Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trade Nation 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 comparing online brokers Trade Nation and Alpari, their trustworthiness plays a significant role. Trade Nation, established in 2014, boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85, indicating it is a trusted platform. It holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted, and one Tier-2 license. In contrast, Alpari, founded in 1998, has a Trust Score of 68, putting it in the high-risk category. Alpari lacks Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses, which might be a consideration for those prioritizing regulatory reassurance.
Both brokers are not publicly traded and do not operate as banks. While Trade Nation shines with its regulatory compliance and higher trust score, Alpari's longer presence in the market might attract those looking for a broker with a lengthy track record. However, for investors looking for more secure regulatory credentials, Trade Nation seems to have the upper hand based on licensing and trust ratings.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing Trade Nation and Alpari in terms of commissions and fees, Trade Nation stands out with its competitive fixed-spread pricing model, which is unique in the trading industry. Trade Nation offers fixed spreads, such as 0.6 pips for the EUR/USD pair, maintaining consistency as prices update. This fixed-spread model can adjust during the daily rollover period when spreads briefly widen to as much as 1.4 pips, averaging closer to 1 pip overall. Alpari's average spread data is not readily available, making Trade Nation's transparent pricing structure a notable feature.
Trade Nation offers three different account types, including two MetaTrader-based accounts and its proprietary TN Trader account. The Raw Spread account on MetaTrader charges a $3.50 commission per side, totaling $7 per round-trip per standard lot, whereas the commission-free account incurs higher spreads. The TN Trader account offers the lowest spreads when considering all costs. In contrast, detailed account type and pricing information for Alpari are less clear due to the absence of average spread data.
In terms of ratings and rankings, Trade Nation impresses with a 5-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking 7th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Alpari, on the other hand, holds a 4-star rating and is ranked 41st in the same category. This highlights Trade Nation's strong performance and transparency in pricing compared to Alpari.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | 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.
Trade Nation and Alpari both offer forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract, providing traders with flexible options. However, when it comes to the overall range of investments, Trade Nation stands out with a significantly higher number of tradeable symbols, totaling 1000 compared to Alpari's 105. Both brokers offer an identical count of 46 tradeable forex pairs, suggesting parity in this area. On the downside, neither platform allows trading of exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares, while only Alpari enables the trading of such securities on international exchanges, like Vodafone shares. With both brokers offering access to cryptocurrency derivatives rather than the actual digital coins, and each supporting copy trading, they maintain similarities in this progressive trading feature.
Despite these shared characteristics, the difference in their investment offerings affects their ratings and rankings. Trade Nation is rated 3.5 stars for its range of investments, while Alpari holds a slightly lower rating of 3 stars. This distinction places Trade Nation at 38th out of 63 brokers in the range of investments category according to ForexBrokers.com, outperforming Alpari, which lands at 63rd. This ranking highlights Trade Nation's broader investment options, making it a more appealing choice for those seeking a wider array of trading opportunities.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, both Trade Nation and Alpari have plenty to offer for both beginner and experienced traders. Trade Nation stands out by providing a comprehensive suite of features including a proprietary platform, options for both Windows desktop and web-based trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform. Although it doesn't support MetaTrader 5 (MT5), it compensates with robust copy trading features and a higher number of drawing tools for charting, totaling 39 compared to Alpari's 15. Both brokers include virtual demo accounts for simulated trading, making them beginner-friendly.
Alpari matches Trade Nation with its own proprietary platform and also offers a Windows-based desktop and web trading experience. Where Alpari shines is its inclusion of MT5 for those looking for more advanced analytical tools, in addition to the widely-used MT4. It offers the added functionality of trading directly from stock charts, unlike Trade Nation. Both received a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, yet Trade Nation ranks slightly higher at #44 compared to Alpari’s #55 according to ForexBrokers.com. Each platform caters to a variety of trading needs, from comprehensive charting capabilities to customizable watch lists, ensuring traders find the right fit for their strategies.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
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) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trade Nation and Alpari both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, providing users with essential trading features such as stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. However, there are notable differences when it comes to specific functionalities. Trade Nation stands out with its ability to sync watchlists across mobile and online accounts, a feature not available with Alpari. Additionally, Trade Nation provides a more comprehensive charting experience with 99 technical studies compared to Alpari's 30, along with auto-saving drawings on charts, which Alpari does not support.
Both platforms allow users to view multiple time frames on charts and offer the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. When considering user ratings, both Trade Nation and Alpari receive a solid four-star rating for their mobile trading apps. However, Trade Nation holds a higher rank at #45 compared to Alpari's #56, according to ForexBrokers.com. This slight edge suggests that Trade Nation might be a preferable choice for those prioritizing advanced charting tools and seamless integration between mobile and web trading experiences.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 99 | 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 the market research offerings of Trade Nation and Alpari, several distinctions emerge. Trade Nation provides daily market commentary, offering traders timely insights that Alpari lacks. Both brokers offer forex news from top-tier sources, making sure you stay informed with dependable information. Trade Nation stands out with its sentiment-based trading tool, helping traders understand market trends through the ratio of long and short positions. Alpari does not offer this feature but compensates with technical analysis tools from Autochartist, giving it an edge in chart-based research.
Further comparing their services, Trade Nation benefits from research tools provided by Acuity Trading, which are not available at Alpari. In contrast, Alpari provides an economic calendar, aiding traders in keeping up with global news events, a feature missing from Trade Nation. In terms of research ratings, Trade Nation earns 3.5 stars, surpassing Alpari's 3-star rating. When ranked among 63 brokers, Trade Nation is positioned at #42, while Alpari trails at #57 in the Research category according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
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 | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners, Trade Nation and Alpari both provide ample learning materials on forex and CFDs, each offering more than ten educational pieces such as articles and videos on these subjects. Both brokers also cater to new traders with over ten beginner-specific educational videos, helping novices grasp essential trading topics. However, Trade Nation stands out by offering advanced educational videos tailored for experienced traders, a resource not provided by Alpari. Both platforms also equip users with a dictionary of over 50 investing terms, aiding in understanding trading terminology.
Neither Trade Nation nor Alpari currently offer monthly online educational webinars or archives of recorded sessions, which might limit live, interactive learning opportunities for beginners seeking continual education. Despite these similarities, Trade Nation holds a slight edge with a rating of 3.5 stars and a higher rank in education at #41 compared to Alpari's 3-star rating and rank of #48 out of 63 brokers. This suggests Trade Nation may be marginally better suited for those seeking a more comprehensive education, particularly if they plan to advance their trading skills over time.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
|
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 | 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 Trade Nation is better than Alpari. Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
Trade Nation’s well-designed, easy-to-use trading app is an innovative trading platform that’s great for beginner forex and CFD traders. However, if you’re a seasoned trader, you may find that Trade Nation lacks advanced features compared to the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Trade Nation
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Alpari
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 68 |
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Both Trade Nation and Alpari do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Trade Nation and Alpari do not support ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal for account deposits or withdrawals, but they both allow users to transact via Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
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| Regulation | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.6 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.6 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | Trade Nation | 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 39 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | No | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 99 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Education | Trade Nation | 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 | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trade Nation | 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | Trade Nation | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trade Nation Review |
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