Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Spreadex 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 considering online brokers, Spreadex and Alpari each bring a unique profile to the table. Established in 1999, Spreadex holds a Tier-1 license, regarded as highly trusted by industry experts. With a Trust Score of 71 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, Spreadex is placed in the average risk category. However, it's important to note that Spreadex is privately held and not a bank, which may influence risk perception for some investors.
On the other hand, Alpari, founded in 1998, does not hold any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses. Its Trust Score is slightly lower at 68, falling into the high-risk domain according to ForexBrokers.com. Like Spreadex, Alpari is neither publicly traded nor a bank, which may be a consideration for users when evaluating the overall reliability and security of their investments. Both brokers offer different levels of assurance, and these distinctions are key for those exploring online trading options.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 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 | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Spreadex and Alpari, it's important to note the distinctions in their offerings. Spreadex boasts an average spread of 0.81 pips for the EUR/USD currency pair as of January 2024. They achieved a minimum spread of 0.6 pips 60% of the time during that month, making it a competitive option for traders. This consistency in their spread pricing earns Spreadex a commendable 4-star rating out of 5 for commissions and fees.
On the other hand, Alpari does not provide specific average spread data, which may pose a challenge for traders seeking transparency in pricing. Despite this lack of detailed spread information, Alpari matches Spreadex's 4-star rating in the commissions and fees category. However, the absence of clear spread figures might be a consideration for those prioritizing cost predictability.
In terms of industry rankings, Spreadex is positioned at #27 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Alpari comes in at #41 out of the same group. This ranking difference highlights Spreadex's relatively stronger standing in handling commissions and fees compared to Alpari. For traders prioritizing lower fees and clearer cost structures, Spreadex may be the more appealing choice.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.81 | 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) | 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 comparing Spreadex and Alpari for their investment offerings, each broker presents a unique set of options tailored to different investor needs. Spreadex boasts a significant variety with 10,000 tradeable symbols including 52 forex pairs. This extensive range is a key reason why Spreadex receives a stellar 5-star rating for its range of investments. Despite offering currency derivatives and CFDs, Spreadex lacks in providing direct access to both U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, limiting options for those interested in trading actual company shares like Apple or Vodafone.
Alpari, on the other hand, offers a more modest selection with 105 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, earning a 3-star rating from reviewers. While it trails behind Spreadex in overall variety, Alpari differentiates itself by allowing clients to directly buy shares on international exchanges, a feature not available through Spreadex. Additionally, Alpari supports copy trading, which can appeal to those looking to replicate the trading strategies of more experienced investors. Both platforms support trading in cryptocurrency derivatives instead of actual cryptocurrencies, catering to traders interested in digital assets without holding the currencies outright. In terms of investment variety, Spreadex is ranked 13th out of 63 brokers, significantly ahead of Alpari's 63rd position.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 52 | 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.
When comparing Spreadex and Alpari, both brokers impress with their trading platforms and tools. Both offer the convenience of web-based (browser) platforms and provide free virtual demo accounts for simulated trading. While Spreadex shines with its proprietary platform and allows trading directly from stock charts, it does not support desktop platforms like Windows-based applications or popular tools such as MetaTrader 4 or 5. Alpari, on the other hand, offers a proprietary platform along with MetaTrader 4 and 5, making it a versatile choice for traders seeking diverse platform options. Copy trading is notably available with Alpari, enhancing its appeal for those interested in mimicking successful trades.
Charting tools vary slightly between the two with Spreadex offering 11 drawing tools compared to Alpari's 15. However, Spreadex provides eight columns for watch lists as compared to Alpari's seven, potentially giving a broader snapshot for traders monitoring multiple markets. Both brokers have received a solid rating of four stars for trading platforms and tools. However, ForexBrokers.com ranks Spreadex higher at 46th position compared to Alpari’s 55th, potentially reflecting the subtle differences in features and performance noted above.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | 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) | 58 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 11 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Spreadex and Alpari provide solid mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users, ensuring convenience and flexibility for traders on the go. These apps support essential features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, view various time frames on charts, and create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, neither app offers watchlist symbol syncing, meaning changes in the watchlists aren’t reflected across different platforms. Spreadex does not specify the number of technical studies available for charting, while Alpari offers an impressive 30 technical studies, providing a richer analytical experience for its users.
In terms of ease of use, both apps were rated four out of five stars for mobile trading features. Despite similarities in their offerings, ForexBrokers.com ranks Spreadex slightly higher, at 46th out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, compared to Alpari, which ranks 56th. This marginal difference may not be significant for everyday traders but could influence the more discerning user base. Neither app autosaves drawings on charts, so be prepared to manually save your work if needed. Overall, both Spreadex and Alpari aim to deliver a user-friendly trading experience through their mobile apps.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | N/A | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research capabilities of online brokers Spreadex and Alpari, several differences become apparent. Spreadex provides daily market commentary, offering traders up-to-date insights that Alpari does not. Both brokers, however, ensure access to high-quality forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, they each offer technical analysis tools from Autochartist, aiding traders in making informed decisions. However, neither Spreadex nor Alpari provides tools from Trading Central or market research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading.
Spreadex distinguishes itself with a sentiment-based trading tool, showing traders the ratio of long to short positions across various instruments, a feature Alpari lacks. Both brokers supply an economic calendar to keep traders informed about global events, but Spreadex garners a higher research rating of four stars compared to Alpari's three. In ForexBrokers.com's rankings, Spreadex claims the 31st position amongst 63 brokers, while Alpari sits at 57th, reflecting Spreadex’s broader research offerings.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
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.
Spreadex and Alpari both cater to beginners by offering a substantial number of educational materials focused on forex and CFDs, meeting the requirement of providing at least 10 educational pieces such as articles, videos, or archived webinars. Both brokers also support novice traders with foundational videos covering essential trading topics. While both brokers have comprehensive investor dictionaries with over 50 investing terms, neither offers online webinars or a searchable archive of past webinars, which might limit options for those seeking interactive learning experiences.
When it comes to advanced trading topics, both Spreadex and Alpari fall short by not providing at least 10 educational videos for experienced traders. Despite these similarities, Spreadex edges out Alpari with a higher educational rating of 4 stars compared to Alpari’s 3 stars. Additionally, Spreadex is slightly better ranked at #45 out of 63 brokers in the Education category on ForexBrokers.com, with Alpari trailing at #48. These differences might influence beginners who prioritize educational quality when selecting a broker.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
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 | No | 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 Spreadex is better than Alpari. Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #39, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
Spreadex is an FCA-regulated broker in the UK, offering forex and CFDs, and is well known for its sports betting business, and proprietary web trading platforms. Spreadex still has considerable room to improve, in key categories such as research and education, compared to the best forex brokers.
| Feature |
Spreadex
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 71 | 68 |
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Both Spreadex and Alpari do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they each provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Neither Spreadex nor Alpari support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals; however, while both brokers allow transactions via Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, only Alpari offers an 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 | Spreadex | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 71 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Spreadex | Alpari | |
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| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | Spreadex | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 71 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Spreadex | 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). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Spreadex | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No |
| Investments | Spreadex | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 52 | 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 | Spreadex | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.81 | 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 | Spreadex | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | Spreadex | 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 | Spreadex | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 58 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 11 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Spreadex | 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 | N/A | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Spreadex | 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 | Spreadex | 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 | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Spreadex | 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | Spreadex | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 71 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Spreadex Review |
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