Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs ATFX, 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 and ATFX are both established online brokers in the financial trading industry, with HFM founded in 2010 and ATFX in 2017. Neither company is publicly traded nor operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory credentials, HFM holds two Tier-1 licenses, indicating high trust according to ForexBrokers.com rankings. In comparison, ATFX boasts four Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating a solid commitment to top-tier regulatory compliance.
Both brokers also maintain Tier-2 licenses, with HFM holding three and ATFX holding two, which reinforces their compliance standing. Their trust scores reflect their regulatory positions; HFM has a trust score of 86, suggesting a trusted rating, while ATFX slightly trails with a trust score of 85. These scores imply that both brokers are well-regarded for their trustworthiness, with a minor edge to HFM based on these ratings.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
HFM’s commissions and fees sit slightly above the industry average. The broker reports a typical spread of 1.2 pips on its Standard account, but without a date range this figure may not reflect a true average over time. Its Zero account lists an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, though this, too, is not presented as an average. For pricing, HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
ATFX does not provide average spread data, which makes it harder to evaluate its day‑to‑day pricing versus competitors. Reflecting the limited transparency, ATFX earns 3 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #61 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Bottom line: based on the information available, HFM offers clearer—though still imperfect—pricing details and scores higher than ATFX in both star rating and category ranking. Traders who prioritize documented spreads and third‑party rankings may find HFM more appealing, while those considering ATFX should note the lack of published average spread data.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| 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 vs ATFX: For range of investments, HFM offers about 500 tradeable symbols with 102 forex pairs, while ATFX lists around 150 symbols and 44 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs and spot contracts. Neither provides direct share dealing on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, though both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. Copy trading is available at both brokers.
For this category, ForexBrokers.com rates HFM at 4 out of 5 stars and ranks it 37th out of 63, while ATFX scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 58th. If you want more markets and currency pairs to choose from, HFM has the edge; ATFX may appeal if you prefer a simpler lineup with similar features like copy trading and crypto derivatives.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 44 |
| 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 ATFX both make it easy to get started with a free demo account for simulated trading. Each broker offers Windows desktop and web-based platforms, supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and includes copy trading. Both let you place trades directly from charts and provide seven columns for watch lists. A key difference is that HFM also offers its own proprietary platform, while ATFX relies on third-party options only. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting, HFM lists 30 drawing tools, compared with 15 at ATFX, which could matter if you like detailed chart work. In independent testing, HFM earns 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, versus 3.5 stars for ATFX. According to ForexBrokers.com, HFM ranks 43rd out of 63 brokers for this category, while ATFX ranks 63rd.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 ATFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with key tools most traders want. Each app supports price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, drawing trendlines, and switching between multiple time frames. Both also auto-save chart drawings. One drawback for both: watchlist symbol syncing isn’t available, so changes made on mobile won’t carry over to the online platform.
For charting depth, HFM stands out with 30 technical studies compared with ATFX’s 7. In independent reviews, HFM’s mobile app is rated 4 stars and ranks 40th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX’s app earns 3.5 stars and ranks 64th. If you value more built-in indicators, HFM has the edge; if you need the basics—alerts, real-time watchlists, and simple charting—both apps deliver.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 |
| 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.
In this HFM vs ATFX market research comparison: both brokers publish daily market commentary and include an economic calendar. HFM stands out by streaming forex news from top-tier sources (e.g., Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones), and it adds a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning. Both brokers integrate Autochartist for technical ideas. ATFX counters with Trading Central research, which HFM does not provide. HFM does not include TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools; ATFX availability for TipRanks and Acuity Trading is not specified.
Bottom line for research: HFM earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #20 of 63 at ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX scores 3 out of 5 and ranks #55. Choose HFM if premium news and sentiment insights matter most; pick ATFX if you prefer Trading Central paired with Autochartist.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both HFM and ATFX offer a wide range of material to help newcomers understand forex and CFDs. Each broker provides at least 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, focusing on trading fundamentals. Beginners will find a rich library of videos tailored to their level at both brokers to enhance their learning experience. However, HFM stands out by offering monthly online educational webinars, whereas ATFX does not. Additionally, HFM provides advanced educational videos catered to experienced traders, widening its range of educational content beyond that of ATFX. Both brokers also feature an investor dictionary with a comprehensive collection of over 50 investing terms, making financial jargon more accessible to newcomers.
In terms of ratings and rankings, HFM receives 4 stars for its educational offerings, while ATFX is rated slightly lower with a 3-star rating. Despite the higher star rating, HFM is ranked 37th out of 63 brokers in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, which is less than ATFX's 28th place ranking. These rankings reflect the nuanced differences in educational value perceived by the reviewing body. Nevertheless, for beginners seeking robust foundational knowledge coupled with opportunities for exploring advanced topics, HFM provides a more comprehensive educational package.
| Feature |
HFM
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 ATFX. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
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
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ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 |
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Both HFM and ATFX do not provide the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both HFM and ATFX do not offer ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal for depositing or withdrawing funds, but they do support Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire transfers for transactional activities.
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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | ATFX | |
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| Regulation | HFM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | HFM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | HFM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 44 | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | HFM | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
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