IFC Markets vs Pepperstone Comparison: Which Is Better for Traders?
We test brokers on real accounts using our own methodology, evaluating the quality of order execution, trading conditions, platforms and customer support.
Who is better - IFC Markets or Pepperstone?
Our pick: Pepperstone
Based on multiple factors - spreads and fees, available assets and instruments, execution quality, platform usability, support level, and educational resources - Pepperstone looks preferable to IFC Markets.
Pepperstone scored 4.6/5 and ranks 6 in our all Forex brokers list, whereas IFC Markets has 4.3/5 and ranks 25.
This is not financial advice. See the full comparison below.
Who is IFC Markets suitable for?
IFC Markets is suitable for traders looking for various trading instruments and platforms but may not be ideal for those who require an ECN account.
Who is Pepperstone suitable for?
Pepperstone suits traders seeking a wide choice of platforms, tight spreads, and numerous trading instruments.
Comparison Table of IFC Markets and Pepperstone
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2005 | 2010 |
| Regulated in Countries | British Virgin Islands, Malaysia | Australia, Bahamas, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Kenya, United Kingdom |
| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0.4 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:500 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Review | IFC Markets Review | Pepperstone Review |
IFC Markets Review

IFC Markets is a reliable and licensed broker, offering a broad spectrum of trading instruments and platforms for investors of various experience levels. With multilingual support and extensive educational resources, the company aims to provide its clients with a comfortable and efficient trading environment.
IFC Markets could be a suitable choice for investors seeking a variety of trading instruments and platforms.
Pros and Cons of IFC Markets
Pros
- A wide range of trading assets.
- Variety of trading platforms.
- Educational materials for traders of all experience levels.
- Tools for creating synthetic tools are available.
Cons
- High swaps.
IFC Markets is in the top 10 of the following ratings:
Pepperstone Review

Pepperstone is a significant and reliable broker that offers a broad range of trading instruments and attractive trading conditions. With regulation by serious authorities, clients can be confident in the security of their funds.
The broker is suitable for various types of traders. Beginners will find extensive educational materials, including trading guides, webinars, instructional videos, and Forex trading courses. Experienced traders will also appreciate Pepperstone's opportunities, including favorable trading conditions, various trading platforms, and access to complex trading instruments.
The broker's technical support operates at a high level, offering clients quick and efficient responses to any questions.
Pepperstone is an excellent choice for traders of all experience levels. With a unique combination of educational materials, trading tools, and high-quality customer service, this broker ensures excellent conditions for successful trading.
Pros and Cons of Pepperstone
Pros
- Wide selection of trading platforms.
- Tight spreads and favourable trading conditions.
- Numerous regulatory licenses.
- A large number of trading assets.
Cons
- Lack of diversity in types of trading accounts.
Pepperstone is in the top 10 of the following ratings:
Reliability
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 4.2/5 | 5/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2005 | 2010 |
| Regulated in Countries | British Virgin Islands, Malaysia | Australia, Bahamas, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Kenya, United Kingdom |
| Regulators | BVIFSC BVIFSC LFSA LFSA | ASIC ASIC SCB SCB CySEC CySEC DFSA DFSA BaFin BaFin CMA CMA FCA FCA |
IFC Markets
The broker demonstrates high reliability, confirmed by multi-jurisdictional regulation and professional indemnity insurance.
Pros
- Multi-jurisdictional regulation.
- Insurance against professional liability.
Cons
- Lack of regulation in countries with stricter requirements.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone is regulated in seven different jurisdictions, indicating a high level of reliability and regulation.
Account Opening
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Minimum Deposit |
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IFC Markets
Opening an account with IFC Markets is relatively simple and convenient.
Pepperstone
The account opening process is straightforward, convenient, and fast.
Account Types
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Account Types | 4.3/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Trading Accounts |
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| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0.4 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:500 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Demo Account | ||
| Swap-free Account |
IFC Markets
IFC Markets offers a good selection of accounts that meet the requirements of various categories of traders, though there are some limitations.
Pros
- A wide selection of trading accounts.
- Swap-free accounts for Islamic traders.
- PAMM accounts available.
Cons
- Absence of STP and ECN accounts.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone's account types meet the needs of most traders, though they lack variability.
Pros
- The ability to copy trades.
- Support for VPS hosting.
Cons
- Lack of cent accounts.
- No fixed spread accounts.
Commissions
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Spread | from 0.4 points | from 0 points |
| Average Spread (EURUSD) | 1.4 | 1.15 |
| Commission per Lot | $3.5 |
IFC Markets
IFC Markets offers competitive spreads, but high swaps can make long-term trading difficult.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone does not charge an inactivity fee or withdrawal fees, which is an essential advantage for traders. As for trading commissions, the broker offers competitive conditions.
