| Updated: November 1, 2024Alpari International was born in December 1998 in the Russian city of Kazan but decided to move its trading operations online two years later, after joining forces with MetaQuotes Software, the company responsible for the development of the most widely used trading platform in the world, MetaTrader 4.
Today, this brokerage brand has more than 2 million customers from around the globe thanks to the good reputation it has built for itself over the last twenty years. It has offices in eight different countries across three continents.
Alpari International is on a mission to help each trader who joins its community to realize their full potential. It has continually improved the quality and range of its services, offering customers a fresh, easy-to-use website that is available in nine different languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Filipino, English, and Chinese.
The broker provides customers with access to the MetaTrader 4 and the MetaTrader 5 platforms, giving them a choice from more than 250 financial instruments and several account types. It is recognized in the industry for ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.
Here clients have everything they need to start trading with Forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and contracts for difference (CFDs). Copy trading is also an alternative at Alpari International. Beginner traders are provided with various educational materials, including free webinars and demo accounts with $1 million in practice balance.
Regulation
Alpari International is owned and operated by Exinity Limited, a Mauritius-based company that is subject to the regulations of the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of the Republic of Mauritius, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean. The broker received its FSC license back in November 2013.
This regulatory watchdog is responsible for the oversight of all financial services on the territory of the island country except for those conducted by banking institutions and global businesses.
Mauritius is a popular tax haven for multinational corporations from around the world, but unfortunately, it does not boast the most efficient or trusted regulatory framework, especially in comparison with major US or European financial watchdogs.
With that in mind, Alpari keeps the investments of its clients safe by storing them into segregated bank accounts. There is also a compensation scheme, with the FSC allocating 10% of monthly membership charges to the compensation fund. The maximum compensation the fund provides amounts to €20,000 per customer.
Until January 16th, 2015, Alpari operated a UK unit (est. 2004) but was forced to close it down. The company declared insolvency due to heavy losses after trading the CHF against the EUR. It so happened that the Swiss National Bank unexpectedly decided to remove the ceiling on the CHF against the EUR on January 15th, 2015.
The volatility of the Forex CHF markets skyrocketed because of the sharp appreciation of the CHF currency. This ultimately led to the bankruptcy of Alpari’s UK unit, so customers from this jurisdiction can no longer trade with this brokerage.
Other restricted territories at Alpari International include the USA (the company’s NFA membership was revoked in April 2015), Russia, Japan, Mauritius, Belarus, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Ukraine, Armenia, Canada, Moldova, Georgia, and New Zealand.
Trading Instruments
This brokerage house strives to appeal to a broad range of traders by offering prospective customers a versatile selection of more than 250 trading instruments. You can trade Forex, indices, commodities like precious metals and oil, shares, and 4 different cryptocurrencies.Forex Trading
The foreign exchange is the most liquid financial market in the world. It is open to everyone who is willing to try their hand at trading at a relatively low cost, no matter what background they come from. With Forex, you can trade at all times since the foreign exchange markets remain open 24/7 during business days.
At Alpari International, customers have the chance to trade with more than 60 currency pairs, having a choice from different major, minor, and exotic options. The broker offers leverage but the ceiling on that depends on your account and the type of pair you are trading.
Standard and ECN accounts come with offered leverage ranging from 25:1 to 1,000:1 for major pairs. Just to remind you high maximum leverage is not necessarily a good thing, especially for those of you who lack experience. Margins float from 0.1% to 4%. The minimum spreads start at 0.1 for major pairs, 0.3 for minor pairs, and 0.1 for exotics.
In addition to the standard foreign exchange options, the broker also enables its clients to trade different cryptocurrencies against the USD. The available cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple. The leverage is flexible and is based on your chosen cryptocurrency.
Commodities Trading
Alpari International gives its customers the option to deal with commodities. You can trade different precious metals like silver and gold against major currencies like the USD, the GBP, and the EUR. Incorporating such hard commodities into your trading experience enables you to achieve a well-balanced portfolio. It also helps you protect yourself against economic changes that lead to inflation.
