Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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.
Founded in 2009, XM Group stands out in the online brokerage world with its commitment to trust and security. Despite not being a publicly traded company or a bank, XM Group holds an impressive four Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 88, XM Group is deemed to be in the 'trusted' category. This reflects its considerable reliability and security in the industry.
In comparison, Alpari, established in 1998, also operates as a private company and is not a bank. However, it doesn't hold any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, which affects its perceived safety. With a Trust Score of 68, Alpari is categorized as a 'high risk' broker according to ForexBrokers.com standards, indicating a lower level of trust compared to XM Group.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to comparing the online brokers XM Group and Alpari, both receive solid ratings for their commissions and fees but differ in specific areas. XM Group is noted for its high costs on standard account spreads, making it pricey for many users. While the broker offers a commission-based option with the XM Zero account, the average spreads for this account type are not publicly disclosed. Despite this, XM Group earns a commendable four-star rating for its commissions and fees and is ranked #33 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category.
Alpari, similar to XM Group, does not publicly share average spread data, leaving users without a clear picture of potential trading costs. However, despite this lack of transparency, Alpari also secures a four-star rating for commissions and fees. In terms of ranking, Alpari is positioned slightly lower than XM Group at #41 out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, XM Group and Alpari receive identical four-star ratings, though XM Group ranks slightly higher than Alpari in terms of overall commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com. This can be a helpful insight for traders weighing their options between these two brokers, especially for those concerned with cost efficiency and available spread information.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 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.
When it comes to the variety of investments offered, XM Group stands out with a remarkable range of options, making it a compelling choice for both new and experienced traders. Offering a whopping 1,394 tradeable symbols, XM Group provides access to 55 forex pairs, ensuring traders have plenty of options to choose from when entering the forex market. Additionally, XM Group allows clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, offering the ability to directly buy shares like Apple and Vodafone. This availability, coupled with the option for copy trading and the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, earns XM Group a commendable 4.5-star rating for its range of investments.
In contrast, Alpari presents a more limited range of investment options. With only 105 tradeable symbols, including 46 forex pairs, Alpari does not offer the same breadth as XM Group. Importantly, Alpari does not provide access to U.S. exchange-listed securities, although it does allow the trading of international shares like Vodafone. Copy trading and cryptocurrency derivative trading are available at Alpari, but the narrower market access results in a moderate 3-star rating for its range of investments. Consequently, while both brokers support CFD trading and offer similar derivative products, XM Group's broader portfolio gives it a significant edge, reflected in its higher ranking by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 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) | 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.
XM Group and Alpari both offer a range of trading platforms and tools catering to beginners and experienced traders alike. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading without financial risk. While XM Group does not have a proprietary platform, Alpari offers a platform developed in-house, which may appeal to those looking for a unique trading experience. Both firms support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and provide downloadable desktop platforms for Windows users, along with convenient web-based trading options. Traders can easily engage in copy trading on both platforms, yet neither broker offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade integration. Chart enthusiasts will find 15 drawing tools available with each broker, aiding in meticulous analysis and strategy formulation, while enabling direct trading from stock charts.
When it comes to watch lists, XM Group and Alpari both support seven customizable columns for managing trading insights. Despite each broker being rated four stars for their trading platforms and tools, XM Group holds a higher position, ranked 31st, compared to Alpari's 55th place out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. This might reflect XM Group’s slightly stronger appeal to those seeking a comprehensive suite of trading features. Although both brokers perform well, those interested in nuanced differences might lean towards XM Group for its broader recognition in the trading community.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both XM Group and Alpari offer iPhone and Android versions, enabling traders to access stock and forex markets on the go. Both brokers provide the convenience of setting up stock or forex price alerts and allow users to draw trendlines and view charts in various time frames. However, a distinct advantage for XM Group is its watchlist symbol syncing feature, which keeps your watchlists up-to-date across both mobile and online platforms. In contrast, Alpari lacks this syncing capability, which could be a deciding factor for traders who prioritize seamless integration across devices.
Both XM Group and Alpari offer 30 technical studies in their charting tools, giving users a robust set of options for technical analysis. Yet, neither app currently supports auto-saving of chart drawings. While both platforms allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, XM Group's app is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, securing the 29th position out of 63 brokers, compared to Alpari’s 56th position. Despite having similar features and both receiving a 4-star rating, these differences in ranking and functionality might influence traders when choosing between the two for their mobile trading needs.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings between XM Group and Alpari, several distinctions come to light. XM Group excels with daily market commentary, providing insights often necessary for making informed trading decisions. This platform also delivers forex news sourced from prestigious outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, ensuring that traders have access to critical financial updates. XM Group stands out for integrating Trading Central's technical analytics, offering advanced analysis to its users. Additionally, XM Group features a sentiment-based trading tool, which helps traders gauge market sentiment by revealing the ratio of long to short positions across currency pairs. Furthermore, it provides an economic calendar that tracks important global events, assisting traders in planning their strategies effectively. Rated at 5 stars for research and ranked #8 among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, XM Group demonstrates a superior commitment to market research resources.
Conversely, Alpari offers its own set of research tools, although it doesn't match XM Group in all categories. Alpari provides forex news from top-tier sources, similar to XM Group, and offers tools from Autochartist for detailed analysis, giving technical traders a recognized option for chart patterns and indicators. Moreover, like XM Group, Alpari offers an economic calendar for tracking significant global financial events. However, Alpari lacks daily market commentary, sentiment-based trading tools, and the specialized insights from Trading Central. With a 3-star rating for research and ranked #57 out of 63 brokers, Alpari falls behind XM Group in providing comprehensive market research options. These differences outline the varying strengths each broker presents to traders in need of detailed market insights.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | 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 resources available for beginners between XM Group and Alpari, there are several key differences. XM Group provides more comprehensive educational support, offering a variety of materials including over 10 pieces on forex or CFDs through articles, videos, and archived webinars. Beginners have access to online webinars hosted at least once a month, with an archive of previously recorded sessions available for review, a feature not offered by Alpari. Both brokers provide over 10 beginner-focused educational videos; however, XM Group stands out with an extensive range of over 10 advanced videos designed for experienced traders.
In contrast, Alpari offers an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, an advantage for those new to trading concepts, a resource that XM Group does not provide. Despite this, the overall educational experience at XM Group is rated higher, with a five-star rating compared to Alpari's three stars. When ranked by ForexBrokers.com among 63 brokers for educational resources, XM Group claims the #7 spot, significantly higher than Alpari's rank at #48. This ranking reflects XM Group's commitment to providing traders, especially beginners, with a rich set of learning tools to enhance their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than Alpari. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 88 | 68 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
XM Group and Alpari both do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both XM Group and Alpari offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing account funds, but neither supports ACH, SEPA transfers, nor PayPal as payment 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 88 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 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) | 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 | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $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 | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XM Group | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | 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 | XM Group Review |
| Overall | XM Group | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 88 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill