Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Both Plus500 and Alpari are prominent online brokers, but they differ significantly in terms of trust and regulatory standing. Plus500, established in 2008, stands out as a highly trusted broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. This rating is supported by its regulation under six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, attesting to its credibility in the financial market. Plus500 is also publicly traded, which adds another layer of transparency and trust. Alpari, on the other hand, has been in operation since 1998 but holds a Trust Score of 68, illustrating a higher risk profile according to ForexBrokers.com. It lacks any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses and is not a publicly traded company.
While neither Plus500 nor Alpari operate as banks, Plus500's regulatory credentials and public status provide a strong assurance of safety for traders. In contrast, Alpari's absence of Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses may imply less regulatory oversight. Therefore, for those prioritizing regulation and trustworthiness, Plus500 appears to offer stronger security and transparency compared to Alpari. However, individual preferences and trading needs should ultimately guide your choice of broker.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Plus500 and Alpari, Plus500’s pricing emerges as somewhat higher than the industry average, particularly when compared to top forex brokers like IG and Saxo. Plus500 offers no discounts for retail clients, although it does provide cash rebates reminiscent of an active trader program for those who qualify as Professional clients. In April 2024, the average spread for the EUR/USD at Plus500 was 1.5 pips, which surpasses the industry standard.
In contrast, detailed average spread data for Alpari is not readily available, making a direct comparison challenging. Both Plus500 and Alpari receive a rating of 4.0 stars for their commissions and fees, indicating they are relatively on par with each other in this respect.
In terms of ranking, Plus500 is placed at #25 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, suggesting a slightly better standing compared to Alpari, which is ranked #41. This ranking reflects Plus500’s stronger position in the commissions and fees category, based on available data and industry evaluations.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 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 it comes to the variety of investments offered by online brokers, Plus500 and Alpari present contrasting options. Plus500 stands out with an extensive selection of 5,500 tradeable symbols, significantly overshadowing Alpari's 105. Both brokers provide forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, yet Plus500 offers more diversity with 65 forex pairs compared to Alpari's 46. Furthermore, Plus500 allows clients the opportunity to invest in both U.S. and international exchange traded securities, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, adding an extra layer of choice. In contrast, Alpari limits its offerings to international stocks only and does not provide access to U.S. equities.
For traders interested in cryptocurrency, both brokers facilitate trading derivatives rather than actual cryptocurrencies. However, Plus500 lacks a copy trading feature, which Alpari accommodates, giving clients a chance to mirror experienced investors' strategies. This key difference reflects Plus500's focus on individual trading autonomy. Rated at 4.5 stars by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 takes the 24th position among 62 brokers for range of investments. Alpari, receiving a 3-star rating and ranking at the bottom of the list, clearly showcases its more limited range. Overall, Plus500 might be the preferred platform for those seeking a comprehensive choice of trading options.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 the trading platforms of Plus500 and Alpari, both brokers offer unique advantages for users looking to engage in online trading. Plus500 stands out with its proprietary, web-based trading platform, providing users with seamless access directly via their browser. It boasts an impressive 22 drawing tools for charting and a detailed watch list with 10 columns, contributing to its high rating of 4.5 stars in trading platforms and tools, ranking it as the 14th best among 62 brokers. Plus500 also offers a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to practice before committing real funds. However, it lacks support for popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, and does not offer a desktop download platform or copy trading features.
Alpari, on the other hand, caters to traders who prefer more traditional setups by providing both a proprietary platform and compatibility with widely-used systems such as MetaTrader 4 and 5, plus a Windows-based desktop platform. It also offers unique functionalities like trading directly from stock charts and a copy trading feature, which are not available on Plus500. With a virtual demo account accessible, Alpari ensures that newcomers can also start with a risk-free experience. Despite these offerings, Alpari scores slightly lower at 4 stars for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 55th among 62 brokers. Its charting capabilities include 15 drawing tools and a watch list with 7 columns, reflecting a focus on straightforward trading options.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Plus500 and Alpari offer trading apps on iPhone and Android devices, making them accessible to a wide range of users. These apps provide access to important features like price alerts for stocks and forex, allowing traders to stay informed about market movements. Despite similarities, Plus500 stands out with its watchlist symbol syncing capability, ensuring seamless updates between its app and online platform, a feature that Alpari lacks.
Highlighting technical aspects, Plus500 impressively offers 110 technical studies for charting, compared to Alpari's 30. Both apps allow users to draw trendlines and view charts in multiple time frames, although neither app auto-saves these drawings. Plus500's mobile app is slightly more favored, with a 4.5-star rating versus Alpari’s 4 stars, and a higher ranking in ForexBrokers.com's assessment. If a wide array of charting tools and seamless watchlist syncing are priorities, Plus500 might be the preferred choice.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the research offerings of Plus500 and Alpari, there are notable differences in the services provided. Plus500 excels with its daily market commentary that keeps traders updated with the latest insights, and it offers a sentiment-based trading tool that provides a ratio of long and short positions, helping traders understand market trends. They also provide technical analysis tools from Trading Central, enhancing their research toolkit. However, Plus500 lacks forex news from top-tier sources and does not provide tools from Autochartist, which are available with Alpari. Alpari, on the other hand, provides comprehensive forex news updates from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters and offers research tools powered by Autochartist, making it valuable for those seeking in-depth forex analysis. Both brokers offer an economic calendar to track global economic events, ensuring traders stay informed about crucial market events.
In terms of ratings, Plus500 is rated higher at 4 stars for research, compared to Alpari's 3-star rating. When considering their rankings among 62 brokers, Plus500 stands at an impressive #19, significantly outperforming Alpari, which ranks #57. These rankings reflect Plus500's broader research capabilities and the effectiveness of its tools, whereas Alpari might appeal more to traders focused on detailed forex news and specific technical analysis tools. Overall, each broker presents distinct strengths in their research offerings, catering to different aspects of trader needs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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.
Plus500 and Alpari both provide a variety of educational materials aimed at helping beginners learn about forex and CFDs trading. Each offers at least ten educational pieces, such as articles and videos, making them solid choices for those starting. However, Plus500 stands out by offering monthly live webinars and a useful archive of recorded sessions, giving beginners more opportunities to engage and learn in real-time and at their own pace. Additionally, Plus500 provides a broader selection of advanced videos for traders looking to deepen their expertise.
On the other hand, Alpari has its strengths, particularly with its comprehensive investor dictionary, which includes definitions of over 50 investing terms, a valuable resource for beginners needing to get familiar with trading terminology. However, Alpari lacks the live webinar experience, which can be a downside for learners who prefer interactive educational formats. Overall, Plus500 scores higher in education ratings and ranks significantly better in the ForexBrokers.com education category compared to Alpari, making it a more comprehensive choice for those prioritizing varied learning resources.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than Alpari. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #57.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 |
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Both Plus500 and Alpari do not allow the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency but do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
In a comparison of deposit and withdrawal options, Plus500 stands out by offering PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but not ACH or SEPA transfers, while Alpari provides similar services with Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, though excludes both ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal.
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 | Plus500 | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Alpari | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | 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 | Plus500 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | 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 | Plus500 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | 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 | 110 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | 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 | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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