Which broker is better for Taiwan traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For experienced retail traders in Taiwan, choosing between EasyMarkets and Alpari requires a close look at trading costs, platform usability, and local payment support. EasyMarkets, with a score of 3.4/5, is known for its fixed spreads, zero slippage guarantee, and comprehensive risk management tools—features that appeal to traders who value predictability in volatile markets like USD/TWD. Alpari, scoring 3.1/5, offers variable spreads starting from 0.0 pips, ECN execution, and a wider range of currency pairs, including Asian crosses. Both brokers accept TWD deposits via Bank Transfer and Credit Card, which simplifies funding for Taiwan traders. However, neither is regulated by the FSC Taiwan, so traders must rely on offshore licenses (CySEC for EasyMarkets, FSA for Alpari). This comparison highlights how each broker serves Taiwan’s active forex community, with EasyMarkets emphasizing safety and simplicity, while Alpari focuses on low-cost, high-speed execution.
| 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 Taiwan traders, trading costs can significantly impact profitability, especially on high-volume pairs like EUR/USD and USD/TWD. EasyMarkets charges fixed spreads, averaging 1.2 pips on EUR/USD and 1.5 pips on USD/TWD, with no commission—ideal for traders who want predictable costs. Alpari offers variable spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD but adds a $3.5 commission per lot round turn, which can be cheaper for high-volume traders. On USD/TWD, Alpari’s spreads average 0.8 pips during Taipei session hours, but may widen to 1.5 pips during low liquidity. Overall, Alpari is more cost-effective for scalpers, while EasyMarkets suits position traders in Taiwan.
| 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 |
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | Alpari |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan (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 |
| 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 |
| Platform | EasyMarkets | Alpari |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets provides its proprietary web-based platform and a mobile app, both optimized for simplicity and risk management. The platform offers one-click trading, deal cancellation, and negative balance protection—features valued by Taiwan traders who want to limit downside. Alpari offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, the industry standard for experienced traders, along with advanced charting tools, automated trading via Expert Advisors, and a wide range of indicators. For Taiwan traders who rely on algorithmic strategies or need custom indicators, Alpari’s MT4/MT5 ecosystem is superior. EasyMarkets’ platform is better for those who prefer a streamlined, user-friendly experience over advanced customization.
| 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 offers market execution with no requotes and a zero-slippage guarantee, which is ideal for Taiwan traders who want certainty on trade entries and exits. Alpari provides ECN execution with raw spreads and fast order processing, but slippage can occur during high volatility. For Taiwan traders trading during the Asian session, Alpari’s execution speed is generally faster due to its direct market access, while EasyMarkets’ execution is more consistent but slightly slower. Both brokers offer negative balance protection, a critical feature for retail traders.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Alpari |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FSC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✗ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), providing a strong regulatory framework. Alpari is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Neither broker holds a license from the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) Taiwan, meaning Taiwan traders do not have local regulatory recourse. However, EasyMarkets’ CySEC regulation offers investor compensation up to €20,000, while Alpari’s FCA regulation provides protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Taiwan traders should weigh these protections against the convenience of offshore brokers.
| 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. |
Both EasyMarkets and Alpari support Bank Transfer and Credit Card deposits for Taiwan traders, making it easy to fund accounts in TWD. EasyMarkets processes bank transfers within 1-2 business days with no deposit fees, and credit card deposits are instant with a 0% fee. Withdrawals at EasyMarkets are free and processed within 24 hours for e-wallets, but bank transfers take 2-5 days. Alpari also accepts TWD bank transfers and credit cards, with a 2% fee on credit card deposits. Withdrawals at Alpari are free for bank transfers but may incur a $10 fee for credit card withdrawals. Both brokers require identity verification before processing withdrawals, which is standard for Taiwan’s anti-money laundering regulations.
| 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 |
EasyMarkets offers Islamic (swap-free) accounts to all clients, including Taiwan traders, with no swap charges on overnight positions. The account is available on all account types and does not require a minimum deposit beyond the standard requirement. Alpari also provides Islamic accounts but only for Standard and ECN accounts, and they may impose a holding period of 30 days before swap-free status is applied. Taiwan-based Muslim traders should note that EasyMarkets’ policy is more straightforward and inclusive, while Alpari’s terms are more restrictive. Both brokers require a request to enable the Islamic account feature, which is typically processed within 24 hours.
| 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 offers 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with multilingual agents including Mandarin Chinese. Alpari provides 24/5 support through live chat and email, but phone support is limited to business hours. For Taiwan traders, EasyMarkets’ Mandarin-speaking support team is a clear advantage, as it allows for immediate assistance in the local language. Alpari’s support is available in English and Russian, which may pose a barrier for some Taiwan users. Response times are similar, with live chat typically answering within 2 minutes for both brokers.
| 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 |
| Resource | EasyMarkets | Alpari | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
Choose Alpari if you...
For Taiwan’s experienced retail traders, the choice between EasyMarkets and Alpari depends on trading style and priorities. EasyMarkets (score 3.4/5) excels in safety, fixed spreads, and risk management, making it ideal for traders who prioritize predictability and ease of use. Its support for TWD deposits via Bank Transfer and Credit Card, along with Mandarin-speaking support, adds local convenience. Alpari (score 3.1/5) offers lower raw spreads and superior platform flexibility through MT4/MT5, appealing to scalpers and algorithmic traders. However, its variable spreads and limited local support may be less suitable for some Taiwan users. Both brokers lack FSC Taiwan regulation, but EasyMarkets’ CySEC oversight provides stronger investor protection. Ultimately, EasyMarkets is the better choice for most Taiwan traders seeking a balanced, secure experience, while Alpari suits those focused on cost efficiency and advanced trading tools.