Pepperstone vs Vantage: Which Broker is Better?

2. Pepperstone: Better Trading Platforms with Faster Execution

Both online brokers provide access to the ever popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platforms.

Vantage offers MT4, MT5, ProTrader, and a proprietary Vantage App, while Pepperstone’s selection consists of MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and a newly released Pepperstone app.

Both brokers operate as ECN-style brokers with no dealing desk execution. This means trades are executed directly in the market without broker intervention, leading to faster execution, more transparent pricing, and reduced slippage.

Pepperstone is one the Best MT4 Brokers Worldwide 

Pepperstone is recognised as one of the best MT4 brokers worldwide, offering a range of platforms and trading tools to enhance your trading experience.

MetaTrader 4 comes equipped with:

• Comprehensive Charting Tools: MT4 provides a variety of charting tools, allowing traders to analyse market trends and patterns.
• Wide Range of Technical Indicators: Over 30 built-in indicators are available for detailed market analysis.
• Automated Trading Capabilities: Supports the use of Expert Advisors (EAs) for automated trading strategies.
• Customisation Interface: Traders can customise the platform interface to suit their trading needs and preferences.
• Multiple Order Types: MT4 supports various order types, including market orders, limit orders, and stop orders.
• Historical Data Access: Traders can access historical data for backtesting strategies.
• One-Click Trading: Enables quick and easy trade execution directly from the chart.

With Pepperstone, you can utilise add-on features like MT4 Smart Trader Tools which include 28 indicators and Expert Advisors, or copy and social trading tools like MetaTrader Signals and DupliTrade.

Vantage on the other hand, while offering a solid range of platforms including MT4, MT5, ProTrader, and their proprietary app, tends to have a more standard approach compared to Pepperstone.

Their MT4 offering, while strong, doesn’t quite match the breadth of tools and customisation options available with Pepperstone. Vantage’s platforms are user-friendly and cater well to both beginners and experienced traders, but they lack some of the advanced features and integrations found in Pepperstone’s offerings.

Pepperstone’s Execution Speeds

Pepperstone leverages Equinix servers to enhance trade execution speeds. These servers play a crucial role in reducing latency, directly impacting the efficiency of trade executions. In the context of forex trading, latency refers to the time delay between the initiation and execution of a trade. Lower latency is key in reducing slippage, which is the difference between a trader’s expected price and the executed price.

In volatile markets, where prices can fluctuate rapidly, the importance of reduced latency and minimal slippage becomes even more pronounced. Pepperstone’s use of Equinix servers ensures that trades are executed at the best available prices with minimal delay.

Pepperstone’s execution speeds, with a limit order execution time of 77 ms and a market order execution time of 100 ms, are approximately 41% faster for limit orders and 29% faster for market orders compared to the industry averages of 129.8 ms and 141 ms, respectively. This significant reduction in execution time underscores Pepperstone’s efficiency in trade execution.

Vantage’s Execution Speeds are Slower at 100 – 150 ms

Vantage’s execution speeds, while competitive, are slower compared to Pepperstone. Their market execution speeds are between 100 ms to 250 ms, with data centres based in New York and London as well as supplementary servers in financial hubs like Sydney and Singapore. This set up provides reliable execution but doesn’t quite reach the speed and efficiency of Pepperstone’s infrastructure.

To test platforms and features before live trading, you can sign up to a demo account with both brokers. Vantage offers a demo account with $100,000 virtual funds to practise trading in real-time market conditions risk-free, while Pepperstone offers $50,000 in virtual funds.

Verdict

Pepperstone offers the best trading platforms with the fastest execution speeds

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*Your capital is at risk ‘75.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

3. Vantage: Flexible Account Types

Vantage and Pepperstone both offer a selection of account types to suit different styles and levels of trading experience. While Pepperstone provides some of the tightest spreads in the industry, Vantage’s Pro ECN Account has less barriers to entry than Pepperstone’s Professional Account option.

