Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Questrade 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.
Questrade, founded in 2000, and Alpari, established in 1998, are two online brokers that offer a range of services for trading enthusiasts. Neither Questrade nor Alpari are publicly traded companies or banks, but they differ significantly in their regulatory standings. Questrade holds two Tier-1 licenses, the most reliable according to ForexBrokers.com, signifying a strong adherence to regulatory standards. Alpari, on the other hand, does not hold any Tier-1 licenses, which can be a point of concern for cautious traders.
The ForexBrokers.com Trust Score further highlights the differences in their trustworthiness. Questrade garners a Trust Score of 86 out of 99, placing it in the "trusted" category, while Alpari scores 68, categorizing it as "high risk." This disparity suggests Questrade may provide a more secure option for traders prioritizing regulation and safety. As you decide between these brokers, considering their trust scores and licenses could be crucial in making an informed choice.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2000 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Alpari holds the edge over Questrade based on third-party ratings. Alpari is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #42 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for the Commissions and Fees category, though its average spread data is not available. Questrade is rated 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #59 out of 63 in the same category.
Questrade lists a target spread of 1.9 pips on EUR/USD, which is steep versus the industry average and can translate into higher trading costs, especially for frequent traders. By contrast, Alpari does not publish average spread figures, making it harder to estimate exact costs in advance, even though it earns a higher category rating.
Bottom line: If fees are a key factor, weigh Questrade’s higher stated EUR/USD spread (1.9 pips) and 3-star, #59 ranking against Alpari’s 4-star, #42 ranking. Always confirm current spreads, commissions, and any non-trading fees directly with the broker before opening an account.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $20 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
In a Questrade vs Alpari comparison of available investments, both brokers let you trade forex either as spot or as CFDs (contracts for difference). Questrade lists 641 total symbols and 110 currency pairs, while Alpari offers 105 symbols and 46 pairs. Both support trading certain international exchange‑listed shares; only Questrade also lets you buy U.S.-listed stocks like Apple directly (not as CFDs). Neither broker sells actual cryptocurrency, but both provide crypto CFDs.
If you want social features, Alpari includes copy trading, whereas Questrade does not. For overall choice, Questrade earns 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments on ForexBrokers.com; Alpari scores 3 stars and ranks #64.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Questrade and Alpari both offer free demo accounts for paper trading, along with proprietary platforms, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Each broker lets you place trades directly from charts, which is helpful for timing entries and exits without extra clicks.
The key differences are in third-party tools: Alpari supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Questrade does not. Both are rated 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, yet Questrade ranks higher (#35 of 63) than Alpari (#56 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s category standings. If you want MT4/MT5 or copy trading, Alpari fits. If you prefer a broker-built platform with desktop and web access and don’t need MetaTrader, Questrade is the better match.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing Questrade vs Alpari for mobile trading, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps and support stock/forex price alerts. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts. A key difference is watchlists: Questrade syncs your watchlist between the mobile app and your online account, while Alpari does not, which could matter if you manage symbols across devices.
For mobile charting tools, Questrade offers 64 technical studies versus 30 with Alpari, and Questrade auto-saves chart drawings while Alpari does not. Both mobile apps earn 4 out of 5 stars, yet Questrade ranks higher in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category (#35 of 63) compared with Alpari (#57 of 63). If you want deeper indicators and seamless watchlist syncing, Questrade has the edge; if you mainly need core trading and alerts on the go, both get the job done.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Questrade vs Alpari for market research: ForexBrokers.com rates Questrade 3.5/5 (ranked 52 of 63) and Alpari 3/5 (ranked 58 of 63). Both brokers skip daily market commentary, but each provides an economic calendar to track key global events.
On tools and news, both brokers include Autochartist for technical analysis. Questrade adds Trading Central and TipRanks, while Alpari does not offer Trading Central but does provide forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Neither broker has a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning. Questrade does not include Acuity Trading tools. Availability of TipRanks and Acuity Trading for Alpari, as well as Questrade’s access to top-tier news, is not specified.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Questrade and Alpari both cater to beginners with at least 10 starter-friendly trading videos, making it easier to learn core concepts at your own pace. Neither broker runs monthly educational webinars, and neither reaches 10 advanced videos for experienced traders. In independent reviews, Questrade earns 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education, while Alpari scores 3 out of 5.
Looking at rankings from ForexBrokers.com, Questrade places #36 out of 63 brokers for Education, compared with Alpari at #48. If you’re a new trader seeking video-based learning, Questrade holds a slight edge in overall score and standing, while Alpari still offers a solid beginner video lineup. If live classes are important to you, note that neither provider currently offers monthly educational webinars.
| Feature |
Questrade
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Questrade is better than Alpari. Questrade finished with an overall rank of #32, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
Regulated in both the U.S. and Canada, Questrade is a trusted full-service multi-asset broker now offering forex and CFDs alongside its stock trading services for active and passive investors. While its scope of educational resources and in-house research is limited, Questrade has an impressive platform lineup.
| Feature |
Questrade
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Alpari
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 |
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Comparing online brokers Questrade and Alpari for cryptocurrency trading: neither supports purchasing actual (delivered) crypto, but both provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs.
Questrade vs Alpari deposit and withdrawal methods: both brokers do not support ACH or SEPA, Questrade does support bank wire transfers, while the availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and Alpari bank wires is not specified in the provided information.
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 | Questrade | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2000 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | 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) | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 641 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 110 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). |
| Cost | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | ||
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Questrade | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Questrade Review |
| Overall | Questrade | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Questrade Review |
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