Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
HFM vs ActivTrades: HFM was founded in 2010, while ActivTrades dates back to 2001. Neither broker is publicly traded or a bank. In terms of regulation, both hold two Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com). HFM holds three Tier-2 licenses, whereas ActivTrades holds one Tier-2 license.
Trust and safety: ForexBrokers.com rates HFM at 85/99 and ActivTrades at 80/99. On its scale, 90–99 = highly trusted, 80–89 = trusted, 70–79 = average risk, 60–69 = high risk, and below 59 = should not be trusted. This places both HFM and ActivTrades in the trusted category.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing HFM and ActivTrades on commissions and fees, both brokers earn a 4-star rating, but ActivTrades ranks higher overall in the category. HFM is ranked #28 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades comes in at #21 out of 36. In plain terms, that means both are solid choices, but ActivTrades has the edge on pricing.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average. The broker says its standard accounts typically have spreads around 1.2 pips, though no date range is given, so the real average could be higher. Its Zero account shows an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, but that figure is also not presented as an average. This makes HFM a decent option, though not among the lowest-cost brokers.
ActivTrades offers spreads that are generally a little better than average, though not as low as the cheapest forex brokers. The broker’s pricing can vary by asset and platform, and spreads may widen during active market periods. For example, ActivTrades reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips for May 2024. Overall, ActivTrades has the better fees profile of the two, especially for traders looking for slightly tighter spreads.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.8 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
HFM and ActivTrades both give traders access to forex as CFDs, offer copy trading, and let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs rather than actual digital coins. Neither broker offers exchange-traded U.S. shares or delivered crypto, so if you want to buy real Apple stock or hold Bitcoin directly, neither platform supports that. Both brokers also earn 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, showing a similar overall offering at a glance.
The main difference is breadth. HFM lists 344 tradeable symbols and 38 forex pairs, while ActivTrades offers a much larger selection with 1,267 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. ActivTrades also stands out by offering exchange-traded securities on international markets, such as overseas shares, which HFM does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings for Range of Investments, ActivTrades comes in slightly ahead at #25 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #28.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
HFM and ActivTrades both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platform, desktop downloads for Windows, web-based trading, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Both brokers also let users trade directly from charts, which can make it easier to place orders while watching price moves. In other words, each broker covers the main trading platform needs most traders look for.
When it comes to overall platform and tools ratings, both HFM and ActivTrades earn 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, but ActivTrades holds the stronger category rank at #26 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #33. That suggests ActivTrades may have a slight edge in this area, even though the two brokers offer many of the same core tools and platform options.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and ActivTrades both give traders mobile apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Neither broker offers watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made in the mobile app do not carry over to the online account, and vice versa. In this area, the two brokers are closely matched for everyday mobile trading needs.
The biggest difference is in chart tools. HFM’s mobile app includes 5 technical studies, while ActivTrades offers 30, giving ActivTrades a wider set of charting options for traders who rely on indicators. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but ActivTrades ranks higher overall with ForexBrokers.com at #21 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #32 out of 36.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 5 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
HFM and ActivTrades both give traders useful market research basics, including daily market commentary, forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters, sentiment tools that show long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming events. Each broker is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research, so both cover the essentials well for everyday trading decisions.
The main difference is in the extra research tools. HFM includes Autochartist and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, while ActivTrades does not offer these add-ons. Neither broker provides Trading Central or TipRanks research. Overall, HFM has the edge in research depth and is ranked #18 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for Research, compared with #26 for ActivTrades.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner learning tools, HFM and ActivTrades are closely matched. Both brokers offer forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, run online educational webinars at least once a month, and provide 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos. This means new traders can find a mix of basic lessons, live learning sessions, and more detailed content with either platform.
In outside ratings, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education, which points to a solid overall learning experience. HFM has a slight edge in ForexBrokers.com’s Education ranking, placing #29 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades sits just behind at #30. For beginners comparing the two, the difference is small, so the better choice may come down to which broker’s teaching style and video library feels easier to follow.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that HFM is better than ActivTrades. HFM finished with an overall rank of #27, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
HFM (HF Markets) is a global broker best known for its MetaTrader offering, solid research tools, and proprietary copy trading platform, alongside a broad selection of forex pairs and CFDs.
| Feature |
HFM
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ActivTrades
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 80 |
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Both HFM and ActivTrades do not offer actual (delivered) cryptocurrency purchases, but each provides cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing online brokers HFM vs ActivTrades: both enable deposits and withdrawals via bank wire and Skrill, but neither supports ACH, SEPA, or PayPal, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | HFM | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.8 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 5 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | HFM Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | HFM | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | ActivTrades Review |
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