EasyMarkets vs Alpari 2026: Full Comparison for Italy Traders
Which broker is better for Italy traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Quick Verdict — Italy Traders
Italy traders looking for a reliable forex broker often compare EasyMarkets and Alpari, two brokers with different regulatory and service profiles. EasyMarkets, founded in 2001, holds a CySEC license and follows EU MiFID II regulations, offering Italy traders negative balance protection and access to local payment methods like SEPA, Bank Transfer, and PostePay. Alpari, established in 1998, operates under an offshore FSA license (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) and focuses on low-cost trading with raw spreads. For Italy traders, the choice often comes down to safety vs cost: EasyMarkets provides a regulated environment with fixed spreads and local support, while Alpari appeals to those seeking tighter spreads and higher leverage. Both brokers accept EUR deposits and offer MetaTrader platforms, but their approach to regulation, execution, and client protection differs significantly. This comparison helps Italy retail traders decide which broker suits their needs best in 2025.
Overall Scores Comparison
Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions
| Instrument | EasyMarkets | Alpari | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Alpari |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Alpari |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Alpari |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Alpari |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $25 | $30 | EasyMarkets |
For Italy traders, trading costs are a key factor. EasyMarkets offers fixed spreads starting from 1.0 pips on major forex pairs with no commission, making costs predictable. Alpari provides variable spreads from 0.0 pips on its ECN Pro account but charges a commission of $3.50 per lot per side. On a standard lot of EUR/USD, EasyMarkets costs about $10 per round turn, while Alpari costs around $7. For low-volume Italy traders, EasyMarkets is simpler; for high-volume scalpers, Alpari may be cheaper. Both brokers offer EUR-denominated accounts, avoiding conversion fees.
Account Types Comparison
| Account Type | EasyMarkets | Alpari |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Min deposit | $25 | $30 |
Leverage Comparison - Italy Traders
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | Alpari |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:1000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:1000 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
Trading Instruments - Assets Available
| Asset Class | EasyMarkets | Alpari | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | EasyMarkets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | EasyMarkets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Alpari |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
Platforms Comparison
| Platform | EasyMarkets | Alpari |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the most popular platforms among Italy traders. EasyMarkets also offers its proprietary web and mobile platforms with risk management tools like dealCancellation and free guaranteed stop-loss orders. Alpari focuses on MT4/MT5 only, with advanced charting and algorithmic trading capabilities. For Italy traders who value simplicity and extra safety features, EasyMarkets is better; for those who need full MT5 access and custom indicators, Alpari is a solid choice.
Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage
| Factor | EasyMarkets | Alpari | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Alpari |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | EasyMarkets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
EasyMarkets uses a market maker model with no requotes and offers free guaranteed stop-loss orders, ensuring execution even in volatile markets. Alpari uses ECN/STP execution with variable spreads and low latency, suitable for scalpers. For Italy retail traders, EasyMarkets provides more predictable execution, while Alpari suits those who prioritize speed and raw spreads.
Regulation & Safety for Italy Traders
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Alpari |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FSC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✗ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets is regulated by CySEC (license no. 079/07) and operates under EU MiFID II, providing Italy traders with negative balance protection, segregated client funds, and access to the Financial Ombudsman. Alpari is regulated by the FSA of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which does not offer the same level of oversight or investor compensation. For Italy traders, CONSOB warns against unregulated brokers, so EasyMarkets offers a safer, compliant environment, while Alpari carries higher risk with no EU protection.
Deposits & Withdrawals for Italy
| Payment Method | EasyMarkets | Alpari |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) | Cryptocurrency / E-Wallets: Instant to 2 hours (after internal processing).Credit / Debit Cards: 2 to 10 business days.Bank Wire Transfers: 3 to 5 business days. |
Italy traders can fund their EasyMarkets account via SEPA (free, 1-2 business days), Bank Transfer (free, 2-5 days), or PostePay (instant, no fee). Minimum deposit is $100. Withdrawals are free and processed within 24 hours. Alpari supports SEPA and Bank Transfer but does not accept PostePay. Minimum deposit is $50. Withdrawals are free but may take 1-3 business days. Both brokers accept EUR, so Italy traders avoid conversion costs. EasyMarkets is more convenient for Italy traders who use PostePay or prefer instant deposits.
Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Italy Muslims
| Islamic Account Feature | EasyMarkets | Alpari |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both EasyMarkets and Alpari offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Italy Muslim traders who follow Sharia law. EasyMarkets provides swap-free accounts on request with no additional fees, and no swap charges on overnight positions. Alpari also offers Islamic accounts but may charge an administrative fee after a certain holding period (e.g., 10 days). Italy traders should check the specific terms with each broker. EasyMarkets is more transparent with its swap-free policy.
Customer Support Comparison
| Support Feature | EasyMarkets | Alpari | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | EasyMarkets |
EasyMarkets provides customer support in Italian via live chat, email, and phone, with 24/5 availability. Alpari offers support in English only, via live chat and email, with 24/5 hours. For Italy traders, EasyMarkets is clearly better due to native language support and faster response times.
Mobile App Comparison
| Mobile Feature | EasyMarkets | Alpari | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
Education & Research Tools
| Resource | EasyMarkets | Alpari | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Real User Reviews - Trustpilot
Pros & Cons of Each Broker
EasyMarkets
Alpari
Who Should Use Which Broker? - Italy Guide
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
- Want a CONSOB-compliant broker with EU regulation and negative balance protection.
- Prefer fixed spreads and predictable costs without commission.
- Need local payment methods like PostePay, SEPA, or Bank Transfer in EUR.
- Value Italian-language customer support and risk management tools like dealCancellation.
Choose Alpari if you...
- Are an experienced trader seeking raw spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions.
- Want high leverage up to 1:1000 (though not regulated by CONSOB).
- Need full MT5 support for algorithmic trading and custom indicators.
- Are comfortable with an offshore broker and understand the risks.
FAQ - EasyMarkets vs Alpari in Italy
Final Verdict - Italy 2026
For Italy traders in 2025, EasyMarkets is the better choice overall due to its strong regulatory framework under CySEC (aligned with CONSOB guidelines), local payment options including PostePay and SEPA, and Italian-language support. Its fixed spreads and risk management tools make it ideal for retail traders who prioritize safety and simplicity. Alpari offers lower costs for high-volume traders but lacks EU regulation and does not accept PostePay, which may deter Italy traders who value convenience and protection. If you are an Italy trader looking for a reliable, local-friendly broker, EasyMarkets is recommended. For those chasing the lowest spreads and willing to accept higher risk, Alpari remains a viable alternative.