Founded in 1998, the Alpari brand counts on more than 20 years of experience serving traders in 150 countries. With trading turnover that exceeded $1.3 trillion in notional value during 2017 alone, Alpari International has earned itself a place amongst the globe’s top online brokers. Thanks to a clear-cut onboarding process along with fee-free deposits and lightning fast withdrawals, Alpari International has attracted more than 2 million clients since inception.
The firm’s low-spread approach and rapid execution make the company’s platform a leading destination for investors seeking to trade a range of products across global financial markets. Thanks to its offering of the industry standard MetaTrader 4 and more recently introduced MetaTrader 5, Alpari International supports a comfortable environment for veteran traders. Furthermore, CopyTrader represents a thoughtful addition for investors who prefer to take a more hands-off approach to fund management as well as fund managers that wish to share their strategies and earn performance incentives for positive results.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable starting spreads available for all account types
- Access direct market access without requotes
- Strategy Managers can share strategies through Alpari CopyTrader
- Negative balance protection included for all account types
- Member of Financial Commission Compensation Fund
Cons
- Stock trading only available for Pro Account holders
- Limited amount of educational materials
- No proprietary platform
Recommended For
Experienced traders and professional investors seeking a reliable and straightforward platform for trading a variety of asset classes will appreciate Alpari International’s focus on delivering excellent execution and advantageous pricing terms. Between leverage as high as 1000:1 and variable spreads that can reach as low as 0 pips, professionals who demand no-requotes and market execution will find that Alpari International capably complements their needs.
Additionally, CopyTrade, which mirrors the strategies of experienced money managers, enables both Strategy Managers and their followers to benefit from financial market fluctuations. Although features like Alpari CopyTrade are attractive for beginners without experience, individuals interested in learning to trade should note the limited access to educational resources.
Top Features
- Low Spreads: All Alpari International account types feature low starting variable spreads and Pro account holders can even benefit from institutional spreads starting from 0.0 pips for maintaining a minimum account balance of $250,000.
- Swap Free Accounts: Traders who practice and implement strategies that ignore swap fees or those seeking an option with swap for religious purposes will appreciate Alpari International’s swap free account availability at no extra charge.
- Hedging/Scalping Allowed: Unlike some brokers, Alpari International allows clients to speculate on small price fluctuations in the available assets with scalping strategies with no time restrictions. Clients can also take offsetting positions in assets by practicing hedging strategies, allowing them to simultaneously trade an asset’s prices changes in both directions.
- Rapid Withdrawals: Alpari International supports more than 20 withdrawal methods including credit and debit cards, bank wire transfers, e-wallets, local payment services, and even cryptocurrency. Almost all requests are handled and sent within 24 hours, providing clients with an especially quick and convenient withdrawal process.
- Excellent Liquidity: Alpari International’s relationships with leading liquidity providers and banks gives clients access to some of the best and fastest market execution available. Furthermore, non-dealing desk (NDD) execution and straight-through processing ensure no requotes for ECN and Pro accounts.
