	Standard from 1.0 pips
Raw-spread account	None	Razor from 0.0 pips plus $3.50 per side
Maximum leverage	400:1 on forex (international); 30:1 for EU and Australian retail clients	1:200 for retail clients of the Bahamas company (Pro clients up to 1:1000 on forex and gold); 1:30 on major pairs for UK and EU retail clients
Platforms	MT4, MT5, WebTrader, AvaTrade app, AvaOptions	MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Pepperstone platform
Copy trading	AvaSocial, DupliTrade and ZuluTrade	CopyTrading by Pepperstone on MT4 and MT5, and cTrader Copy (no Pepperstone fee; providers may charge a performance fee)
Inactivity fee	$50 after every 3 months of non-use, plus $100 after 12 months	None
Withdrawal fee	None listed	None, except $20 on international bank wires
Swap-free	Islamic account (no overnight fee for up to 5 days)	No swap-free account described on its global site
Bonus	First-deposit bonus on promotion days (not in many countries)	None (refer a friend: up to $1,000 each)

Figures come from each broker’s official site, checked on 11 October 2026 (Pepperstone on 19 October 2026). Spreads move through the day, and conditions vary by country and by the company that holds your account.

Regulation and Safety

AvaTrade has operated since 2006 and its companies are licensed by nine regulators, including the Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, CySEC and Japan’s FSA. Traders in the EU and Australia get locally regulated accounts; most other international clients are served by its British Virgin Islands company.

Pepperstone was founded in Melbourne in 2010. Its group holds licences from the FCA in the UK (684312), ASIC in Australia (AFSL 414530), CySEC in Cyprus (388/20), BaFin in Germany (151148), the DFSA in Dubai (F004356) and Kenya’s CMA (128). Most international clients join Pepperstone Markets Limited, licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217), which keeps retail client money in segregated accounts with tier-1 banks and gives retail clients negative balance protection. India’s RBI lists Pepperstone on its alert list.

Both groups hold top-tier licences, but those protect only the clients of the licensed companies. What matters is which company your country places you with, so check your client agreement before you deposit.

Trading Costs

On commission-free accounts, AvaTrade lists: EUR/USD 0.8 pips on its instrument table (30 September 2026). Pepperstone lists: Standard from 1.0 pips. “From” figures are minimums, so expect wider live spreads, especially around news.

Only Pepperstone offers a raw-spread account: Razor from 0.0 pips plus $3.50 per side. AvaTrade is spread-only, which is simpler but usually costs more per trade for frequent traders.

AvaTrade’s inactivity fee: $50 after every 3 months of non-use, plus $100 after 12 months. Pepperstone lists no inactivity fee. Withdrawal fees: AvaTrade: none listed; Pepperstone: none, except $20 on international bank wires.

Platforms and Copy Trading

AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, WebTrader, AvaTrade app and AvaOptions. Pepperstone offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and Pepperstone platform.

AvaTrade’s copy trading: AvaSocial, DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. Pepperstone’s copy trading: CopyTrading by Pepperstone on MT4 and MT5, and cTrader Copy (no Pepperstone fee; providers may charge a performance fee). Copying another trader doesn’t remove risk: you can lose money as fast as trading yourself.

Leverage

AvaTrade’s maximum leverage: 400:1 on forex (international); 30:1 for EU and Australian retail clients. Pepperstone’s: 1:200 for retail clients of the Bahamas company (Pro clients up to 1:1000 on forex and gold); 1:30 on major pairs for UK and EU retail clients.

A higher maximum is not an advantage in itself. Leverage multiplies losses as fast as gains, so beginners should use far less than either broker allows.

Which One Should You Choose?

Go with AvaTrade if:

• You want a broker licensed by several top-tier regulators
• You want options, AvaProtect loss cover or copy trading
• You will trade often enough to avoid its inactivity fees

Go with Pepperstone if:

• You want FCA, ASIC or CySEC regulation in the group
• You want raw spreads with cTrader or TradingView
• You don’t want a minimum deposit or an inactivity fee

Whichever you choose, test a small withdrawal early, verify your account before you need your money, and risk only what you can afford to lose.

FAQ

Which has the lower minimum deposit, AvaTrade or Pepperstone? Pepperstone. AvaTrade: $100. Pepperstone: no minimum (top-ups from $10).

How are AvaTrade and Pepperstone regulated? AvaTrade’s international clients deal with Ava Trade Markets Ltd, regulated by the BVI FSC. Pepperstone’s deal with Pepperstone Markets Limited, licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217). Group regulators: AvaTrade: Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, Japan FSA, ADGM FSRA, BVI FSC, CMA Kenya, ISA; Pepperstone: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, CMA Kenya, SCB Bahamas.

Which is cheaper to trade with? It depends on the account. Commission-free: AvaTrade: EUR/USD 0.8 pips on its instrument table (30 September 2026); Pepperstone: Standard from 1.0 pips. Raw accounts: AvaTrade: none; Pepperstone: Razor from 0.0 pips plus $3.50 per side.

Does either charge an inactivity fee? AvaTrade: $50 after every 3 months of non-use, plus $100 after 12 months. Pepperstone: none.

Do both offer copy trading? AvaTrade: AvaSocial, DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. Pepperstone: CopyTrading by Pepperstone on MT4 and MT5, and cTrader Copy (no Pepperstone fee; providers may charge a performance fee).

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