Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM 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.
When comparing HFM and Alpari, it's important to consider their regulatory standings and trustworthiness in the online brokerage industry. HFM, which was founded in 2010, holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86, placing it in the trusted category. It offers clients reassurance with two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, signaling a strong level of regulatory oversight. Although not a publicly traded company or a bank, HFM's licensing positions it as a reliable option for traders.
On the other hand, Alpari, established in 1998, presents a different profile. It is also not publicly traded and lacks bank status. Alpari holds a Trust Score of 68, which indicates a higher risk compared to HFM. With no Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, traders may find Alpari's regulatory coverage less compelling. This difference in licensing and trust scores can significantly impact the confidence level investors might have when choosing between these two brokers.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers HFM and Alpari, both options offer compelling services, but they have nuances worth noting. HFM's trading costs are slightly above the industry average with their standard trading account, where spreads typically start around 1.2 pips. For those seeking lower spreads, HFM's Zero account provides an effective spread of 0.7 pips after incorporating commission fees. However, the company does not specify average spread data for either account type, making it challenging to gauge the usual trading cost.
In contrast, Alpari does not offer average spread data, which leaves prospective traders lacking detailed information on potential trading costs. While both brokers hold a 4-star rating for their commissions and fees, HFM secures a somewhat higher position in rankings for this category. It is placed at #31 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, highlighting a moderate edge over Alpari, which is ranked at #41.
Ultimately, both HFM and Alpari present viable choices for traders who value competitive commissions and fees, yet HFM's slight advantage in ranking may sway those prioritizing this aspect in their decision-making process.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 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 comparing the investment options available through HFM and Alpari, traders will notice some key differences. Both brokers offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, making them viable choices for currency trading enthusiasts. However, HFM stands out by offering a broader selection of 500 tradeable symbols, including 102 forex pairs, compared to Alpari's 105 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs. Neither platform provides access to direct purchase of U.S. exchange-traded securities like Apple shares or actual cryptocurrencies, but both allow trading of cryptocurrency derivatives.
A unique advantage Alpari offers is access to share purchases on international exchanges, which HFM does not provide. Both brokers support copy trading, helping users follow and replicate successful strategies. Despite these features, HFM secures a higher rating for its range of investments, earning 4 stars compared to Alpari's 3 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, HFM is ranked 36th among 62 brokers in their Range of Investments category, while Alpari ranks 62nd, suggesting a wider investment palette with HFM.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 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.
When comparing HFM and Alpari, both brokers have developed proprietary trading platforms and offer a range of features suitable for traders of varying experience levels. They provide simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, making it easy for newcomers to practice without financial risk. Clients can access the platforms via Windows-based downloads or web-based interfaces, offering flexibility in how they engage with the market. For those interested in copy trading, both brokers support this feature, alongside the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, though they do not offer DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In terms of charting and analysis tools, HFM offers more drawing tools, with 30 available compared to Alpari's 15. Both platforms allow users to trade directly from stock charts and each provide watch lists with seven customizable columns. Despite their similarities, HFM holds a slight edge in rankings, being rated 42nd out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for trading platforms and tools, while Alpari is ranked 55th. Both brokers earn a solid 4-star rating for their platforms and tools, highlighting their capability to meet the diverse needs of traders.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both HFM and Alpari offer mobile trading apps that are compatible with iPhone and Android devices. These apps provide essential features such as stock or forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and the ability to view charts in multiple time frames, like daily or weekly. However, a key difference is that HFM allows for automatic saving of chart drawings, while Alpari does not. Both apps support creating watchlists with real-time quotes, although neither offers watchlist symbol syncing across platforms.
When comparing technical analysis capabilities, both HFM and Alpari offer 30 technical studies in their mobile apps. They perform similarly in terms of user experience, earning a 4-star rating for their mobile trading apps. Despite this similar rating, HFM is ranked higher at #39 out of 62 brokers, while Alpari is placed at #56, according to ForexBrokers.com. This indicates a slight edge for HFM in overall mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | 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.
For those interested in comprehensive market research offerings, HFM stands out as a solid choice compared to Alpari. It provides daily market commentary, giving traders timely insights, while Alpari does not support this feature. Both brokers deliver forex news from well-regarded sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring users are updated with relevant financial information. Additionally, HFM and Alpari utilize tools from Autochartist, enhancing their technical and fundamental analysis capabilities. However, neither broker offers tools from Trading Central or utilizes research from Acuity Trading or TipRanks. HFM takes a step further by offering a sentiment-based trading tool, allowing users to gauge market sentiment through long and short position ratios—a feature Alpari lacks.
Moreover, economic calendars are available at both brokers, helping traders track global news events with ease. Despite these similarities, HFM edges out Alpari in research rankings, earning 4 out of 5 stars for its research offerings, compared to Alpari's 3 stars. This is reflected in their rankings on ForexBrokers.com, where HFM is placed 20th out of 62 brokers, showcasing its competitive advantage over Alpari, which ranks 57th. This difference highlights HFM's broader and more insightful research resources, making it a preferred option for traders seeking thorough market analysis.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, HFM and Alpari both provide a selection of materials aimed at helping new traders. Both brokers offer at least 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, such as articles, videos, and recorded webinars. However, HFM stands out by offering monthly online educational webinars and a searchable archive of recorded sessions, features that Alpari does not provide. Additionally, while both brokers cater to beginners with a variety of educational videos, HFM goes a step further by also offering more than 10 advanced videos for experienced traders, which is not available through Alpari.
For those keen on learning the terminology of trading, both HFM and Alpari offer an investor dictionary with over 50 terms defined, providing essential knowledge for new traders. Despite these similarities, HFM receives a higher education rating of 4 stars compared to Alpari’s 3 stars and ranks 37th out of 62 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's Education category, whereas Alpari ranks 48th. Thus, for beginners seeking a well-rounded and accessible educational experience, HFM may provide a more comprehensive offering.
| Feature |
HFM
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that HFM is better than Alpari. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #57.
Alongside its enhanced MetaTrader offering and quality research, HFM (HF Markets), previously known as HotForex, offers a proprietary copy trading platform, HFcopy, a proprietary HF mobile app, and a decent selection of over 1,000 CFDs and 47 forex pairs. Still, trading costs at HFM are slightly above the industry average.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 |
| Range of Investments |
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While neither HFM nor Alpari provides the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both HFM and Alpari do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for transactions, but they both offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing account funds.
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 | HFM | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | Alpari | |
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| Regulation | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | 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) | 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) | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | 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 | HFM | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | 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) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | 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 | HFM Review |
| Overall | HFM | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
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