BlackBull Markets, a New Zealand-headquartered Forex broker and FinTech company, offers clients ECN/NDD execution with deep liquidity through the MT4/MT5 and TradingView trading platforms, upgraded with the Autochartist plugin. It also delivers actionable trading signals for a monthly fee while education remains free of charge. BlackBull Markets also supports social trading via market leaders ZuluTrade and Myfxbook Autotrade plus newcomer HokoCloud.

Pepperstone upgrades its MT4/MT5 platforms with its Smart Trader Tools package. Traders may also use cTrader, and Pepperstone added Capitalise AI, a code-free environment to automate trading. Social trading support exists via Myfxbook Autotrade and DupliTrade, plus embedded solutions in all three trading platforms.

We have conducted an in-depth review of BlackBull Markets and Pepperstone to determine which presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker.

Headquarters
New ZealandAustralia
Regulators
FMA, FSAASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, SCB
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established
20142010
Execution Type(s)
ECN/STP, No Dealing DeskNo Dealing Desk, NDD
Minimum Deposit
$0$0
Negative Balance Protection
N/A
Trading Platform(s)
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Trading ViewOther, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary platform, Trading View+
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
1.3 pips1.1 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
2.0 pips1.4 pips
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.03 $2.50
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.90 $0.15
Retail Loss Rate
Undisclosed74-89%
Minimum Raw Spreads
0.0 pips0.0 pips
Minimum Standard Spreads
0.8 pips1.0 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex
$6.00 per round lot6.00 per round lot (cTrader) / $7.00 per round lot (MT4/MT5)
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
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Features and Platforms

MT4
MT5
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons
N/A
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
Social/Copy Trading
N/A
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin
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Noteworthy:

Both brokers offer VPS hosting for algorithmic traders and access to deep liquidity, making them ideal for scalpers and high-frequency traders, where BlackBull Markets maintains an edge.

Available Markets

Currency Pairs
Cryptocurrencies
N/A
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks (non-CFDs)
N/A
Bonds
N/A
ETFs
Options
N/A
Futures
Synthetics
Visit WebsiteVisit Website 75-95% of traders on margin lose

While Pepperstone maintains a well-balanced asset selection of 1,200+ assets, BlackBull Markets ranks among the Top 5 industry-wide with 23,000+ equity CFDs and the underlying assets for direct share dealing from 80+ global stock exchanges. Forex traders get 60+ currency pairs and limited cryptocurrency pairs at both brokers, and Pepperstone adds ETFs.

Typical Spreads and Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
1.3 pips1.1 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
2.0 pips1.4 pips
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.03 $2.50
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.90 $0.15
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin
$2425
Minimum Raw Spreads
0.0 pips0.0 pips
Minimum Standard Spreads
0.8 pips1.0 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex
$6.00 per round lot6.00 per round lot (cTrader) / $7.00 per round lot (MT4/MT5)
Deposit Fee
Withdrawal Fee
Inactivity Fee
No $0
Visit WebsiteVisit Website 75-95% of traders on margin lose

BlackBull Markets shines with its pricing environment for Institutional ECN accounts requiring a minimum deposit of $20,000, placing it among the cheapest brokers industry wide. The ECN Prime alternative and the Pepperstone Razor account are nearly equally competitive, but BlackBull Markets offers lower equity costs.

Security and Trust

Country of the Regulator
New Zealand, SeychellesUnited Arab Emirates, Australia, The Bahamas, Cyprus, Germany, Kenya, United Kingdom
Name of the Regulator
FMA, FSAASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, SCB
Regulatory License Number
403326, SD045414530, 91279, 128, 388/20, F004356, 684312, F217
Visit WebsiteVisit Website 75-95% of traders on margin lose

Both brokers segregate client deposits from corporate funds at Tier 1 banks and offer negative balance protection. Pepperstone complies with more regulators, including two offering an investor compensation fund. BlackBull Markets and Pepperstone belong to the most secure, reliable, and trusted brokers with a spotless operational track record.

Pepperstone vs BlackBull Markets – Verdict

Pepperstone

ProsCons
Excellent choice of trading platforms consisting of MT4/MT5, and cTraderMinimum deposits are slightly higher but within a reasonable range
Market-leading MT4/MT5 upgrade package, Autochartist, and API trading
Social trading support via Myfxbook, MetaTrader Signals, and DupliTrade
Leverage of up to 1:500 and superb trade execution

BlackBull Markets

ProsCons
ECN/NDD execution model with deep liquidity Limited deposit options
Institution-grade pricing for retail traders via proprietary price aggregation
ZuluTrade and Myfxbook for social trading
Leverage of up to 1:500

Deep liquidity, a balanced asset selection, and superb order execution exist at BlackBull Markets and Pepperstone, alongside quality education for beginners. Both brokers maintain low trading costs and fully support algorithmic and social trading. BlackBull Markets takes the lead due to its significantly broader choice of equity-focused trading instruments, lower trading costs for demanding traders, access to the TradingView community, and actionable trading signals.

You might also be interested in reviewing the below broker comparisons:

FAQs

Which broker is better than Pepperstone?

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It depends on individual requirements, as Pepperstone ranks among the most balanced brokers, but, for example, BlackBull Markets features notably more equity assets.

How reliable is Pepperstone?

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Pepperstone established itself as a reliable and trustworthy broker with over one decade of experience and a spotless regulatory track record.

Does Pepperstone use MT5?

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Pepperstone offers traders an upgraded MT5 trading platform alongside MT4 and cTrader.

How much leverage is offered by Pepperstone?

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Leverage at Pepperstone remains asset and location-dependent, but the maximum Forex leverage is 1:500. Commodity and index traders get 1:200, and equity CFD traders 1:20.

What is the minimum deposit for Pepperstone?

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The minimum deposit at Pepperstone is $200 for both account types.

Does Pepperstone have a ZAR account?

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Pepperstone does not offer ZAR accounts but features trading in ZAR currency crosses.

Is BlackBull Markets a scam?

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BlackBull Markets is not a scam but a legit, secure, and trustworthy multi-asset broker with a clean regulatory track record.

How do I open an account with BlackBull Markets?

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An online form processes account opening. It requires minimal personal information and takes a few seconds to complete. Account verification remains mandatory as a regulatory requirement but is a simple procedure to complete. Traders usually accomplish it by sending a copy of their ID and one proof of residency document.