Alpari International vs Interactive Brokers Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Alpari International and Interactive Brokers across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 3.9 / 5
2 bonusesHistoric 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.
VS
Score 4.6 / 5
2 bonusesListed broker with global market access, lowest financing rates we benchmark, and the powerful TWS workstation.
Our Verdict
Interactive Brokers winsClear Winner
Interactive Brokers comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.6/5 compared to Alpari International's 3.9/5.
Interactive Brokers
4.6/5
Alpari International
3.9/5
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
Alpari International offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.2 pips for Interactive Brokers, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
Interactive Brokers has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Best for active traders
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers offer equivalent trading costs across spreads, commissions, and account types.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
Interactive Brokers offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS), a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Interactive Brokers edges out Alpari International with a higher editorial score (4.6/5 vs 3.9/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
Alpari International vs Interactive Brokers: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 1998 | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Port Louis, Mauritius | Greenwich, United States |
| Min deposit | $5 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.2 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $2/lot |
| Max leverage | 1000:1 | 50:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | First withdrawal/month free |
| Regulators | FSCA FSC | SEC FCA CMF ASIC JFSA SEBI AMF SFC FINRA DFSA CMVM NFA IIROC CNV FSC CBI CNB MFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary Web/Mobile Trader Workstation (TWS) |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Alpari International | Visit Interactive Brokers |
Alpari International vs Interactive Brokers Forex Broker Pros & Cons
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
Available to US residents
Lowest margin rates in industry
150+ global markets
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
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
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Alpari International vs Interactive Brokers: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
2
Alpari International
criteria wins
5
Interactive Brokers
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Alpari International | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Alpari International vs Interactive Brokers: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Interactive Brokers ranks higher with a score of 4.6/5 vs 3.9/5 for Alpari International. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Alpari International and Interactive Brokers may each suit different trader profiles.
Alpari International offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Interactive Brokers's spreads from 0.2 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Interactive Brokers has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Alpari International requires at least $5. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Interactive Brokers holds top-tier regulation (SEC, FCA, CMF), 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: Interactive Brokers has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 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 Interactive Brokers offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS); Alpari International exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; Interactive Brokers exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS).
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Score 3.9 / 5
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