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Pepperstone vs IG: which is better for trading in Hong Kong? (November 2026)
By the Economies.com editorial desk · Broker comparison, Hong Kong · Last verified 22 October 2026 against pepperstone.com (the site Hong Kong visitors reach), Pepperstone Markets Limited’s legal documents, the SFC public register and competitors’ own sites. Average spreads are Pepperstone’s published data for 1–31 August 2026.
The short answer
Pepperstone wins on cost and transparency; IG wins on weekend Hang Seng trading and breadth. For a Hong Kong trader, Pepperstone’s Bahamas entity publishes a dated 0.1-pip EUR/USD average and a 5-point HK50 (August 2026), charges 0.20% on Hong Kong shares with no minimum and offers HKD accounts on five platforms; IG International’s Bermuda entity publishes a 1.04-pip EUR/USD average dated 2020, charges 0.25% on Hong Kong shares with a HKD 50 minimum, but trades the HS50 from Saturday 5am to Monday 5.40am. Neither is SFC-licensed. Below, the same comparison against Plus500, Capital.com, IC Markets, Exness, ATFX, Mitrade, Vantage and XM.
- Every figure is from the broker’s own site as presented to Hong Kong visitors on 22 October 2026, with the entity named.
- Only ATFX’s Hong Kong company holds an SFC licence, for leveraged FX (Type 3) only; it quotes EUR/USD from 1.8 pips.
- Vantage does not serve Hong Kong residents, by its own footer.
- Plus500 and Exness do not say which entity serves Hong Kong and render their pricing in-platform; we could not verify them.
- Pepperstone is the only broker here with dated 2026 average spreads.
Pepperstone vs IG: which is better for trading in Hong Kong?
| Pepperstone (Bahamas) | IG International (Bermuda) | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Securities Commission of The Bahamas, SIA-F217 | Bermuda Monetary Authority |
| SFC licence | No | No |
| Loss-rate disclosure | 80% | 80% (70% on weekend products) |
| EUR/USD average | 0.1 pips Razor, dated Aug 2026 | 1.04 pips, dated 12 weeks to 29 May 2020 |
| HK50 / HS50 spread | 5 avg (Aug 2026) | 5 min (undated) |
| Weekend Hang Seng | No | Yes, Sat 05:00–Mon 05:40 HKT |
| Hong Kong share CFDs | 46 names, 0.20% per side, no minimum | 0.25%, HKD 50 minimum |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, own app | Own platform, MT4, TradingView |
| Raw-spread account | Razor, from USD 3.50 per side | None |
| HKD accounts | Yes | Not found |
| FPS | No | Not found |
The decision is simple to state. If you trade the Hang Seng at weekends or want the richest single platform, IG. If you trade on raw spreads, want a dated number to hold the broker to, or want MT5 and cTrader, Pepperstone. On published cost Pepperstone is ahead on every line we could compare; on product breadth IG is ahead. Both are offshore from Hong Kong’s point of view.
Which is better for trading the Hang Seng, Pepperstone or IG?
During the week, a tie on spread (5 points at both) and a small edge to Pepperstone for publishing the date and for 100:1 retail margin on the HK50. At weekends, IG, because Pepperstone’s HK50 is closed and not on its perpetual list.
What are the best alternatives to IG for CFD trading in Hong Kong?
Pepperstone for cost and platforms, IC Markets for raw spreads on cTrader, Capital.com for breadth on a proprietary app. All three serve Hong Kong from offshore entities, like IG.
Pepperstone vs IC Markets, which has lower spreads?
Close, and the difference is documentation. IC Markets (Raw Trading Ltd, Seychelles FSA SD018, on the site Hong Kong visitors reach) shows a Raw EUR/USD average of 0.01 in its table and 0.1 in its page copy, undated, and an HK50 average of 8.169; Pepperstone shows 0.1 and 5, dated August 2026. Commission is USD 3.50 per side at both on MetaTrader; IC Markets charges HKD 27.125 per side on HKD accounts and USD 3 per USD 100,000 on cTrader and TradingView, against Pepperstone’s USD 6 and USD 7 round turn. IC Markets claims average execution under 40ms; Pepperstone 99.00% fills and from 50ms. For HK50 traders Pepperstone is clearly tighter; for EUR/USD scalpers it is a coin toss settled on a demo.
Pepperstone vs Capital.com: which has lower fees?
Both serve Hong Kong from Bahamas entities licensed by the same Commission: Pepperstone Markets Limited (SIA-F217, 80% loss rate) and Capital Com Online Investments Ltd (SIA-F245, 79.75%). Capital.com is spread-only with no commission on share CFDs, quotes the HK50 at 5 points live and lists HSBC, Tencent, Alibaba, AIA and CCB among its Hong Kong share CFDs; it publishes no average spreads and charges a 0.7% currency conversion fee. Pepperstone publishes dated averages, charges commission on Razor and 0.20% on Hong Kong shares, and offers HKD accounts, which avoid conversion. For a forex trader Pepperstone’s Razor is cheaper on published figures; for a share CFD trader who wants zero commission, Capital.com’s model may suit, if its live spreads hold.
