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 account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets vs Alpari for range of investments, CMC Markets stands out for sheer choice. It offers 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, versus Alpari’s 105 symbols and 46 pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot, provide copy trading, and offer cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual, delivered crypto).
If you want direct share dealing, CMC Markets lets you buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while Alpari offers international shares but not U.S.-listed stocks. Reflecting the breadth on offer, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 9th, whereas Alpari is rated 3 stars and ranks 64th.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
Both CMC Markets and Alpari make it easy to get started with a free demo account and offer a wide range of ways to trade. Each broker provides a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus web-based and Windows desktop platforms. Copy trading is available at both, and you can place trades directly from charts on either broker’s platform lineup.
While specific counts for built-in technical indicators and watchlist columns aren’t listed here, third-party ratings point to a clear edge for CMC Markets on platform quality: it earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, compared to Alpari’s 4 stars and #56 ranking. In short, both deliver popular platforms like MT4/MT5 and copy trading, but CMC Markets is the higher-rated choice for traders who want a richer platform and tools experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Alpari both offer iPhone and Android mobile trading apps with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on stock and forex charts. For charting, Alpari lists 30 technical studies while CMC Markets offers 29. The key differences show up in workflow: CMC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and the online platform, while Alpari does not. CMC Markets also auto-saves chart drawings so your annotations persist; Alpari’s app does not save drawings automatically.
When it comes to third-party ratings, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari holds 4 stars and ranks #57. If you want seamless watchlist syncing and saved chart drawings, the CMC Markets mobile app stands out. If you prefer a slightly larger set of technical indicators and can live without syncing and auto-save, Alpari’s app may suit your needs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
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 (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing CMC Markets vs Alpari, both brokers provide 10+ beginner-friendly videos that explain core trading concepts in simple terms, making it easy to learn at your own pace. However, neither broker hosts monthly educational webinars, so if you prefer live classes, you may need to look elsewhere.
CMC Markets goes further for ongoing skill-building with at least 10 advanced video lessons, while Alpari does not meet that mark. This shows in the ratings: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers with ForexBrokers.com, whereas Alpari holds 3 stars and ranks #48. If you want beginner videos today and advanced material for tomorrow, CMC Markets is the stronger education pick; if you only need basic videos, both can get you started.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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
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Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 |
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CMC Markets vs Alpari: both online brokers do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both do provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
CMC Markets vs Alpari: CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals (but not Skrill; Visa/Mastercard not specified), while Alpari does not support ACH/SEPA and its support for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is not specified.
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, FSRA, or SCA 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. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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