Broker Alarab
Detailed Trading Account Comparison

Trading Account Comparison: Alpari Standardvs IC Markets Raw Spread

Explore differences in spreads, commissions, deposits and trading conditions, alongside a detailed review of each account's advantages and limitations.

ACCOUNT OVERVIEW

What Makes Alpari Standard Different from IC Markets Raw Spread?

Before comparing the numbers, it is important to understand the purpose of each account and the conditions that may make it suitable for different traders.

Alpari Standard

The Alpari Standard account is the standard option categorized by Broker Alarab for general traders and occupies a middle position between Micro and the ECN accounts in terms of deposit requirements and pricing. According to our data, spreads range from 1.2–1.7 pips with a recorded average of 1.4 pips, there is no separate trading commission, the minimum deposit is $100 and orders use Market Execution.

IC Markets Raw Spread

The IC Markets Raw Spread account is categorized by Broker Alarab for scalpers and uses tight-spread pricing with a separate commission. Spreads range from 0.0–0.3 pips, commission is $7 per lot, the minimum deposit is $200 and orders use Market Execution. Its key use case is therefore evaluating frequent-trading costs and comparing them directly with Standard and the other Raw options.

SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON

Compare Trading Accounts, Spreads, Commissions and Platforms

Review spreads, commissions, minimum deposits, trading platforms, execution methods and broker-level regulatory information.

Alpari
Standard
IC Markets
Raw Spread

01 — Basic Account Information

Compare the broker, account name, account classification and regulatory information.

Broker

Alpari
Alpari
IC Markets
IC Markets

Account Name

Alpari
Standard
IC Markets
Raw Spread

Account Type

Alpari
standard
IC Markets
raw

Broker Regulatory Licenses

Broker-level regulatory information. Verify which legal entity serves your country.

Alpari
MISA
IC Markets
ASIC | CySEC | FSA | SCB

02 — Spreads and Trading Costs

Compare the recorded trading costs without assuming undocumented pricing.

Advertised Spread Range

Alpari
1.2 – 1.7
IC Markets
0.0 - 0.3

Minimum Recorded Spread

Based on the available account information.

Alpari
1.2
IC Markets
0

Average Recorded Spread

Alpari
1.4
IC Markets
0.1

Advertised Commission

Alpari
$0
IC Markets
Not specified

03 — Deposits and Execution

Review account funding requirements and order execution characteristics.

Minimum Deposit

Alpari
$100
IC Markets
$200

Order Execution Method

Alpari
Market Execution
IC Markets
Market Execution

Trading Platforms

Available platforms may differ by account type.

Alpari
MT4 | MT5
IC Markets
MT4 | MT5 | cTrader | TradingView

04 — Account Features and Conditions

Review relevant account characteristics and trading suitability.

Scalping Suitability

An internal classification, not a guarantee of suitability.

Alpari
Not classified in this category
IC Markets
Not classified in this category

05 — Broker Information and Regulation

Broker-level information does not guarantee that every license applies to the selected account.

Listed Regulatory Licenses

Alpari
MISA
IC Markets
ASIC | CySEC | FSA | SCB

Broker Maximum Leverage

Actual leverage may depend on the account, jurisdiction and legal entity.

Alpari
1:3000
IC Markets
1:500

Open a Trading Account

Information is based on records available to Broker Alarab. Trading conditions may vary by account, country and legal entity.

EXPERT ANALYSIS

Broker Alarab's Assessment of Both Accounts

We review each account independently, highlighting strengths, limitations and the types of traders it may suit, without declaring an unsupported winner.

Alpari logo

Alpari

Standard

IC Markets logo

IC Markets

Raw Spread

Broker Alarab's Assessment

We see Alpari Standard as the natural middle ground for traders who want more than the entry-focused Micro structure but do not yet require an ECN account with a separate commission. The minimum deposit is $100, recorded spreads are 1.2–1.7 pips averaging 1.4 pips and the separate commission is $0. Its main advantage is combining straightforward pricing with tighter recorded spreads than Micro.

Broker Alarab's Assessment

We see IC Markets Raw Spread as an account to evaluate for scalping and spread-sensitive trading rather than automatically assuming it is cheaper than Standard. Its 0.0–0.3 pip range is tight, but the $7-per-lot commission matters, particularly with frequent trading. The most useful approach is to calculate spread and commission together and compare the result directly with Standard pricing.

