Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Eightcap 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.
Eightcap, established in 2009, has garnered attention for its notable regulatory standing. It holds three Tier-1 licenses, establishing it as a trusted name in the online trading community. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85, Eightcap is rated as a trusted broker. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, its regulatory credentials give it a competitive edge over many other brokers in the market.
Alpari, on the other hand, has been around since 1998 but presents a different profile when it comes to regulation. The broker does not hold any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, which are indicators of high trust and reliability in the industry. With a Trust Score of 68, Alpari is categorized as a high-risk option on ForexBrokers.com compared to Eightcap. Like Eightcap, Alpari is not traded on any stock exchange and is not a bank. These aspects are pivotal for users seeking a broker with high regulatory assurance.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Eightcap and Alpari, both brokers receive a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, but their rankings on ForexBrokers.com show some differences. Eightcap, ranked #26 out of 62, offers two account types through its global entities in locations like Australia and the Bahamas. You can choose between the commission-based Raw account or the spread-only Standard account. The Raw account lists an average spread of 0.06 pips, but when you include the $3.50 per-side commission per trade, the total cost is approximately 0.76 pips, slightly under the industry average of 0.8 pips. Even though this is the case, Eightcap is considered somewhat pricier when compared to the lowest-cost forex brokers.
Unfortunately, Alpari does not provide average spread data, which makes a direct cost comparison a bit challenging. Despite this lack of detailed spread information, Alpari holds a #41 ranking in the Commissions and Fees category on ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its competitiveness in the marketplace, but indicating it may be less favorable than Eightcap in terms of transparent pricing information.
In summary, both Eightcap and Alpari offer competitive fee structures with their 4-star ratings. However, Eightcap’s detailed cost breakdown gives it an edge in terms of transparency, contributing to its higher position in industry rankings. This might make Eightcap a slightly preferable option for those who prioritize clear cost information and competitive spreads when choosing an online broker.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.0 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.76 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 comparing Eightcap and Alpari for their range of investments, both brokers offer forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, giving traders access to popular forex markets. However, Eightcap provides a broader selection, with 736 tradeable symbols and 56 forex pairs, while Alpari offers 105 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Neither broker allows clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares. Alpari, however, distinguishes itself by allowing trading on international exchanges, which Eightcap does not offer.
Both Eightcap and Alpari support copy trading, giving investors the chance to mirror successful strategies. While neither platform enables buying actual cryptocurrencies, they both provide cryptocurrency derivatives as an option. Eightcap is rated slightly higher, with 3.5 stars for its range of investments, compared to Alpari's 3 stars. Notably, Eightcap ranks 40th among 62 brokers in the Range of Investments category, whereas Alpari lags at 62nd place, highlighting Eightcap's wider offerings.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 736 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 56 | 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.
Eightcap and Alpari are both reputable online brokers offering a range of trading platforms and tools to cater to different trading needs and preferences. Both brokers provide simulated trading options with free virtual demo accounts for beginners and seasoned traders to practice their strategies. While Eightcap doesn't have a proprietary trading platform, Alpari sets itself apart by offering an in-house developed platform for its users. Both platforms are compatible with Windows-based desktop systems and web browsers, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for their clients. They equally support the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, making it convenient for traders familiar with these systems. Furthermore, Eightcap and Alpari both accommodate copy trading opportunities.
In terms of charting tools, both platforms supply 15 drawing tools and allow users to trade directly from stock charts. Watchlists are customizable with up to seven columns of information, supporting traders in monitoring their preferred assets effectively. Although neither Eightcap nor Alpari offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, they still excel in delivering user-friendly trading environments. Eightcap receives a four-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 38th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Alpari also earns a four-star rating but is ranked 55th in the same category. This comparison highlights Eightcap's slightly higher standing in the industry regarding trading platform offerings.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
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.
Eightcap and Alpari both offer versatile mobile trading apps available on iPhone and Android, allowing traders to access stock and forex markets on the go. Both platforms provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts, as well as the ability to draw trendlines on charts and view multiple time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday. However, Eightcap stands out with its feature that allows watchlist symbol syncing, enabling seamless updates between the mobile app and the client's online account. Additionally, Eightcap’s app auto-saves chart drawings, a functionality not present in Alpari's app.
While both Eightcap and Alpari offer 30 technical studies for charting within their mobile apps and allow users to create watchlists complete with real-time quotes, Eightcap seems to have a slight edge in terms of user experience and convenience. This is reflected in their respective rankings, with Eightcap placing 38th compared to Alpari's 56th out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com. Despite both being rated four stars for their mobile trading apps, Eightcap's superior integration and saving features make it a more attractive option for those prioritizing seamless usability and functionality in a trading app.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
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 | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Eightcap and Alpari, both have distinct strengths. Eightcap provides daily market commentary, which can be a helpful asset for traders seeking regular insights into market trends. However, Eightcap falls short in providing forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, which Alpari covers. Furthermore, Eightcap is equipped with a sentiment-based trading tool that displays a ratio of long or short positions, a feature not available with Alpari. Both brokers do not offer research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, or Acuity Trading, and neither provides market research from TipRanks. Each broker does provide an economic calendar, keeping traders informed about global economic events.
In terms of overall research quality, Eightcap has an edge with a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, as opposed to Alpari's 3 stars. This discrepancy is also reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Eightcap is positioned at #39, whereas Alpari is further down the list at #57 out of 62 brokers. This comparison showcases that while Alpari offers some exclusive news resources, Eightcap delivers more comprehensive daily updates and better overall user ratings for market research.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | 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 Eightcap and Alpari on the educational resources available for beginners, both brokers offer a selection of over 10 educational materials focused on forex and CFDs. Eightcap stands out by providing a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars, a handy feature for those who prefer learning at their own pace. In contrast, Alpari does not offer this option. Both brokers fall short in delivering live educational client webinars each month.
For beginners looking for video content to kick-start their trading journey, Eightcap and Alpari both deliver with 10 beginner-focused trading videos. However, neither broker provides a similar level of advanced educational videos for more seasoned traders. Additionally, each offers a comprehensive investor dictionary with over 50 defined investing terms, aiding newbies in familiarizing themselves with trading jargon. Despite their similarities, Eightcap nabs a higher education rating at 3.5 stars, compared to Alpari's 3-star rating, and ranks 40th among 62 brokers, while Alpari sits at 48th according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Eightcap is better than Alpari. Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #57.
Eightcap enhances its status as a MetaTrader-only broker with support for a suite of third-party plug-ins and access to Capitalise.ai’s algorithmic trading platform.
| Feature |
Eightcap
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 85 | 68 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Eightcap and Alpari offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives but do not provide options for purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency.
When comparing Eightcap and Alpari for online brokerage services, both offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but Eightcap provides PayPal while neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 85 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 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 | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Eightcap | 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). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 736 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 56 | 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 | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.0 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.76 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 | Eightcap | 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 | Eightcap | 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 | Eightcap | 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 | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Eightcap | 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | Eightcap | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 85 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Eightcap Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill