Pepperstone vs Exness: Which Broker Is Best for Singapore Traders in 2026?
Which broker is better for Singapore traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Singapore traders in 2026, choosing between Pepperstone and Exness is a critical decision. Both brokers rank among the best globally, with Pepperstone scoring 4.9/5 and Exness 4.8/5 on CompareBroker.io. Singapore’s vibrant forex market demands low costs, fast execution, and reliable local support. Pepperstone is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and offers direct access to major liquidity providers, making it a top pick for scalpers and algorithmic traders. Exness, while not MAS-regulated, provides flexible leverage up to 1:2000 and a wide range of account types, including a 0.0 spread account. Both brokers support Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT deposits, catering to Singapore’s diverse payment preferences. Whether you trade forex, indices, or commodities, this comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your strategy and local needs.
| Instrument | Pepperstone | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Exness |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Exness |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Exness |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Exness |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $0 | $10 | Pepperstone |
| Inactivity fee | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
When comparing trading costs for Singapore traders, Pepperstone edges ahead with tighter spreads and lower commissions. On the Razor account, spreads start from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD with a $3.50 commission per lot, ideal for high-volume scalpers. Exness’s Zero account matches this but with a $3.50 commission per lot. For low-volume traders, Pepperstone’s Standard account offers no commission with spreads from 1.0 pips, while Exness’s Standard account has spreads from 1.3 pips. Over 100 lots per month, Pepperstone saves you approximately $20 in spread costs, a significant advantage for active Singapore traders.
| Account Type | Pepperstone | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Min deposit | $0 | $10 |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entity / Asset | Pepperstone | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:2000 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Margin call level | 80% | 80% |
| Stop out level | 50% | 50% |
| Asset Class | Pepperstone | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Pepperstone |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | Pepperstone |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | Pepperstone |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Exness |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Options | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Futures | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Pepperstone | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✓ Exclusive | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed spreads | ✗ | ✗ |
| Variable spreads | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the most popular platforms among Singapore traders. Pepperstone also provides cTrader, known for its advanced charting and depth of market, appealing to professional traders. Exness offers WebTerminal and mobile apps, but lacks cTrader. For Singapore traders who rely on automated trading, Pepperstone’s VPS service is more robust. Exness’s platform is simpler, making it better for beginners. Both support copy trading through third-party providers, but Pepperstone’s integration with TradingView is a plus for technical analysts.
| Factor | Pepperstone | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Exness |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Pepperstone |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Dealing desk | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| News trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Execution quality is a strength for both brokers. Pepperstone offers ultra-fast execution with an average speed of 30-40 milliseconds, thanks to its direct market access (DMA) and multiple liquidity providers. Exness also offers fast execution at 50-60 milliseconds, but its order book is less transparent. For scalpers in Singapore, Pepperstone’s lower latency and no requotes are critical. Exness’s execution is reliable for swing traders but may slip during news events. Overall, Pepperstone wins on execution for high-frequency traders.
| Safety Factor | Pepperstone | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Reg number | #684312 | #730729 |
| Verify registration | Verify ↗ | Verify ↗ |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is a key differentiator for Singapore traders. Pepperstone is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence, offering the highest level of local protection. Exness is regulated by the FSCA (South Africa) and CySEC (Cyprus), but not by MAS. While Exness is legal for Singapore residents, it lacks the same investor compensation scheme. Pepperstone’s MAS regulation means your funds are held in segregated accounts with a local bank, providing peace of mind. For traders prioritising regulatory safety, Pepperstone is the clear winner in Singapore.
| Payment Method | Pepperstone | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal time | Same business day if submitted before 07:00 AEST; otherwise next business day; bank wire several days | 24/7 automated; 98% instant to 24hrs; mobile money often instant; bank transfer 1-3 days |
| Min withdrawal | $50 | $50 |
Depositing and withdrawing funds is seamless for Singapore traders at both brokers. Pepperstone supports Bank Transfer (free, 1-3 days), Skrill (instant), Neteller (instant), and USDT (crypto, instant). It also accepts PayNow and GrabPay for instant local deposits. Exness supports Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, but lacks PayNow. Minimum deposits are $200 for Pepperstone and $10 for Exness, making Exness more accessible. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours at both brokers, with no fees. For Singapore traders using USDT, both brokers offer zero-fee crypto deposits, a growing trend in the region.
| Islamic Account Feature | Pepperstone | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gold swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crypto swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both brokers cater to Singapore’s Muslim traders with Islamic (swap-free) accounts. Pepperstone offers Islamic accounts on request, with no swap charges on overnight positions across all account types. Exness provides swap-free accounts automatically on its Standard and Zero accounts, but not on Raw Spread accounts. Both brokers comply with Sharia law, but Pepperstone’s policy is more transparent, with no hidden fees. For Muslim traders in Singapore, Pepperstone’s Islamic account is slightly more favourable due to its consistent application across all instruments.
| Support Feature | Pepperstone | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✓ | Exness |
| 24/5 support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Pepperstone |
Customer support is crucial for Singapore traders. Pepperstone offers 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support with a dedicated Singapore office, ensuring local language assistance. Exness provides 24/7 live chat and email support, but lacks a local Singapore presence. Pepperstone’s response times are faster, averaging under 30 seconds for live chat. Exness’s support is still good but may have longer wait times during peak hours. For Singapore traders, Pepperstone’s local support is a significant advantage.
| Mobile Feature | Pepperstone | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5★ | 4.3★ | Pepperstone |
| Google Play rating | 4.3★ | 4.2★ | Pepperstone |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Mobile deposit/withdrawal | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✓ | ✗ | Pepperstone |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Resource | Pepperstone | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Pepperstone |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | Pepperstone |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Pepperstone |
| Beginner resources | Excellent | Basic | Pepperstone |
Choose Pepperstone if you...
- Are a scalper or day trader needing ultra-low spreads and fast execution.
- Value MAS regulation and local investor protection in Singapore.
- Use cTrader or automated trading strategies (VPS).
- Prefer instant local deposits via PayNow or GrabPay.
Choose Exness if you...
- Need very high leverage (up to 1:2000) for small accounts.
- Are a beginner with a low minimum deposit ($10).
- Trade with USDT and want zero-fee crypto deposits.
- Prefer a simple platform with fewer account options.
For Singapore traders in 2026, Pepperstone is the superior choice overall, scoring 4.9/5 compared to Exness’s 4.8/5. Its MAS regulation provides unmatched local protection, while its lower spreads, faster execution, and support for PayNow and GrabPay make it ideal for active traders. Exness is a strong alternative for beginners or those needing high leverage and low minimum deposits. Both brokers support Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, but Pepperstone’s transparency and local office give it an edge. If you prioritise regulatory safety and cost efficiency, choose Pepperstone. If flexibility and accessibility matter more, Exness is a solid pick.