"I think, to a degree, they are," said Pressley, voicing his frustration at competing for new players.
"You are finding clubs at this moment of time that they are offering them money that they really can't afford and it's an unfair advantage."
Pressley's side sit bottom of the Scottish Premier League and face the prospect of relegation to the First Division next season.
I think that many other clubs need to take a look at themselves and also the authorities need to take a look at themselves
Falkirk manager Steven Pressley
And the former Celtic and Hearts defender fears that his own club's investment in their infrastructure - their youth academy, their stadium and other facilities - could see them disadvantaged compared to clubs spending to ensure a short-term advantage.
"It is to the credit to our board, the directors here, who have seen that and had that vision to manage the club in such a way," said Pressley.
"I think that many other clubs need to take a look at themselves and also the authorities need to take a look at themselves.
"Football clubs like Falkirk are examples to many of what the authorities are looking for within the game yet we get penalised in other areas."
Pressley realises that clubs are working within the present rules but thinks football's governing bodies must act to help clubs with better financial management compete for players.
"The clubs should only be able to offer them what they can within their budget," he said.
"There has to be a more even playing field. I think it is certainly something that Uefa is looking at, but our own authorities need to look at.
"I've got no gripe, I actually think it is great to work within your budget. I think that is how it should be at all football clubs.
"I am not complaining about my own budget. What I am saying is that other clubs should come in line."
Portsmouth have been deducted points in England after entering administration and the same has happened in Scotland in previous seasons, but Pressley believes the authorities need to act before extreme scenarios come into play.
"If you look at, for example, Portsmouth in the English Premier League, it's only this year that their mis-spending has really surfaced," he said.
"Obviously that has been going on for the past couple of seasons and nobody looks at the other teams have been relegated during that time.
"The other clubs who have been relegated during Portsmouth's period in the English Premiership have possibly managed their finances correctly and nobody thinks about them.
Pressley is aware of the impact relegation would have on Falkirk, where he took charge when Eddie May stood down in January.
"Of course it would be severe," he said. "We're a club in the SPL at this moment in time and you budget for being in the SPL and it's a concern.
"Obviously we aren't, at this moment, considering, on the football front, relegation, but it would certainly be a hammer blow for this football club."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport