Pepperstone vs Blueberry Markets

Spreads

The most important metric to consider when choosing a forex broker is the transaction cost that comes in the form of the spread. Pepperstone promises competitive low spreads, starting from 0.0 pips across its currency pairs and from 0.4 points across its CFDs.

Commission Spread Comparison	EUR/USDAUD/USDEUR/GBPEUR/JPYUSD/CADAUD/JPYGBP/USDUSD/JPYUSD/SGD	EUR/USDAUD/USDEUR/GBPEUR/JPYUSD/CADAUD/JPYGBP/USDUSD/JPYUSD/SGD	EUR/USDAUD/USDEUR/GBPEUR/JPYUSD/CADAUD/JPYGBP/USDUSD/JPYUSD/SGD	EUR/USDAUD/USDEUR/GBPEUR/JPYUSD/CADAUD/JPYGBP/USDUSD/JPYUSD/SGD	EUR/USDAUD/USDEUR/GBPEUR/JPYUSD/CADAUD/JPYGBP/USDUSD/JPYUSD/SGD
	0.09	0.17	0.27	0.30	0.35
	0.02	0.17	0.27	0.30	0.25
	0.10	0.20	0.50	0.40	0.40
	0.20	0.20	0.40	n/a	0.30
	0.44	0.42	0.40	0.30	0.83
	0.17	0.30	0.54	0.68	N/A
	0.20	0.40	0.50	0.70	0.70
	0.10	0.50	0.60	0.80	1.10
	n/a	0.50	0.60	0.40	0.60
	0.27	1.00	0.73	0.50	1.03

Data taken from broker website. Accurate as at 01/09/2021

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By comparison, Blueberry Markets’s spreads are somewhat in line with the industry average and not as good as what Pepperstone offers. For example, Blueberry Markets’ raw spread account offers an average EUR/USD spread of 0.20 pips compared to 0.16 pips offered by Pepperstone.

Both brokers offer two types of spreads, namely:

1. Variable spreads (on the Standard Account) – adds a nominal mark-up to the interbank spreads
2. Raw spreads or ECN spreads – derived directly from the interbank market and a network of liquidity providers

Note* Table above highlights the spreads across the Raw spread accounts.

Let us take a deeper look at both brokers’ ECN account spreads across four different asset classes.

Forex Major FX Pairs

If you’re a forex trader, Pepperstone is a better choice due to lower FX spreads. Pepperstone sources its FX quote from multiple liquidity providers (investment banks and tier-1 global LPs) to ensure spreads as low as 0.0 pips during the most liquid trading hours. Pepperstone’s proprietary price engine achieve average spreads of 0.16 pips for EUR/USD and USD/JPY, 0.27 pips for AUD/USD and respectively 0.40 pips for GBP/USD throughout the entire trading day.

By comparison, Blueberry Markets core pricing plus commission model ensures much higher average spreads. For example, the average FX spread on EUR/USD and USD/JPY is 0.20 pips, respectively 0.30 pips on AUD/USD and 0.80 pips on GBP/USD.

Stock Index CFDs

CFD traders would also appreciate Pepperstone’s lower spreads offering across its stock indices product list. Pepperstone clients can trade SPX500 index with a fixed spread of 0.4 points compared to 4.0 points as offered by Blueberry Markets.

Trading index CFDs like AUS200 Index and GER30 index comes with lower spreads of 1.0 points respectively 1.2 points on the Pepperstone account as compared to Blueberry Markets’ CFD account which boasts 3.8 points (AUS200 Index) spread respectively 1.9 points (GER30 index).

Spot Metal CFDs

When compared to Blueberry Markets, Pepperstone comes on top with lower spreads of 0.50 pips on both Gold and Silver. By comparison, Blueberry Markets live spreads show wider spreads of 1.5 pips for Gold trading and 2.5 pips for Silver trading.

Energies CFDs

Again, Pepperstone tops Blueberry Markets with the best pricing across its energies CFDs. At Pepperstone, WTI oil trading comes with 0.50 pips spreads respectively 0.30 pips on Brent Crude oil. By comparison, Blueberry Markets offers a fixed spread of 4.9 pips for both WTI Crude and Brent Crude oil.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: Conclusion

Overall, Pepperstone’s price engine technology provides lower spreads on all of its currency pairs and CFD instruments. On average, Pepperstone can save you in transaction costs up to 33% on your FX transactions and up to 200% on your index CFD dealings as compared to Blueberry Markets. Low spread forex brokers are recommended for scalping and active traders.

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Leverage

The maximum leverage ratio allowed for trading Forex and CFDs offered by brokers is 1:500 under Blueberry Markets Vanuatu (VFSC) jurisdiction, and Pepperstone’s Bahamas branch (SCB).

