Yes. Pepperstone Pro is open to Australians who qualify as wholesale clients, either through trading experience plus a short quiz or through wealth certified by a qualified accountant. It offers leverage up to 500:1, rebates and a free VPS, but you give up ASIC's retail leverage caps, most negative balance protection and the 50% close-out.
Short answer: Pepperstone Pro suits experienced, high-volume traders; for most people the retail protections are worth more.
Wealth test: net assets of at least AUD 2.5 million or gross income of AUD 250,000 a year for the last two financial years, certified by a qualified accountant.
Experience test at Pepperstone: 20 leveraged trades a quarter over four quarters in the past two years, each at least AUD 50,000 notional, or a year in a relevant professional role, plus a quiz.
Pro leverage at Pepperstone reaches 500:1 on major forex and gold; at Capital.com, 500:1 on major currencies.
Pepperstone Pro: one-time negative balance protection up to USD 100,000 and a 20% margin close-out on MT4, MT5 and its platform.
Pro clients get no PDS or FSG as of right, and AFCA may decline their complaints.
How to apply at Pepperstone
Log in to the secure client area, click Apply for Pro, choose Sophisticated Investor or Wealth Applicant and follow the steps. Trading history from other brokers counts, and several smaller trades in the same direction that add up to AUD 50,000 may count as one qualifying trade.
Pepperstone will still offer its internal dispute service free of charge, but read its Wholesale Client Information Statement before you switch: it sets out what changes.
Pro account with rebates
Leverage up to 500:1, rebates of 10% to 30% for high volumes, netted margin on hedged positions and free VPS for qualifying traders.
Pepperstone's Australian site does not publish a retail-loss percentage. Its AU risk warning: "Trading CFDs and margin FX is risky. It isn't suitable for everyone."
Pro account alternative
Capital.com Pro offers higher leverage, monthly cash rebates and priority support, without negative balance protection.
Capital.com's Australian site does not publish a retail-loss percentage. Its AU risk line: "Most traders lose money."
Pepperstone, Capital.com and XS are our partners. We may earn a commission if you open an account through our links. That does not change the facts on this page.
Your questions, answered
How do I qualify as a wholesale client for a pro trading account in Australia?
Under the Corporations Act there are two main routes. The wealth route, section 761G(7), needs a qualified accountant's certificate showing net assets of at least AUD 2.5 million or gross income of AUD 250,000 a year for two years. The sophisticated investor route, section 761GA, lets the broker classify you if it is satisfied you have the experience to assess the product's merits and risks. Brokers set their own evidence tests.
What leverage do pro trading accounts get in Australia?
At Pepperstone, Pro leverage goes up to 500:1 on major and minor forex and gold, 400:1 on major indices, 100:1 on minor indices, 50:1 on soft commodities, 20:1 on energy, shares and ETFs, and 10:1 on Bitcoin and Ether, with other coins staying at 2:1. Capital.com Pro reaches 500:1 on major currencies. Leverage this high means a 0.2% move can wipe out your margin.
What is the difference between a pro and a retail trading account in Australia?
Retail accounts carry ASIC's leverage caps, negative balance protection, a 50% close-out, a PDS and full AFCA access. Pro accounts drop most of that in exchange for higher leverage, rebates and premium service. At Pepperstone the close-out drops to 20%, and negative balance protection becomes a one-time cover of up to USD 100,000. Capital.com says design and distribution obligations don't apply to Pro clients either.
What protections do you lose with a pro trading account?
You lose the protections of ASIC's product intervention order: retail leverage caps, the 50% margin close-out and negative balance protection beyond any cover the broker chooses to give. You may not receive a PDS or FSG, the broker can assume you understand the products, and AFCA can decline to hear your complaint because you're a wholesale client.
Can I use a sophisticated investor certificate to open a pro trading account?
Usually, yes, if what you mean is a qualified accountant's certificate under the wealth test. Pepperstone and Capital.com both accept one showing net assets of AUD 2.5 million or more, or gross income of AUD 250,000 a year for two years, under section 761G(7). Pepperstone's separate Sophisticated Investor route is based on trading experience instead and also needs its online quiz.
Which Australian brokers offer pro trading accounts?
Pepperstone (Pepperstone Pro), Capital.com (Pro account), IC Markets (a Pro option on its Australian site) and Plus500 (professional investors) all offer them through their Australian firms. Each applies its own evidence tests on top of the Corporations Act. Compare what each keeps for Pro clients: Plus500 says Pro clients keep most retail protections, while Capital.com says negative balance protection doesn't apply.
Which brokers offer 500:1 leverage to pro traders in Australia?
Pepperstone offers up to 500:1 to Pro clients on major and minor forex pairs and gold, and Capital.com up to 500:1 on major currencies, both through their ASIC-licensed Australian firms. Higher figures such as 1:1000 or more appear on some brands' offshore websites; those come from entities outside ASIC, without its rules.
What are the eligibility criteria for a pro trading account in Australia?
Thresholds differ by firm. Pepperstone's experience test needs 20 leveraged trades a quarter for four quarters within two years, each with notional value of at least AUD 50,000. Capital.com's needs 20 trades a quarter for four quarters within two years, with a minimum notional of AUD 500,000 a quarter. Both also accept a year of relevant professional work, plus a test, or the AUD 2.5 million or AUD 250,000 wealth test.
Is a pro account worth it for CFD trading?
For most traders, no. The rebates only start at 200 forex lots a month at Pepperstone, and the lower 20% close-out means a losing position can run further before it is cut. It can make sense if you trade large volumes, hedge positions that benefit from netted margin or need leverage above retail caps for a strategy you've tested. Keep the retail account if you're unsure.
Published 2026-10-21. Informational only, not investment advice. CFDs are leveraged products and most retail accounts lose money.
Pro account with rebates
Pro account alternative