Pepperstone vs CMC Markets
Pepperstone or CMC Markets – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare Pepperstone and CMC Markets in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
| Pepperstone | CMC Markets |
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| Pepperstone is ranked #1 among CFD brokers. | CMC Markets is ranked #16 among CFD brokers. |
| Founded in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a highly esteemed forex and CFD broker with more than 830,000 clients globally. It provides access to 1,400+ instruments via platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, with competitive and clear fees. Regulated by reputable bodies such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, it guarantees a safe trading environment for all traders. | Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a reputable broker publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. It holds authorisation from top-tier regulators such as the FCA, ASIC, and CIRO. The brokerage, which has received multiple awards, boasts a global membership exceeding one million traders. |
| CFDs and FX are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. | Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. |
| Pros | |
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| Awards | |
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| FCA Regulated | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Instruments | |
| CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto CFDs (only Pro clients), Spread Betting | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting, Certificates and Warrants (Germany and Austria) |
| Demo Account | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Deposit | |
| $0 | $0 |
| Payment Methods | |
| Minimum Trade | |
| 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots |
| Regulator | |
| FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, SCA, SCB, CMA-Kenya | FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA, |
| Mobile Apps | |
| iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Trading App | |
| Pepperstone shines with top-tier integration with MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, ideal for traders using these major platforms. They offer stable mobile trading, boosted by Pepperstone's rapid execution speeds and extensive asset variety. It recently achieved second place in DayTrading.com's 2025 'Best Trading App' award. | CMC Markets' award-winning app has revolutionised mobile trading. Its modern, customisable interface provides a unique user experience that sets it apart. Enhanced with 25 technical indicators, 15 drawing tools, and a swift, stable trading platform, it is an outstanding option for traders. |
| iOS App Rating | |
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| Android App Rating | |
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| Margin Trading | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Margin Rate | |
| 3.0% | |
| MetaTrader 4 | |
| Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 | |
| Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | |
| Yes | No |
| AlgoTrader | |
| No | No |
| OmniTrader | |
| No | No |
| TradingView | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | |
| No | No |
| eSignal | |
| No | No |
| Trading Central | |
| No | No |
| STP Account | |
| Yes | No |
| ECN Account | |
| Yes | No |
| DMA Account | |
| Yes | No |
| MAM Account | |
| Yes | No |
| PAMM Account | |
| Yes | No |
| LAMM Account | |
| No | No |
| Demat Account | |
| No | No |
| AI / Machine Learning | |
| No | No |
| Robo Advisor | |
| No | No |
| Negative Balance Protection | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Market Maker | |
| No | Yes |
| P2P Trading | |
| No | No |
| Spot Trading | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Auto Trading | |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader |
| Copy Trading | |
| Yes | No |
| Copy Trading Platform | |
| Pepperstone offers the replication of skilled traders' strategies via MetaTrader Signals, DupliTrade, and its new proprietary copy trading app, in collaboration with Pelican Trading. This service, available in select regions, grants access to numerous experienced traders and customized risk settings. However, it does not support cTrader Copy, which might discourage traders who prefer Spotware's platform. | |
| Social Trading | |
| No | Yes |
| Trade Signals | |
| Yes (Via Chartist Software) | Yes |
| VPS Hosting | |
| No | Yes |
| Tournaments | |
| No | No |
| Demo Competitions | |
| No | Yes |
| Ethical Investing | |
| No | No |
| Custodial Account | |
| No | No |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | |
| No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fee | |
| $0 | $15 |
| Islamic Account | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Account Currencies | |
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| Commodities | |
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| CFD | |
| In our recent assessment, Pepperstone remains a top-tier CFD broker, renowned for its speed and reliability. With execution times averaging 30ms and a remarkable 99.90% fill rate, traders benefit from a smooth experience free from requotes and dealing desk disruptions. Additionally, it offers extensive opportunities with access to more than 1,300 assets. | CMC enables trading of CFDs on over 12,000 assets, including currencies, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and treasuries. In 2025, new equities will feature sectors like quantum computing, AI learning, and digital car sales. Enjoy competitive spreads without hidden fees, and leverage the renowned MetaTrader 4 platform. Consistently, CMC stands out as a leading CFD broker. |
| Leverage | |
| 1:30 (Retail - UK, EU, Australia), 1:500 (Pro), 1:200 (Offshore), 1:400 (Kenya) | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) |
| FTSE Spread | |
| 1.0 | 1 pt |
| GBPUSD Spread< | |
| 0.4 | 0.9 |
| Oil Spread | |
| 2.5 | 3.5 |
| Stocks Spread | |
| 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Forex | |
| Pepperstone provides forex spreads on the EUR/USD averaging just 0.12 pips with their Razor account. This is highly competitive. Their extensive portfolio includes over 100 currency pairs, which exceeds what most rivals offer. Furthermore, Pepperstone stands out by offering three unique currency indices: USDX, EURX, and JPYX, which are rare on other platforms. They have been recognised with our 'Best Forex Broker' award twice. | CMC offers a broad selection of over 300 forex pairs, featuring tight spreads and quick execution. This exceeds many competitors in currency variety. Their forex indices provide a distinctive and comprehensive method to speculate on major currencies such as USD, EUR, and GBP. |
| Assets | |
| 100+ | 300+ |
| GBPUSD Spread | |
| 0.4 | 0.9 |
| EURUSD Spread | |
| 0.1 | 0.7 |
| EURGBP Spread | |
| 0.4 | 1.1 |
| Currency Indices | |
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| Cryptocurrency | |
| Pepperstone remains a leading name among trusted crypto CFD brokers. While its range of digital tokens is modest, it offers trading on major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and altcoins such as Ripple with leverage up to 1:10. Its crypto indices offer a comprehensive market perspective, often absent from other trading platforms. Additionally, Pepperstone has introduced a specific crypto exchange in Australia, named Pepperstone Crypto. | CMC Markets provides trading opportunities with popular digital currencies such as Bitcoin. However, it excels in offering crypto indices, granting broader market exposure. With minimal slippage and an impressive 99.9% fill rate, CMC is an excellent choice for active traders in the cryptocurrency sector. |
| Spread | |
| BTC 30, ETH 0 | From 1.3 |
| Coins | |
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| Crypto Lending | |
| No | No |
| Crypto Mining | |
| No | No |
| Crypto Staking | |
| No | No |
| Auto Market Maker | |
| No | No |
| Pepperstone | CMC Markets |
| CFDs and FX are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. | Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. |
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