alpari
Bridges Financial Services
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
alpari was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in New Zealand, while Bridges Financial Services was established in 2014 and is based in Australia. alpari holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Bridges Financial Services is regulated by ABN 60 003 474 977 among others. alpari serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Bridges Financial Services has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at alpari and $100 at Bridges Financial Services.
| Feature | alpari | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F222 | ABN 60 003 474 977, AFSL No. 240837 |
| Founded | 2015 | 2014 |
| Country | New Zealand | Australia |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between alpari and Bridges Financial Services, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bridges Financial Services has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at alpari). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. alpari charges deposit fees; Bridges Financial Services does not. Overall, Bridges Financial Services scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | alpari | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
alpari offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Bridges Financial Services supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Bridges Financial Services supports social and copy trading features, which alpari does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | alpari | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MetaTrader 4 |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how alpari and Bridges Financial Services compare. Bridges Financial Services runs regular live webinars; alpari does not. Both provide video tutorials. Bridges Financial Services publishes daily market commentary; alpari does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Bridges Financial Services maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Bridges Financial Services scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | alpari | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. alpari accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Bridges Financial Services supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). alpari uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. alpari scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | alpari | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | No |
| Neteller | Yes | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both alpari and Bridges Financial Services offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. alpari supports 8 languages and Bridges Financial Services supports 2, giving alpari broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | alpari | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English, and Chinese |