Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs ACY Securities, 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.
Founded in 2010, HFM offers a well-rounded and trusted trading platform with an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86 out of 99. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, HFM excels in regulatory compliance, holding two highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and three trusted Tier-2 licenses. These credentials make HFM a reliable choice for online trading.
Established in 2011, ACY Securities has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 75, categorizing it as an average risk broker. Similar to HFM, ACY Securities is neither publicly traded nor a bank. In terms of regulatory licenses, ACY secures one Tier-1 license but lacks Tier-2 licenses. While ACY is a competent broker, its regulatory standing falls short when compared to HFM.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
If low trading costs are your priority, ACY Securities generally edges out HFM on pricing. HFM’s fees are slightly above the industry average, while ACY’s commission-based plans can produce tighter effective spreads, especially for residents of Australia. For the Commissions & Fees category at ForexBrokers.com, HFM is rated 4.0/5 stars and ranks #32 out of 63 brokers, whereas ACY Securities holds 4.5/5 stars and ranks #22 out of 63.
HFM lists a typical spread of 1.2 pips on its Standard account, but it doesn’t provide a date range, so the true average may be higher. Its Zero account advertises an effective spread of about 0.7 pips after commission, though that figure is not an average either. Overall, HFM’s costs land slightly above the industry norm (Rating: 4.0/5; Rank: #32/63).
ACY Securities offers three account types. The Standard account is commission-free with a $50 minimum and averaged 1.2 pips on EUR/USD in September 2021. The commission-based ProZero (from $200 minimum) and Bespoke (from $10,000 minimum) saw average spreads around 0.25 pips during the same period, with commissions of $6 per round turn (ProZero) and $5 per round turn (Bespoke). In Australia, the ProZero commission drops to $3 per round turn, bringing the effective spread to about 0.55 pips (September 2021). An active trader program with 10 tiers can trim costs by 0.5 pips per lot if you trade more than 50 standard lots per month. Overall, ACY’s commission accounts come in slightly better than the industry average (Rating: 4.5/5; Rank: #22/63).
| Feature |
HFM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
HFM and ACY Securities both let you trade forex (CFD/spot), support copy trading, and offer crypto derivatives, but neither lets you buy real cryptocurrency or real exchange-listed shares in the U.S. or abroad. For breadth, ACY Securities lists about 2,200 tradeable symbols compared with HFM’s roughly 500. If your focus is currency trading, HFM carries 102 forex pairs, which is more than ACY’s 66.
Independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com score both brokers at 4 stars for Range of Investments, with ACY Securities ranked 31st of 63 and HFM ranked 37th. In short, ACY suits traders seeking a larger menu of CFD markets, while HFM appeals to forex-focused traders who want a wider choice of currency pairs along with copy trading.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 ACY Securities both check the key boxes for platform coverage: each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary in-house platform, Windows desktop and web platforms, and broad third-party support via MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Copy trading is available at both brokers, while DupliTrade and ZuluTrade are not supported. You can place trades directly from charts with either broker, and each provides 7 customizable columns in watchlists.
For charting, HFM lists 30 drawing tools versus 15 at ACY Securities; indicator counts were not specified. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, with ForexBrokers.com ranking ACY Securities slightly higher (#42 of 63) than HFM (#43). If you want more built-in drawing tools, HFM has the edge; otherwise, platform selection is very similar, so your choice may come down to interface preferences and the feel of each broker’s proprietary platform.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and ACY Securities deliver nearly the same mobile trading experience. Both offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts and watchlists that show real-time quotes. Charting tools are comparable: you get 30 technical studies, the ability to draw trendlines, switch between multiple time frames (like intraday, daily, or weekly), and your drawings auto-save. One notable gap for both: watchlists created on mobile don’t sync with your online account.
Ratings are also neck and neck. Each earns 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, with HFM ranked #40 and ACY Securities #41 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. If watchlist syncing is important, neither app will check that box; otherwise, both cover the essentials for tracking markets and managing trades on the go. Your choice may come down to other factors such as fees, customer support, or the range of markets you plan to trade.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing HFM and ACY Securities for market research: both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar. HFM stands out by delivering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while ACY Securities does not include these premium feeds. HFM also adds Autochartist for technical analysis and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions; ACY lacks both. Neither broker offers research from Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
According to ForexBrokers.com, HFM earns 4 stars for research and ranks #20 out of 63 brokers, while ACY Securities scores 3.5 stars and ranks #46. If you want richer news and extra built-in research tools, HFM has the edge; if you just need the essentials—daily commentary and a calendar—ACY Securities covers the basics.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
HFM and ACY Securities both offer accessible educational resources for beginners interested in forex and CFDs trading. Both online brokers provide more than 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on these subjects. They also conduct regular client webinars at least once a month and maintain searchable archives of these sessions. Furthermore, each offers more than 10 beginner-focused videos covering various trading topics to help newcomers gain a solid start.
When diving deeper into educational offerings, HFM takes a slight lead by providing over 10 advanced educational videos specifically for seasoned traders, whereas ACY Securities does not offer the same depth for advanced content. Additionally, HFM provides an investor dictionary containing over 50 investing terms, which ACY Securities lacks. This additional support for both beginners and advanced users is reflected in their ratings and rankings, with HFM rated at 4 stars and ranked 37th by ForexBrokers.com for education, compared to ACY Securities' 3.5-star rating and 43rd ranking. For those early in their trading journey, both platforms offer solid educational foundations, but HFM offers a slightly broader range of resources.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 ACY Securities. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
Alongside its enhanced MetaTrader offering and quality research, HFM (HF Markets), previously known as HotForex, offers a proprietary copy trading platform, HFcopy, a proprietary HF mobile app, and a decent selection of over 1,000 CFDs and 47 forex pairs. Still, trading costs at HFM are slightly above the industry average.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 86 | 75 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both HFM and ACY Securities do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, HFM does not offer ACH or SEPA transfers but supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for transactions, while ACY Securities provides ACH and SEPA transfers in addition to Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options, with neither broker supporting PayPal.
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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | HFM Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | HFM | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | ACY Securities Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill