Alpari International and Exness face off on regulation, pricing and platforms. The tension centers on safety nets and pricing that matter to traders across regions.
Exness edges Alpari International on the editorial score, reflecting stronger regulation and investor protection.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Alpari International if…
Choose Alpari International if you value a long-standing brand with MT4/MT5 access and an ECN option.
Choose Exness if…
Choose Exness if you want top-tier regulation, investor protection, and a $1 minimum deposit.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Alpari International offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.30 pips for Exness, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.4/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 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 | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| 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 |
Exness rates 4.4/5 versus 3.9/5 for Alpari International. Exness edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Alpari International starts from 0 pips, tighter than Exness's 0.3 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Exness has $1, while Alpari International requires at least $5. This makes Exness more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Exness holds top-tier regulation (FCA, FSCA, OJK), 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.
Exness 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 Exness lists up to 2000:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Exness charges $3.5 per lot, lower than Alpari International's $6 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Alpari International supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Exness supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Exness wins for safety and regulation due to top-tier authorities and investor protections.
Exness wins for active traders due to advanced charting tools and high-volume execution.
Exness is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($3.5/lot).
Exness wins for beginners with a $1 minimum deposit and straightforward funding.
Alpari International wins in instrument variety with 250 tradable instruments.
Equally matched; both offer MT4 and MT5 with no proprietary platform.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 2008 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Port Louis, Mauritius | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $5 | $1▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.3 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $3.5/lot▼ lower |
|---|
| 0.6 pips▼ lower | 0.65 pips |
| Max Leverage | 1,000:1 | 2,000:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCryptoP2P |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSC FSCA | FCA FSCA OJK CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 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
Near-unlimited leverage on offshore entity
Extremely low $1 minimum deposit on Standard account
Instant withdrawals available 24/7 including weekends
One of the world's highest-volume retail FX brokers
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
Not available to US residents
EU clients face significant leverage restrictions
Unlimited leverage carries extreme risk for inexperienced traders
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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