Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Capital.com 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.
Capital.com, established in 2016, and Alpari, founded in 1998, are both prominent names in the online brokerage space. However, when it comes to regulatory trust and safety, these brokers differ significantly. Capital.com holds three top-tier licenses, reflecting a strong commitment to regulatory compliance, while Alpari does not have any Tier-1 licenses. Furthermore, Capital.com has an additional mid-tier license, which adds to its credibility among users.
The Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com paints a clear picture of these brokers' reliability. Capital.com has a Trust Score of 87, placing it in the 'trusted' category, signifying it as a more secure choice for traders. On the other hand, Alpari scores a 68, indicating a 'high risk' classification. Both brokers are privately held and not banks, but when it comes to regulatory standing, Capital.com emerges as a more trusted option over Alpari.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2016 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Capital.com stands out with a 5/5 star rating and a #3 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari holds a 4/5 star rating and ranks #42/63. These independent ratings suggest Capital.com is the stronger pick for cost-conscious traders.
Capital.com’s pricing is slightly better than the industry average. It offers a universal account for retail traders and a professional account for those who qualify as elective professionals (note: professional clients do not receive the same regulatory protection as retail clients). For trading costs, Capital.com listed a dynamic EUR/USD spread of 0.67 pips, which matched its April 2024 average of 0.6712 pips—an attractive level for low-cost forex trading.
Alpari does not provide average spread data, so a like-for-like comparison on specific spreads isn’t possible. Given its 4/5 star score and #42/63 ranking for commissions and fees, traders may want to review Alpari’s current spreads, commissions, and swap rates directly before deciding.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.67 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.67 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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.
Capital.com and Alpari both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, but their investment ranges differ widely. Capital.com lists 5,585 tradeable symbols and 125 forex pairs, while Alpari offers 105 symbols and 46 forex pairs. That breadth helps explain why Capital.com earns 4.5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 23rd with ForexBrokers.com, compared with Alpari’s 3-star rating and 64th place. If you value a larger catalog of markets and currency pairs, Capital.com stands out.
Neither broker offers direct access to U.S. exchange-traded shares, and neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrency; both do support crypto derivatives. A key distinction: Alpari lets clients buy some international shares outright (not as CFDs), and it supports copy trading—features Capital.com does not provide. Choose Capital.com for a wider list of CFDs and forex pairs, or Alpari if you want international share dealing and copy trading alongside a smaller, simpler lineup.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5585 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 125 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
Capital.com and Alpari both cover the essentials for traders: each offers a free demo account, an in-house proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while Alpari also offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and includes copy trading—options not available at Capital.com. Neither broker integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For platform tools, both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. Indicator counts aren’t specified, but Capital.com lists more drawing tools (60 vs. Alpari’s 15) and more watchlist fields (11 vs. 7), which can help with screening and analysis. According to ForexBrokers.com, Capital.com earns 4.5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Alpari earns 4 stars and ranks #56.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 97 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Capital.com vs Alpari for mobile trading: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with stock and forex price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, and charting that includes 30 technical studies, trendline drawing, and multiple time frames (intraday, daily, weekly). One shared drawback is that neither app syncs watchlist symbols between the mobile app and your online account.
Where they differ is chart annotations: Capital.com’s app auto saves your drawings, while Alpari’s does not. For Mobile Trading Apps, Capital.com is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Alpari holds 4 stars and ranks #57. If you value a smoother charting workflow on your phone, Capital.com has the edge; if you just need the core features for trading on the go, both apps deliver.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
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.
Capital.com vs Alpari: market research comparison. Capital.com provides daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (e.g., Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones), a sentiment trading tool, TipRanks research, and an economic calendar. Alpari does not publish daily commentary and lacks a sentiment tool, but it also streams top-tier forex news and includes an economic calendar. For technical analysis add-ons, Alpari offers Autochartist while neither broker includes Trading Central. Capital.com does not offer Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools; Alpari’s use of TipRanks or Acuity Trading is not specified.
Overall results: Capital.com earns 4.5/5 stars for Research and ranks #14 of 63 at ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari scores 3/5 stars and ranks #58. Choose Capital.com if you want daily insights, TipRanks, and sentiment data; pick Alpari if Autochartist is your priority, alongside standard news and calendar coverage.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
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 | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners offered by Capital.com and Alpari, both online brokers provide a basic foundation in forex and CFDs education, each offering over ten engaging pieces like articles and videos. Both platforms ensure that beginners have access to essential learning materials by providing at least ten educational videos tailored specifically for novices. However, Capital.com stands out with its advanced video content aimed at experienced traders and a comprehensive searchable archive of webinars, which is absent in Alpari’s offerings.
Furthermore, while both brokers include an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investment terms, the overall user experience in learning is more enriched with Capital.com. This edge is reflected in their higher education rating of 4.5 stars compared to Alpari’s 3 stars, and their notable ranking as 8th out of 63 brokers, surpassing Alpari's position at 48th. These differences spotlight Capital.com's commitment to enhancing the educational experience for clients, making it a preferred choice for aspiring traders seeking comprehensive education resources.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
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 | Yes | 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 Capital.com is better than Alpari. Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #10, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
Capital.com stands out for its quality research, strong educational content, and innovative web platform. Capital.com holds fewer regulatory licenses and offers a narrower range of markets than some of the best brokers, but still significantly outperforms the industry average.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 87 | 68 |
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Capital.com and Alpari both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, yet neither allows the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrencies.
In comparing online brokers, both Capital.com and Alpari do not offer ACH or SEPA transfers, but Capital.com supports PayPal for funding and withdrawals where Alpari does not, while both platforms offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires as available 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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| Trust Score | 87 | 68 | |
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| Review | Capital.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Capital.com | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
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