A head-to-head comparison of Alpari International and Forex.com 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.
One of very few brokers accepting US retail forex clients, with deep research tools and competitive raw spreads for professional accounts.
Forex.com edges ahead with a score of 4.2/5 vs Alpari International's 3.9/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
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 1 pips for Forex.com, reducing trading costs.
Forex.com has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Alpari International has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0 pips, lower commission ($6/lot).
Forex.com offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
Forex.com edges out Alpari International with a higher editorial score (4.2/5 vs 3.9/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 1998 | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Port Louis, Mauritius | Bedminster, New Jersey, USA |
| Min deposit | $5 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 1 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 1000:1 | 50:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FSCA FSC | FCA ASIC CFTC NFA MAS IIROC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Alpari International | Visit Forex.com |
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
One of the few brokers accepting US retail forex clients
Deep research tools including macro analysis
Raw spread account with competitive $7 round-turn commission
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
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
$100 minimum deposit is higher than some peers
US clients restricted to 50:1 leverage on major pairs
Raw account pricing not available in all jurisdictions
Inactivity fee applies
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Alpari International | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| 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, Forex.com ranks higher with a score of 4.2/5 vs 3.9/5 for Alpari International. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Alpari International and Forex.com may each suit different trader profiles.
Alpari International offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Forex.com's spreads from 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Alpari International has a lower minimum deposit of $5, while Forex.com requires at least $100. This makes Alpari International more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Forex.com holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, CFTC), 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: Alpari International has a lower minimum deposit ($5), lowering the barrier to entry; Forex.com 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 Forex.com offers up to 50:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Alpari International charges $6 per lot, lower than Forex.com's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Alpari International supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and Forex.com offers MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; Forex.com exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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