• Standard Accounts: Ideal for beginner traders, both brokers Standard Accounts provide a basic pricing structure with no commission fees
• Raw Accounts: Both brokers offer Raw Accounts designed for high volume traders. Vantage charges slightly lower commission fees but Pepperstone’s average spreads are significantly lower
• Professional Accounts: Vantage’s Pro ECN Account requires a $10,000 minimum deposit and provides institutional grade spreads with low commissions of $1.50 per side. On the other hand, to be eligible for Pepperstone’s Professional Account, you must have a minimum of AUD 2.5 million net assets or annual gross income of AUD 250,000.

Therefore, while both brokers offer similar account types, Vantage’s professional account is more accessible.

In addition to these accounts, Vantage’s South African subsidiary offers two other account options, being a Cent Account and a Premium Account. The Cent Account is suited to beginners as its trading balance in cents rather than dollars and requires a lower minimum deposit. The Premium Account, on the other hand, demands a higher minimum deposit but compensates with higher leverage and tighter spreads, catering to more experienced traders seeking advanced trading conditions.

Swap Free Accounts for Muslim Traders

Both brokers also provide a swap free pricing structure if you are following Islamic finance principles where you are prohibited from earning or paying interest. Instead of swap fees, you pay an administration fee when holding positions overnight, ensuring your forex trades are compliant with Islamic law.

Verdict

Vantage’s Pro ECN Account is more accessible than Pepperstone’s Professional Account, giving Vantage a slight advantage when it comes to account types.

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4. Pepperstone: Best Trading Experience and Third-Party Integrations

Pepperstone outperforms Vantage in third-party integrations, offering a more enhanced trading experience. Key features include TradingView for comprehensive technical analysis, DupliTrade and MetaTrader Signals for diverse copy and social trading options, and Autochartist for automated market scanning. Their MT4 platform is further enriched with Smart Trader Tools and a wide range of online plug-ins, providing extensive customization and strategy options.

In contrast, Vantage’s offerings are more limited, with a basic copy trading system in their proprietary app and MT4 SmartTrader Tools that require a $1,000 minimum deposit. Crucially, they lack advanced integrations like DupliTrade or Autochartist.

Verdict

Pepperstone clearly leads with a broader selection of third-party integrations, offering traders a more versatile and in-depth trading experience compared to Vantage’s more basic toolset.

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*Your capital is at risk ‘75.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

5. Pepperstone: Higher Trust Score

Pepperstone has a higher trust score of 81 vs 26 for Vantage. Based on these trust scores, Pepperstone is clearly the more reliable and regulated broker.

Pepperstone Trust Score

Pepperstone’s strong trust score of 81 stems being regulated in seven jurisdictions and a positive TrustPilot score of 4.4 out of 5.

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Vantage Trust Score

While Vantage is regulated by two tier one regulators as well as three offshore regulators, their TrustPilot score of 3.4 drops their overall trust  score to 26.

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Regulation and Reputation 

Pepperstone, established in 2010, is regulated by four tier-one financial regulators: ASIC in Australia, FCA in the UK, BaFin in Germany, and CySEC in Cyprus, along with additional licenses in Dubai (DFSA) and offshore (SCB, CMA). In contrast, Vantage, founded in 2009, is regulated by ASIC, FCA, VFSC, CIMA, and FSCA.

Reviews

Pepperstone’s extensive regulation contributes to their high trust score of 81 and a positive TrustPilot rating of 4.4 out of 5. Despite Vantage’s tier-1 regulators, the broker hasn’t matched Pepperstone’s international growth or trust levels, reflected in a lower TrustPilot score of 3.4 and an overall trust score of 26.

Verdict

Pepperstone’s significantly higher trust score of 81, compared to Vantage’s 26, firmly establishes it as the more trusted and widely regulated broker in the industry.

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*Your capital is at risk ‘75.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

6. Pepperstone: Best CFD Products and Range of Financial Markets

Pepperstone offers a superior range of CFD products, including cryptocurrencies, which Vantage doesn’t provide. Both brokers have a similar range of other products: Vantage offers 57 forex pairs, 29 indices, 51 ETFs, 7 bonds, over 800 share CFDs, 7 soft commodities, 7 energies, and 8 precious metals, along with a unique ride gold volatility CFD.

