B

IC Markets

8/10
Pepperstone logo

Pepperstone

9/10
9/10RegulationWinner10/10
6/10FeesTied6/10
9/10WinnerPlatforms7/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
10/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

IC Markets was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Australia, while Pepperstone was established in 2010 and is based in Australia. IC Markets holds licences including Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), while Pepperstone is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. IC Markets serves 60,000+ clients worldwide; Pepperstone has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $200.

Pepperstone wins this category
FeatureIC MarketsPepperstone
Min. Deposit$200$200
RegulationAustralian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F217
Founded20072010
CountryAustraliaAustralia
Clients60,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between IC Markets and Pepperstone, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $200. Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Pepperstone applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; IC Markets does not. IC Markets charges deposit fees; Pepperstone does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
FeatureIC MarketsPepperstone
Min. Deposit$200$200
Withdrawal FeesNoNo
Inactivity FeesNoYes
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

IC Markets offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Pepperstone supports MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. IC Markets edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

IC Markets wins this category
FeatureIC MarketsPepperstone
MT4YesNo
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, MacMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how IC Markets and Pepperstone compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.

Tied
FeatureIC MarketsPepperstone
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. IC Markets accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Pepperstone supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
FeatureIC MarketsPepperstone
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalYesYes
SkrillYesYes
NetellerYesYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both IC Markets and Pepperstone offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 8 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureIC MarketsPepperstone
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Afrikans, Danish, Dutch, German and moreEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic