Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Alpari vs TopFX, 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.
Alpari, established in 1998, and TopFX, founded in 2010, are two online brokers that serve global traders. Neither of these firms is publicly traded or operates as a bank. In terms of trustworthiness, Alpari has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 68, placing it in the high-risk category, while TopFX has a slightly lower Trust Score of 67, which also falls into the high-risk range.
When it comes to regulatory licensing, Alpari does not hold any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses known for providing higher trust levels. On the other hand, TopFX holds one Tier-1 license, offering a slightly more secure option for traders prioritizing regulatory oversight and safety. Whether you choose Alpari or TopFX may depend on your preference for trading under a broker with at least some degree of higher regulatory credibility.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1998 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
For commissions and fees, both Alpari and TopFX earn 4 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees rankings, Alpari is #42 out of 63 brokers, while TopFX is #41 out of 63. TopFX publishes detailed pricing, whereas Alpari’s average spread data is not available, making side-by-side cost estimates less precise.
Alpari: Average spread figures were not provided, so exact all-in trading costs can’t be confirmed from the available data. That said, its 4-star rating and mid-pack ranking suggest pricing that is competitive but not market-leading.
TopFX: Two account types are available on MetaTrader and cTrader. The RAW account is commission-based at 2.75 EUR per side (5.50 EUR per round turn per standard lot). In July 2024 on EUR/USD, RAW averaged a 0.33-pip spread; adding the commission equivalent of 0.55 pips puts the estimated all-in cost near 0.88 pips, in line with the industry average. The ZERO account is commission-free but showed higher average spreads of 1.03 pips on EUR/USD in July 2024. The minimum deposit depends on the payment method.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20 | Depends on payment method |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.03 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.88 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Alpari vs TopFX for range of investments: TopFX lists 655 tradeable symbols and 60 forex pairs, while Alpari offers 105 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, support copy trading, and provide access to crypto derivatives, though neither offers the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency.
Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares outright (non-CFD), but Alpari does offer some international exchange-traded securities, which TopFX does not. Reflecting the breadth of markets, TopFX earns 3.5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 47th in ForexBrokers.com’s list, ahead of Alpari’s 3-star rating and 64th place. Choose TopFX if you want more markets and pairs; consider Alpari if access to certain international shares matters.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 105 | 655 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 60 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | 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 Alpari vs TopFX for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, web platforms, Windows desktop apps, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Alpari also adds MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and has its own proprietary platform, while TopFX does not offer MT5 or an in-house platform.
Some finer details weren’t specified in our data (including DupliTrade, ZuluTrade, the number of chart indicators and drawing tools, and watch list columns). For overall platform and tools, both receive 4 out of 5 stars, though ForexBrokers.com ranks Alpari at #56 of 63 and TopFX at #46. If you want MT5 or a broker-built platform, Alpari may suit you; if you prefer sticking with MT4 and ranked slightly higher in this category, consider TopFX.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Alpari vs TopFX mobile trading apps: Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with stock and forex price alerts and real-time quote watchlists. Charting is comparable, featuring 30 technical indicators and the ability to draw trendlines. Neither app syncs watchlist symbols with your online account. The source did not specify which time-frame views are available in either app.
The biggest difference is chart annotation persistence: TopFX automatically saves your drawings, while Alpari does not. Both earned 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, yet TopFX ranks higher (#52 of 63) than Alpari (#57 of 63) on ForexBrokers.com. If you frequently mark up charts and want those notes to remain, TopFX has the edge; otherwise, their everyday mobile features are quite similar.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Alpari vs TopFX for market research: Neither broker offers daily market commentary, but both provide forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, along with an economic calendar and Autochartist tools for trade ideas. Each earns 3 stars for Research from ForexBrokers.com; Alpari is ranked 58th out of 63 brokers, while TopFX is ranked 61st.
The standout difference is in extras: TopFX includes Trading Central research and a sentiment tool that shows long/short ratios—features Alpari does not offer. Information about TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools isn’t specified for either broker.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | ||
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing Alpari and TopFX for beginner-friendly forex and CFD education, Alpari stands out by offering at least 10 beginner video lessons that cover trading basics. TopFX does not meet that mark for beginner videos. Neither broker runs monthly educational webinars, and it’s not confirmed whether either one provides a searchable archive of recorded sessions or an investor dictionary. It’s also worth noting that both lack 10 or more advanced videos, so seasoned traders may find the material limited.
Both Alpari and TopFX earn 3 out of 5 stars for Education from ForexBrokers.com, but Alpari ranks higher overall (#48 out of 63) compared with TopFX (#62 out of 63). For new traders seeking video-based learning, Alpari has a clearer edge, while those considering either broker should check their websites to see the latest education libraries and any updates to webinars or glossary content.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Alpari is better than TopFX. Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58, while TopFX finished with an overall rank of #62.
Alpari is one of the first brokers to offer the MetaTrader platform glopbally before it became popular. The Alpari group of companies are regulated only in a few jurisdictions, putting the broker at a disadvantage compared to the most trusted brokers.
| Feature |
Alpari
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TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 68 | 67 |
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Both Alpari and TopFX do not provide options for purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrencies; however, they both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, rather than the actual cryptocurrencies themselves.
Alpari vs TopFX: for deposits and withdrawals, neither broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers, both allow Skrill and bank wire transfers, only TopFX offers PayPal, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | Alpari | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 68 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | TopFX Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Alpari | TopFX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 68 | 67 | |
| Year Founded | 1998 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 105 | 655 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 60 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | 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 | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.03 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.88 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20 | Depends on payment method | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | |||
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | TopFX Review |
| Overall | Alpari | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 68 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | TopFX Review |
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