Pepperstone, however, offers 62 forex pairs, 19 cryptocurrencies, 3 cryptocurrency baskets, 5 precious metals, 16 soft commodities, 25 indices, 3 currency indices, 4 energy commodities, and spread betting in the UK.

Pepperstone Offers Cryptocurrency Trading

Pepperstone provides a diverse range of cryptocurrency trading options, including 19 individual cryptocurrencies and 3 cryptocurrency baskets. These baskets allow traders to invest in a group of cryptocurrencies, offering a diversified approach to crypto trading.

Verdict

With a broader selection of forex pairs, stock CFDs, and the inclusion of cryptocurrencies and spread betting services for UK traders, Pepperstone offers a more comprehensive range of trading products compared to Vantage.

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*Your capital is at risk ‘75.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

7. Pepperstone: Top Educational Materials

Pepperstone offers a more comprehensive range of educational materials, especially beneficial for advanced traders. Their resources include detailed how-to guides for different platforms and asset classes, as well as live expert-led webinars.

These webinars cover advanced trading strategies and topics, ranging from intraday, swing, and scalping trading strategies to backtesting automated strategies. In contrast, Vantage provides more basic educational resources, primarily aimed at beginners, but lacks materials for more experienced traders.

Verdict

Pepperstone’s extensive educational resources, catering to both beginners and advanced traders, make it a superior choice for those seeking comprehensive learning materials.

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*Your capital is at risk ‘75.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

8. Pepperstone: Award-winning Customer Service

Pepperstone is globally recognised for its award-winning customer service, offering a more responsive and efficient support team compared to Vantage.

Pepperstone provides various methods of customer support, including live chat, email, and phone, ensuring quick and efficient resolution of queries. Their support is available 24/7 and available in multiple languages, catering to a global clientele across different time zones.

In contrast, Vantage also offers multiple customer support channels, such as live chat, email, phone, and a Telegram chatbot. While they promote 24/7 availability, their service quality varies throughout the day, with more effective support during Australian daytime hours. Outside these hours, customers might encounter less knowledgeable representatives or automated responses, leading to a less consistent support experience.

Verdict

Pepperstone’s consistent 24/7 customer service backed by multiple awards means they outperform Vantage in terms of reliability and overall customer satisfaction.

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*Your capital is at risk ‘75.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

9. Vantage: Better Funding Methods

Pepperstone provides 13 payment methods and Vantage offers 12 deposit methods, yet most of Pepperstone’s methods are restricted to its Australian and offshore subsidiaries, limiting options if you are in other regions.

Both brokers provide standard deposit and withdrawal methods like credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers. E-wallet methods available include including Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal, among others.

*Only available with Pepperstone’s ASIC and SCB regulated branches. 

Verdict

Vantage’s funding methods, with their broader global accessibility, surpass Pepperstone’s more region-specific options, making Vantage a more versatile choice for international traders.

Vantage ReviewVisit Vantage FX

10. Pepperstone: No Minimum Deposit Requirement

With no minimum deposit requirements, Pepperstone has more flexible minimum deposit requirements than Vantage which in most cases is $200. Vantage’s minimum deposit varies based on the account type and the trader’s location, ranging from $50 – $10,000.

Pepperstone’s flexibility is particularly beneficial for traders who prefer not to commit a large initial sum or wish to start trading with a smaller balance.

* Eligibility for Pepperstone’s Professional Account is subject to meeting certain criteria.

Verdict

Pepperstone’s no minimum deposit policy for all account types provides more flexibility and accessibility than Vantage’s varied and location-dependent deposit requirements.

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*Your capital is at risk ‘75.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

So Is Pepperstone or Vantage The Best Broker?

Pepperstone has an overall score of 98 and therefore better than Vantage with a score of 51. Pepperstone excelled in most key areas including offering tighter spreads, better trading platforms, CFDs, reputation, and a lower minimum deposit.

Pepperstone: Best For Traders of All Levels

Pepperstone stands out as the best overall broker, excelling in the majority of categories. Its comprehensive offerings cater to traders of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. With superior trading platforms, competitive spreads, and a diverse range of financial instruments, Pepperstone provides an optimal trading environment that meets various trading strategies and preferences.

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*Your capital is at risk ‘75.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money’