Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs Alpari, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
ActivTrades, established in 2001, and Alpari, founded in 1998, are both online brokerage firms not publicly listed on any stock exchange and do not operate as banks. When it comes to regulation, ActivTrades holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting a strong commitment to trust and transparency. On the other hand, Alpari does not hold any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, indicating a different regulatory landscape.
ActivTrades scores an 81 on ForexBrokers.com's Trust Score, placing it in the trusted category, while Alpari scores 68, suggesting a higher risk according to the same scale. These scores give prospective users a straightforward indication of reliability and risk when considering where to invest their money.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers ActivTrades and Alpari, there are several points to consider. ActivTrades is notable for its slightly better-than-average spreads, although it's not the top choice among low-cost forex brokers. With a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ActivTrades stands at #28 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. The broker provides multiple account types including Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts, with spreads consistent across these options. However, there are no special pricing structures for high-volume traders.
Alpari also receives a 4-star rating for its commissions and fees but ranks slightly lower at #41 in the same category by ForexBrokers.com. Specific average spread data for Alpari is not provided, making direct comparisons a bit challenging. Both brokers cater to different trading needs by offering distinct account types, including demo accounts, allowing traders to practice without real financial risk. Still, ActivTrades seems to offer a slight edge in the spread comparison.
For those particularly focused on spreads, it's essential to note that with ActivTrades, the average spread for the EUR/USD in May 2024 was reported at 0.98 pips. Spreads can vary depending on various factors like the time of trading, and while ActivTrades targets specific spreads, the real-time numbers might differ during trading sessions. Ultimately, the choice between these two will hinge on specific trading needs, particularly the type of assets you plan to trade and how these spreads align with your strategy.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the variety of investments available, ActivTrades stands out with a broad selection, offering 1,267 tradeable symbols compared to Alpari's 105. Both brokers provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, with ActivTrades offering 49 tradeable forex pairs and Alpari offering 46. While neither platform supports the purchase of individual U.S. exchange-listed securities, they do allow for trading on international exchanges where you can buy shares like Vodafone. Both platforms also offer the option for copy trading, allowing less experienced traders to follow and replicate the trades of more seasoned investors.
ActivTrades further distinguishes itself by enabling users to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, though not the actual cryptocurrencies, a feature also provided by Alpari. This more extensive range of investments has earned ActivTrades a four-star rating for its range of offerings, versus a three-star rating for Alpari. In the ForexBrokers.com ranking, ActivTrades is placed at number 31 out of 63 for its investment range, while Alpari is ranked at number 63. This comparison highlights ActivTrades as a more versatile option for traders seeking diversity in their investment portfolio.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing online brokers ActivTrades and Alpari, both offer a host of trading platforms and tools aimed at enhancing the traders' experience. Each broker provides a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to hone their skills without financial risk. Traders can also enjoy the benefits of proprietary platforms developed in-house by both companies. Support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 is robust with each offering these popular platforms along with Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based browser platforms. While neither broker offers integration with DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, the ability to engage in copy trading remains available. Both brokers offer robust charting capabilities, including 15 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from the charts.
Differentiating between the two, ActivTrades edges ahead with a larger number of watch list columns, offering 11 compared to Alpari's 7, providing more fields for traders to monitor their assets. Both brokers have received a 4-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. However, based on ForexBrokers.com's rankings, ActivTrades stands at the 30th position among 63 brokers, surpassing Alpari, which ranks 55th. This indicates a slight advantage in platform offerings and tools, making ActivTrades a compelling option for trades seeking a comprehensive suite of trading resources.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of ActivTrades and Alpari, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android users, providing a range of features geared towards facilitating stock and forex trading on the go. Both platforms alert users to price changes and support drawing trendlines on charts, with the ability to switch between different time frames, such as daily or weekly views. Additionally, users can create watchlists with real-time quotes in both apps. However, when it comes to syncing these watchlists between devices and online accounts, neither ActivTrades nor Alpari offers this feature.
Despite offering an equivalent suite of 30 technical studies for charting, ActivTrades holds an edge over Alpari as it provides the option to auto-save drawings on charts within the app, a feature missing from Alpari. This slight advantage is reflected in their respective rankings: ActivTrades is positioned at #19 by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers, while Alpari finds itself at #56. Both apps share a respectable four-star rating, making them reliable choices for mobile trading, but ActivTrades appears to offer a slightly more comprehensive experience for those who value consistent chart work across sessions.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing ActivTrades and Alpari for market research features, significant differences emerge. ActivTrades provides daily market commentary, ensuring traders have the latest insights. Both brokers offer forex news from esteemed sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, allowing users to stay updated with global financial trends. While Alpari incorporates advanced tools like Autochartist for technical analysis, ActivTrades stands out by offering sentiment-based trading tools that reveal long or short position ratios, a feature not available with Alpari. Both platforms provide economic calendars to track major global events, aiding traders in planning their strategies effectively.
In terms of overall research quality, ActivTrades receives a commendable rating of 4 stars compared to Alpari’s 3 stars, highlighting a more satisfactory user experience. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, with ActivTrades positioned at #30 out of 63 brokers for research, while Alpari ranks considerably lower at #57. With their distinct offerings, ActivTrades appears to have a more comprehensive market research suite, although traders valuing specific technical analysis tools might still find appeal in Alpari's offerings.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners seeking educational resources in forex or CFDs trading, both ActivTrades and Alpari present viable options. ActivTrades takes the lead by offering an extensive array of educational materials. Beginners will find over ten pieces of content such as articles and videos dedicated to forex trading, complemented by a significant number of beginner-focused educational videos. Additionally, ActivTrades ensures clients stay informed with at least one educational webinar each month, and it maintains a searchable archive of these sessions for future reference. While it lacks a comprehensive investor dictionary, ActivTrades provides advanced educational videos for more experienced traders, further enhancing its educational offerings and earning it a commendable four-star rating. This dedication to education positions ActivTrades at #38 out of 63 brokers in the Education category, as ranked by ForexBrokers.com.
Alpari also equips beginners with essential educational resources, offering over ten educational pieces alongside videos specifically aimed at novice traders. However, it falls short in several areas compared to ActivTrades. Alpari does not provide monthly educational webinars, nor does it have a searchable archive of past webinars for clients. While beginners can benefit from the presence of an investor dictionary with definitions of more than 50 investing terms, the selection does not extend to advanced educational content. These limitations contribute to its three-star education rating and a #48 ranking by ForexBrokers.com. Despite this, Alpari remains a solid option for traders who are just starting out in the world of forex or CFDs.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that ActivTrades is better than Alpari. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
ActivTrades is a long-standing brand that offers a proprietary trading platform, ActivTrader, and support for the award-winning TradingView and MetaTrader (MT4 and MT5) platforms. ActivTrades also delivers a selection of custom add-ons, indicators, and trading tools for traders who prefer to use MetaTrader. Drawbacks for trading with ActivTrades include a smaller selection of tradeable symbols and fewer educational resources than what’s available from the best forex brokers.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 81 | 68 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both ActivTrades and Alpari do not provide options for purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they each offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers ActivTrades and Alpari, both do not offer ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal for account transactions, but they do provide Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing funds.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 81 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 81 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill