Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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 2002, XTB is a well-established online broker known for its high level of trust and transparency, underlined by a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96 out of 99. XTB is publicly traded and although it is not a bank, it stands out by holding two top-tier licenses and two second-tier licenses, reinforcing its solid reputation in the financial industry.
In contrast, Alpari, established in 1998, has a Trust Score of 68, which places it in the high-risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. Alpari is not publicly traded and holds no Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, which may raise concerns for potential investors seeking assurance and security in their trading activities. Both XTB and Alpari are established brokers, but their regulatory standings significantly differ, making XTB a notably more trusted choice.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
XTB edges out Alpari on commissions and fees in our scoring: XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 of 63, while Alpari earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #42 of 63. Both cater to cost‑conscious traders, but XTB’s higher rating and ranking indicate stronger overall pricing and incentives.
XTB offers a spread‑only Standard account and a commission‑based Professional account that’s limited to elected professionals in the U.K. and EU (and is being phased out). For most retail traders, the Standard account is the better fit, especially for smaller trade sizes. In Q4 2023, XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.0 pip—around the industry average. Minimum deposits start at 250 in your base currency. Active traders can qualify for XTB’s Lower Spread Group, which rebates 5% to 30% of the spread once monthly volumes hit set tiers (from 20 up to 1000 lots).
Alpari’s average spread data isn’t available, making an apples‑to‑apples cost comparison harder. Based on our assessment, Alpari’s 4 out of 5 stars and #42 ranking for commissions and fees suggest it’s competitive but trails XTB on overall pricing clarity and value.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing XTB vs Alpari for range of investments, XTB offers a much wider catalog with 7,184 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, while Alpari lists 105 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading (CFD or spot) and offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. XTB also lets clients buy real exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international markets (think Apple or Vodafone), whereas Alpari provides access to international shares but not U.S.-listed stocks.
For extra features, Alpari includes copy trading while XTB does not. Overall, XTB earns 5/5 stars and ranks #15 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, reflecting its very broad lineup, while Alpari scores 3/5 stars and ranks #64. Choose XTB if you want the largest selection and access to U.S. and international shares; consider Alpari if copy trading is a priority and a smaller market list is acceptable.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 XTB vs Alpari on trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, proprietary in-house platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based platforms. Each lets you place trades directly from charts. Where they differ is extras—Alpari supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are popular for custom indicators and automated strategies. XTB does not provide copy trading or MT4/MT5, instead centering the experience on its own platform.
For quality scores, ForexBrokers.com rates XTB 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks it 9th out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Alpari earns 4 stars and ranks 56th. In short: pick XTB if you want a highly rated, broker-built platform across web and desktop; choose Alpari if you need MT4/MT5 or prefer having copy trading alongside its proprietary and browser/desktop options.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and Alpari both provide iPhone and Android mobile trading apps, and both include price alerts. However, neither broker syncs watchlists between the mobile app and the web platform. In independent reviews, XTB scores higher: 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #8 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Alpari’s 4 out of 5 stars and a #57 ranking.
For charting on the go, XTB’s app offers 39 technical studies versus 30 on Alpari. Both apps let you draw trendlines, but only XTB automatically saves your drawings so they’re there the next time you open the chart; Alpari does not auto-save. If you value more indicators and saved annotations, XTB’s mobile trading app is the stronger pick, while Alpari covers the essentials for traders who just need alerts, core studies, and basic drawing tools.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB vs. Alpari for market research: XTB delivers daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing the ratio of long and short positions, an economic calendar, and forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Alpari also provides an economic calendar and top-tier forex news, and it adds Autochartist for technical pattern ideas; however, it does not offer daily commentary or a sentiment tool. Neither broker includes Trading Central.
Independent ratings highlight the gap: ForexBrokers.com scores XTB 5 stars for Research (ranked #7 of 63), while Alpari earns 3 stars (ranked #58). XTB does not list tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading, and these providers aren’t indicated for Alpari either. Choose XTB if you want frequent insights and crowd sentiment; pick Alpari if Autochartist’s automated chart analysis is a priority.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing XTB vs Alpari for beginner education, both brokers deliver at least 10 beginner-focused videos on forex and CFDs, so new traders can start with structured, easy-to-follow lessons. XTB goes a step further with live client webinars at least once a month, which can help beginners get answers in real time, while Alpari does not run monthly educational webinars. As you advance, XTB also offers 10+ videos for experienced traders; Alpari does not meet that same advanced-video threshold.
In independent ratings, XTB earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari holds 3 stars and ranks #48. For beginners, that means XTB offers a deeper learning path and more ongoing support, whereas Alpari covers the basics through video but has fewer ways to continue building skills over time.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XTB is better than Alpari. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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Alpari
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| Trust Score | 96 | 68 |
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In the XTB vs Alpari comparison, neither online broker supports purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing online brokers XTB and Alpari: XTB supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals but not ACH or SEPA transfers, whereas Alpari likewise does not support ACH/SEPA and its availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire options is not specified.
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 | XTB | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Alpari | |
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| Regulation | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | 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) | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review |
| Overall | XTB | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
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