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.
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets stands out as a highly trusted online broker in the financial trading space. With a coveted Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, the company is publicly traded and holds five Tier-1 licenses, which signify the highest level of trust in the brokerage world. Additionally, CMC Markets has one Tier-2 license, reinforcing its commitment to providing a secure trading environment for its clients worldwide.
In contrast, Alpari, founded in 1998, falls into the high-risk category with a Trust Score of 68 according to ForexBrokers.com. Unlike CMC Markets, Alpari is not publicly traded and does not hold any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses. This regulatory landscape may influence a trader's choice when considering the security and reliability of their chosen online broker.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | |
| Bank | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets stands out as a leader in terms of commissions and fees, earning the top spot in our 2025 Annual Awards for this category. With a star rating of 5 out of 5 and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets offers consistently low spreads, especially for the EUR/USD pair, where the typical spread is only 0.61 pips. The broker's new Price Plus Scheme provides active traders with additional savings opportunities through Trading Points, granting a 20% spread discount at its most beneficial tier. Moreover, CMC Markets has implemented FX Active, a commission-based pricing model with minimal spreads and competitive all-in costs, further enhancing its appeal for forex traders.
On the other hand, Alpari, with a rating of 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #41 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees, offers a different proposition. Unfortunately, detailed average spread data for Alpari is not available, which may pose a challenge for traders focused on evaluating trading costs. While Alpari remains a reputable broker, the lack of specific pricing data and a lower overall ranking indicates that it may not match the cost-effectiveness offered by top-tier brokers like CMC Markets.
Ultimately, traders looking to optimize their trading costs may find CMC Markets more appealing due to its transparent pricing and top-tier ranking. With innovative programs like FX Active and the extensive support for active traders, CMC Markets cements its position as a preferred choice for those seeking low commissions and fees. In contrast, Alpari might still be suitable for traders with different priorities, despite its comparatively lower ranking and lack of specific pricing details.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing CMC Markets and Alpari regarding their range of investments, CMC Markets stands out with an impressive offering. It provides access to a staggering 11,925 tradeable symbols, including 156 forex pairs and a range of exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges. This expansive selection earns CMC Markets a five-star rating for its range of investments and a high ranking of #9 out of 63 brokers. Additionally, CMC Markets offers forex trading as both a CFD and spot contract, as well as opportunities for copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives.
In contrast, Alpari offers a much smaller selection, with 105 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs. While it provides forex trading as CFDs and spot contracts and supports copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, Alpari lacks the ability to buy U.S. exchange-traded securities, which limits its investment options. These factors contribute to a three-star rating for its range of investments and a lower ranking of #63. Overall, CMC Markets offers a more diverse and extensive range of investment choices compared to Alpari.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | ||
| 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 offer diverse trading platforms suitable for any trader level. With proprietary platforms, simulated trading accounts, as well as compatibility with well-known options like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, both brokers ensure a comprehensive trading experience. Users will find Windows-based desktop platforms and web-based trading interfaces at their disposal. When it comes to innovative features like copy trading, both brokers support this, though specific tools like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade are not on their list. CMC Markets stands out with enhanced charting flexibility, boasting 40 drawing tools compared to Alpari's 15, and offers an impressive array of watch list fields—11 compared to Alpari's 7.
In terms of usability and recognition, CMC Markets receives accolades for its trading platforms, earning a 5-star rating for the suite it offers. This broker holds a notable rank at #4 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, reflecting the strength and user appeal of its tools. Meanwhile, Alpari maintains a solid presence with a 4-star rating yet is positioned at #55 in the same ranking. Both brokers allow direct trading from stock charts, making them convenient options for traders looking to execute orders quickly and effectively right from their charts.
| 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 | ||
| ZuluTrade | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both CMC Markets and Alpari ensure accessibility for traders on the go. Each offers apps for both iPhone and Android users, enabling a seamless trading experience regardless of device preference. Whether you're monitoring forex or stock markets, both platforms provide real-time alerts and the ability to create watchlists with instant price updates. However, a standout feature for CMC Markets is the synchronization of watchlists between their mobile app and online account, allowing hassle-free management of portfolios from any device. Alpari does not offer this syncing capability, which might be a consideration for users who prefer a seamless cross-platform experience.
Charting capabilities are robust on both apps, with CMC Markets providing 29 technical studies compared to Alpari's 30. Trendline drawing and multiple timeframe views are available on both platforms, giving traders the tools they need to analyze market trends. While CMC Markets automatically saves chart drawings, Alpari falls short in this regard. In user reviews from ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets receives a full five-star rating and ranks impressively at #5 out of 63 brokers for their mobile app offerings. Alpari, while solid with a four-star rating, is ranked at #56, highlighting some areas where it might not meet the same standards as its competitor.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, CMC Markets stands out with its comprehensive offerings. Users have access to daily market commentary and up-to-date forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. CMC Markets further enhances its research capabilities by providing tools such as Autochartist for technical analysis and a sentiment-based trading tool to analyze market movements. The platform also features an economic calendar that keeps traders informed about significant global news events. With these resources, CMC Markets has earned a research rating of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, ranking them impressively at #6 out of 63 brokers.
Alpari, on the other hand, presents a more modest selection of research tools. While it does supply forex news from reputable sources and an economic calendar, Alpari lacks certain features that CMC Markets offers, such as daily market commentary and sentiment-based trading tools. Despite having access to Autochartist for technical analysis, the absence of diverse research tools impacts its overall appeal. As a result, Alpari receives a 3-star rating for research and holds the #57 position in ForexBrokers.com's ranking. This comparison highlights the broader range of resources available with CMC Markets, catering better to traders seeking detailed market insights.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | |
| TipRanks | ||
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both CMC Markets and Alpari provide a foundational level of support, offering a selection of over 10 pieces of educational content focused on forex or CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. However, CMC Markets stands out by providing more comprehensive tools for beginner and advanced traders alike. While both brokers offer more than 10 educational videos tailored to beginners, CMC Markets goes further by offering advanced trading videos for more experienced investors. Furthermore, CMC Markets provides a searchable archive of past client webinars, allowing learners to revisit sessions at their own convenience, a feature not available with Alpari. Both platforms offer an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, helping beginners get familiar with essential concepts.
In online rankings, CMC Markets receives a higher educational rating, boasting 5 stars compared to Alpari's 3 stars. This distinction is supported by their respective rankings on ForexBrokers.com, where CMC Markets is positioned at #10 in the education category, significantly ahead of Alpari, which is ranked at #48. This suggests that while both brokers meet a basic educational threshold, CMC Markets provides a richer and more diverse array of resources, making it an appealing choice for those looking to deepen their trading knowledge from beginner to advanced levels.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | |
| 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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CMC Markets and Alpari do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets and Alpari both support Visa/Mastercard and bank wire transactions for depositing or withdrawing account funds, with CMC Markets additionally accommodating ACH, SEPA, and PayPal, while Alpari offers Skrill.
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 | ||
| Bank | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 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 | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | |||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | |||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | |||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | |||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | |||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | |||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | ||
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | |||
| 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 | 0.61 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | ||
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | ||
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes |
| 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 | |||
| DupliTrade | |||
| ZuluTrade |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 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 | ||
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | ||
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | ||
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | |||
| TipRanks | |||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | ||
| 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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