At Alpari International, precious metal traders can open both long and short positions, with spreads from 3.3 to 47.0. The minimum leverage starts at 25:1 while the maximum reaches 500:1. Again, the exact specifications depend on what type of account you choose to open at Alpari International. The floated margins begin at 0.2% to reach 4%.
Another great way to balance your portfolio is by trading with hard commodities like crude oil. Alpari International offers long and short positions for US natural gas, US crude oil, and UK Brent oil.
Stock and Index Trading
There are plenty of reasons why trading with stocks is a great investment idea, including diversification, no time limits, and access to direct liquidity prices. When you choose to trade with this brokerage house, you are granted instant access to direct pricing straight from the two of the biggest stock exchanges in the world – the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq.
You can pick and choose from various major company stocks, including Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, JP Morgan Chase, Johnson & Johnson, and Exxon Mobil Corporation. The typical spreads for these stock markets range from 1.0 to 21.0.
It is possible to trade stock CFDs. This is a type of contract between you and your broker, Alpari International in this case. You speculate on the entry and exit values of different company stocks without owning any assets.
Beware of the volatility of CFDs, though. This is a leveraged instrument that can cause you to incur massive losses if you are incompetent or not careful. Other than that, the brokerage offers different lot sizes to fit the needs and style of all stock traders. Customers can trade stocks with minimum and maximum volumes of 0.01 to 250 lots per trade.
Another option for customers who want to diversify their portfolios is to trade different indices including Nikkei 225, US Tech 100 Index, the Wall Street 30, UK’s Financial Times Stock Exchange 100, the German DAX 30, and the Stoxx Europe 50 Index.
Trading Platforms
 Platforms |
 PC / MAC |
 Smartphones |
 Tablets |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 |   |   | |
| MetaTrader 5 | | | |
| Meta Trader Mobile | | | |
| Web Trader | | | |
Alpari International is committed to ensuring an unparalleled experience to its customers and achieves this through the implementation of the world’s leading trading platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT 4). Its successor, MetaTrader 5 (MT5), is also available for a free download on the broker’s website.
Trading on the fly is made possible with two free downloadable apps for Android and iOS, both of which are available in MT4 and MT5 format. The browser-based WebTrader is an option for those who are reluctant to install additional desktop software.
MetaTrader 4
At Alpari International, you can download at no cost the world’s most popular trading platform, MetaTrader 4. While loaded with various cutting-edge features, the platform is still incredibly friendly to users who are new to trading. It gives you access to a versatile selection of instruments, including foreign exchange trading, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices, and stocks.
The platform features multiple currencies and customer support in more than thirty languages. Clients will benefit from the rapid execution of their orders and tolerable spreads. There are three types of order execution. Requotes are available at low rates and so is hedging, i.e. having multiple positions at a given market, both in the same or the opposite direction. However, netting is not an option.
Additionally, here you will find 30 technical indicators you can use to automatically detect trends in the price dynamics of different trading instruments. MT4 also offers various analysis tools, 9 time intervals, and an economic calendar for the latest happenings in the financial world. You can test various Expert Advisors via the in-built strategy tester.
MetaTrader 5
If they prefer, clients of Alpari International can download the improved version of the third-party MetaQuotes software, the advanced MetaTrader 5 platform. It operates similarly to MT4 but is equipped with some extra features, including market depth, which might appeal to more experienced traders.
The number of technical indicators you have here increases to 38. There are 4 modes of order execution and 21 timeframes. Both netting and hedging are supported. The broker can send notifications to clients straight through the platform. Chatting with fellow traders directly through the MT5 platform is also possible.
WebTrader
Customers who are reluctant to download and install trading software on their desktop computers have the option to execute trades directly in their browsers. Alpari International offers the browser-based solution WebTrader, available both in the MT4 and MT5 versions.
