Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of iFOREX 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.
iFOREX and Alpari are online brokerage firms catering to the needs of forex traders, each with their unique features and regulatory standings. iFOREX, established in 1996, carries one Tier-1 license and has a Trust Score rating of 75, indicating average risk according to ForexBrokers.com. Being a privately held company, iFOREX is not listed on any stock exchange and is not a bank. In contrast, Alpari, founded in 1998, holds no Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses and has a Trust Score rating of 68, suggesting a higher risk for traders.
Neither iFOREX nor Alpari are publicly traded entities or banks. Despite their similarities in being privately owned and non-banking institutions, iFOREX stands out with its regulatory compliance, possessing one highly trusted Tier-1 license, whereas Alpari lacks this credential. For traders prioritizing trust and regulatory backing, iFOREX may present a slightly more reliable option compared to Alpari, based on the data provided by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
iFOREX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing trading costs between iFOREX and Alpari, Alpari comes out ahead based on independent ratings. Alpari is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked 42nd out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. iFOREX holds a 3 out of 5 star rating and ranks 62nd out of 63 in the same category.
Average spread data is not available for either broker, so a direct, point‑by‑point price comparison isn’t possible from published spreads alone. That makes third‑party ratings useful as a signal of overall pricing, while still leaving room to verify specifics like any commissions, swap rates, or non-trading fees.
Bottom line: If keeping trading costs low is your priority, Alpari’s higher rating and better ranking suggest a more cost-friendly profile than iFOREX. Always confirm current fees on each broker’s website and consider testing execution and costs with a demo before deciding.
| Feature |
iFOREX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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.
iFOREX vs Alpari: both support forex trading via CFDs or spot. iFOREX offers a wider range overall, with 750 tradeable symbols and 88 forex pairs, compared with Alpari’s 105 symbols and 46 pairs. Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares as real, exchange-traded stocks; however, Alpari does provide access to certain international shares directly (not as CFDs), while iFOREX does not. Both brokers lack delivered cryptocurrency, but each offers cryptocurrency derivatives. Copy trading is available at Alpari, not at iFOREX.
According to ForexBrokers.com, iFOREX is rated 3.5/5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #42 out of 63 brokers, while Alpari is rated 3/5 stars and ranks #64 out of 63. In short, iFOREX suits traders who want more symbols and currency pairs, whereas Alpari suits those who want copy trading and access to some international exchange-traded stocks.
| Feature |
iFOREX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 750 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 88 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
Comparing online brokers iFOREX vs Alpari on trading platforms and tools: both offer proprietary, web-based platforms and let you place trades directly from charts. Alpari stands out for a Windows desktop platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) support, copy trading, and a free demo (paper) account—features that iFOREX does not provide. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting and workflow, iFOREX lists 25 drawing tools versus 15 at Alpari, and offers 9 watchlist fields compared with 7 at Alpari; the number of built-in indicators is not specified for either. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for platforms and tools, with ForexBrokers.com ranking iFOREX #55 and Alpari #56 out of 63. Choose Alpari if you want MetaTrader, a desktop app, copy trading, or a demo account; pick iFOREX if you prefer a browser platform with more drawing tools and slightly more watchlist customization.
| Feature |
iFOREX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | No | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 57 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 25 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 9 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing the iFOREX mobile app to the Alpari mobile app, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps and each earns 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. That said, ForexBrokers.com ranks iFOREX slightly higher for Mobile Trading Apps (#56 of 63) than Alpari (#57 of 63), even though they share the same star rating.
Feature-wise, Alpari is stronger for active charting and alerts: it supports stock and forex price alerts, offers about 30 built‑in technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and switch between multiple time frames. iFOREX does not list a count of built‑in studies and does not support trendlines or multiple time frames. Both apps lack auto‑saving for drawings and do not sync watchlists between mobile and web. For watchlists, Alpari lets you create lists with real‑time quotes, while iFOREX does not. If you want more chart tools and alerts on your phone, Alpari’s app is the better fit; if rankings matter more than features, iFOREX edges it by one spot.
| Feature |
iFOREX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | N/A | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, iFOREX leans on daily insights and trader tools, while Alpari focuses on premium news and pattern scanning. iFOREX offers daily market commentary, Trading Central research, and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. Alpari skips daily commentary, sentiment, and Trading Central, but delivers forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and includes Autochartist for technical pattern analysis. Both brokers provide an economic calendar covering global events.
If you want day-to-day commentary and sentiment-driven ideas, iFOREX may suit you. If you prefer headline-driven trading and Autochartist signals, Alpari is appealing. According to ForexBrokers.com, iFOREX earns 3.5 out of 5 stars for research and ranks 49th out of 63 brokers, while Alpari scores 3 stars and ranks 58th.
| Feature |
iFOREX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | ||
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners in online trading, iFOREX and Alpari each offer certain strengths. iFOREX provides over 10 beginner educational videos, making it a suitable choice for novice traders looking for visual learning opportunities. However, iFOREX does not offer a broad range of educational materials related to forex or CFDs, with no substantial articles, videos, or archived webinars catering to these topics. Additionally, iFOREX lacks an investor dictionary and advanced educational videos for more experienced traders. Despite these limitations, iFOREX is rated 3.5 stars for its educational offerings and is ranked #53 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Alpari, meanwhile, excels in offering a comprehensive selection of at least 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs. Beginners can benefit from Alpari's extensive educational content, even though both iFOREX and Alpari do not provide monthly client webinars or archived online sessions. Alpari also offers an investor dictionary with over 50 terms, aiding new investors in understanding trading jargon. However, like iFOREX, Alpari doesn't provide advanced educational videos for seasoned traders. Alpari is rated 3 out of 5 stars for education and holds a higher ranking at #48 among 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
iFOREX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that iFOREX is better than Alpari. iFOREX finished with an overall rank of #52, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
iFOREX is operated by a long-standing company, previously known as Vestle, with regulatory status in a growing number of jurisdictions, offering forex and CFDs through its proprietary platform. The biggest drawback is the lack of markets you can trade with fewer than 200, compared to the best multi asset forex and CFD brokers.
| Feature |
iFOREX
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 75 | 68 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both iFOREX and Alpari offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither provides the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
iFOREX and Alpari both provide various options for funding and withdrawing from accounts, including Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers, but iFOREX uniquely offers PayPal, whereas neither broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 75 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
| Broker Screenshots | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 75 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | iFOREX | 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) | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 750 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 88 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | No | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 9 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 57 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 25 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | No | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | No | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | N/A | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | |||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | iFOREX | 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 |
| Overall | iFOREX | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 75 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill
