Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ThinkMarkets 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.
ThinkMarkets and Alpari are both online brokers catering to traders with varied experience levels, yet they differ significantly when it comes to regulatory standing. ThinkMarkets, established in 2010, holds a competitive edge with its impressive five Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust in the industry. In contrast, Alpari, a broker in the market since 1998, lacks Tier-1 regulatory licenses entirely. Additionally, ThinkMarkets enjoys a Trust Score of 92 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its position as a highly trusted broker. Meanwhile, Alpari's Trust Score of 68 places it under high risk, signaling potential traders to proceed with caution.
Neither firm is publicly traded or a banking institution, which means they operate independently of stock exchange regulations. ThinkMarkets further distinguishes itself with two Tier-2 licenses, whereas Alpari holds none. The superior regulatory credentials of ThinkMarkets may offer potential investors more confidence in their trading services compared to Alpari. When evaluating brokers, paying close attention to the number and type of regulatory licenses can help traders make informed decisions about where to invest their finances securely.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, both ThinkMarkets and Alpari earn 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. However, Alpari holds a higher category ranking at #42 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets is ranked #48 out of 63. This indicates that, despite identical star ratings, Alpari edges ahead in the broader assessment of pricing.
Average spread data is not available for either broker, making it important to check live quotes and each broker’s latest fee schedules. Beyond spreads, consider factors like account-type commissions, overnight financing (swap) rates, and any deposit, withdrawal, or inactivity fees to understand your true trading costs.
Bottom line: both brokers are rated 4/5 for commissions and fees, but Alpari’s #42 ranking suggests a slight advantage over ThinkMarkets at #48. Your best choice will depend on the instruments you trade, your holding periods, and the current pricing each broker publishes.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
Comparing the range of investments, ThinkMarkets offers far more variety with 4,000 tradeable symbols versus Alpari’s 105. Both brokers cover 46 forex pairs and allow forex trading as CFDs or spot, and each supports copy trading. Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares like Apple directly, but both provide access to exchange-traded international shares (for example, London-listed companies). For crypto, neither supports purchasing actual coins, though both offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
Independent evaluations reflect this spread: ThinkMarkets earns 4.5/5 stars for Range of Investments, compared with Alpari’s 3/5, and ForexBrokers.com ranks ThinkMarkets #24 in this category versus Alpari at #64. In practical terms, ThinkMarkets better suits traders seeking a wider menu of markets, while Alpari fits those focused on core forex and a smaller set of instruments with some international share access.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4000 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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). | 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.
ThinkMarkets vs Alpari for trading platforms and tools: Both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, in-house proprietary platforms, Windows desktop downloads, web-based trading, and copy trading. Each also supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and neither connects to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Charting is straightforward on both: you can place trades directly from charts and you get 15 drawing tools with each; specific counts for built-in indicators aren’t listed, though MT4/MT5 include the usual set.
For day-to-day use, ThinkMarkets provides 15 watchlist columns versus Alpari’s 7. Both earned 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, but their rankings differ at ForexBrokers.com: ThinkMarkets is 28th out of 63 brokers, while Alpari is 56th. If platform breadth and watchlist customization matter to you, ThinkMarkets has the edge; if you mainly want MT4/MT5 with copy trading and a demo account, either broker will do the job.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
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 | 15 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ThinkMarkets and Alpari both offer iPhone and Android apps, with price alerts and watchlists that show real-time quotes. Charting basics are covered on both: you can draw trendlines and switch among multiple time frames. One shared limitation is that watchlists don’t sync with the online account, so changes made on mobile won’t carry over to the web platform.
The bigger split is in charting depth and workflow. ThinkMarkets packs 94 technical studies versus Alpari’s 30, and it auto-saves your chart drawings, while Alpari does not. Despite both earning 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, ForexBrokers.com ranks ThinkMarkets much higher (#20 of 63) than Alpari (#57 of 63). If you value a wider set of indicators and saved annotations on the go, ThinkMarkets has the edge; if you just need the essentials, Alpari still gets the job done.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 94 | 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.
Comparing ThinkMarkets vs Alpari for market research: ThinkMarkets provides daily market commentary, while Alpari does not. Both brokers stream forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and each includes an economic calendar. For tools, Alpari integrates Autochartist, but ThinkMarkets does not. Neither broker offers Trading Central. ThinkMarkets includes a sentiment-based trading tool that shows long/short ratios across instruments; Alpari does not. ThinkMarkets does not provide TipRanks research and offers tools from Acuity Trading (e.g., Signal Centre); TipRanks and Acuity availability at Alpari is not specified.
Ratings from ForexBrokers.com place ThinkMarkets at 3.5/5 stars for Research (ranked 51 out of 63), while Alpari holds 3/5 stars (ranked 58 out of 63). In short, ThinkMarkets suits traders who want daily commentary, sentiment data, and Acuity-powered signals, whereas Alpari is appealing if Autochartist is your must-have and you can go without daily commentary.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for trading beginners, ThinkMarkets and Alpari both feature comprehensive offerings. Both brokers provide at least 10 educational pieces like articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex or CFDs. ThinkMarkets, however, steps further ahead by offering monthly online webinars for their clients and a searchable archive of past webinars, a feature Alpari doesn't provide. Both brokers offer at least 10 beginner educational videos, making them both suitable choices for newcomers who prefer learning through visual content. However, if you're an experienced trader seeking advanced materials, ThinkMarkets has you covered with a series of advanced educational videos, unlike Alpari.
In terms of educational support, both brokers maintain a comprehensive investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms defined. Ratings from ForexBrokers.com place ThinkMarkets slightly ahead in educational offerings with 3.5 stars compared to Alpari’s 3 stars, although Alpari ranks slightly higher overall in the education category. ThinkMarkets and Alpari are ranked #52 and #48 out of 63 brokers, respectively. If ongoing educational support through webinars is a priority for you, ThinkMarkets could be the better option. However, for a more traditional approach to learning, Alpari might still meet your needs effectively.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
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 ThinkMarkets is better than Alpari. ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
ThinkMarkets has multiple regulatory license and offers a proprietary trading platform, as well as the entire MetaTrader suite. The broker has made progress in key areas, such as research and education, and the range of markets available, although trails behind the best brokers in these categories.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
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Alpari
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 68 |
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Both ThinkMarkets and Alpari do not provide options to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both ThinkMarkets and Alpari provide various fund transfer options including Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires; however, neither offers ACH, SEPA, or PayPal as deposit or withdrawal options.
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 | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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| Broker Screenshots | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 92 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | 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 | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4000 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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). | 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 | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 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 | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 | ThinkMarkets | 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 | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 15 | 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 | ThinkMarkets | 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 | 94 | 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 | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ThinkMarkets | 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 | ThinkMarkets | 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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| Overall | ThinkMarkets | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
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