Account Advantages

  • ✓No separate trading commission according to Broker Alarab data
  • ✓Tighter recorded spreads than the Micro account
  • ✓Recorded average spread is 1.4 pips
  • ✓Minimum deposit is $100
  • ✓Categorized for general traders

Account Advantages

  • ✓Spreads range from 0.0–0.3 pips according to Broker Alarab data
  • ✓Categorized for scalping in our account data
  • ✓Clear pricing model combining tight spreads with a defined commission
  • ✓Minimum deposit is $200
  • ✓Provides a tight-spread alternative to the Standard account

Disadvantages and Considerations

  • !Recorded spreads are wider than ECN and Pro ECN
  • !No separate commission does not mean trading has no cost
  • !The minimum deposit is higher than Micro
  • !Active traders should compare total costs with ECN before choosing the account

Disadvantages and Considerations

  • !Commission is $7 per lot according to our data
  • !A spread starting at 0.0 does not mean cost-free trading
  • !Frequent trading makes cumulative commission an important factor to calculate
  • !Other Raw accounts in our table have different commissions and should be compared

Who Is This Account Suitable For?

  • •General traders according to Broker Alarab categorization
  • •Users who prefer trading without a separate commission
  • •Traders seeking tighter spreads than Micro without moving to ECN
  • •Users comfortable with a $100 minimum deposit

Who Is This Account Suitable For?

  • •Scalpers who place particular importance on tight spreads
  • •Traders making a larger number of entries and exits
  • •Users who prefer Raw pricing and include commission in each trade-cost calculation
  • •Traders who want to compare Raw Spread directly with Standard

Detailed Account Analysis

Alpari Standard vs Micro: What Changes With the Higher Deposit?

Standard increases the minimum deposit from $30 on Micro to $100 but reduces the recorded spread range from 1.7–2.2 pips to 1.2–1.7 pips. Both accounts have a recorded $0 separate commission and use Market Execution. The key difference in Broker Alarab data is therefore the balance between entry requirements and spread pricing.

Is the Alpari Standard Account Commission-Free?

The separate commission recorded for Standard is $0, but this does not mean trading cost is zero. Recorded spreads range from 1.2–1.7 pips with a 1.4-pip average and represent the primary pricing component. Actual spread costs should therefore be considered when comparing Standard with another account.

Alpari Standard vs ECN: Spread or Commission?

Standard has recorded spreads of 1.2–1.7 pips without a separate commission and a $100 minimum deposit. ECN has 0.4–0.9 pip spreads with a $3 per-lot commission and a $300 minimum deposit. The comparison therefore depends on trading size and frequency because ECN combines tighter spreads with a separate commission component.

Detailed Account Analysis

Is the IC Markets Raw Spread Account Good for Scalping?

Broker Alarab categorizes Raw Spread for scalping, and spreads range from 0.0–0.3 pips in our data. This can be relevant to a strategy involving frequent entries and exits and potentially smaller targeted price movements. The account also carries a $7-per-lot commission, however, so costs can accumulate as transaction count and volume rise. Scalpers should therefore calculate total cost at their expected trading volume rather than choosing the account solely because of its tight spread range.

IC Markets Raw Spread vs Standard: Which Is Better?

According to Broker Alarab data, Standard uses 0.8–1.0 pip spreads with no separate commission, while Raw Spread uses 0.0–0.3 pips with a $7-per-lot commission. Both carry a $200 minimum deposit and Market Execution. Standard provides a simpler pricing structure, while Raw Spread reduces the spread in exchange for commission. The more suitable account therefore changes with lot size, trading frequency and how sensitive the strategy is to spread.

How Should You Calculate IC Markets Raw Spread Costs?

A common mistake is to look at a spread starting from 0.0 pips and treat that figure as the complete measure of cost. In our data, the $7-per-lot commission must be considered alongside the actual spread at execution. Traders operating at greater volume or frequency should monitor cumulative costs and compare them with what they might pay through the Standard spread or the commissions on other Raw accounts. This makes the comparison relevant to real account usage.

Important details about the Alpari Standard account

The recorded average spread is 1.4 pips

The full recorded range extends from 1.2–1.7 pips, so traders should consider both the range and average rather than the starting figure alone.

The separate commission is $0

The account has no recorded separate trading commission, but the spread remains a direct trading-cost component and trades are not cost-free.

The minimum deposit is $100

This is the account requirement recorded by Broker Alarab and does not represent a recommendation for suitable trading capital.

