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 has a strong showing on commissions and fees, with spreads that are close to the industry average at just under 1 pip, or 0.9 pips as of June 2024. That is a bit higher than some low-cost entry-level accounts from brokers like CMC Markets and Tickmill, but AvaTrade’s Professional account can be more competitive at 0.6 pips for eligible traders. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers with ForexBrokers.com.
HFM’s trading costs are a little above the industry average. Its standard accounts typically show spreads of 1.2 pips, though the company does not provide a clear date range for that figure, so real-world costs may be higher. HFM’s Zero account can work out to an effective spread of 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 is ranked #29 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, AvaTrade offers the better value on commissions and fees compared with HFM, based on both its higher star rating and stronger ranking. While both brokers can suit different trading styles, AvaTrade is the more cost-friendly choice for most traders looking to keep spread expenses lower.
| 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.
When it comes to range of investments, AvaTrade and HFM both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, plus copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets clients buy actual shares on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither offers delivered crypto purchases. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, so each provides a similar overall selection for everyday traders.
That said, AvaTrade has the wider product list. It offers 1,260 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for Range of Investments, AvaTrade places slightly higher at #27 out of 36 brokers, while HFM comes in at #29.
| 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.
AvaTrade and HFM both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts for practice, their own in-house platforms, web-based access, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms. Both also let you trade directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker and easier for active traders. In short, each broker covers the basics well for traders who want flexibility across devices and trading styles.
Where they differ is in third-party ratings and ranking. AvaTrade earns a higher score for Trading Platforms and Tools at 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared with HFM’s 4 out of 5 stars. ForexBrokers.com also places AvaTrade higher overall in this category, ranking it #13 out of 36 brokers, while HFM sits at #34 out of 36. For traders comparing platform experience and tools, AvaTrade has the edge in independent reviews, even though both brokers offer very similar platform features.
| 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 make trading on the go simple with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. For everyday mobile use, both cover the basics well, but AvaTrade stands out thanks to watchlist syncing between the app and online account, so changes carry over across devices. AvaTrade also offers far more charting tools in its mobile app, with 73 technical studies compared with just 5 at HFM.
There are also a few usability differences that matter in daily trading. HFM does save chart drawings automatically, while AvaTrade does not. Even so, AvaTrade earns the stronger overall mobile app rating at 4.5 out of 5 stars and places #13 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, ahead of HFM’s 4-star rating and #33 ranking. In short, both apps cover the essentials, but AvaTrade offers the better mobile trading experience 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 forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, along with sentiment tools and economic calendars that track key global events. Each is rated 4 out of 5 stars for research by ForexBrokers.com, but HFM is ranked higher overall in the Research category, placing #18 out of 36 brokers compared with AvaTrade’s #29.
The main difference is in the research tools they provide. AvaTrade offers Trading Central tools, while HFM offers Autochartist and Acuity Trading, plus daily market commentary that AvaTrade does not provide. HFM therefore has a slight edge for traders looking for more day-to-day market insight and a wider mix of research features.
| 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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