The functions you will find here are rather identical to those in the downloadable platforms. The WebTrader allows for one-click trading and offers various indicators for technical analysis and graphical objects you can customize according to your personal needs.
Mobile Apps for Android and iOS
The dedicated applications for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are available for a free download on smartphones and tablets straight from the developer. The apps are compatible with Android and Apple devices.
They boast intuitive interface, rapid order execution speeds, and access to a broad range of trading instruments and markets. Armed with the apps, customers have full control over their Alpari International accounts.
They can confidently trade on the fly and analyze the available markets with the help of 30 of the most commonly used technical indicators. The apps also feature dozens of analytical objects like lines, geometric shapes, and channels as well as the Fibonacci, the Gann, and the Elliott technical tools. There are three chart formats mobile customers of Alpari International can choose from, candlesticks, broken lines, and bars.
Payment Methods
With Alpari International, there are numerous available payment methods to fund your account with. The supported banking options are all detailed on the website of the brokerage house. Clients of the broker can deposit with FasaPay, TC Pay, GlobePay, credit/debit cards by Maestro, Mastercard, and Visa, Skrill 1-Tap, VLoad, WebMoney, Perfect Money, Neteller, online banking, and standard bank transfers. The cryptocurrency Bitcoin can also be used for funding your account.
According to the information published on the website, Alpari International charges no commission on its customers’ deposits. Most of these methods allow for instant payments in real time. The brokerage firm reports that as many as 94% of the deposits conducted via its platform in 2019 were processed in under five minutes. Keep in mind that if you use bank transfers, your deposit might take between 3 and 5 weekdays.
Most of the above-listed methods are available for processing withdrawals as well. You might be charged extra depending on what method you request a withdrawal with. The commission imposed on withdrawals with Visa, Maestro, and Mastercard is $3.
Meanwhile, the charges for Bitcoin and WebMoney amount to 1% and 2%, respectively. If you are looking for commission-free withdrawals, we suggest you use Neteller, Skrill 1-Tap, GlobePay or TC Pay.
Withdrawals are processed within 24 to 48 hours based on the method customers implement. If your Alpari International account remains inactive for more than six months, they will deduct a monthly fee of $5 for maintenance from your available balance.
| Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
 | $100 | No Fees | Under 5 minutes |
 | $100 | No Fees | Under 5 minutes |
 | $100 | No Fees | 3-5 working days |
 | $100 | No Fees | Under 5 minutes |
 | $100 | No Fees | Under 5 minutes |
 | $100 | No Fees | Under 5 minutes |
 | $100 | No Fees | Under 5 minutes |
 | $100 | No Fees | Under 5 minutes |
 | $100 | No Fees | 24 hours |
| Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
| - | $3 | 24 hours |
| - | $3 | 24 hours |
| - | No Fees | 24 hours |
| - | No Fees | 24 hours |
 | - | 1% | 24 hours |
| - | $3 | 24 hours |
| - | 0.5% | 24 hours |
| - | No Fees | 24 hours |
| - | 1% | 24-48 hours |
Account Types
At Alpari International, you can pick the account that best suits your needs and trading style. The broker offers an excellent choice from several distinct account types. You can compare their different features to make a better-informed decision as to which one works best for you.
Before we get into further discussions about the available live accounts, let’s drop in a few lines about the demo option Alpari International offers. This option is recommended to newcomers with no previous trading experience. It gives them the chance to learn to trade in a risk-free environment. The broker tops up demo accounts with $1 million in practice credits.
Standard Account
The Forex Standard Account is available via the MetaTrader 4 platform and can be set up in several base currencies, namely EUR, USD, GBP, and NGN. The leverage for this type of account is floating and can reach a maximum of 1,000:1. There is no ceiling on deposits here but the minimum starts at $100 or the currency equivalent.
The margin call for standard accounts is 60%, with a stop limit of 40%. There are no commissions here because these are built into the spread, which starts at 1.2. This account type comes with instant order execution and a vast range of trading instruments, including 61 Forex currency pairs, 5 spot metals, and 14 CFDs. The maximum number of pending orders per customer is restricted to 100.
