Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Alpari vs Xtrade, 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.
Alpari and Xtrade are two established online brokers in the trading landscape, founded in 1998 and 2003, respectively. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank. However, when it comes to regulatory credentials and trust, there are distinct differences. Alpari has no high-rated Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses according to ForexBrokers.com, which assesses brokers based on licensing quality. This contributes to its Trust Score of 68, placing it in the high-risk category.
In contrast, Xtrade secures a higher ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 74, classifying it as an average-risk broker. This score reflects its regulatory compliance, with one Tier-1 license recognized as highly trusted and one Tier-2 license seen as trusted. Although both brokers are not listed on stock exchanges, Xtrade's regulatory standing offers a more assured trading environment compared to Alpari.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1998 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers Alpari and Xtrade in terms of commissions and fees, significant differences emerge. Alpari holds a competitive edge with a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, placing them 41st out of 62 brokers as ranked by ForexBrokers.com for this category. Despite the lack of detailed average spread data, Alpari has managed to create a favorable environment for traders looking to minimize their trading costs.
In contrast, Xtrade lags significantly behind in this area. It has been rated just 2.5 stars for commissions and fees, which places it at the very bottom—62nd out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com’s rankings. This suggests that Xtrade’s overall pricing structure may not be as attractive for cost-conscious traders, highlighting a potential area for improvement.
Overall, the disparities between Alpari's and Xtrade's ratings and rankings for commissions and fees provide an insight into which broker might be better suited for traders focused on reducing their trading expenses. Alpari's higher rating and better ranking indicate a more favorable option for those seeking to optimize their trading costs.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| 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 it comes to the range of investments offered by Alpari and Xtrade, both online brokers have their unique strengths. Alpari provides 105 tradeable symbols, including 46 forex pairs and offers forex trading as both CFD and spot contracts. It stands out by offering exchange-traded international securities, enabling clients to invest in companies like Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange. Additionally, Alpari supports copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, though it does not offer U.S. securities or actual cryptocurrency purchases. Despite these features, Alpari is rated 3 stars for its range of investments and ranks last in this category by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Xtrade offers a broader selection with 482 tradeable symbols, including 56 forex pairs, also available as CFDs or spot contracts. The appeal of Xtrade comes from its more extensive list of forex pairs, even though it lacks the capacity to trade international exchange-traded securities. Like Alpari, Xtrade also provides options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives but does not support the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies or any exchange-traded securities. Xtrade is rated slightly higher with 3.5 stars and holds the 49th position for its range of investments according to ForexBrokers.com. Each platform has its benefits, catering to different investment preferences depending on the user's needs.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 105 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
Alpari and Xtrade both offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts and their own proprietary platforms. Alpari provides more versatility by offering a Windows-based desktop trading platform, while Xtrade offers convenience with a web-based browser platform, which Alpari also supports. Alpari stands out with additional offerings like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, providing a wealth of options for experienced traders, whereas Xtrade does not support these platforms. However, both brokers lack support for platforms like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade.
For charting functionality, Alpari and Xtrade enable trading directly from stock charts. Alpari offers 15 drawing tools for charting, while Xtrade provides a more extensive set with 100 drawing tools. Moreover, Xtrade includes nine fields for custom watch lists, slightly more than Alpari's seven. In terms of ratings, Alpari scores a solid four stars for their trading platforms and tools, ranking 55th among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Xtrade, with a 3.5-star rating, is ranked slightly lower at 58th. These assessments generally indicate a favorable leaning toward Alpari for traders seeking a broader platform ecosystem and more technical options.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Alpari and Xtrade offer iPhone and Android apps, making them accessible to traders regardless of their device preference. However, when it comes to features, Alpari stands out by providing stock and forex price alerts, a feature that Xtrade currently does not offer. While neither app offers watchlist symbol syncing across devices, Alpari provides a more extensive charting experience with 30 technical studies and the ability to draw trendlines, a feature absent in Xtrade's app. Alpari also supports viewing multiple time frames on a single chart, whereas Xtrade does not offer this flexibility.
Both trading platforms allow users to create a watchlist, but Alpari's app delivers real-time quotes, unlike Xtrade's app. When it comes to chart drawings, neither app saves them automatically. Despite these distinctions, both apps share a 4-star rating for their mobile trading functionalities. According to ForexBrokers.com, Alpari ranks #56 out of 62 in the Mobile Trading Apps category, while Xtrade ranks slightly higher at #53, highlighting a modest difference in their market standing.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing online brokers Alpari and Xtrade in terms of market research offerings, some key differences emerge. Xtrade provides daily market commentary, while Alpari does not, making Xtrade a more appealing choice for traders seeking regular insights. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring valuable and timely information is accessible to their clients. However, Alpari stands out by offering technical analysis and research tools from Autochartist, which Xtrade lacks, potentially benefiting traders interested in advanced analysis resources.
Neither Alpari nor Xtrade provides access to Trading Central tools, sentiment-based trading tools, Tipranks market research, or Acuity Trading resources, indicating a gap in these specific research areas. Both brokers, however, offer economic calendars, providing users with updates on global news and events. Despite these differences, Alpari and Xtrade have received somewhat similar research ratings, with Xtrade rated slightly higher at 3.5 stars compared to Alpari's 3 stars. In the ranking by ForexBrokers.com, Xtrade is positioned at #52 out of 62 brokers, slightly better than Alpari's rank at #57.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | 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 available to beginners, both Alpari and Xtrade provide a solid foundation for those new to forex and CFDs. Each broker offers a collection of at least 10 educational pieces such as articles and videos focused on forex or CFDs, making it easier for beginners to grasp the basics. However, when it comes to educational videos specifically aimed at beginners, Alpari pulls ahead by providing 10 such videos, offering a more extensive learning experience in this area. On the other hand, Xtrade does not offer these beginner-focused videos, which might be a consideration for new investors keen on video-based learning.
Both brokers lack monthly webinars and archives of past webinars, a crucial resource for those preferring interactive and real-time learning. Yet, they commendably offer investor dictionaries with definitions of at least 50 investing terms, helping newbies understand the financial jargon. Despite Alpari having a more comprehensive beginner video library, Xtrade slightly outshines Alpari in overall education ratings, scoring 3.5 out of 5 stars—compared to Alpari's 3 stars—and ranks 46th against Alpari's 48th place among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. This could indicate Xtrade's edge in some other educational areas not captured in this comparison.
| Feature |
Alpari
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Alpari is better than Xtrade. Alpari finished with an overall rank of #57, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #59.
Alpari is one of the first brokers to offer the MetaTrader platform glopbally before it became popular. The Alpari group of companies are regulated only in a few jurisdictions, putting the broker at a disadvantage compared to the most trusted brokers.
| Feature |
Alpari
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Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 68 | 74 |
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Both Alpari and Xtrade do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, yet both brokers do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Alpari and Xtrade do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for account funding, but they both offer convenient deposit and withdrawal options through 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 | Alpari | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 68 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Regulation | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 68 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 1998 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 105 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20 | $250 | |
| 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 | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Alpari | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | Alpari | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 68 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Xtrade Review |
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