Deposit and Withdrawal
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Account Funding Methods |
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IFC Markets
IFC Markets provides numerous methods for depositing and withdrawing funds without additional commissions, ensuring convenience and savings for traders.
Pros
- Wide choice of deposit and withdrawal methods.
- No broker commissions on financial transactions.
Cons
- Withdrawals can only be made through the same method as deposits.
- Withdrawal requests may take up to 2 business days to process.
Pepperstone
Account funding and withdrawal processes at Pepperstone are pretty convenient and fast.
Pros
- Multiple available deposit methods.
- No deposit fee.
- Swift transaction processing.
Cons
- Bank fees for withdrawals.
Markets and Products
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Markets and Products | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Forex | 53 | 97 |
| Precious Metals | 7 | 20 |
| Energy Carriers | 4 | 4 |
| Soft Commodities | 16 | 16 |
| Indices | 12 | 26 |
| Stocks | 461 | 986 |
| ETF | 4 | 108 |
| Cryptocurrency | 14 | 30 |
IFC Markets
IFC Markets offers extensive financial instruments, providing flexibility for traders' diverse strategies.
Pepperstone
The broker utilizes services from several tier-one liquidity providers to offer clients competitive quotes with low spreads and high liquidity across various instruments.
Trading Platforms
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Trading Platforms |
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IFC Markets
The IFCM platforms include MT4, MT5, and the proprietary NetTradeX terminal, offering a broad selection with advanced features.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone offers a wide selection of high-quality and functional trading platforms, making it attractive to many investors.
Analytics
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 5/5 |
IFC Markets
IFCM provides a comprehensive analytical toolkit but lacks automated updates for economic news and some tools for self-analysis.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone has a well-developed analytical department, which includes daily market reviews, an economic calendar, the powerful automatic market analysis tool Autochartist, and convenient calculators for traders.
Education
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
IFC Markets
The wealth and quality of educational resources presented by IFCM set the broker apart from competitors.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone greatly emphasizes the educational component, offering a broad spectrum of instructional materials and resources.
Customer Support
| Broker | IFC Markets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 5/5 |
| Email Support |
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| Hotline Phones |
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| Social Media |
IFC Markets
Customers highly rate the technical support of IFC Markets for its rapid and professional service, though it is unavailable 24/7.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone's support service provides clients with various communication channels, prompt responses, professionalism, and efficiency in problem-solving.
Comparisons of IFC Markets and Pepperstone with other brokers
Conclusion
Pepperstone stands out as the better overall pick, while IFC Markets trails on aggregate criteria.
Pepperstone scored 4.6/5 and ranks 6 in our rating; IFC Markets has 4.3/5 and ranks 25.
We explain the reasons above in detail — fees, platforms, reliability, support, and more.
FAQ
Which broker is better: IFC Markets or Pepperstone?
Pepperstone comes out ahead by overall rank (score 4.6/5, position 6) versus IFC Markets (score 4.3/5, position 25).
Which broker is better for beginners: IFC Markets or Pepperstone?
Pepperstone is often a smoother start thanks to simpler onboarding and stronger baseline metrics. Still, your tools and budget should drive the final choice.
Who has lower typical trading costs (spreads/commissions) — IFC Markets or Pepperstone?
It depends on the instrument and account type. Compare the live conditions in the “Commissions” section on this page — we break down the nuances category by category.
What trading platforms are available with IFC Markets and Pepperstone?
IFC Markets: NetTradeX, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Pepperstone: MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, cTrader, TradingView. See the “Platforms” section for details and selection tips.
What markets can you trade with IFC Markets and Pepperstone?
IFC Markets: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Cryptocurrency. Pepperstone: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Cryptocurrency. Full lists and differences are in the “Markets” section.
What account types are offered by IFC Markets and Pepperstone?
IFC Markets: NetTradeX Standard Fixed, NetTradeX Standard Floating, NetTradeX Beginner Fixed, NetTradeX Beginner Floating, MT4 Standard Fixed, MT4 Micro Fixed, MT5 Standard Floating, MT5 Micro Floating. Pepperstone: Standard, Razor. See “Account Types” for a side-by-side comparison.
What deposit and withdrawal methods are supported by IFC Markets and Pepperstone?
IFC Markets: Volet, WebMoney, Perfect Money, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard. Pepperstone: Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, Swift, Visa, Mastercard. Check method-specific fees/settlement times.
Which broker is safer — IFC Markets or Pepperstone — and how was this assessed?
We consider regulation, corporate transparency, fund protection, and incident history. See the “Reliability” section for our findings.