Micro Account
The Forex Micro Account runs on the MetaTrader 4 platform and is unavailable in a demo format. It supports the same base currencies as the standard version (USD, EUR, GBP, and NGN). Note that only customers from Nigeria are permitted to open accounts in the NGN base currency.
This one comes with a fixed leverage of 400:1 and requires a minimum deposit of $5. This is a commission-free account with instant execution and spreads starting from 1.7.
The account is swap-free. This renders it suitable for clients of the Muslim faith who cannot pay or receive interest due to their religious beliefs. The Micro Account offers a significantly smaller selection of trading instruments.
Here you will find only two options for trading with spot metals alongside 25 major and minor currency pairs. The maximum number of orders is limited to 1,000, with the option to have as many as 100 pending orders at a time.
Pro MT4 Account
Alpari International is a truly global brokerage firm and as such, it strives to cater to traders from all walks of life. Professional traders have the chance to set up a live Forex Pro Account, available via the MetaTrader 4 platform. The base currencies are the same as those for the other two account types. The leverage is floating from 300:1.
Again, there is no ceiling on deposits but the minimum required amount you can fund the account with is quite high at $25,000. This type of account uses the market order execution and offers more competitive spreads that start at 0.4. There is also a MetaTrader 5 version of the professional account but this one is not swap-free and therefore, is unsuitable for Islamic customers.
Alpari International has lifted the ceiling on the maximum number of orders but pending orders are still restricted to 300. As for the trading instruments, those who choose this professional account are presented with 54 major, minor, and exotic currency pairs, and 3 spot metals.
ECN
Another option for prospective customers of Alpari International is to register for a Forex ECN account, with a choice from the MT5 or the MT4 software. ECN is abbreviated from Electronic Communications Network.
Here the broker implements an electronic network to provide its customers with immediate access to other participants in the trading markets. The spreads are tighter because quotes are consolidated from several market participants.
But there are more advantages to ECN accounts. Those who choose this option can rely on the instant market execution of their trades. The spreads for ECN accounts at Alpari International are lower starting at 0.4. However, customers are also charged a commission of $1.5 per lot per side.
You can have as many as 300 pending orders at a time. We suggest you go for the MT4 version of the ECN account because it is equipped with a larger selection of trading instruments, namely 56 currency pairs, 14 spot CFDs, 4 cryptocurrencies, and 3 options for spot metal trading. By contrast, the MT5 version only has 33 pairs and 2 spot metal options.
Support
Alpari International works with traders from all corners of the earth so it is only natural for the company to provide a multi-lingual support service. Customers can receive assistance in English, Spanish, Filipino, Portuguese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Persian, and Chinese.
The support staff is based in Mauritius and is at customers’ disposal around the clock during weekdays. You can still contact them over the weekends, though. Their working hours on Saturdays are from 11 am to 4 pm. On Sundays, the staff is available from 12 pm to 8 pm.
The easiest way to get in touch is to use the live chat facility. Several emails are provided depending on the type of assistance customers might need. Write them at customersupport@alpari.org for general inquiries and at operations@alpari.org for information on payments. Those who need assistance with setting up their accounts should use the documents@alpari.org email. Customers can also give them a ring at +44 080 896 850.
Conclusion
Despite being supervised by an authority that has a less efficient regulatory framework, Alpari International is an experienced brokerage firm that has weathered out many difficulties and has managed to survive in the volatile trading industry. More importantly, over 93% of the Alpari customers report a positive experience with this broker. We believe this is the surest sign this is a reliable trading site.
The broker has done an excellent job at outlining the peculiarities of the entire sign-up process so that customers can easily select the account type that best suits their needs. They have plenty of choices when it comes to available markets and instruments.
All in all, Alpari International delivers tons of options for traders and competitive spreads for some of the available account types. The availability of contracts for difference for cryptocurrencies is a nice addition to the broker’s portfolio.