Under Blueberry Markets Australian (ASIC) license, and Pepperstone’s Australian (ASIC), European (CySEC, BaFin) and UK subsidiaries, local regulators enforce low leverage caps to reduce the high risk of trading forex and CFDs.

The leverage caps by asset class are:

• Major forex pairs – 30:1
• Minor forex pairs, Gold, and Major Stock Index CFDs – 20:1
• Minor Stock Indices and Commodity CFDs – 10:1
• Shares CFDs – 5:1
• Cryptocurrency CFDs – 2:1 (not available in the UK)

Forex Trading Regulations around the World

However, there are certain leverage limitations in other regulatory jurisdictions. In Dubai, where Blueberry Markets is not regulated, Pepperstone offers maximum leverage of 1:50 on major, minor and exotic currency pairs, Gold and major Stock Indices. In Kenya, CMA regulation allows the broker to offer 400:1 on forex.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: Conclusion

Overall, both forex brokers follow the leverage limits imposed by the regulatory agencies. The maximum leverage is capped at 30:1 in Australia, the UK and EU (ASIC, FCA and CySEC) however, both brokers operate offshore entities that offer leverage of 500:1 for forex.

View BlueBerry Markets Review >>Visit BlueBerry Markets >>

Trading Platforms

While Pepperstone, a leading ECN + STP brokerage, aims to ensure the best trading conditions and the most comprehensive trading tools for its clients on three powerful trading platforms (MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader), Blueberry Markets’ offering is more modest in terms of platform tools and functionality. Blueberry Markets grants clients access to two trading platforms – MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

The platforms have good accessibility as they can be accessed from Windows Desktop PCs, MacOS devices, iOS- and Android-based devices and from any web browser.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: MetaTrader 4 Trading Platform Comparison

Pepperstone’s MetaTrader 4 platform is the ultimate solution for Forex trading, as it offers a user-friendly interface, a variety of chart setups and flexible order types. On the other hand, Blueberry Markets’ MT4 solution only features the default MT4 package including 50 technical indicators and charting tools, 4 pending orders, 1 trailing stop, 3 order execution modes and 9 timeframes.

By comparison, the MT4 solution offered by Pepperstone comes with 85 pre-installed technical indicators, backtesting capability for more robust Expert Advisors (EAs). The real-time charting and advanced technical analysis tools are complemented by:

• Access to the Autochartist tool
• Access to the Smart Trader Tools package, which includes 16 trading tools and 15 custom indicators
• Access to over 180 trading instruments across several asset classes
• Low spreads and competitive commissions on the MT4 Razor Account

At the same time, Blueberry Markets’ MetaTrader 4 platform brings an extensive trading history database,  use of Expert Advisors (EAs) for algorithmic trading, built-in guides for MetaTrader 4 and Metaquotes Language 4, ability to set up alerts and full data backup and security.

For the time being, Blueberry Markets does not offer an additional set of trading tools.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: MetaTrader 5 Trading Platform Comparison

Pepperstone’s MetaTrader 5 platform offers advanced functionality and even superior analytical tools. The MT5 platform provides great selections of tools that can be used by all types of traders. The platform includes 38 built-in indicators and 21 timeframes; a wider set of pending orders; the opportunity to trade stock CFDs; position hedging, built-in Economic Calendar and MQL5 programming language that brings improved debugging tools and an advanced events management model.

At the same time, Blueberry Markets’ MetaTrader 5 platform offers the following features and capabilities:

• One-click trading option;
• Good range of technical analysis tools – 38 technical indicators, 44 analytical objects and access to hundreds of custom indicators and plug-ins;
• 6 pending orders, 1 Trailing Stop and 21 timeframes;
• Position hedging;
• Users can monitor up to 100 charts at one time;
• Access to more markets – Forex, Stock Index CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Stock CFDs, Metals and Energies;
• Built-in Economic Calendar;
• Ability to set up alerts;
• Advanced MQL5 environment for development and backtesting of Expert Advisors;
• Good web and mobile trading capability.

We should note that the platform is not compatible with macOS Catalina update (10.15 versions).

Pepperstone, unlike Blueberry Markets, also offers an alternative to the MetaTrader software – cTrader. It is an ideal solution for more sophisticated traders who look for advanced trading capabilities such as fast entry and execution, coding customization as well as greater market transparency.

Execution Speed Comparison

Pepperstone’s platform matching engine support lightning-fast execution speeds – most trade orders by Australian clients are filled in less than 30ms, while most orders by UK clients – in less than 60ms.

Pepperstone’s real execution speed was recorded at 85ms, one of the fastest forex brokers we have tested (see the graph below). By comparison, Blueberry Markets can’t boost institutional quality execution speeds.

