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XM Group vs Alpari 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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.

XM Group
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $5
  • Trust Score: 93
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1394
Alpari
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20
  • Trust Score: 68
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 105

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.

Regulation

When comparing online brokers XM Group and Alpari, it’s important to consider their regulatory credentials and trust scores. XM Group, which was established in 2009, holds four Tier-1 licenses, categorizing it as highly trusted, alongside a Trust Score of 93 from ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Alpari, founded in 1998, doesn’t possess any Tier-1 licenses and holds a Trust Score of 68, indicating a higher risk. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank.

These regulatory differences are significant for traders looking for a trustworthy platform. XM Group’s commitment to compliance with top-tier regulators reflects a stronger level of reassurance for potential investors. Meanwhile, Alpari, with no Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, indicates a comparatively lower level of assurance regarding its regulatory compliance and trustworthiness. For those prioritizing security, XM Group presents a more favorable option.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
Alpari logoAlpari
Year Founded info 2009 1998
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

If you’re comparing commissions and fees at XM Group and Alpari, both earn 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. XM Group ranks #34 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, while Alpari ranks #42 out of 63, giving XM a slight edge despite the same star rating.

XM Group: Standard account spreads are described as expensive, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account. Without average spread data, it’s harder to estimate typical trading costs in advance, which can matter if you trade frequently or are spread-sensitive.

Alpari: Average spread data is not available, which limits transparency for everyday pricing and makes direct cost comparisons difficult. With a 4-star score but a lower #42 ranking, Alpari trails XM Group on commissions and fees even though both share the same overall rating.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
Alpari logoAlpari
Minimum Deposit info $5 $20
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.6 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info N/A info
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

XM Group and Alpari both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. XM Group offers a much wider selection, with 1,394 tradable instruments and 55 forex pairs, compared with Alpari’s 105 instruments and 46 pairs. Both brokers support copy trading, so you can follow strategies from other traders if you choose.

For real shares (not CFDs), XM Group gives access to U.S. exchanges as well as international markets, while Alpari offers international listed shares but not U.S. stocks. Neither broker lets you buy actual crypto, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs. According to ForexBrokers.com’s “Range of Investments” ratings, XM Group scores 4.5 stars and ranks 25th, while Alpari earns 3 stars and ranks 64th.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
Alpari logoAlpari
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 1394 105
Forex Pairs (Total) info 55 46
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

XM Group and Alpari both check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools: each offers a free demo account for paper trading, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, copy trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can place trades directly from charts with either broker. The main platform difference is that Alpari also provides a proprietary, in-house platform, while XM Group sticks to MetaTrader only.

In independent ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools, both brokers earn 4 stars. However, XM Group ranks higher overall at #33 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari sits at #56. If you want the familiar MetaTrader experience without extra platform options, XM Group is a straightforward choice. If you prefer having a broker-built platform alongside MT4 and MT5, Alpari offers that added option.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
Alpari logoAlpari
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

XM Group and Alpari both offer iPhone and Android trading apps with price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, and the ability to draw trendlines. One shared limitation is that neither app auto-saves chart drawings, so annotations may not persist after you close the app or switch contexts.

The key difference is watchlist syncing: XM Group syncs your watchlists between mobile and your online account, while Alpari does not. Both apps are rated 4 out of 5 stars, yet XM Group ranks 31st out of 63 for mobile trading apps, compared with Alpari at 57th. If synced watchlists and a stronger category ranking matter to you, XM Group has the edge; if you only need alerts and solid charting tools, both apps will cover the basics.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
Alpari logoAlpari
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Comparing XM Group vs Alpari for market research, XM Group comes out ahead for everyday insights. XM Group provides daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg/Reuters-class providers), Trading Central research, a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, and an economic calendar. Alpari skips daily commentary but does include premium news and an economic calendar, plus Autochartist for technical ideas; however, it lacks Trading Central and a sentiment tool. Availability of TipRanks and Acuity Trading tools at Alpari is not specified.

Independent ratings back up the gap: XM Group earns 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari holds 3 stars and ranks #58. If you want frequent commentary and a wider mix of research tools, XM Group is the stronger pick; if you mainly need Autochartist and standard news with an economic calendar, Alpari may suffice.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
Alpari logoAlpari
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes No
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes No
TipRanks info No
Acuity Trading info No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

XM Group and Alpari both provide forex and CFD education with at least 10 pieces of content, making them workable starting points for new traders. For beginners who like live guidance, XM Group runs client webinars at least once a month, and its library includes 10+ beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. Alpari also delivers 10+ beginner videos and general learning materials, but it does not host monthly educational webinars and does not reach the same depth for advanced topics.

In independent reviews, XM Group earns 5 stars for Education and ranks 7th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari holds 3 stars and ranks 48th. If you want a fuller learning path with live sessions and advanced lessons, XM Group is the stronger pick; if you just need basic, self-paced lessons, Alpari can do the job.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
Alpari logoAlpari
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 logoXM Group
Alpari logoAlpari
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 68
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with XM Group or Alpari?

XM Group and Alpari do not offer buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers provide trading in cryptocurrency CFDs instead.

What funding options does each broker offer?

Comparing online brokers XM Group and Alpari: both do not offer ACH or SEPA for deposits or withdrawals; XM Group supports Skrill and bank wire transfers but not PayPal, while Alpari’s availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is not specified.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating XM Group Alpari
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 68
Winner check_circle
Review XM Group Review
Broker Screenshots XM Group Alpari
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation XM Group Alpari
Trust Score info 93 68
Year Founded info 2009 1998
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes No info
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) XM Group Alpari
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info No No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes No info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) XM Group Alpari
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes No
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments XM Group Alpari
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 1394 105
Forex Pairs (Total) info 55 46
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 account info 1.6 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info N/A info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding XM Group Alpari
Minimum Deposit info $5 $20
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
Trading Platforms XM Group Alpari
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools XM Group Alpari
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading XM Group Alpari
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No No
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research XM Group Alpari
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes No
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No
Client sentiment data info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education XM Group Alpari
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes No
Major Forex Pairs XM Group Alpari
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review XM Group Review
Overall XM Group Alpari
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 68
Winner check_circle
Review XM Group Review
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