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 |
HFM and Alpari both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but HFM ranks higher in ForexBrokers.com’s category list. HFM is #32 out of 63 brokers, while Alpari is #42 out of 63. If you’re comparing these two on costs alone, HFM has a slight edge in the rankings, even though both share the same star rating.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average. The broker cites a typical 1.2-pip spread on standard accounts, but there’s no date range, so the real average could be higher. Its Zero account shows an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, though that figure is also not an average. For Alpari, average spread data isn’t available, which makes direct price comparisons harder. If low trading costs are your priority, consider HFM’s published figures as a starting point and verify both brokers’ current spreads and commissions in live or demo conditions.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
HFM vs Alpari for range of investments: HFM lists 500 tradeable symbols and 102 forex pairs, while Alpari offers 105 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs or spot, support copy trading, and offer cryptocurrency CFDs; neither lets you buy actual (delivered) crypto.
For exchange-traded securities, neither broker offers U.S.-listed shares, but Alpari does provide access to certain international exchange-traded stocks, which HFM does not. Overall, HFM earns 4 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 37th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari earns 3 stars and ranks 64th out of 63.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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.
HFM and Alpari are closely matched for trading platforms and tools. Both brokers provide free demo accounts for paper trading, offer their own proprietary platforms alongside MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and support both Windows desktop downloads and web-based platforms. Each also includes copy trading and lets you place orders directly from charts, making them friendly for traders who like to manage positions visually.
In independent evaluations, both HFM and Alpari earn 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. However, HFM ranks higher overall in this category at ForexBrokers.com (#43 out of 63) compared with Alpari (#56 out of 63). If platform breadth and a slightly stronger industry ranking matter, HFM has a small edge; if you’re focused on MetaTrader access, web and desktop availability, or copy trading, either broker should fit the bill—try their demo accounts to see which interface you prefer.
| Feature |
HFM
|
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) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and Alpari both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts to help you stay on top of market moves. Each app includes 30 technical studies and lets you draw trendlines on charts. A key difference: HFM’s app auto-saves your chart drawings, while Alpari’s does not. Neither broker syncs watchlists between the mobile app and the web platform, so changes you make in one place won’t carry over to the other.
In terms of user feedback, both HFM and Alpari earn 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. However, ForexBrokers.com ranks HFM higher at #40 out of 63 brokers, compared with Alpari at #57. If you value chart annotations that stay put across sessions, HFM’s mobile app has the edge; otherwise, both brokers deliver similar tools and core features on iPhone and Android.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
HFM outpaces Alpari for market research. HFM holds a 4-star research rating and ranks #20 of 63 at ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari is rated 3 stars and ranks #58. HFM stands out with daily market commentary and a sentiment tool that shows the share of long versus short positions. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources (such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), provide an economic calendar, and include Autochartist tools for trade ideas. Neither offers Trading Central.
For other third-party research, HFM does not include TipRanks or tools from Acuity Trading/Signal Centre; Alpari’s availability of TipRanks or Acuity Trading was not specified in the information provided. If you want daily insights and sentiment data alongside headline news and a calendar, HFM is the stronger choice. If you mainly need news, Autochartist, and an economic calendar, Alpari covers the essentials.
| Feature |
HFM
|
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.
Comparing HFM vs Alpari for beginner education: both brokers provide at least 10 beginner-friendly trading videos, making it easy to learn the basics of forex and CFDs at your own pace. HFM stands out by running online educational webinars at least once a month, giving new traders a chance to ask questions and learn live—something Alpari does not currently offer.
HFM also offers 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up, while Alpari’s advanced video content is more limited. Reflecting this, HFM earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #37 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Alpari earns 3 stars and ranks #48. For beginners who value live sessions and a clear path from basics to advanced topics, HFM is the stronger pick; Alpari suits those who want straightforward video lessons without webinars.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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 HFM is better than Alpari. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
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
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 86 | 68 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
HFM vs Alpari: neither online broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
HFM vs Alpari: both brokers do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, HFM offers Skrill and bank wire funding, while Alpari’s availability of 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| 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) | |||
| 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 | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | 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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | 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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill