Two established forex brokers face off on trust, costs and platforms. The tension centers on regulation scope and instrument breadth.
Alpari International and BlackBull Markets remain closely matched overall. The clearest differentiator is instrument variety, with BlackBull offering far more tradable instruments.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Alpari International if…
Choose Alpari International if you want a low minimum deposit and a 26-year brand history.
Choose BlackBull Markets if…
Choose BlackBull Markets if you want MT4 MT5 and cTrader plus negative balance protection.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.00 pips.
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
Pros
26-year brand history in retail forex
Mature PAMM investor platform, one of the originals
ECN accounts with $6 per-lot commission competitive with top ECN desks
Wide geographic reach across CIS, MENA, and Africa
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Alpari International | BlackBull Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Fail |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Alpari International rates 3.9/5 and BlackBull Markets rates 4.1/5. BlackBull Markets has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Both Alpari International and BlackBull Markets start from 0 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
BlackBull Markets has no minimum deposit, while Alpari International requires at least $5. This makes BlackBull Markets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
BlackBull Markets holds top-tier regulation (FSC, FMA), providing stronger investor protections. Alpari International may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
BlackBull Markets stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Alpari International lists maximum leverage of 1000:1, while BlackBull Markets lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Both Alpari International and BlackBull Markets charge the same commission of $6 per lot on applicable accounts.
Alpari International supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while BlackBull Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, DXtrade, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. BlackBull Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and TradingView and DXtrade.
BlackBull Markets is favored for safety and regulation due to top-tier regulator status.
BlackBull Markets wins for active traders with MT4/MT5 and cTrader plus a large instrument universe.
Both brokers offer equivalent ECN conditions including raw spread accounts, commissions, and spread levels.
BlackBull Markets wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and DXtrade.
BlackBull Markets wins for beginners due to zero minimum deposit on standard account.
BlackBull Markets wins for instrument variety with around 26,000 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 2014 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Port Louis, Mauritius | Auckland, New Zealand |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $5 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips | 0 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $6/lot |
|---|
| 0.6 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Max Leverage | 1,000:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSC FSCA | FSC FMA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | cTrader MetaTrader 5 TradingView DXtrade MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Supports all three major platforms: MT4, MT5, and cTrader
Regulated under FSC, well-established for offshore clients
No minimum deposit on standard account
Good for Asia-Pacific timezone traders
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
FSC Mauritius licence, lower investor protection than FCA/ASIC/CySEC
Legacy of UK entity collapse in 2015 is a cautionary reference point
No top-tier regulatory licence for its core international client base
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
Cons
ECN commission of $6/lot round-turn is above some peers
Customer support timezone is NZ-centric
Brand recognition outside APAC is limited
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
Alpari InternationalvsPepperstone
Alpari InternationalvsFusion Markets
Alpari InternationalvsEightCap
Alpari InternationalvsThinkMarkets
Alpari InternationalvsGO Markets
Alpari InternationalvsAxi
Alpari InternationalvsHFM
Alpari InternationalvsHantec Markets
Alpari InternationalvsOANDA
Alpari InternationalvsFXTM
Personalised recommendation
Answer 6 quick questions and we’ll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker