derivatives alternatives

Alternatives to Pepperstone

Pepperstone is a well-regarded Australian CFD provider known for tight spreads (from 0.5 pips on AUD/USD), zero platform fees, and no minimum deposit. It's a solid choice for forex and CFD traders who want low-cost access to leveraged markets. But if you're looking for actual share ownership (CHESS-sponsored or custodian-held ASX/US stocks), options trading beyond CFDs, or features like auto-invest and SMSF accounts, Pepperstone doesn't offer those. We've listed 7 alternatives that cover different needs — from real share trading to options and copy trading.

By Investmatch Research Team · Last updated 18 May 2026
#1 alternative
Plus500
CFD and options trading on 6,000+ markets. Not real share ownership.

Offers options trading on 6,000+ markets, a feature Pepperstone doesn't provide.

ASX ETFs supported
No
Auto-invest / DCA
No
Monthly platform fee
$0/month
#2 alternative
eToro
Zero-commission CFD trading on 17 global markets. Custodian-held, not CHESS-sponsored.

Supports real ASX and US shares with zero brokerage, plus auto-invest and SMSF accounts.

ASX brokerage minimum
$0
ASX ETFs supported
Yes(Pepperstone: No)
CHESS sponsorship model
custodian
#3 alternative
IG Australia
Custodian-held ASX & US share trading at zero brokerage, plus CFDs on 17,000+ markets.

Gives you zero-brokerage ASX and US share trading alongside CFDs on 17,000+ markets.

ASX brokerage minimum
$0
ASX ETFs supported
Yes(Pepperstone: No)
CHESS sponsorship model
custodian
#4 alternative
easyMarkets
CFD and options trading from $25 minimum deposit. Not real share ownership.

Includes options trading with a low $25 minimum deposit, unlike Pepperstone's pure CFD model.

ASX ETFs supported
No
Auto-invest / DCA
No
Monthly platform fee
$0/month
#5 alternative
Capital.com
CFD trading on 6,000+ global markets from $20 deposit. Not real share ownership.

Access 6,000+ global CFD markets from just $20 deposit with a clean trading platform.

ASX ETFs supported
No
Auto-invest / DCA
No
Monthly platform fee
$0/month

Common questions

Can I trade real ASX shares with Pepperstone?

No. Pepperstone is a CFD provider, so you trade contracts based on price movements rather than owning the underlying shares. If you want actual ASX share ownership, you'll need a broker that offers CHESS-sponsored or custodian-held share trading.

Does Pepperstone charge a monthly platform fee?

No. Pepperstone has zero monthly platform fees. You only pay spreads and any applicable overnight financing costs. This makes it competitive with other CFD brokers that also don't charge monthly account keeping fees.

What alternatives exist if I want options trading alongside CFDs?

Several CFD brokers also offer options trading on indices, commodities, and individual stocks. These platforms let you trade both CFDs and options from the same account, giving you more flexibility than a pure CFD-only provider.

Is Pepperstone suitable for long-term investing?

Pepperstone is designed for active trading rather than long-term investing. CFD positions incur overnight financing costs if held past market close, which adds up over time. For long-term buy-and-hold strategies, a traditional share broker is usually more cost-effective.