Alpari International vs OANDA Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Alpari International and OANDA 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
NFA- and FCA-regulated with strong US/UK coverage, transparent historical pricing, and excellent research.
Our Verdict
OANDA winsClear Winner
OANDA comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.6/5 compared to Alpari International's 3.9/5.
OANDA
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 1 pips for OANDA, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
OANDA has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Best for active traders
Recommended
Alpari International has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
OANDA offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
OANDA 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 OANDA: 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 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 1998 | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Port Louis, Mauritius | New York, United States |
| Min deposit | $5 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 1 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 1000:1 | 50:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free for ACH |
| Regulators | FSCA FSC | FCA CMF ASIC NFA CBI |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Alpari International | Visit OANDA |
Alpari International vs OANDA 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 (NFA-registered)
Best-in-class research and economic data
No minimum deposit
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
Spreads slightly wider than ECN-style brokers
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
Alpari International vs OANDA: 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
OANDA
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Alpari International | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| 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 |
Alpari International vs OANDA: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, OANDA 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 OANDA may each suit different trader profiles.
Alpari International offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to OANDA's spreads from 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
OANDA has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Alpari International requires at least $5. This makes OANDA more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
OANDA holds top-tier regulation (FCA, CMF, ASIC), 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: OANDA has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; OANDA 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 OANDA 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 on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Alpari International supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and OANDA offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; OANDA exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
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Score 3.9 / 5
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