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Pepperstone vs XM Group 2026

A detailed head-to-head comparison of Pepperstone and XM Group across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and more.

Pepperstone logo - BrokerAudit
Pepperstone

Est. 2010 · Melbourne, Australia

FCAASICDFSA
88.6/100
Excellent
XM Group logo - BrokerAudit
XM Group

Est. 2009 · Limassol, Cyprus

CySECASICDFSA
80.2/100
Excellent

Score Breakdown

RegulationCostsPlatformsAccountsDepositSupportEducation
PepperstoneXM Group

Category-by-Category Winner

Category
Pepperstone
XM Group
Regulation & Trust
90
78
Trading Costs
94
72
Platforms & Tools
95
72
Account Conditions
88
90
Deposit & Withdrawal
88
88
Customer Support
80
85
Education & Research
75
92
Overall Score
88.6
80.2

Detailed Comparison

Overview

Year Founded
2010
2009
Headquarters
Melbourne, Australia
Limassol, Cyprus
Publicly Listed
Top Regulators
FCA, ASIC, DFSA
CySEC, ASIC, DFSA
Total Instruments
1,200
1,400

Trading Costs

EUR/USD Spread
0.10 pips
0.80 pips
GBP/USD Spread
0.40 pips
1.30 pips
USD/JPY Spread
0.30 pips
1.00 pips
Min. Deposit
$0
$5
Commission/Lot
$7.00
$7.00
Inactivity Fee
None
$15/month after 90 days

Platforms & Features

MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
cTrader
TradingView
Copy Trading
API Trading
VPS Hosting
Demo Account
Islamic Account

Instruments

Forex Pairs
62
57
CFD Stocks
1,000
1,300
Indices
21
29
Commodities
34
15
Crypto CFDs
30
31

Pepperstone vs XM Group: Our Analysis

Overall Verdict

With an overall score of 88.6/100 vs 80.2/100, Pepperstone edges out XM Group by 8.4 points. This moderate gap suggests Pepperstone has an edge in several key areas.

Trading Costs

On the EUR/USD pair, Pepperstone offers an average spread of 0.10 pips with a $7.00 round-turn commission, while XM Group comes in at 0.80 pips with a $7.00 commission. Pepperstone offers tighter pricing on EUR/USD. Minimum deposit is $0 at Pepperstone and $5 at XM Group.

Regulation & Safety

Pepperstone holds 6 regulatory licenses with a highest tier of Tier 1 (FCA, ASIC, DFSA), while XM Group has 5 licenses at Tier 1 (CySEC, ASIC, DFSA). Pepperstone has more regulatory licenses overall.

Platform Comparison

Pepperstone offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView — uniquely offering cTrader, TradingView which XM Group does not have. XM Group supports MT4, MT5, XM App, with exclusive access to XM App. Pepperstone provides a wider platform selection.

Who Should Choose Which?

Pepperstone suits cost-conscious traders, traders who want advanced tools, traders who prioritize safety, while XM Group is better for beginners seeking education. Both brokers offer demo accounts, so you can test each before committing real funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our testing, Pepperstone scores higher overall at 88.6/100 compared to XM Group's 80.2/100. However, "better" depends on your priorities — XM Group may be superior in specific categories like certain niche features.

Pepperstone offers tighter spreads with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.10 pips, compared to 0.80 pips at XM Group. Check our detailed comparison table above for GBP/USD and USD/JPY spreads as well.

Pepperstone scores higher for regulation and trust at 90/100, holding licenses from FCA, ASIC, DFSA. XM Group scores 78/100 with CySEC, ASIC, DFSA.

For beginners, XM Group is the stronger choice with an education and research score of 92/100. It offers structured trading courses, webinars, and a free demo account. Pepperstone scores 75/100 for education.

Yes, there is no restriction on having accounts with both Pepperstone and XM Group simultaneously. Many experienced traders maintain accounts with multiple brokers to take advantage of each broker's strengths — for example, using one for its lower spreads on majors and another for its wider instrument range or better platform features.

NC

Reviewed by

Neil C

Neil C is a financial markets analyst and forex trading specialist with over 10 years of experience evaluating broker platforms, trading conditions, and regulatory frameworks. He has personally tested accounts with dozens of brokers and brings a data-driven methodology to every review.

Last updated: April 2026

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