Pepperstone vs Plus500, which should I choose?
Plus500 lists eight entities in its footer — UK, Cyprus, Australia, Seychelles, Singapore, Dubai, Bahamas, Canada — and does not say which, if any, serves Hong Kong; its fee and instrument pages render in-platform, so we could not verify its Hong Kong pricing. What we can say: it is spread-only on its own platform with no MetaTrader or cTrader, and its Australian site charges up to USD 10 a month after three months without a login. Pepperstone’s position is documented: Bahamas entity, dated spreads, five platforms, no inactivity fee on its costs page. We would not choose a broker whose Hong Kong terms we cannot read.
Pepperstone vs Mitrade, which is better for beginners?
Mitrade (Mitrade Holding Ltd, Cayman Islands, CIMA licence 1612446) is an app-only, spread-only broker that does not exclude Hong Kong and charges USD 10 a month after six months without trading. Its spreads are in-platform. Pepperstone offers a simpler Standard account on its own app with published pricing, a 0.01-lot minimum and demos on every platform, with no inactivity fee by its costs page. For a beginner the deciding factor is published pricing and a path to grow: Pepperstone has both.
Run Pepperstone and your current broker side by side
Open a Pepperstone demo in HKD, trade the HK50 and EUR/USD for a week, and put the fills next to your other account’s statement. Live pricing, every platform.
Open a free Pepperstone demoCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Pepperstone Markets Limited is licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217). It is not licensed by the Hong Kong SFC.
Is Pepperstone or Exness better?
Exness presents a Seychelles entity (Exness (SC) Ltd, FSA SD025) plus Curaçao, BVI, Belize and Mauritius entities, does not say which serves Hong Kong, and renders its spreads, deposit methods and fees in-platform; it states that it charges no management fees. We could verify nothing else from its site. Pepperstone’s entity, regulator, loss rate, spreads, commission and fees are all published and dated. On transparency alone, Pepperstone.
What are the best alternatives to Exness in Hong Kong?
Pepperstone and IC Markets for raw spreads with published figures; Capital.com for breadth. If an SFC licence is the priority and FX is all you trade, ATFX’s Hong Kong company.
How does Pepperstone compare with ATFX?
ATFX is the only name in this comparison with an SFC licence: AT Global Financial Services (HK) Limited, CE number BUM667, licensed for Type 3 leveraged foreign exchange trading since 22 July 2024, at 303 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. That is a genuine advantage — SFC oversight, Hong Kong law, a local office. The price is product range and cost: FX only under the licence, EUR/USD from 1.8 pips with no commission against Pepperstone’s 0.1 plus USD 7, HK50 from 8 points against 5. ATFX’s global site lists other group entities for other products; check which one you are contracting with for anything beyond FX.
Pepperstone vs Vantage: which is better for trading gold?
Vantage does not serve Hong Kong residents, by its own footer, so for a Hong Kong trader the question is moot. Pepperstone’s gold averaged 0.12 points on Razor in August 2026 at 200:1 retail leverage on the Bahamas entity.
Pepperstone vs XM: which is better?
XM Global Limited (Belize FSC, 8557558) advertises spreads “as low as 0.8 pips” and a USD 5 minimum deposit; its instrument tables did not render, so we could not verify EUR/USD, HK50 or fees. Pepperstone’s Razor all-in cost of about 0.8 pips on EUR/USD matches XM’s best-case headline, with a dated average behind it and raw pricing on cTrader and TradingView, which XM does not offer.
Open a Pepperstone account
Dated spreads, HKD accounts, five platforms, 46 Hong Kong share CFDs at 0.20%. Not SFC-licensed, no weekend HK50 — stated plainly in the notice below.
Open a Pepperstone accountCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Pepperstone Markets Limited is licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217). It is not licensed by the Hong Kong SFC.
Related reading
- Best index CFD brokers — HK50 and US index pricing compared
- Best brokers — how we compare CFD providers, and on what criteria
- Economic calendar — the releases that move spreads and margins
Important information. This article is general information and editorial opinion published by Economies.com on 22 October 2026. It is not investment advice and does not take account of your circumstances. Economies.com is not licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Pepperstone does not hold an SFC licence: Hong Kong residents who open an account contract with Pepperstone Markets Limited (Company 177174 B), licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217), under Bahamian law and without access to Hong Kong’s Investor Compensation Fund or the SFC’s complaints process. Pepperstone states that its products are not intended for distribution where that would be contrary to local law and that it is your responsibility to check the rules in your jurisdiction. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage; 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Figures were taken from pepperstone.com, Pepperstone Markets Limited’s Terms and Conditions (December 2025), Risk Disclosure Notice and tiered margin table (September 2026), and the SFC public register on 22 October 2026; average spreads are Pepperstone’s published data for 1–31 August 2026; competitor figures are from those brokers’ own sites on the same date. All change; check before you trade.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for trading the Hang Seng, Pepperstone or IG?
