Side-by-side
Alpari vs AvaTrade
Alpari vs AvaTrade — Direct comparison across cost, regulation, leverage, platforms and operating history.
Tracked byBrokerlist Editorial · Independent review teamUpdated
In short. Choose Alpari if you have $500+ and want commission-based Pro ECN pricing at ~$7.50/lot with 27 years of operating history. Choose AvaTrade if you are AU or EU retail and want CBI + ASIC double cover with 20 years of operating history.
Alpari vs AvaTrade comparison: fees, licences, platforms
Verdict at a glance
AvaTrade leads
- Alpari
- ahead on 2 dimensions
- AvaTrade
- ahead on 3 dimensions
Cost per lot
Alpari: $7.50/lot, AvaTrade: $9.00/lot. Lower at Alpari.
Minimum deposit
Alpari: $500, AvaTrade: $100. Smaller minimum at AvaTrade.
Maximum leverage
Alpari: 1:1000, AvaTrade: 1:400. Higher leverage at Alpari.
Regulator and licence
Alpari: MISA, AvaTrade: ASIC, FSCA, CBI, BVI. Stronger licensing at AvaTrade.
Trading platforms
Alpari: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTrade: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaOptions, DupliTrade. Wider platform choice at AvaTrade.
Pros and cons
Alpari
Pros
- ✓27 years of operating history (founded 1998) — predates most current retail brokers
- ✓Pro ECN: 0.1–0.4 typical spread + $5 round-turn ≈ $7.50/lot — competitive commission tier
- ✓Standard account available at $50 min for lower entry (spread-only ~1.2 pip from)
Cons
- ✕Regulated only by offshore entities (Mauritius / St. Vincent) after losing its FCA licence in 2015 — no tier-1 regulator, no FSCS-equivalent protection
- ✕Pro ECN tier requires $500 minimum deposit — not accessible for small accounts
- ✕Inactivity fee $10/month after period of inactivity
- ✕Not available in 38 jurisdictions (all of EU + UK, US, Japan, Canada, India, Myanmar, OFAC-sanctioned countries)
AvaTrade
Pros
- ✓Regulated in 6 jurisdictions
- ✓1,450+ CFDs
- ✓Copy trading via DupliTrade
Cons
- ✕Spread-only pricing at 0.9 pip = ~$9/lot round-turn — wider than ECN/Raw brokers at similar volume
- ✕Inactivity fee $50 per 3 months of inactivity + $100 annual admin fee after 12 months
- ✕Not available in 20 jurisdictions including US, UK, Belgium, New Zealand, India, Russia/Belarus, Lebanon, and OFAC-sanctioned countries
Who should choose which
Choose Alpari if:
- ✓You have $500+ and want commission-based Pro ECN pricing at ~$7.50/lot with 27 years of operating history
- ✓You're in a jurisdiction outside EU/UK/US/Japan/Canada where Alpari's MISA (Comoros) entity onboards you
- ✓You want offshore high-leverage access (up to 1:3000 on Standard) at a legacy retail brand
Choose AvaTrade if:
- ✓You are AU or EU retail and want CBI + ASIC double cover with 20 years of operating history
- ✓You prefer spread-only pricing with no commission math — 0.9 pip typical is stable at ~$9/lot round-turn
- ✓You're into copy trading — DupliTrade integration is the strongest of our brokers
- ✓You want 1,400+ CFDs across forex, indices, stocks, commodities in one account
- ✓You have $100+ and want a straightforward single-tier account (not Standard vs Raw)
We may earn a commission if you open an account — it never affects our ranking or scores. How we’re paid.
Frequently asked
Which is better — Alpari or AvaTrade?+
Across our 5 dimensions: Alpari leads in 2, AvaTrade in 3, ties: 0. Overall verdict: AvaTrade. Full breakdown below.
Which broker has lower fees?+
Cost-per-lot in our calculation: Alpari — $7.50, AvaTrade — $9.00. Lower at Alpari.
Which is better for beginners?+
Minimum deposit: Alpari — $500, AvaTrade — $100. Easier onboarding at AvaTrade.
What trading platforms do they offer?+
Alpari: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. AvaTrade: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaOptions, DupliTrade.
Who regulates each broker?+
Alpari: MISA. AvaTrade: ASIC, FSCA, CBI, BVI.