Overview
- Type of Broker Executionary broker
- Regulation & Licensing The Financial Services Commission (FSC) Mauritius
- Accepted Jurisdictions 150 countries
- Assets Offered Currencies, Commodities, Indices, Shares, Cryptocurrencies
- Platforms Available MetaTrader 4 (Desktop, Web, Mobile), MetaTrader 5 (Desktop, Web, Mobile)
- Mobile Compatibility iOS, Android
- Payment Types Accepted Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Union Pay, Neteller, WebMoney, Fasapay, Bitcoin, VLOAD, Perfectmoney And many more local options
Account Types
Features |
Standard Account MT4 |
ECN Account MT4/MT5 |
Pro Account MT4 |
Account Currencies |
EUR, USD, GBP, NGN
|
EUR, USD, GBP, NGN
|
EUR, USD, GBP, NGN
|
Available Leverage |
Up to 1000:1 |
Up to 1000:1 |
Up to 300:1 |
Minimum Deposit |
$100 |
$500 |
$25,000 |
Starting Spreads |
From 1.2 pips |
From 0.4 pips |
From 0.4 pips |
Commission Per Trade |
$0 |
$1.50 per lot per side |
$0 |
Decimal Pricing |
Up to 5 decimals
|
Up to 5 decimals
|
Up to 5 decimals
|
Swaps/Rollovers |
No |
Yes – MT5 |
No |
Trading Instruments |
61 FX pairs 5 Metals 14 CFDs |
For MT4: 56 FX pairs 3 Metals 14 CFDs 4 Cryptocurrencies
For MT5: 33 FX Pairs 2 Spot Metals |
54 FX pairs 3 Metals |
Min. Lot Size Per Trade |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
Max Lot Size Per Trade |
30 |
50.00 |
250 |
Demo Account |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Swap/Rollover Free |
Yes |
Yes (Except for MT5 users) |
Yes |
Copy Trading Support |
No |
Yes |
No |
Trading and Investment Tools
- One-Click Trading Yes
- Trade off Charts Yes
- Email Alerts Yes
- Mobile Alerts Yes
- Stop Order Yes
- Market Order Yes
- Trailing Stop Order Yes
- OCO Orders Yes
- Limit Order Yes
- 24hr Trading Yes
- Charting Package Yes
- Streaming News Feed Yes
Compliance & Regulation
Alpari International’s ability to serve clients in 150 countries stems from its registration as a licensed investment dealer. The licensing, granted by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius, allows Alpari International to deliver brokerage services to traders across the globe, with the exception of just a few countries. The company’s compliance process must also comply with strict Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering policies. Additionally, Alpari International is a member of the Financial Commission, which is an industry body that handles traders’ disputes. Its membership since 2013 ensures that traders are eligible for up to EUR 20,000 from the Compensation Fund if a dispute is assessed in the client’s favor.
Fees & Commissions
- Rollover Fee No
- Withdrawal Fees Depending on the method
Pricing
The range of account types available from Alpari International invites a wide range of investors to participate in global financial markets. For less experienced traders, opening a Micro Account starts with as little as a $5 deposit. The Standard Account, which features lower spreads and higher leverage requires a minimum deposit of $100. More advanced users seeking faster trade execution without requotes can open an ECN account for as little as $500. Finally, the Pro Account option is perfect for professional and institutional traders seeking direct market access who can maintain a minimum account balance of $25,000. Complimentary Virtual Private Servers (VPS) are also available for those clients that deposit in excess of $5,000.
Alpari International’s focus on affordable value starts with the absence of commissions for all deposit methods. Withdrawals incur small fees that vary by the method and there is an inactivity fee of 5 USD/EUR/GBP for users who don’t transact for 6 months. Spreads are competitive for the industry and even though Alpari International only supports variable spreads, they may drop as low as zero pips. The only account type which encounters commissions is the ECN account, which begins at $1.50 per lot per side. except for ECN and Pro MT5 accounts, swap free account options that are Shariah compliant are available.
Service Details
- Supported Languages Chinese, English, Farsi, Filippino, Indonesian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
- Customer Service By Phone, Chat, Email
- Customer Service Hours 07:00-19:00, Mon–Fri
- Email Response Time Up to 48 Hours
- Telephone Orders No
- Personal Account Manager Yes
Reliability & Security
Especially for experienced and professional traders, one of the most important factors in choosing a broker is the quality of execution. Thanks to relationships with top liquidity providers and the inclusion of a no-dealing desk model to enable direct market access, Alpari International can supply reliable execution without requotes. In addition to reliable execution, client funds are secured in segregated accounts separate from Alpari International’s operational funds in reputable banks.