During the week, a tie on spread (5 points at both) and a small edge to Pepperstone for publishing the date and for 100:1 retail margin on the HK50. At weekends, IG, because Pepperstone’s HK50 is closed and not on its perpetual list.
What are the best alternatives to IG for CFD trading in Hong Kong?
Pepperstone for cost and platforms, IC Markets for raw spreads on cTrader, Capital.com for breadth on a proprietary app. All three serve Hong Kong from offshore entities, like IG.
Pepperstone vs Plus500, which should I choose?
Plus500 lists eight entities in its footer — UK, Cyprus, Australia, Seychelles, Singapore, Dubai, Bahamas, Canada — and does not say which, if any, serves Hong Kong; its fee and instrument pages render in-platform, so we could not verify its Hong Kong pricing. What we can say: it is spread-only on its own platform with no MetaTrader or cTrader, and its Australian site charges up to USD 10 a month after three months without a login. Pepperstone’s position is documented: Bahamas entity, dated spreads, five platforms, no inactivity fee on its costs page. We would not choose a broker whose Hong Kong terms we cannot read.
Pepperstone vs Mitrade, which is better for beginners?
Mitrade (Mitrade Holding Ltd, Cayman Islands, CIMA licence 1612446) is an app-only, spread-only broker that does not exclude Hong Kong and charges USD 10 a month after six months without trading. Its spreads are in-platform. Pepperstone offers a simpler Standard account on its own app with published pricing, a 0.01-lot minimum and demos on every platform, with no inactivity fee by its costs page. For a beginner the deciding factor is published pricing and a path to grow: Pepperstone has both. Run Pepperstone and your current broker side by side Open a Pepperstone demo in HKD, trade the HK50 and EUR/USD for a week, and put the fills next to your other account’s statement. Live pricing, every platform. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Pepperstone Markets Limited is licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217). It is not licensed by the Hong Kong SFC.
Is Pepperstone or Exness better?
Exness presents a Seychelles entity (Exness (SC) Ltd, FSA SD025) plus Curaçao, BVI, Belize and Mauritius entities, does not say which serves Hong Kong, and renders its spreads, deposit methods and fees in-platform; it states that it charges no management fees. We could verify nothing else from its site. Pepperstone’s entity, regulator, loss rate, spreads, commission and fees are all published and dated. On transparency alone, Pepperstone.
What are the best alternatives to Exness in Hong Kong?
Pepperstone and IC Markets for raw spreads with published figures; Capital.com for breadth. If an SFC licence is the priority and FX is all you trade, ATFX’s Hong Kong company.
Pepperstone vs Vantage: which is better for trading gold?
Vantage does not serve Hong Kong residents, by its own footer, so for a Hong Kong trader the question is moot. Pepperstone’s gold averaged 0.12 points on Razor in August 2026 at 200:1 retail leverage on the Bahamas entity.
Pepperstone vs XM: which is better?
XM Global Limited (Belize FSC, 8557558) advertises spreads “as low as 0.8 pips” and a USD 5 minimum deposit; its instrument tables did not render, so we could not verify EUR/USD, HK50 or fees. Pepperstone’s Razor all-in cost of about 0.8 pips on EUR/USD matches XM’s best-case headline, with a dated average behind it and raw pricing on cTrader and TradingView, which XM does not offer. Open a Pepperstone account Dated spreads, HKD accounts, five platforms, 46 Hong Kong share CFDs at 0.20%. Not SFC-licensed, no weekend HK50 — stated plainly in the notice below. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Pepperstone Markets Limited is licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217). It is not licensed by the Hong Kong SFC.
Pepperstone vs IG: which is better for trading in Hong Kong?
Pepperstone on published cost (0.1-pip EUR/USD dated August 2026, 0.20% Hong Kong shares, raw Razor account, HKD accounts, five platforms); IG for weekend Hang Seng trading and breadth on its own platform. Both serve Hong Kong from offshore entities without an SFC licence.
Pepperstone vs IC Markets, which has lower spreads?
On the HK50, Pepperstone (5 points dated vs 8.169 undated). On EUR/USD they are comparable at USD 3.50 commission per side; IC Markets’ own page gives two different averages.
Pepperstone vs Capital.com: which has lower fees?
Both are Bahamas entities. Pepperstone is cheaper on published forex pricing and avoids conversion with HKD accounts; Capital.com charges no commission on share CFDs but a 0.7% conversion fee and publishes no averages.
Is Pepperstone or Exness better for Hong Kong traders?
Pepperstone, on transparency: its entity, loss rate, spreads and fees are published and dated. Exness does not say which entity serves Hong Kong and renders its pricing in-platform.
How does Pepperstone compare with ATFX?
ATFX’s Hong Kong company is SFC-licensed for leveraged FX only, at EUR/USD from 1.8 pips; Pepperstone is offshore (Bahamas) with the full CFD range at 0.1 pips plus commission. Licence versus cost and range.
Pepperstone vs Vantage in Hong Kong?
Vantage does not serve Hong Kong residents, by its own site, so Pepperstone by default.