Access to Forex VPS hosting service – clients can get ultra-low latency times of about 1 ms. The service is free-of-charge in case of traders meet Pepperstone’s minimum monthly trading volume (15 Standard Lots);

Blueberry Markets’ clients can access to VPS hosting service – free-of-charge in case clients trade 10 Standard Lots per month.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: Conclusion

Pepperstone steals the spotlight as unlike Blueberry Markets, it offers more sophisticated trading tools and features, third-party tools, offers to trade with the cTrader platform and last but not least it has institutional quality execution speeds. Click the button below and drive test Pepperstone suite of trading platforms.

View Pepperstone Review >>Visit Pepperstone >>

CFD Products

Pepperstone offers disproportionately more tradable instruments across several asset classes compared to Blueberry Markets. With Pepperstone, clients can access over 180 financial instruments, while at Blueberry Markets they can choose from over 50 trading instruments.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: Forex trading

Currently, Pepperstone offers a total of 66 major, minor and exotic currency pairs, accessed via three powerful trading platforms, while Blueberry Markets offers 44 major, minor and exotic Forex pairs, accessed via two platforms.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: CFD trading

Disclaimer: CFD trading involves a high risk of losing capital rapidly as high leverage ratios are used. Clients need to be completely aware of how these derivative instruments work before they start trading them on a live account.

The range of tradable CFDs at both brokers includes:

• *Cryptocurrency CFDs – 5 digital coins at Pepperstone (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Dash, Litecoin) vs. 5 coins at Blueberry Markets (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple), accessed only on its MetaTrader 5 platform
• Stock Index CFDs – 15 contracts at Pepperstone vs. 10 contracts at Blueberry Markets
• Commodity CFDs – 22 contracts (Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities) at Pepperstone vs. 5 contracts (Metals, Energies) at Blueberry Markets. Platinum is available to trade only on Blueberry Markets’ MetaTrader 5 software
• Stock CFDs – 63 US Shares and 1 ETF (SPDR S&P500 ETF Trust) at Pepperstone. On the other hand, Blueberry Markets grants access to Australian Stocks, but it has not specified the exact number of CFDs. Both brokers offer Stock CFDs only on their MetaTrader 5 platform
• Currency Index CFDs – only Pepperstone offers 3 such contracts, including the US Dollar Index, Euro Dollar Index and Japanese Yen Index

We should note that both brokerages have not included CFDs on Futures or Bonds in their product lists.

*NOTE: Under new FCA guidelines, UK retail traders are no longer able to trade cryptocurrencies.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: Conclusion

Overall, Pepperstone provides +115 more CFD trading opportunities that can’t be found with Blueberry Markets. Their CFD offering surpasses many brokers, not just Blueberry’s. If you’re looking for a 1-stop shop solution for all your trading needs, you’re likely to be impressed with the diverse list of trading instruments offered by Pepperstone.

View Pepperstone Review >>Visit Pepperstone >>

Customer Service

In terms of customer service, both brokers can be contacted via 3 main means of communication. To get in touch with the customer service team you can choose between:

• Live Chat: To start chatting with a forex specialist you need to first fill in your name, email and choose a topic that interests you
• Email: Pepperstone’s support team include an email option ([email protected]), while Blueberry Markets can be contacted at [email protected]
• Phone: Pepperstone’s trading desk can be contacted by dialling +613 9020 0155, while Blueberry Markets’ clients can call +612 8039 7480 (for Australia-based clients)

Pepperstone also provides a toll-free number for Australia-based clients (1300 033 375).

Melbourne-based Pepperstone provides support service to its client base 24 hours per day 5 days compared to the 24/7 customer support service offered by Blueberry Markets.

Pepperstone’s live chat option is highly recommended as we managed to contact a representative from the brokerage in less than 30 seconds and received punctual, adequate answers to all of our queries.

Additionally, Pepperstone has been given the top award for:

1. Forex Trading Support (Europe) in the Global Forex Awards 2019
2. And for Best Client Relationship Manager Service in the Professional Trader Awards 2019

Trustpilot star rating gives 4.9 stars out of 779 reviews for Blueberry Markets compared to 4.3 stars out of 728 reviews received by Pepperstone.

Forex Education and Research

In terms of educational and research materials, Pepperstone has provided extensive and well-structured content on its website, while, for the time being, Blueberry Markets does not offer any trading education-related materials.

