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 commissions and fees, HFM and ActivTrades are both rated 4 out of 5 stars, but ActivTrades ranks a bit higher overall. ForexBrokers.com places HFM at #30 out of 36 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, while ActivTrades comes in at #23 out of 36. For most everyday traders, that means both brokers are reasonably priced, but ActivTrades has the edge on cost.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average. The broker says its standard accounts typically have spreads around 1.2 pips, though this is not based on a stated average period, so real-world costs could be higher. Its Zero account shows an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, but again this is not an average figure. In simple terms, HFM is fair on price, but not among the cheapest choices.
ActivTrades also sits slightly above the industry average, but its pricing is generally a little better than HFM’s. The broker offers an Individual Account, plus Professional and Islamic Account options, along with a demo account for practice. There is no special pricing for active traders, and costs can vary depending on the asset and platform you use. ActivTrades reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024, which helps explain why it is seen as a competitive, though not top-tier, low-cost broker.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.96 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.75 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy real, delivered crypto. HFM offers 344 tradeable symbols and 38 forex pairs, while ActivTrades provides a wider selection with 1,267 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. Neither broker offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, so you cannot buy individual U.S. shares like Apple through either platform.
The main difference is that ActivTrades also offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as shares listed in London, while HFM does not. Even so, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking out of 36 brokers, ActivTrades places slightly higher at #26, compared with HFM at #30.
| 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 choice of platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free demo account, its own in-house platform, desktop software for Windows, a web-based platform, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Both also let users trade directly from a chart, which can make order entry quicker and easier for active traders.
When it comes to platform and tool quality, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars by ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades has a slight edge in the category ranking, placing #28 out of 36 brokers, while HFM ranks #36 out of 36. For most everyday traders, though, the two brokers look closely matched on trading platforms and tools, with no major differences shown in the information provided.
| 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 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can manage positions on either major smartphone platform. Each app also supports stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. One limitation for both brokers is that watchlists do not sync between the mobile app and the online account, so any changes made on one device will not carry over to the other.
When it comes to charting tools, ActivTrades has the edge with 30 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with just 5 for HFM. Even so, both brokers receive the same 4-star rating for mobile trading apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 36 brokers, ActivTrades places higher at #21, while HFM comes in at #35, making ActivTrades the stronger pick overall for mobile charting and app experience.
| 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 features, including daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positions, and an economic calendar for global events. Each broker also earns a 4-star rating for Research, so both offer a solid starting point for traders who want regular market updates and a broader view of what may move prices.
That said, HFM has the edge in this area. It offers extra research support through Autochartist and Acuity Trading, while ActivTrades does not offer either of these tools. HFM is also ranked higher for Research by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #18 out of 36 brokers, compared with ActivTrades at #28. If you want more built-in research tools, HFM has the stronger offering overall.
| 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 learning support for beginners, HFM and ActivTrades are closely matched. Both brokers provide forex or CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, offer online client webinars at least once a month, and have 10 or more beginner videos plus 10 or more advanced videos. In simple terms, each platform gives new traders a decent range of material to help them get started and keep building skills as they become more experienced.
Looking at independent ratings, both HFM and ActivTrades earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education, which points to a solid but not standout experience. On ForexBrokers.com’s 36-broker list, HFM ranks #31 and ActivTrades ranks #32 in the Education category, so HFM edges ahead slightly, though the difference is small. For beginners comparing the two, HFM has a narrow lead, but both brokers offer a similar level of educational support.
| 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
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 85 | 80 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 85 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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) - Spread-only account | 1.96 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.75 | 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | HFM Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | HFM | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 85 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | ActivTrades Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
XM
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill
HFM Markets