Platform participants that have questions or require guidance regarding their accounts can reach Alpari International representatives across multiple support channels in 8 different languages. Apart from email and phone requests, Alpari International’s representatives are available 24 hours a day during market hours Monday to Friday on live chat and Telegram and even on weekends during select hours for traders opening new accounts. When reached, company representatives are very helpful and responsive. Furthermore, membership with the Financial Commission, an independent self-regulatory body, adds an extra layer of dependability and trustworthiness for Alpari International customers should they encounter any issues.
User Experience
The process for opening an Alpari International account is designed expressly to be as simple and swift as possible. After completing the initial registration form, a verification pin code is sent to the email address or mobile phone number supplied. After a streamlined account registration process, which requires traditional compliance documentation including proof of identity and proof of address, users can seamlessly deposit funds with Alpari International thanks to one of the largest ranges of payment options available. Withdrawals are usually processed within 24 hours and quickly sent.
After registering, navigating the MyAlpari dashboard to access any account settings, handling deposits and withdrawals, or accessing the MT4 or MT5 WebTrader platforms is highly intuitive and straightforward. For beginners seeking more information related to the basics of trading, Alpari International hosts several useful resources including a section titled Forex Trading for Beginners. A searchable FAQ is valuable for finding answers to common questions or handling more advanced account functions. Experienced traders will appreciate the familiarity of MT4 and others will appreciate the advanced functionality like market depth, hedging, and multiple execution modes. Overall, even though the portal is relatively simple, it is quickly navigable and uncomplicated.
Final Thoughts
The low barriers to entry and high quality of execution available from the Alpari International platform make it an excellent fit for professional traders and institutional investors seeking clear-cut direct market access. A no-dealing desk execution model without requotes in ECN and Pro accounts means traders can get reliable pricing from exemplary liquidity providers. The inclusion of VPS hosting and support for EAs alongside Alpari CopyTrader present the platform as a unique offering for experienced professionals seeking standard tools like MT4 and MT5 with no frills.
Moreover, the inclusion of CopyTrader is perfect for entry level investors searching for a more hands-off strategy for fund management. Additionally, the simplicity of the MyAlpari trader dashboard makes navigating the different features and account options very instinctive and natural. Although the broker is only overseen by one regulatory body, membership in an independent self-regulatory organization helps grant prospective investors additional assurances. All told, Alpari International represents an attractive brokerage option thanks to its low spreads, reliable execution, rapid funding options, and straightforward design.
Trading Platform Screenshots
Contact Info
11th Floor Maeva Tower, Silicon Avenue, Ebene Cybercity 72201, Republic of Mauritius
FAQs
Q: Is there a minimum deposit for opening an Alpari International Account?
A: Yes. There is a $5 minimum deposit for opening a Micro Account with Alpari International. However, investors do not need to deposit to try out the trading platforms thanks to the availability of demo accounts which are useful for testing strategies and exploring the unique features.
Q: Is Alpari International available for US customers?
A: No, Alpari International currently cannot accept US-based clients. The current regulatory licensing in place from the Mauritius Financial Services Commission covers clients from 150 countries, but excludes several including the US, Ukraine, Japan, and several others.
Q: Can my losses exceed myAlpari deposit?
A: No, losses in your trading account cannot exceed the amount of funds you have deposited with Alpari International. Negative balance protection for each account ensures that your account balance never drops below zero.
Q: Can I install trading signals and EAs on my trading platform?
A: Yes, users have multiple options available for installing plugins including trading signals and Expert Advisors on either the MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 platform. Furthermore, traders who maintain a trading account with a minimum value of $5000 can access complimentary VPS functionality.
Q: I’m encountering some trouble setting up my account. How can I resolve it quickly?
A: The easiest way to find an answer is to enter your question or search term on the search bar located within the FAQ section of the website. If unable to quickly locate an answer, Alpari International customer service representatives are available via email, phone, live chat, and Telegram to assist around the clock during the trading week and select hours during the weekend for traders opening new accounts.