Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs HFM, 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.
AvaTrade and HFM are both private online brokers that are not listed on a stock exchange and are not banks. AvaTrade was founded in 2006, while HFM was founded in 2010. Based on ForexBrokers.com trust ratings, AvaTrade scores 96 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted range, while HFM scores 85 out of 99, which falls in the trusted range.
In terms of regulation, AvaTrade holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, giving it a wider set of top-level approvals than HFM. HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. For traders comparing broker safety and oversight, AvaTrade has the stronger regulatory profile and the higher Trust Score.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
AvaTrade offers commissions and fees that are close to the industry average, with spreads just under 1 pip at 0.9 pips as of June 2024. That is a bit higher than the lowest-cost entry-level accounts at brokers like CMC Markets and Tickmill, but it still places AvaTrade in a fairly competitive spot overall. For active traders who qualify for the Professional account, pricing is better at 0.6 pips, which is in line with FP Markets. AvaTrade earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers.
HFM’s trading costs are a little above the industry average. Its standard accounts typically show spreads around 1.2 pips, although HFM does not provide a clear date range for that figure, so the real average could be higher. The Zero account lowers the effective spread to 0.7 pips after commission, but that is not an average spread either. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #28 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, AvaTrade looks cheaper than HFM on average and has the stronger score and ranking for commissions and fees. Both brokers can offer better pricing on certain account types, but AvaTrade comes out ahead for traders who want lower ongoing trading costs.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
AvaTrade and HFM both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and each also supports copy trading plus cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker offers real, delivered crypto or exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, so if you want to buy actual Apple or Vodafone shares, you will need to look elsewhere. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for range of investments, which suggests a solid selection for traders focused on CFDs and forex.
That said, AvaTrade offers a wider overall choice, with 1,260 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings for the range of investments category, AvaTrade places higher at #26 out of 36 brokers, while HFM sits at #28. For traders who want more markets to choose from, AvaTrade has the edge, while HFM still covers the core products many beginners and active traders look for.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 38 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| 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.
When comparing AvaTrade and HFM for trading platforms and tools, both brokers cover the main bases well. Each offers a free demo account for simulated trading, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, a web-based platform, copy trading, and both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Traders at either broker can also place trades directly from charts, making it easier to act quickly while watching price moves.
The main difference is in overall ratings and rankings. AvaTrade earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #33. In simple terms, both brokers offer a similar set of platform choices, but AvaTrade gets the edge for its stronger user rating and higher category ranking.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 80 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
AvaTrade and HFM both give traders iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts, so each platform covers the basics well for trading on the go. Where AvaTrade stands out is in watchlist syncing between mobile and web, which makes it easier to keep track of symbols across devices. HFM does not offer this syncing feature, but it does have one helpful edge: chart drawings are saved automatically in its mobile app, while AvaTrade does not auto-save drawings.
When it comes to charting tools, AvaTrade offers a much wider choice with 73 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with just 5 at HFM. That difference shows up in the ratings and rankings too, with AvaTrade earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #13 spot among 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks #32. For traders who want more chart detail and smoother syncing between devices, AvaTrade appears to be the stronger mobile app overall.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
AvaTrade and HFM both give traders access to key market research basics, including forex news from major sources, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar. Both are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research by ForexBrokers.com. That said, HFM goes further in a few areas: it offers daily market commentary, Autochartist tools, and Acuity Trading research, while AvaTrade does not.
AvaTrade, however, has its own strengths, including Trading Central tools, which HFM does not provide. In overall ForexBrokers.com rankings for the Research category, HFM places higher at #18 out of 36 brokers, compared with AvaTrade at #28. For traders who want more built-in market commentary and extra research tools, HFM has the edge, while AvaTrade still covers the main research essentials well.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
AvaTrade and HFM both give beginners a wide range of learning tools, including forex and CFD education, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. In other words, each broker offers plenty of material for new traders who want to learn the basics first and then move on to more advanced topics. Both are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for education, so at a glance they appear evenly matched in the quality of their learning content.
The main difference is in how strong that education is viewed overall. AvaTrade is ranked #2 out of 36 brokers for the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is ranked #29. For beginners comparing the two, AvaTrade stands out as the better choice for educational support, especially if you want a broker with a stronger track record in trading lessons and learning resources.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 AvaTrade is better than HFM. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, along with strong educational resources and copy trading support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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HFM
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 85 |
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AvaTrade vs HFM: neither broker allows you to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
AvaTrade vs HFM deposit and withdrawal comparison: both brokers support Skrill and bank wire transfers and do not offer ACH or SEPA, but only AvaTrade supports PayPal, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | AvaTrade | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | HFM | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | 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) | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 38 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | HFM Review |
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