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 |
When comparing Alpari and TopFX in terms of commissions and fees, both brokers hold a respectable 4-star rating. Alpari's ranking stands at #41 out of 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, indicating a somewhat competitive position for its pricing structure. However, specific details about Alpari's average spreads are not readily available, which could be a consideration for potential traders seeking comprehensive cost analysis.
In contrast, TopFX ranks slightly higher at #40 out of 62 brokers. It offers two distinct account types that cater to different trading preferences: the ZERO account and the RAW account. The ZERO account operates on a spread-only basis and does not charge commissions, featuring average spreads of 1.03 pips for the EUR/USD as recorded in July 2024. The RAW account, meanwhile, charges a commission of 2.75 EUR per side (or 5.50 per round for a standard lot), with a low average spread of 0.33 pips for EUR/USD. Thus, the total cost for the RAW account averages around 0.88 pips, aligning it with the industry standard.
Overall, both Alpari and TopFX offer competitive and transparent pricing models, though the availability of detailed data from TopFX may provide a more precise understanding of its fee structure. Traders interested in the specifics of commission and spread costs might find TopFX slightly more informative due to the clarity of its pricing breakdown.
| 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 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Alpari and TopFX both provide forex trading opportunities, offering access through CFDs or spot contracts. Alpari presents 105 tradeable symbols and includes 46 forex pairs, while TopFX goes further by providing 655 symbols with 60 forex pairs. Neither platform offers exchange-traded securities from U.S. exchanges like Apple shares. However, Alpari allows trading on international exchanges, enabling investments in companies such as Vodafone, whereas TopFX does not provide this option.
Both brokers support copy trading, expanding options for those who prefer mimicking successful strategies. Although neither offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrency, they both supply cryptocurrency derivatives for their users. Alpari receives a 3-star rating for its range of investments and is ranked last among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, TopFX scores 3.5 stars and ranks 46th, placing slightly higher on the scale for investment variety. These insights provide valuable considerations when choosing between Alpari and TopFX based on their investment offerings.
| 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 (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.
Both Alpari and TopFX offer a variety of trading platforms and tools designed to meet the needs of different traders. Alpari stands out with its proprietary platform alongside well-known options like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). TopFX, while not providing a proprietary platform, supports MT4. Both brokers offer web-based platforms, Windows-based desktop downloads, and simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts. Additionally, they provide copy trading capabilities, although neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Each platform allows direct trading from stock charts and comes with 15 drawing tools for chart analysis.
In terms of usability features, both Alpari and TopFX present 7 columns for watch lists, aiding traders in monitoring the markets effectively. When it comes to quality assessments, each broker earns a respectable 4-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. However, TopFX holds a slight edge in ranking, placed at #45 versus Alpari's #55 in the Trading Platforms and Tools category by ForexBrokers.com among 62 brokers. Regardless, the choice between them may ultimately hinge on the need for a proprietary platform or access to MT5, where Alpari leads.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary 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 |
| 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 | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Alpari and TopFX provide iPhone and Android apps for mobile traders, making it convenient for users to access their accounts on the go. They both offer helpful features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. However, neither platform allows watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and an online account, which could inconvenience some users. Alpari and TopFX both provide a well-rounded charting experience with 30 technical studies and various time frames, including daily, weekly, and intraday options.
Despite their similarities, there are a few differences to note. While both Alpari and TopFX allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, only TopFX automatically saves chart drawings. Users may appreciate this convenience on TopFX for keeping track of their analysis. Rated four out of five stars for mobile trading apps, Alpari is ranked 56th, while TopFX holds a slightly better spot at 51st out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. This suggests a slight edge for TopFX in the mobile app experience overall.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Alpari and TopFX for market research, both brokers offer some key benefits but also share limitations. Both Alpari and TopFX provide forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, keeping traders informed with top-tier data. Each broker also integrates technical analysis tools from Autochartist, aiding investors in making informed decisions. Additionally, Alpari and TopFX offer an economic calendar that highlights global economic events. However, neither broker provides daily market commentary or research tools from Acuity Trading or TipRanks.
A closer look reveals differences that might influence a trader's choice. TopFX stands out by offering access to Trading Central's technical analytics and a sentiment-based trading tool, which Alpari does not provide. Despite these distinctions, both Alpari and TopFX receive a three-star rating for research from ForexBrokers.com. In terms of rankings, Alpari is slightly higher at #57 compared to TopFX's #59 among top brokers for market research. This comparison underlines that while both have strengths, traders might find TopFX appealing for its advanced research tools. However, both platforms meet the basic market research needs for forex traders.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners at Alpari and TopFX, it's clear that Alpari offers more substantial content. Alpari provides at least 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, including articles and videos. Beginner traders can also find at least 10 detailed videos specifically designed to introduce trading topics. Additionally, Alpari offers an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, making it a helpful resource for someone new to trading. In contrast, TopFX falls short by not offering the minimum educational content focused on forex or CFDs and lacks the range of beginner videos that Alpari provides.
Both Alpari and TopFX do not offer online educational webinars or searchable archives of past webinars. Neither broker provides advanced educational videos for experienced traders. Despite Alpari's edge in beginner resources, both receive a three-star rating for education overall. According to ForexBrokers.com, Alpari is ranked 48th out of 62 brokers in the Education category, while TopFX trails behind at rank 60. This assessment underscores Alpari's somewhat stronger, yet still developing, educational offerings compared to TopFX.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Alpari is better than TopFX. Alpari finished with an overall rank of #57, while TopFX finished with an overall rank of #61.
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
|
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 and TopFX both provide Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for fund transactions, but differ as TopFX also supports PayPal, whereas neither broker supports ACH or SEPA 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 | Alpari | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 68 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | TopFX Review |
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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) | No | 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 (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 | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.03 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.88 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| 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 | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary 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 | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 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 | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | Yes | |
| Mobile 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 | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Alpari | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TopFX Review |
| Overall | Alpari | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 68 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | TopFX Review |
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