Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM 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 HFM and Alpari, it's important to consider their regulatory standings and trustworthiness in the online brokerage industry. HFM, which was founded in 2010, holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86, placing it in the trusted category. It offers clients reassurance with two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, signaling a strong level of regulatory oversight. Although not a publicly traded company or a bank, HFM's licensing positions it as a reliable option for traders.
On the other hand, Alpari, established in 1998, presents a different profile. It is also not publicly traded and lacks bank status. Alpari holds a Trust Score of 68, which indicates a higher risk compared to HFM. With no Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, traders may find Alpari's regulatory coverage less compelling. This difference in licensing and trust scores can significantly impact the confidence level investors might have when choosing between these two brokers.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees between online brokers HFM and Alpari, there are several factors to consider. HFM typically offers a spread of 1.2 pips for their standard trading accounts. They also provide a Zero account with an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, though these figures are based on company claims without specific average data. Despite trading costs being slightly above the industry average, HFM earns a solid 4-star rating for commissions and fees.
On the other hand, Alpari does not disclose average spread data, making it challenging for traders to gauge potential costs. However, in terms of user satisfaction, Alpari matches HFM with a 4-star rating for its commissions and fees structure. This suggests that customers generally perceive Alpari's pricing as fair, even though detailed cost information isn't clearly outlined.
In terms of overall rankings by ForexBrokers.com, HFM is placed at #31 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. Alpari trails slightly behind, sitting at #41. While both have comparable star ratings, these rankings indicate that HFM's pricing might be slightly more competitive or transparent from the perspective of overall broker analysis. For traders, understanding these differences can be crucial when deciding which broker aligns best with their financial strategies.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 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.
HFM and Alpari are both well-known online brokers offering a wide range of investment options for traders. Both platforms enable forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, providing flexibility for investors. HFM stands out with a vast selection of 500 tradeable symbols, overshadowing Alpari, which offers 105. When it comes to forex pairs, HFM further distinguishes itself by offering 102 tradeable options, compared to Alpari's 46. Though neither platform provides opportunities to buy actual cryptocurrencies or U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities, HFM and Alpari both offer the means to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives. Additionally, each supports copy trading for those wishing to mirror the trades of successful investors.
While neither broker allows for the purchase of exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, Alpari does offer access to international exchange securities like those found on the London Stock Exchange, a feature absent from HFM. Despite these offerings, HFM achieves a higher rating for the range of investments, earning 4 stars compared to Alpari's 3 stars. Furthermore, HFM is ranked 36th among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Alpari is positioned at the bottom of this list, ranking 63rd. Ultimately, HFM's extensive range of symbols and competitive ranking make it a strong choice for investors looking for diverse trading options.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 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 HFM and Alpari for trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a range of features that cater to diverse trading needs. Each provides simulated trading through complimentary virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice and refine their strategies risk-free. They both have developed proprietary platforms, offer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and provide platforms compatible with Windows desktops and web browsers. Additionally, HFM and Alpari support copy trading. However, neither broker offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. One area where HFM stands out is its availability of 30 drawing tools for charting, compared to Alpari's 15, though both allow trading directly from stock charts and offer watch lists with seven columns.
In terms of ratings, both HFM and Alpari receive four-star ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools. Despite their identical ratings, HFM is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at 42nd place out of 63 brokers, while Alpari is positioned at 55th. This suggests that while both platforms are comparable in many areas, HFM slightly edges out Alpari in terms of overall platform offerings and features, as perceived by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
HFM
|
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) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both HFM and Alpari offer mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, making it easy to trade on the go. They allow users to receive stock and forex price alerts directly through the apps, which can help in staying updated with the latest market movements. Both platforms provide an extensive suite of 30 technical studies for charting purposes, alongside the functionality to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday. However, while both apps support creating watchlists with real-time quotes, they do not feature watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and the online account, meaning users will need to manage these in both locations manually.
When it comes to user-friendliness and additional features, HFM edges slightly ahead with the ability to auto-save drawings on a stock or forex chart, a feature missing from Alpari’s app. Both apps receive a solid four-star rating for mobile trading capabilities; however, HFM is ranked 39th among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for their mobile trading apps, while Alpari holds the 56th position. This indicates that while both apps are well-regarded, HFM might have a slight edge in overall user satisfaction and app functionality. Ultimately, the choice between the two might come down to specific needs such as charting capabilities and the importance of auto-saving tools.
| Feature |
HFM
|
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.
When comparing HFM and Alpari in terms of market research offerings, users will find significant differences. HFM provides daily market commentary and is equipped with news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. On the other hand, while Alpari also offers news from premier sources, it does not provide daily market commentary. Both platforms include technical analysis tools from Autochartist, yet neither offers tools from Trading Central. HFM enhances its research tools with a sentiment-based trading tool, displaying market sentiment through the ratio of long or short positions on various instruments, which Alpari does not include.
Both brokers provide an economic calendar, which helps traders keep track of global news events affecting various economies. Despite some similarities, HFM's offerings earn a higher research rating of 4 stars out of 5, compared to Alpari's 3 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s research category, HFM is ranked 20th out of 63 brokers, whereas Alpari is placed at 57th. This ranking reflects HFM’s more comprehensive research tools and resources, giving it the edge in market analysis and insights.
| Feature |
HFM
|
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 | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners venturing into the world of online trading, both HFM and Alpari offer educational resources, but there are notable differences in what they provide. HFM is committed to helping newcomers by offering a variety of educational pieces such as articles, videos, and webinars, exceeding the minimum threshold of 10 materials focused on forex and CFDs trading. Alpari matches this with its own set of educational content but does not extend this support to live webinars. In contrast, HFM conducts online educational webinars every month and provides access to a searchable archive of these sessions, helping traders access valuable information at their convenience. While both brokers offer over 10 beginner-focused educational videos, HFM advances its support with a series of videos tailored for experienced traders, which Alpari does not offer.
Both companies provide investor dictionaries featuring over 50 terms, ensuring that beginners can better understand the trading jargon. Ratings from ForexBrokers.com reveal that HFM is positioned at 37th for education among 63 brokers, earning a commendable 4-star rating, while Alpari is ranked 48th with a 3-star rating. These distinctions highlight HFM's edge in offering more comprehensive educational support for those just starting their trading journey. Overall, while Alpari provides essential materials for new traders, HFM demonstrates a more expansive commitment to educating its clientele with a variety of resources and continued learning opportunities.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 HFM is better than Alpari. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #57.
Alongside its enhanced MetaTrader offering and quality research, HFM (HF Markets), previously known as HotForex, offers a proprietary copy trading platform, HFcopy, a proprietary HF mobile app, and a decent selection of over 1,000 CFDs and 47 forex pairs. Still, trading costs at HFM are slightly above the industry average.
| Feature |
HFM
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Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 |
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While neither HFM nor Alpari provides the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both HFM and Alpari do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for transactions, but they both offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing account funds.
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 | HFM | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
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| Regulation | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | 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) | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | HFM | 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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | 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 | 30 | 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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 | HFM | 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 | HFM Review |
| Overall | HFM | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
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