Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Swissquote and Alpari both provide online trading services but differ in several key areas, starting with their founding years; Swissquote launched in 1996, while Alpari followed in 1998. A significant difference between the two is that Swissquote is publicly traded and operates as a bank, giving it a more substantial presence in the financial market. In contrast, Alpari is neither publicly traded nor a bank, which could affect investors’ perception regarding its financial stability.
When it comes to regulatory trust and safety, Swissquote stands out due to its impressive 99 out of 99 Trust Score, supported by holding five Tier-1 highly trusted licenses and two Tier-2 trusted licenses. Alpari, on the other hand, holds no Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, which reflects in its lower Trust Score of 68. For those valuing high regulatory oversight and trust, Swissquote’s credentials provide a reassuring platform compared to Alpari, whose Trust Score suggests it carries a higher risk.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Swissquote and Alpari, Alpari emerges as the more cost-effective choice. Swissquote, a Swiss banking conglomerate, offers multiple account options through its U.K., Luxembourg, and Swiss entities, each with varying cost structures. For instance, the Elite account at Swissquote's U.K. entity provides competitive spreads for active traders who maintain a minimum deposit of $10,000. Transparency about the pricing and spreads, particularly for the Standard and Prime accounts, makes Swissquote less appealing for those seeking low-cost trading. Unfortunately, Swissquote ranks 53rd out of 63 brokers and holds a 3.5-star rating for commissions and fees.
Alpari offers a simpler and more cost-effective structure, even though specific average spread data is not available. They enjoy a stronger reputation in terms of affordability, evidenced by a higher rating of 4 stars. This makes Alpari more attractive to traders focused on keeping costs low. In the ForexBrokers.com rankings, Alpari is ranked 41st out of 63, outperforming Swissquote in the commissions and fees category.
Overall, if minimizing trading costs is a priority, Alpari presents itself as a more favorable option than Swissquote. Alpari's better ratings and rankings highlight its potential as a cost-efficient online brokerage solution.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $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 | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | 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.
Swissquote provides traders with a diverse selection of investment options, prominently offering both CFD and spot contract forex trading. It boasts an impressive 472 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs, easily surpassing Alpari's 105 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Unique to Swissquote, investors have access to U.S. exchange-traded securities, allowing them to buy shares such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), along with an array of international securities like Vodafone (VOD-GB: London Stock Exchange), adding significant value to its offerings.
While both Swissquote and Alpari enable traders to engage in copy trading and explore cryptocurrency derivatives, Swissquote stands out by also allowing the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. This variety in investment options contributes to its high rating of 5 stars for the range of investments, ranking it second among 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Alpari receives a 3-star rating and is ranked last, indicating a narrower range of investment opportunities for its clients.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 the trading platforms and tools offered by Swissquote and Alpari, both brokers provide comprehensive features for traders. Both firms cater to beginners and experienced traders alike by offering simulated trading accounts. They have developed their own proprietary platforms, along with compatibility for popular trading software such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Additionally, both Swissquote and Alpari support trading on Windows-based desktop applications as well as web-based platforms, allowing users flexibility in their trading preferences. For those interested in social trading, both brokers also offer copy trading capabilities, but they don't provide access to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
While both brokers deliver a broad range of tools, Swissquote distinguishes itself with a wider array of options. Swissquote offers a more sophisticated charting experience, providing 75 drawing tools compared to Alpari’s 15. Additionally, it provides the ability to monitor more aspects of market movements with up to 11 columns for watch lists, whereas Alpari offers seven. These enhancements contribute to Swissquote's higher rating of 4.5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, as opposed to Alpari's 4 stars. The superior offerings have earned Swissquote a higher ranking, positioned at 12th out of 63 brokers, while Alpari is ranked at 55th according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Swissquote and Alpari, both offer similar basic features, such as availability on iPhone and Android, stock and forex price alerts, 30 technical chart studies, and the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. However, both apps lack watchlist symbol syncing, which means users' watchlists don't automatically update between their mobile app and online account. One key difference is in the auto-saving feature, as Swissquote's app saves chart drawings automatically, whereas Alpari's app does not. Additionally, both platforms allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, enhancing their ability to monitor market changes on the go.
Swissquote and Alpari both provide user-friendly mobile experiences, yet Swissquote appears to have an edge in user satisfaction and industry rankings. It is rated 4.5 stars for its mobile trading app, placing it at #12 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Alpari is rated slightly lower at 4 stars and is ranked #56. These factors suggest that while both apps offer comprehensive features for traders, users might prefer Swissquote for its slightly higher user satisfaction and broader feature set.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | 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 comparing Swissquote and Alpari for market research capabilities, Swissquote emerges as a strong contender with a variety of offerings. Swissquote provides daily market commentary, which is absent from Alpari’s offerings. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to reliable information. In terms of analysis tools, each uses Autochartist, providing traders with technical and fundamental research options, while neither offers tools from Trading Central. Additionally, both brokers lack sentiment-based trading tools and market research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. However, they offer economic calendars that highlight global news events, crucial for making informed trading decisions.
Evaluating their research capabilities, Swissquote secures a rating of 4 stars, standing at the 16th position among 63 brokers, as per ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Alpari receives a 3-star rating and ranks 57th in the same survey. These rankings underscore Swissquote's commitment to providing comprehensive market insights and tools, positioning it a step ahead of Alpari for investors seeking richer resources to aid their trading strategies.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational offerings of Swissquote and Alpari, Swissquote stands out for beginners due to its wide range of educational resources. Both platforms provide more than 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs. However, Swissquote goes a step further by offering monthly online webinars, unlike Alpari. Additionally, Swissquote maintains a searchable archive of these webinars, making it easier for beginners to catch up on past sessions. Both brokers offer a variety of videos tailored for beginners, though Swissquote extends its library to include advanced topics, while Alpari does not. This makes Swissquote a more comprehensive choice for those who wish to expand beyond the basics.
Swissquote complements its educational suite with an investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms, a resource also provided by Alpari. However, despite this similarity, Swissquote’s commitment to a more thorough educational experience is reflected in its quality ratings. It holds a 4-star education rating and ranks #21 out of 63 brokers in the Education category on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Alpari is rated 3 stars and ranks #48, indicating Swissquote's higher standing as an educational resource. For beginners eager to dive into the world of trading, Swissquote offers a more enriched and accessible learning environment.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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 Swissquote is better than Alpari. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 |
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While both Swissquote and Alpari provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, Swissquote uniquely offers the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, whereas Alpari does not.
Swissquote stands out by offering a variety of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while Alpari provides several options like Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires but does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Swissquote | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | Alpari | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | 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). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Swissquote | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Swissquote | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | 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 | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
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