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Pepperstone vs IG for US stocks

IG gives you the actual share; Pepperstone gives leveraged exposure to the price without ownership. That is not a preference — it is a different product, with different tax, dividend and risk treatment.

Pick Pepperstone if non-US residents trading US shares as CFDs. Pick IG if UK and AU investors.

PepperstoneCFD — no ownership

A CFD and spread-betting broker, not a US stockbroker. It is on this site because for most non-US traders it is one of the few regulated routes to US-share exposure with leverage.

Visit Pepperstone
IGShares or CFD

One of the few names offering genuine share dealing and CFDs under one login, with the rules changing by jurisdiction.

Visit IG

Side by side

PepperstoneIG
What you holdA CFD on the priceThe share
US stock access1,000+ US share CFDsUS share dealing plus a large US share CFD list
Minimum depositNoneNone
Fractional sharesn/aNo
Published pricingUS share CFDs are commission-based on the Razor account and spread-based on Standard; overnight financing applies to positions held past the close.US share dealing commission is reduced or waived above a monthly trade count in supported regions; CFD costs are separate.
PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingViewIG web, IG mobile, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4
Extended hoursSelected US share CFDs only — check the instrument scheduleOut-of-hours pricing on selected US shares
RegulationFCA 684312, ASIC 414530, CySEC 388/20, DFSA F004356, BaFin 151148FCA 195355, ASIC 220440, MAS CMS100519
Founded20101974

Where each one wins

Pepperstone

  • Non-US residents trading US shares as CFDs
  • Leveraged short-term positions
  • MetaTrader and TradingView users
  • CFDs are leveraged: you do not own the share, get no shareholder rights, and can lose more than you expect
  • Not available to US residents

IG

  • UK and AU investors
  • Traders who want share dealing and CFDs side by side
  • Inactivity fees on dormant accounts
  • Product mix differs sharply by country

Frequently asked questions

Pepperstone or IG — which is better for US stocks?

IG gives you the actual share; Pepperstone gives leveraged exposure to the price without ownership. That is not a preference — it is a different product, with different tax, dividend and risk treatment. Pepperstone: non-US residents trading US shares as CFDs. IG: UK and AU investors.

Which is cheaper?

Pepperstone: US share CFDs are commission-based on the Razor account and spread-based on Standard; overnight financing applies to positions held past the close. IG: US share dealing commission is reduced or waived above a monthly trade count in supported regions; CFD costs are separate. Both figures are restated from each broker's own pricing page; for small non-USD accounts, currency conversion usually costs more than commission does.

Which is better regulated?

Pepperstone is authorised by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, BaFin; IG by FCA, ASIC, MAS. What matters is which entity holds your account, since that determines your compensation scheme and leverage limits.

Reviewed August 2026. Figures restated from each broker's published pages.