Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ATFX 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.
When comparing the online brokers ATFX and Alpari, it's clear that ATFX, which was founded in 2017, holds certain advantages in terms of trust and regulation. Despite being relatively new, ATFX has achieved a Trust Score of 85 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as a trusted broker. This is supported by its four Tier-1 licenses, which are highly regarded in the industry, and two Tier-2 licenses, adding to its credibility. It's worth noting that ATFX is neither publicly traded nor a bank, much like Alpari.
In contrast, Alpari, established in 1998, holds a notably lower Trust Score of 68, placing it in the high-risk category. Unlike ATFX, Alpari does not possess any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, which could affect its reliability in the eyes of traders. As with ATFX, Alpari is also not a public company or a banking institution. These factors highlight ATFX's stronger positioning in terms of regulatory compliance and client trust when compared to Alpari.
| Feature |
ATFX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2017 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers ATFX and Alpari, their commissions and fees differ significantly. ATFX, despite being a recognizable name in online trading, receives a moderate rating of 3 out of 5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, it ranks 60th out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. This ranking indicates that traders may encounter higher costs compared to other competitors, although specific average spread data is not provided.
On the other hand, Alpari offers a more favorable fee structure, earning a commendable 4 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees. Ranked at 41st out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Alpari stands out as a more cost-effective choice for traders, despite a lack of specific average spread details. This position suggests Alpari provides more competitive pricing, potentially benefiting traders seeking to minimize their trading expenses.
| Feature |
ATFX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $500 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 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.
ATFX and Alpari both offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, catering to those interested in currency markets. While ATFX provides a slightly broader range, with 150 tradeable symbols and 44 forex pairs, Alpari offers 105 tradeable symbols with 46 forex pairs. Neither broker supports the trading of U.S. exchange-listed securities, meaning clients cannot directly purchase shares of companies like Apple. However, Alpari does allow access to certain international exchanges, unlike ATFX, which does not offer any exchange-traded securities.
Both brokers accommodate copy trading and enable trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, but they do not offer the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Overall, ATFX earns a higher rating of 3.5 stars for its range of investments, compared to Alpari's 3 stars. Also, on ForexBrokers.com, ATFX ranks at #57 out of 63 brokers within the Range of Investments category, whereas Alpari comes in at #63. This comparison highlights ATFX's slightly greater appeal for traders seeking more diverse opportunities.
| Feature |
ATFX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 150 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 44 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 the trading platforms and tools offered by ATFX and Alpari, both brokers provide a variety of features to satisfy the needs of traders. Each offers a free virtual demo account for simulated trading, giving users a risk-free environment to practice their strategies. ATFX and Alpari provide both Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, ensuring accessibility across different devices. However, a notable distinction is that Alpari offers a proprietary platform developed in-house, while ATFX does not. Both brokers support popular trading software like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, allowing for a familiar experience for many traders. Additionally, both brokers make copy trading available but do not support third-party platforms like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In terms of charting tools, ATFX and Alpari match each other with 15 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts, enhancing the user experience for technical analysis. Each platform also provides 7 columns for watch lists, offering traders a streamlined way to track their chosen assets. Despite these similarities, Alpari holds a higher rating of 4 stars for their trading platforms and tools, compared to ATFX’s 3.5 stars. In the ranking of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for the Trading Platforms and Tools category, Alpari is positioned at #55, surpassing ATFX, which is ranked #62. This suggests a slight edge for Alpari in terms of user satisfaction and platform capabilities.
| Feature |
ATFX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ATFX and Alpari both offer mobile apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, featuring essential tools like stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. However, they fall short on watchlist symbol syncing, which means users must manually update their watchlists across platforms. ATFX offers only seven technical studies, compared to Alpari’s thirty, potentially limiting ATFX users who rely on detailed technical analysis. While both platforms allow for multiple time frame views, a noteworthy advantage for ATFX is its auto-save feature for chart drawings, a convenience not offered by Alpari.
When it comes to real-time quotes for watchlists, both apps meet this requirement effectively. Despite these capabilities, ATFX receives a rating of 3.5 stars for mobile trading apps, placing it at the bottom of ForexBrokers.com's list at #63. On the other hand, Alpari fares slightly better with a four-star rating and is ranked #56 among 63 brokers. These rankings suggest that while both apps cover basic trading needs, users might find Alpari appears to provide a slightly more comprehensive mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
ATFX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 7 | 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 ATFX and Alpari, each broker offers unique strengths in market research that cater to different trader needs. ATFX provides daily market commentary, which is not available with Alpari, and includes technical tools from both Autochartist and Trading Central, enhancing traders' analytical capabilities. However, ATFX lacks access to forex news from top-tier sources, which Alpari compensates for, making it a valuable resource for globally aware investors. Both brokers offer an economic calendar, but neither provides sentiment-based trading tools or market research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading.
Despite their differences, ATFX and Alpari both carry a research rating of 3 stars, reflecting a balanced offering of market research tools. Within the Research category, ATFX ranks at #54, marginally ahead of Alpari, which sits at #57 out of 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that while ATFX may have a slight edge in certain research tools, traders should carefully consider their specific needs and preferences when choosing between these two brokers.
| Feature |
ATFX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources available for beginners, both ATFX and Alpari offer a solid foundation for traders looking to learn about forex or CFDs. Each provides at least 10 educational pieces like articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on these subjects. Both brokers also cater to beginners specifically, with each offering a minimum of 10 educational videos dedicated to helping newcomers understand trading essentials. Moreover, both ATFX and Alpari have an investor dictionary featuring definitions of over 50 investing terms, making them helpful resources for those new to trading jargon.
Despite their similarities, ATFX distinguishes itself by offering a searchable archive of recorded client webinars, an option that Alpari does not provide. Although neither broker hosts regular live educational webinars for clients, having access to a collection of past webinars can be a valuable resource for self-paced learning. Both brokers receive a rating of 3 out of 5 stars in the education category; however, ATFX is ranked higher at #28 compared to Alpari's #48 ranking out of 63 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com. This difference suggests a slight edge for ATFX when considering education as a deciding factor for beginner traders.
| Feature |
ATFX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that ATFX is better than Alpari. ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
ATFX primarily offers the MetaTrader platform suite from its regulated brands in the EU via Cyprus, and the UK, as well as its offshore entity in Mauritius. ATFX has made progress although still trails behind the best brokers when it comes to the range of investment products it offers and the available trading platforms.
| Feature |
ATFX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 68 |
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Both ATFX and Alpari do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both ATFX and Alpari provide convenient options for depositing and withdrawing funds, supporting Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers, but neither offers ACH, SEPA, or PayPal as transaction methods.
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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | ATFX | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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| Broker Screenshots | ATFX | Alpari | |
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| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2017 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | 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). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 150 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 44 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $500 | $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 | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 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 | ATFX | 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 | 7 | 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 | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ATFX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ATFX | 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 |
| Overall | ATFX | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
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