Comparison of Alpari and CommSec
| Feature | Alpari | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 1998 | 1995 |
| Broker Type | ECN, MM | DMA |
| Dealing | A-book, B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | MISA, NBRB | ASIC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | CommSec Web, CommSec App, CommSec Pocket |
| Spread | ⮕ Average | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:3000 | 1:10 |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $1 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR | AUD |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, WebMoney, Skrill, Neteller, Wallet One, Volet.com, VLoad, TC Pay, Perfect Money, Tether (USDT) Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Zcash (ZEC) | Linked CDIA bank account, NetBank transfer, BPAY |
| Inactivity Fee | $5 per month after 6 months | ✖ |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✔ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | Financialcommission.org | - |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | - |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✖ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✖ |
| Copy Trading | ✖ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✔ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✖ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✖ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✖ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies | Shares, ETFs, options, managed funds, margin lending |
| Review | Alpari Review | CommSec Review |
About Alpari
Alpari is one of the most established names in the Forex trading world, with a history dating back to 1998. The broker has built a solid reputation, particularly among traders in emerging markets, for offering a broad range of financial instruments and account types that cater to both beginners and experienced traders. Alpari provides access to Forex, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies, with platform options including MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, two of the most popular trading platforms globally. The broker also offers social trading features, allowing clients to copy the strategies of more experienced traders. With a long track record and diverse offerings, Alpari aims to deliver flexibility and convenience. Additionally, Alpari offers multiple deposit and withdrawal methods, which is a major advantage for traders worldwide. However, it is important to note that while Alpari has a strong presence in many regions, it is not regulated by top-tier authorities, which may be a concern for some traders. Despite this, Alpari maintains a significant customer base and continues to attract clients with its competitive spreads and educational resources.
Pros
- Established broker with over two decades of experience in the industry
- Provides MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms
- Offers a PAMM feature for those interested in investing
- Comprehensive research and educational resources
- Competitive spreads and flexible leverage options
- Multiple payment methods for deposits and withdrawals
Cons
- Lack of regulation from top-tier financial authorities
- Customer support quality may vary depending on the region
- No proprietary trading platform available
About CommSec
CommSec is Australia’s largest online stockbroker and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank. Founded in 1995, it offers direct market access to the ASX plus 13 international exchanges, $0 account-keeping fees, tiered brokerage from A$5 per trade, and integrated banking via the CDIA settlement account. Clients can trade on desktop or via the CommSec and Pocket mobile apps, access Morningstar research, and finance portfolios through a margin-loan facility. Regulated by ASIC, CommSec is CHESS-sponsored for Australian equities, but accounts are available only to Australian residents.
Pros
- ASIC-regulated, backed by Commonwealth Bank
- Intuitive mobile app
- CHESS sponsorship for ASX shares
- Access to 13 global markets
- Integrated CDIA cash account with fast settlement
- Comprehensive research & Morningstar data
Cons
- Available only to Australian residents
- Higher brokerage than new discount brokers
- No MT4/MT5 or cryptocurrency trading
- No negative-balance protection
- Limited derivative line-up (no CFDs/FX)
Alpari & CommSec Regulation
| Feature | Alpari | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Alpari (Comoros) Ltd, Alpari Eurasia LLC | Commonwealth Securities Ltd |
Countries | Comoros, Belarus | Australia |
Regulators | MISA, NBRB | ASIC |
Investor Protection | Financialcommission.org | - |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | - |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | Alpari | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | — |
| Min Deposit | $50 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.3 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:1000 | — |
| Stop Out | 20% | — |
| Margin Call | 50% | — |
ECN Account | ||
| Account Name | ECN | — |
| Min Deposit | $300 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.1 | — |
| Fee | $5 per 1 lot | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:3000 | — |
| Stop Out | 50% | — |
| Margin Call | 80% | — |
DMA Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) |
| Min Deposit | — | $1 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 1 |
| Fee | — | $10 per 1 lot |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:1 |
| Stop Out | — | - |
| Margin Call | — | - |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Binary Options | ||
| Account | Fix-Contracts | — |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | — |
| Option Types | Call/Put, Touch, Range, Spread, Turbo, Express | — |
| Minimum Stake | $1 | — |
| Payout | from 40% to 95% | — |
| Expiration Time | from 5 seconds to 1 day | — |
Funding and Fees
| Feature | Alpari | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR | AUD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, WebMoney, Skrill, Neteller, Wallet One, Volet.com, VLoad, TC Pay, Perfect Money, Tether (USDT) Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Zcash (ZEC) | Linked CDIA bank account, NetBank transfer, BPAY |
Inactivity fee | $5 per month after 6 months | |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | Alpari | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | CommSec Web, CommSec App, CommSec Pocket |
Execution Speed | 0.1 ms | 3 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | average | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | Alpari | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 46 | 0 |
Indices | 12 | 0 |
Stocks | 631 | 2200 |
Cryptocurrencies | 9 | 0 |
Bonds | 0 | 0 |
Metals | 2 | 0 |
Energies | 3 | 0 |
Soft Commodities | 0 | 0 |
ETFs | 0 | 200 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | Alpari | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | Alpari | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@alpari.im | hoax@cba.com.au |
Phone | +44 2045 771951 | +61283971206 |
Facebook | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | ||
Twitter | — |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing Alpari and CommSec, CommSec comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
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Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.