A head-to-head comparison of Alpari International and Exness across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Historic retail forex brand regulated by FSC Mauritius, offering MT4 and MT5 with ECN and Standard accounts, widely recognised in the CIS and emerging markets but operating under an offshore licence since the Alpari UK collapse.
Exceptional value for developing-market traders - instant withdrawals, $1 minimum deposit, and ultra-competitive raw spread pricing.
Exness comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.4/5 compared to Alpari International's 3.9/5.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Alpari International offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.3 pips for Exness, reducing trading costs.
Exness has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Both brokers offer equivalent trading costs across spreads, commissions, and account types.
Exness edges out Alpari International with a higher editorial score (4.4/5 vs 3.9/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.4/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
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 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.3 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $3.5/lot |
| Max leverage | 1000:1 | 2000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FSCA FSC | FCA FSCA CySEC OJK |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Alpari International | Visit Exness |
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
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
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 |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Exness ranks higher with a score of 4.4/5 vs 3.9/5 for Alpari International. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Alpari International and Exness may each suit different trader profiles.
Alpari International offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Exness's spreads from 0.3 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Exness has a lower minimum deposit of $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, CySEC), providing stronger investor protections. Alpari International may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Always verify regulatory status with the broker directly before depositing funds.
For beginners: Exness has a lower minimum deposit ($1), lowering the barrier to entry; Exness offers negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Alpari International offers maximum leverage of 1000:1, while Exness offers up to 2000:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
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 4, MetaTrader 5 and Exness offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
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