Which broker is better for Singapore traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Singapore remains one of Asia's most active forex trading hubs, with sophisticated investors demanding low costs, fast execution, and robust regulation. In this comparison, we pit EasyMarkets against Pepperstone for Singapore traders in 2025. Pepperstone scores an impressive 4.9/5, while EasyMarkets lags at 3.4/5, reflecting significant differences in spreads, platforms, and local support. Both brokers accept SGD deposits via PayNow, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card, making them accessible. However, Pepperstone's MAS licence and raw ECN pricing give it a clear edge for experienced traders. EasyMarkets offers fixed spreads and a user-friendly platform, but its higher costs and less advanced features may frustrate those accustomed to Singapore's competitive trading environment. This guide breaks down every key factor for local traders.
| Instrument | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Pepperstone |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Pepperstone |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Pepperstone |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Pepperstone |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $25 | $0 | Pepperstone |
Spread costs are a critical factor for Singapore traders, especially those dealing in high volumes. Pepperstone's Razor account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD with a commission of AUD 7 per lot round turn, translating to extremely low all-in costs. Its Standard account has no commission and spreads from 1.0 pips. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads, typically 1.5 pips on EUR/USD and higher on USD/SGD pairs, with no commission but no possibility of tighter spreads. For a trader executing 10 lots per day, Pepperstone's Razor account can save hundreds of SGD monthly. Pepperstone also passes on lower swap rates, beneficial for overnight positions in SGD pairs.
| Account Type | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $25 | $0 |
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:1000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:1000 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | EasyMarkets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | EasyMarkets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | EasyMarkets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Pepperstone |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Platform choice matters for Singapore's sophisticated traders. Pepperstone offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView, all of which support advanced charting, algorithmic trading, and custom indicators. EasyMarkets provides its proprietary web platform and mobile app, along with MT4. While EasyMarkets' platform is clean and beginner-friendly, it lacks the depth of order types and execution speed demanded by professional traders. Singapore traders who rely on EA trading or scalping will find Pepperstone's cTrader and MT5 far more suitable. Both brokers offer demo accounts, but Pepperstone's platform ecosystem is superior.
| Factor | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Pepperstone |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | EasyMarkets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
Execution quality separates professional brokers from the rest. Pepperstone uses raw ECN pricing with low-latency connectivity to banks and non-bank liquidity providers, offering average execution speeds under 30 milliseconds. EasyMarkets uses a market maker model with fixed spreads, resulting in slower fills and potential requotes during volatile news events. For Singapore traders who scalp or trade during high-impact data releases like MAS policy statements, Pepperstone's straight-through processing (STP) and no dealing desk (NDD) model provide slippage protection and faster order execution. EasyMarkets' dealing desk intervention can reduce performance.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is paramount for Singapore traders, and here Pepperstone holds a distinct advantage. Pepperstone is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under a Capital Markets Services licence, providing direct oversight and compliance with local laws. It also holds licences from ASIC and the FCA. EasyMarkets is regulated by CySEC (Cyprus) and ASIC, but does not have a MAS licence. This means Singapore traders with EasyMarkets are not covered by the MAS' investor protection schemes, such as the SDIC up to SGD 75,000. For sophisticated investors in Singapore, Pepperstone's MAS regulation offers greater peace of mind and legal recourse.
| Payment Method | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) | 24 hours to 5 business days if submitted before 07:00 AEST |
Both brokers facilitate local SGD deposits for Singapore traders. Pepperstone supports PayNow for instant deposits with no fees, plus bank transfers (free and processed within 1 business day) and credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard). Withdrawals are similarly quick – PayNow withdrawals processed same-day, bank transfers in 1-2 days. EasyMarkets also accepts PayNow, bank transfers, and credit cards. However, EasyMarkets' bank transfers can take 2-3 business days and may incur intermediary fees. Credit card deposits are instant at both, but Pepperstone offers faster overall withdrawal processing. The minimum deposit at Pepperstone is SGD 200 (via PayNow), while EasyMarkets requires SGD 250. For convenience, Pepperstone edges ahead for Singapore traders.
| Islamic Account Feature | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
For Singapore's Muslim traders, both brokers offer swap-free (Islamic) accounts that comply with Sharia law by not charging or paying overnight interest. Pepperstone provides Islamic accounts on both Standard and Razor account types, with no additional fees or limited swap-free periods. EasyMarkets also offers Islamic accounts, but traders must contact support to activate them, and the terms may include a cap on the number of days positions can be held. Pepperstone's Islamic accounts are more transparent and available at signup, with competitive spreads on major pairs. Hence, Pepperstone is generally the preferred choice for Singapore Muslim traders seeking flexibility and low costs.
| Support Feature | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | EasyMarkets |
Customer support is vital for traders in Singapore's 24-hour market. Pepperstone offers 24/5 multi-lingual support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated Singapore-based team handling queries in English and Mandarin. EasyMarkets provides 24/5 support via live chat, email, and phone, but its team is mostly based overseas, leading to longer response times during Asian hours. Pepperstone also has a comprehensive knowledge base and webinars tailored to local traders. For sophisticated investors demanding quick resolutions, Pepperstone's support is more reliable.
| Mobile Feature | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✓ | Pepperstone |
| Resource | EasyMarkets | Pepperstone | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
Choose Pepperstone if you...
For Singapore traders in 2025, Pepperstone is clearly the superior broker over EasyMarkets. With an overall rating of 4.9/5 against 3.4/5, Pepperstone dominates in spreads, platforms, regulation, and local support. Its MAS licence provides crucial protection for Singapore residents, while EasyMarkets' lack of local regulation is a significant drawback. Both accept PayNow, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card deposits, but Pepperstone processes them faster. Sophisticated investors in Singapore's financial hub will benefit from Pepperstone's raw ECN pricing and advanced platforms. EasyMarkets remains an option for beginners who prioritise fixed costs, but for serious trading, Pepperstone is the definitive choice.