Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Vantage 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.
Vantage, established in 2009, holds a favorable position in the world of online trading. Although not publicly traded, Vantage is reliable in terms of regulatory oversight, with two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, which translates to a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. This broker boasts a Trust Score of 90, demonstrating its commitment to providing a secure trading experience. Additionally, Vantage is not a bank, ensuring a focused approach to online trading services.
Founded in 1998, Alpari shares the same non-publicly traded status as Vantage and is not a bank either. However, when it comes to regulatory credentials, Alpari falls short with no Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses. As a result, its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score is 68, indicating a high-risk profile. For traders prioritizing regulatory assurance, Alpari's offerings may warrant closer scrutiny compared to those of Vantage.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When it comes to comparing commissions and fees, Vantage offers a variety of account options that cater to different trading styles and needs. With its Standard STP account, Vantage provides a spread-only option featuring spreads of 1.30 pips on the EUR/USD. If you're looking for more competitive pricing, the RAW ECN account offers an enticing spread of 0.15 pips with a $6 per round-turn commission, totaling 0.75 pips. The PRO ECN account is designed for those who qualify as a wholesale client or can meet a $10,000 funding requirement, providing a per-side commission of just $2 ($4 per round turn). However, it's important to note that Vantage's pricing, while in line with industry averages, trails behind pioneers like Saxo, IG, and CMC Markets.
Vantage supports active traders with a rebate program that offers rebates ranging from $2 to $8 per standard lot, contingent on account balance and trading volume. This program, however, is only available on the Standard account, known for having higher spreads among Vantage's offerings. Acquiring the PRO ECN account sets the stage for competitive pricing parallel to what FP Markets and Tickmill extend to their clients.
Alpari, on the other hand, does not provide specific average spread data, making detailed comparisons challenging. Overall, Vantage receives a commendable 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees, standing at position #18 among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Alpari follows with a 4-star rating and is ranked #41. This indicates Vantage’s slightly superior positioning in terms of commissions and fees when compared to Alpari.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | 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 Vantage and Alpari, both brokers offer forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract. Vantage stands out with a broader selection, providing 1,000 tradeable symbols and 57 forex pairs, while Alpari offers 105 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs. Neither broker enables clients to buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, yet Alpari allows the purchase of international stocks like Vodafone. Both brokers support cryptocurrency derivatives but not actual cryptocurrency purchases.
Copy trading is available with both Vantage and Alpari, but there are distinctions in their offerings. Vantage is rated 3.5 stars for its range of investments, whereas Alpari garners a 3-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, Vantage ranks 50th out of 62 brokers for its range of investments, while Alpari sits at the 62nd position. These comparisons highlight Vantage's more extensive selection of tradable instruments compared to Alpari, while factoring in each broker's strengths and limitations.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, both Vantage and Alpari offer similar features that cater to different trader needs. Each broker provides simulated trading via free virtual demo accounts, ensuring that new users can comfortably familiarize themselves with their offerings. Both Vantage and Alpari have developed in-house proprietary platforms, desktop download options for Windows, and web-based browser platforms, providing flexibility and accessibility to traders. In addition, both brokers support popular platforms such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and enable trading directly from stock charts. For those interested in social trading, both offer copy trading; however, Vantage includes DupliTrade and ZuluTrade options, which are not available with Alpari.
In terms of trading tools, Vantage and Alpari each offer 15 drawing tools for charting and allow users to organize watch lists with up to seven columns. However, despite their similar offerings, Vantage holds a higher reputation in the trading community, earning a ranking of 15th out of 62 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to Alpari's 55th place. Both are rated four stars for their platforms and tools, yet Vantage's additional capabilities with DupliTrade and ZuluTrade might provide an extra edge for traders seeking diverse functionalities.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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 | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | 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.
When evaluating the mobile trading apps of Vantage and Alpari, both offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Users of both platforms can benefit from price alerts for stocks and forex, and enjoy a range of 30 technical studies for chart analysis. Additionally, both apps allow traders to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. However, a standout feature of Vantage's app is the ability to auto-save chart drawings, which Alpari’s app does not offer.
For convenience, both platforms let users create watchlists with real-time quotes, though neither offers syncing of these watchlists with online accounts. In terms of user satisfaction, both mobile apps received a rating of four stars each. However, Vantage is ranked more favorably at #26, compared to Alpari's #56, according to ForexBrokers.com's evaluation of 62 brokers. This suggests that while both apps provide essential trading features, Vantage may offer a slightly more polished experience overall.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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.
When comparing the market research offerings of Vantage and Alpari, it's evident that Vantage provides a more comprehensive suite of tools for traders. Vantage stands out by delivering daily market commentary, a service absent in Alpari's offerings. Additionally, both brokers offer forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, Vantage provides extra value by including a sentiment-based trading tool and features from Trading Central. These tools can be crucial for traders looking to make informed decisions based on technical insights and sentiment analysis, which Alpari does not provide.
On the other hand, Alpari offers technical analysis tools from Autochartist, which Vantage lacks. Both brokers provide an economic calendar to keep traders informed about global news events. Yet, Vantage earns a higher research rating of 4 stars compared to Alpari's 3 stars, underscoring its superior research capabilities. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Vantage is positioned at #24 out of 62 brokers for research, while Alpari sits at #57, reflecting Vantage's more diverse and appealing research services for traders.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | 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.
When analyzing educational resources for beginners, both Vantage and Alpari offer a solid selection of materials related to forex and CFDs, each providing over 10 educational pieces like articles, videos, and archived webinars. However, Vantage stands out with its monthly online educational webinars and a searchable archive of these sessions, providing a dynamic platform for continuous learning. Alpari does not hold regular educational webinars or offer them in a searchable format, which might limit ongoing engagement for beginners looking to expand their knowledge through live or archived content.
Additionally, Vantage caters to both beginners and seasoned traders by offering at least 10 educational videos tailored to each group, while Alpari focuses solely on beginner videos. Both brokers include an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, which can be a useful tool for beginners looking to grasp complex terminology. In terms of education rating, Vantage earns 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked 27th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, as opposed to Alpari's 3-star rating and 48th rank. This suggests that Vantage may provide a more comprehensive educational experience for those at the start of their trading journey.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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 Vantage is better than Alpari. Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #57.
Vantage rounds out its MetaTrader platform suite offering with support for multiple social trading platforms, content powered by Trading Central and a proprietary mobile app. However, Vantage trails industry leaders in key areas such as research and education.
| Feature |
Vantage
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Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 68 |
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Both Vantage and Alpari do not provide options to purchase actual cryptocurrency but offer cryptocurrency derivatives for trading.
When comparing online brokers Vantage and Alpari in terms of account funding options, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers, but Vantage supports PayPal unlike Alpari; both platforms accept Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Vantage | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
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| Regulation | Vantage | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 90 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Vantage | 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). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Vantage | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Vantage | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 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 | Vantage | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Vantage | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $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 | Vantage | 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 | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | 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 | Vantage Review |
| Overall | Vantage | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
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