Important details about the IC Markets Raw Spread account

Raw Spread commission is $7 per lot in our data

Broker Alarab data lists a $7-per-lot commission. The account should therefore be evaluated using total trading cost rather than its tight spread alone.

Scalping makes repeated transaction costs important

Because we categorize the account for scalping, traders should consider how spread and commission can accumulate as the number of transactions and total lots increase.

Raw Spread and Standard have the same minimum deposit in our data

Both accounts carry a $200 minimum, so comparison should focus on pricing structure and trading style rather than the entry requirement.

DECISION GUIDE

How to Choose the Right Trading Account

Numbers alone are not enough. Account suitability depends on your trading strategy, capital, financial instruments and the conditions applicable to you.

01

Compare Spreads and Commissions Together

The recorded spread for Alpari Standard is 1.2 – 1.7, while IC Markets Raw Spread shows 0.0 - 0.3. Evaluating overall trading costs also requires checking commission rates, pricing units, instruments and position sizes.

02

Review Minimum Deposit Requirements

The recorded minimum deposit for Alpari Standard is $100, compared with $200 for IC Markets Raw Spread. A lower deposit requirement may provide more flexibility, but it does not automatically make an account better.

03

Compare Trading Platforms and Execution

Check which trading platforms each broker actually offers for the selected account, including MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 where supported. Also review execution policies and potential slippage. Availability and conditions may vary by account and country.

04

Verify Regulation and Eligibility

Confirm the legal entity that will serve your account, the regulatory framework applicable to that entity, and whether the selected account is available in your country.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQs About Alpari Standard vs IC Markets Raw Spread

Answers to common questions about account comparisons, trading costs and account conditions.

What is the difference between Alpari Standard and IC Markets Raw Spread?+
The recorded spread for Alpari Standard is 1.2 – 1.7, compared with 0.0 - 0.3 for IC Markets Raw Spread. The advertised commissions are $0 and Not specified, respectively. You should also consider execution conditions, deposit requirements and account availability.
Is the account with the lowest spread always better?+
Not necessarily. Trading costs should be evaluated using both spreads and commissions, while considering the financial instrument, position size and execution conditions.
Can I compare two accounts from the same broker?+
Yes. Broker Alarab allows traders to compare accounts from the same broker or from different brokers.
How can I verify the trading conditions?+
Review the broker's official account specifications, applicable legal entity and trading conditions. Spreads, commissions and leverage may vary by instrument, account and jurisdiction.
What is the Alpari Standard account?+
Alpari Standard is the standard account categorized by Broker Alarab for general traders. According to our data, spreads range from 1.2–1.7 pips with a 1.4-pip average, the separate commission is $0, the minimum deposit is $100 and orders use Market Execution.
What is the Alpari Standard spread?+
The recorded spread ranges from 1.2–1.7 pips with a recorded average of 1.4 pips. The 1.2-pip minimum represents the beginning of the recorded range rather than necessarily being a fixed value for every trade, so Broker Alarab presents both the range and average for additional pricing context.
Does Alpari Standard charge a trading commission?+
The separate commission recorded for Standard is $0. This means there is no separate trading commission in our account data, but the spread remains part of trading cost, so a $0 commission does not mean trades are executed without cost.
What is the difference between Alpari Standard and ECN?+
Standard has recorded spreads of 1.2–1.7 pips without a separate commission and a $100 minimum deposit. ECN has 0.4–0.9 pip spreads with a $3 per-lot commission and a $300 minimum deposit. Both use Market Execution according to Broker Alarab data.
What is the IC Markets Raw Spread account?+
The IC Markets Raw Spread account is a tight-spread account categorized by Broker Alarab for scalping. According to our data, spreads range from 0.0–0.3 pips, commission is $7 per lot, the minimum deposit is $200 and orders use Market Execution. It differs from Standard by using tighter spreads in exchange for a separate per-lot commission.
What is the IC Markets Raw Spread spread and commission?+
According to Broker Alarab data, IC Markets Raw Spread spreads range from 0.0–0.3 pips and commission is $7 per lot. A spread starting at 0.0 does not mean the transaction is cost-free because commission is a direct component of the pricing model. This is particularly important for scalping and frequent trading, where transaction costs can accumulate.

Explore Both Trading Accounts in Detail

Review the full account information, compare trading conditions and verify the broker's requirements before opening an account.