Comparison of Alpari and IQ Option
| Feature | Alpari | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 1998 | 2013 |
| Broker Type | ECN, MM | MM |
| Dealing | A-book, B-book | B-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | MISA, NBRB | CySEC, SVGFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Quadcode |
| Spread | ⮕ Average | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:3000 | 1:500 |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $10 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR | USD, EUR, GBP, RUB |
| 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/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard), Skrill, Neteller, Webmoney, Volet.com, Perfect Money, Cardano (ADA), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), XRP (XRP), Tether (USDT) |
| Inactivity Fee | $5 per month after 6 months | $10 per month after 90 days |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | $30 on bank wire; other methods free |
| Investor Protection | Financialcommission.org | ICF |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | €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, ETF, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | Alpari Review | IQ Option 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 IQ Option
IQ Option is a regulated broker founded in 2013. It combines its own award-winning platform with a low $10 entry threshold and $1 trade size, offering 300+ instruments across CFDs and fixed-time options. The broker attracts both beginners and active traders with an intuitive interface, rich charting toolkit and 24/7 multilingual support. While spreads are competitive, availability is limited in a number of jurisdictions and binary options remain high-risk.
Pros
- Low $10 minimum deposit and $1 trade size
- Proprietary platform with 100+ indicators and built-in news feed
- Wide range of instruments (300+), incl. 25+ crypto CFDs
- Free practice account with $10 000 virtual funds
- Fast withdrawals (1-3 days) and many funding methods
- CySEC regulation and segregated client funds
Cons
- Binary options classified as high-risk in many countries
- Inactivity fee after 90 days
- Higher spreads than ECN brokers; no MT4/MT5 support
Alpari & IQ Option Regulation
| Feature | Alpari | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Alpari (Comoros) Ltd, Alpari Eurasia LLC | IQ Option Europe Ltd, IQ Option LLC |
Countries | Comoros, Belarus | Cyprus, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
Regulators | MISA, NBRB | CySEC, SVGFSA |
Investor Protection | Financialcommission.org | ICF |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | Alpari | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | Standard |
| Min Deposit | $50 | $10 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:1000 | 1:500 |
| 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% | — |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Binary Options | ||
| Account | Fix-Contracts | Binary Options |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $10 |
| Option Types | Call/Put, Touch, Range, Spread, Turbo, Express | Call/Put, Turbo, Digital Options |
| Minimum Stake | $1 | $1 |
| Payout | from 40% to 95% | from 55% to 95% |
| Expiration Time | from 5 seconds to 1 day | from 30 seconds to 30 days |
Funding and Fees
| Feature | Alpari | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR | USD, EUR, GBP, RUB |
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/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard), Skrill, Neteller, Webmoney, Volet.com, Perfect Money, Cardano (ADA), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), XRP (XRP), Tether (USDT) |
Inactivity fee | $5 per month after 6 months | $10 per month after 90 days |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee | $30 on bank wire; other methods free |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | Alpari | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Quadcode |
Execution Speed | 0.1 ms | 10 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | average | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | Alpari | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 46 | 63 |
Indices | 12 | 12 |
Stocks | 631 | 379 |
Cryptocurrencies | 9 | 26 |
Bonds | 0 | 0 |
Metals | 2 | 3 |
Energies | 3 | 3 |
Soft Commodities | 0 | 3 |
ETFs | 0 | 22 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | Alpari | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Contests
| Feature | Alpari | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
| Demo Contests | ||
| Is available | ||
| Contests List | — |
|
- Weekend TreatStart Balance: $100 · Prize Pool: $1500 · Period: WeeklyLearn More
- Salary in a DayStart Balance: $100 · Prize Pool: $3,000 · Period: WeeklyLearn More
- Austin 1000Start Balance: $1000 · Prize Pool: $1000 · Period: WeeklyLearn More
- IQ LaunchStart Balance: $100 · Prize Pool: $10000 · Period: WeeklyLearn More
- 72 HoursStart Balance: $100 · Prize Pool: $5000 · Period: Every 2 WeeksLearn More
Customer Support
| Contact | Alpari | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@alpari.im | support@iqoption.com |
Phone | +44 2045 771951 | +35724257707 |
Facebook | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | ||
Twitter | — |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing Alpari and IQ Option, IQ Option 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.