Pepperstone’s educational material may be of significant value to inexperienced traders. Below, we’re going to outline a few of Pepperstone’s education and analysis material:

• Trading Guides features a variety of informative articles that cover the basics of forex trading along with more advanced concepts on technical and fundamental analysis
• Webinars that are carried out with regularity which cover video lessons, market insights, the week ahead analysis and so much more
• Market News – in-depth market analysis written by Chris Weston, Head of Research at Pepperstone
• Economic Calendar features real-time economic data, news events, and announcements from all over the world 24/7. Fundamental traders will appreciate being able to assess the immediate impact on the market
• Market Analysis that are packed with market coverage on everything that moves the market from earnings reports, political developments, risk events to price action and technical analysis

In comparison, Blueberry Markets offers a subscription-based trading tips service, known as the Blueberry Jam, and it also provides a well-thought-out blog featuring the latest financial news as well as FX analysis on current trends. Yet, the entire content there is with a sole informational purpose and should not be taken as investment advice.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: Conclusion

Overall, both forex brokers offer educational material for free. However, Blueberry Markets lacks the Forex tutorials needed for beginners, but it’s fully packed with market analysis (Forex chart of the day). On the other hand, Pepperstone offers a multitude of trading services all under one roof.

View BlueBerry Markets Review >>Visit BlueBerry Markets >>

Deposit, Withdrawal and Minimum Deposits

Pepperstone requires a minimum deposit of AUD 200 or currency equivalent for all account types offered, while Blueberry Markets requires a minimum deposit of $100 for the Standard account type and a min. deposit of $1,000 for the Professional account type.

When it comes to base account currencies allowed, with Pepperstone clients can deposit in 10 different currencies (AUD, USD, JPY, GBP, EUR, CAD, CHF, NZD, SGD, HKD), while with Blueberry Markets – in 7 different currencies (AUD, USD, CAD, GBP, NZD, SGD, EUR).

Deposit and withdrawals will incur no fees with both FX brokers. Another advantage is that both brokers will not charge you an inactivity fee even if your account balance reaches USD 0 or you’re not trading for a prolonged period.

Payment Methods

Additionally, there is no shortage of account funding methods with both brokerages. Pepperstone and Blueberry Markets offer their clients convenient ways to deposit money in their trading accounts.

For example, Pepperstone allows the following payment options:

• Debit Card or Credit Card by MasterCard or Visa
• PayPal
• Skrill
• Neteller
• Union Pay
• POLi
• BPay
• Bank transfer

In comparison, Blueberry Markets allows clients to fund their live trading account by using the following payment options:

• Credit Card or Debit Card by Visa or MasterCard
• POLi Payment
• China UnionPay
• Skrill – there will be a platform fee of 3%-4%
• Fasapay – there will be a 0.5% fee charged by the provider
• Bank transfer – there may be fees depending on the bank

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: Conclusion

Overall, both forex brokers support free-fee deposits along with the most popular payment options. The process of funding your trading account works the same with both forex brokers. Even though Pepperstone supports slightly more digital wallets options, this is not a deal-breaker as both brokers equally share the most popular funding options.

View Pepperstone Review >>Visit Pepperstone >>

Regulation

Pepperstone is fully compliant with strict regulatory standards of some of the most notorious Forex authorities worldwide. Therefore, it can be considered safe. Pepperstone and its corporate arms are authorized to conduct online Forex and CFD trading business and regulated in the following jurisdictions:

• Australia – Pepperstone Australia – by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
• United Kingdom – Pepperstone UK – by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• UAE – Pepperstone AE – by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)

Additionally, Pepperstone’s international operations are handled by Pepperstone Markets, a company regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB).

Meanwhile, Blueberry Markets is an online broker operated by Eightcap Pty Ltd, an entity holding an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL number: 391441) and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

In addition, Eightcap Global Ltd, based in Port Vila, Vanuatu, handles Blueberry Markets’ international operations. It falls under the regulation of the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC). Apparently, Blueberry Markets does not yet have a top-tier regulatory license from a reputable European regulator such as the FCA, FINMA or CySEC. 

Client security

Both brokers assure that they keep client funds completely segregated from their own corporate accounts at top-tier Australian financial institutions, which reduces the risk for clients to become victims of a scam.

As part of that regulation, your money is held in a segregated trust account with the National Australia Bank (NAB) separate from company funds.

Still, we should note that both brokerages do not have a negative balance protection policy. This means retail clients will have to employ solid risk management and use all the tools available on the brokers’ trading platforms to protect their positions against unexpected shifts in Forex market sentiment.

Pepperstone vs. Blueberry Markets: Conclusion

In terms of regulatory status, while both brokerages are regulated brokers, Pepperstone clearly outpaces Blueberry Markets. Fully licensed by tier-one regulatory bodies across the globe, Pepperstone has more credibility. The broker’s longevity (founded in 2010) also speaks volumes for the type of trading services you’ll receive.

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