Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IFC 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.
IFC Markets and Alpari are both well-established online brokers in the trading industry, with IFC Markets founded in 2006 and Alpari starting in 1998. Neither of these brokers is publicly traded or operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory standing, IFC Markets holds one trusted Tier-2 license, while Alpari does not have any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses. This difference highlights their varied approaches to regulation and risk management.
Based on assessments by ForexBrokers.com, IFC Markets achieves a Trust Score of 73, placing it in the average risk category. In comparison, Alpari scores slightly lower with a Trust Score of 68, marking it as a higher risk option. These trust scores provide insight into each broker's reliability, offering traders essential information to consider when choosing a platform that suits their needs and risk appetite.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers IFC Markets and Alpari, traders will find distinct differences. IFC Markets offers an average spread for the EUR/USD at 1.44, which is slightly above the industry standard of 1.08, making it a less competitive option for spreads. However, traders engaging more actively can benefit from the new ECN account, which enhances spreads to 1.1 pips, even after factoring in a minor commission of 0.005% for both sides of a trade. Additionally, IFC Markets does not charge inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, presenting certain financial incentives.
In comparison, Alpari lacks specific average spread data, making it difficult to gauge its competitiveness in this area. Despite this, it ranks closely to IFC Markets for fees and commissions, as reflected in their similar ratings and rankings.
Both brokers receive a commendable 4-star rating for commissions and fees. Within a field of 63 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com, IFC Markets holds the #39 spot in the Commissions and Fees category, while Alpari is ranked slightly lower at #41. These rankings and ratings provide a snapshot into each broker's relative positioning concerning fees within the forex trading space.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.44 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
When considering IFC Markets and Alpari for online trading, both platforms provide a similar foundation for forex trading, offering forex as a CFD or spot contract. IFC Markets, however, stands out with a wider range of investment options, boasting a total of 630 tradeable symbols compared to Alpari's 105. This includes slightly more forex pairs available at 49 compared to Alpari's 46. However, if you are looking to purchase actual exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, both brokers do not support this. They both allow trading of international stocks like Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange.
In terms of additional features, both IFC Markets and Alpari support copy trading—an appealing feature for those interested in mimicking the trades of successful investors. While neither broker offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, they do offer trading in cryptocurrency derivatives. Considering the range of investments, IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranked 43rd out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, underscoring a slightly stronger offering compared to Alpari's 3-star rating and position at the bottom of the list. For traders seeking variety and flexibility in investments, IFC Markets may offer a more compelling option.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Both IFC Markets and Alpari provide a comprehensive range of trading platforms and tools designed to cater to traders of all levels. They each offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice without financial risk. Both brokers have developed their own proprietary platforms and provide the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 options. Available platforms cater to various preferences, including Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based trading through a browser. Additionally, traders with both brokers can engage in copy trading, although DupliTrade and ZuluTrade are not offered by either.
When it comes to charting and monitoring, IFC Markets and Alpari match up well, presenting traders with an equal number of 15 drawing tools and 7 columns for watch lists. Both offer the capability to trade directly from stock charts, providing an intuitive trading experience. With a rating of 4 out of 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers convey a strong offering to traders. However, according to ForexBrokers.com rankings, IFC Markets edges out Alpari at #36 compared to Alpari's #55 in a list of 63 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category. This slight difference may influence a trader's choice depending on their platform preference and additional needs.
| Feature |
IFC 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, IFC Markets and Alpari both offer comprehensive solutions accessible on iPhone and Android devices. Both brokers provide a range of features, including stock or forex price alerts and support for drawing trendlines on charts. Users can view multiple time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday on both applications, and each offers 30 technical studies for in-depth chart analysis. Additionally, creating a watchlist with real-time quotes is possible with both platforms. However, while IFC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and online accounts, Alpari does not offer this feature.
In terms of additional functionalities, one area where IFC Markets stands out is in its ability to automatically save drawings on charts, a feature Alpari lacks. Both brokers have an equal user rating of four out of five stars for their mobile apps, notwithstanding their different ranks in the mobile trading app category as per ForexBrokers.com, with IFC Markets positioned at #52 and Alpari at #56 out of 63 assessed brokers. This makes IFC Markets slightly more appealing for those who value seamless watchlist integration and automatic saving of chart modifications.
| Feature |
IFC 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 | 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 it comes to their market research offerings, IFC Markets and Alpari have distinct differences. IFC Markets provides daily market commentary, giving traders regular updates on market conditions. However, it lacks access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, and does not provide tools from Autochartist or Trading Central. In contrast, Alpari does not offer daily commentary but compensates with news from leading sources and tools from Autochartist, though it also lacks resources from Trading Central. Both brokers provide an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global economic events, but only IFC Markets offers a sentiment-based trading tool that displays the ratio of long and short orders across various pairs.
In terms of overall research ratings, IFC Markets has an edge with 3.5 out of 5 stars, while Alpari earns 3 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, IFC Markets ranks higher at #40 out of 63 brokers in research capabilities, while Alpari is positioned at #57. This evaluation reflects IFC Markets' broader offerings, despite lacking access to some premium tools available through Alpari.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | 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.
When it comes to educational resources tailored for beginners, both IFC Markets and Alpari offer at least ten pieces covering forex and CFDs. This includes various articles, videos, and other learning materials, ensuring newbies have access to fundamental knowledge. However, neither broker hosts monthly educational webinars or provides archives of past sessions, which could be a limitation for those looking for interactive or live learning experiences. On the bright side, both platforms present an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, making it easier for beginners to get acquainted with key concepts.
Digging deeper into video resources, IFC Markets stands out by offering more for both beginner and advanced traders. They have a range of over ten videos targeted specifically at beginners, along with a diverse set for more seasoned traders. On the other hand, Alpari matches the beginner video count but falls short for advanced traders. According to ratings, IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars for education, ranking 30th of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari is rated slightly lower, with 3 stars, placing it at 48th in the same category. This highlights a slight edge for IFC Markets in providing a comprehensive educational package for its users.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | 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 IFC Markets is better than Alpari. IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
IFC Markets is a well-established broker that has been in operation for 17 years. Forex traders at IFC Markets gain access to multiple trading platforms, a growing range of tradeable markets, and a balanced offering of research and educational content. However, IFC Markets’ Trust Score suffers due to the broker’s limited range of regulatory licenses.
| Feature |
IFC Markets
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Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 73 | 68 |
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Both IFC Markets and Alpari provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
While both IFC Markets and Alpari do not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transfers for fund deposits or withdrawals, they each offer Visa or Mastercard and bank wire options, with Alpari additionally providing the option to use 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 | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 73 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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| Broker Screenshots | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Regulation | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 73 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IFC Markets | 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) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 630 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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). |
| Cost | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.44 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IFC 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 | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IFC 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 | 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 | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IFC Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IFC 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 | |
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| Trust Score | 73 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
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