Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets 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.
CMC Markets and Alpari are both established names in the world of online trading, but their approach to regulations and credibility differ significantly. Founded in 1989 and publicly traded, CMC Markets has a stellar reputation with a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. It boasts six Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust and oversight from major global financial authorities. Furthermore, CMC Markets also holds one Tier-2 license, adding another layer of regulatory compliance and assurance for traders.
On the other hand, Alpari, established in 1998, is not publicly traded and operates under a less rigorous regulatory framework. With a Trust Score of 68, Alpari is considered high risk by ForexBrokers.com. Unlike CMC Markets, Alpari holds no Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, which might suggest limited regulatory oversight. While both brokers are non-banking entities, potential traders may feel more assured by CMC Markets' stronger regulatory standing and proven trustworthiness.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, CMC Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #1 of 63 brokers in our 2025 Awards, while Alpari holds 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #42 of 63. Alpari does not publish average spread data, which makes direct like‑for‑like pricing checks harder, whereas CMC Markets provides detailed and consistent figures.
CMC Markets is known for low spreads across all account types, with typical EUR/USD averages of 0.61 pips (August 2023). Its FX Active commission-based pricing charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0.0, giving an all‑in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and five other pairs; for example, NZD/USD can drop from 1.5 pips on the standard account to about 0.5 pips all‑in with FX Active. The Price Plus Scheme rewards higher monthly volumes: you earn Trading Points (e.g., 2 points per standard lot of 100,000 units), and hitting Tier 4 (e.g., 1,250 lots) can unlock a 20% spread discount. CMC’s averages historically track close to its minimums, which helps explain its top ranking for pricing.
Alpari’s 4-star rating suggests competitive potential, but the absence of published average spread data limits transparency when you’re comparing typical costs against peers like CMC Markets. If you’re weighing these two, consider CMC Markets for clearer, data-backed pricing and volume-based discounts, and verify Alpari’s current live spreads and any commission schedule directly before you trade.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets vs Alpari on range of investments, both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot and both support copy trading. Each also offers cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. The biggest split is breadth: CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while Alpari offers 105 symbols and 46 forex pairs.
For stocks, CMC Markets provides exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas Alpari offers exchange-traded shares only on international markets, not the U.S. Overall, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #9 in ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category, while Alpari holds 3 stars and ranks #64—making CMC Markets the better pick if you want a wider selection.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
CMC Markets and Alpari both provide free demo accounts for paper trading. Each broker offers an in-house proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on a Windows desktop download or a web-based platform, and both support copy trading, though neither integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. For charting and layout, both let you place orders directly from the chart; CMC Markets provides more drawing tools (36 vs 15) and more watchlist columns (11 vs 7), which can make organizing and analyzing markets easier.
When it comes to platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets 5 stars and ranks it #4 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Alpari earns 4 stars and ranks #56. If you want more platform features and customization, CMC Markets comes out ahead; if you simply need MT4/MT5 with copy trading and a demo account, Alpari covers the essentials.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
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) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both CMC Markets and Alpari offer iPhone and Android apps with real-time watchlists, price alerts, trendline drawing, and multiple time frames for charting. Alpari lists 30 technical studies versus CMC Markets’ 29, but CMC Markets stands out for mobile-to-web watchlist syncing (Alpari lacks this) and for auto-saving chart drawings (Alpari does not auto-save). If you switch between devices often, CMC Markets’ syncing and saved annotations can make day-to-day trading smoother.
In independent testing, CMC Markets earned 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranked #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Alpari received 4 stars and ranked #57. Pick CMC Markets for easier cross-device use and saved chart work; choose Alpari if having one more built-in study matters most to you.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 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.
CMC Markets stands out for market research with daily market commentary and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions—two features Alpari does not provide. Both brokers stream forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, include Autochartist tools for technical analysis, and offer an economic calendar for upcoming events. Neither broker includes Trading Central. CMC Markets does not offer TipRanks or Acuity Trading; Alpari’s support for TipRanks or Acuity Trading was not specified.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earned 5 stars for Research and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers, while Alpari earned 3 stars and ranked #58. If you want daily insights and a handy sentiment gauge on top of headline news and Autochartist, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you only need news, an economic calendar, and Autochartist, Alpari may suffice.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, CMC Markets and Alpari both offer a wealth of materials to help new traders get started with confidence. Both platforms provide a minimum of ten educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. However, while both brokers refrain from offering monthly live educational webinars, CMC Markets stands out by offering a searchable archive of previously recorded sessions, ensuring that learners can access valuable material on their schedule. Moreover, both platforms cater to different expertise levels, delivering at least ten beginner-friendly educational videos.
CMC Markets goes a step further by providing content for advanced learners, offering at least ten videos for experienced traders, whereas Alpari does not meet this advanced education criterion. Both brokers have robust investor dictionaries with definitions of over fifty investing terms, which is vital for building foundational knowledge. CMC Markets' commitment to education is reflected in its 5-star rating and a commendable 10th place ranking out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Alpari holds a 3-star rating and ranks 48th in the same educational category, highlighting CMC Markets as the more comprehensive choice for those starting their trading journey.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
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 CMC Markets is better than Alpari. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 |
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Both CMC Markets and Alpari do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers CMC Markets and Alpari, CMC Markets provides greater flexibility with payment options by supporting ACH, SEPA, and PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, whereas Alpari does not support these methods but offers Skrill instead; both brokers accept Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers.
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 | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | 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 | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 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 | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | 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 |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | 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 | CMC Markets Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
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