Comparison of Alpari and IG
| Feature | Alpari | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 1998 | 1974 |
| Broker Type | ECN, MM | MM, DMA |
| Dealing | A-book, B-book | B-book, A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | MISA, NBRB | FCA, BMA, BaFin, FSAN, AFM, CONSOB, CNMV, ACPR, FI, FINMA, NFA, CFTC, ASIC, NZ FMA, JFSA, JFFA, MAS, FSCA, DFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer |
| Spread | ⮕ Average | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:3000 | 1:200 |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $1 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, NZD, JPY, NOK, SEK, SGD, HKD |
| 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) | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal |
| Inactivity Fee | $5 per month after 6 months | $18 per month after 24 months |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | Financialcommission.org | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | £85 000 / €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 | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | Alpari Review | IG 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 IG
IG is one of the most established and reputable brokers in the forex and CFD trading industry, having been founded in 1974. Regulated by top-tier financial authorities, including the FCA (UK) and ASIC (Australia), IG offers a wide range of trading instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and shares. The broker is well-suited for both beginner and professional traders, providing access to an advanced trading platform, competitive spreads, and a comprehensive suite of educational resources. IG's long-standing presence in the market and robust regulatory compliance make it a trusted choice for traders worldwide. In addition to its proprietary platform, IG supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), which is ideal for traders who prefer algorithmic strategies or a familiar interface. The broker also excels in market research and analysis, providing clients with detailed insights, trading signals, and technical tools. However, while IG offers extensive features, its services might not be ideal for smaller retail traders due to higher minimum deposit requirements in some regions. Furthermore, the absence of certain features like cent accounts or high leverage options may deter specific trading styles.
Pros
- Highly regulated by top-tier financial authorities (FCA, ASIC, etc.)
- Wide range of tradable assets, including over 99 forex pairs
- Advanced proprietary platform and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
- Comprehensive market research and educational resources
- Long-standing reputation with nearly five decades of experience
- Competitive spreads and reliable trade execution
Cons
- Limited high-leverage options compared to some competitors
- No support for cent accounts, which may not suit small-scale traders
- Inactivity fees for dormant accounts
- Customer support may not be available 24/7 for all regions
Alpari & IG Regulation
| Feature | Alpari | IG |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Alpari (Comoros) Ltd, Alpari Eurasia LLC | IG Markets Ltd, IG International Limited, IG Europe GmbH, IG Bank SA, IG US LLC, IG Australia Pty Ltd., IG Securities Limited, IG Asia Pte Ltd, IG Markets South Africa Limited, IG Limited |
Countries | Comoros, Belarus | United Kingdom, Bermuda, Germany, Switzerland, United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates |
Regulators | MISA, NBRB | FCA, BMA, BaFin, FSAN, AFM, CONSOB, CNMV, ACPR, FI, FINMA, NFA, CFTC, ASIC, NZ FMA, JFSA, JFFA, MAS, FSCA, DFSA |
Investor Protection | Financialcommission.org | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | £85 000 / €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | Alpari | IG |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | CFD |
| Min Deposit | $50 | $1 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:1000 | 1:200 |
| Stop Out | 20% | 50% |
| Margin Call | 50% | 100% |
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 | — | DMA |
| Min Deposit | — | $1000 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.16 |
| Fee | — | $12 per 1 lot |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:200 |
| Stop Out | — | 20% |
| Margin Call | — | 50% |
| 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 | IG |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, NZD, JPY, NOK, SEK, SGD, HKD |
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) | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal |
Inactivity fee | $5 per month after 6 months | $18 per month after 24 months |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | Alpari | IG |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer |
Execution Speed | 0.1 ms | - |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | average | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | Alpari | IG |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 46 | 99 |
Indices | 12 | 46 |
Stocks | 631 | 13000 |
Cryptocurrencies | 9 | 15 |
Bonds | 0 | 19 |
Metals | 2 | 11 |
Energies | 3 | 9 |
Soft Commodities | 0 | 20 |
ETFs | 0 | 5400 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | Alpari | IG |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | Alpari | IG |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@alpari.im | newaccounts.uk@ig.com |
Phone | +44 2045 771951 | +442076335430 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter | — |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing Alpari and IG, IG 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.
More Comparisons
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.