Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets 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.
CMC Markets and HFM are well-known online brokers with different profiles. CMC Markets, founded in 1989, is publicly traded and not a bank. HFM, founded in 2010, is privately held and not a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets holds a Trust Score of 99/99 (90–99 = highly trusted), while HFM scores 85/99 (80–89 = trusted).
In terms of regulation, CMC Markets holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, whereas HFM holds 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. ForexBrokers.com considers Tier-1 regulators highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted. This means CMC Markets has a broader top-tier regulatory footprint, while HFM still offers solid, trusted oversight.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
CMC Markets comes out ahead of HFM on commissions and fees. Its standard account is pricier than the firm’s lowest advertised spread, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.3 pips, but CMC still stands out for keeping pricing fairly close to its minimums over time. Traders who want better value can opt into FX Active, where the all-in EUR/USD cost drops to about 1.15 pips, and heavy users may also benefit from volume-based rebates. CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
HFM’s pricing is decent but not as competitive overall. On its standard accounts, HFM says typical spreads are around 1.2 pips, while the Zero account can reach an effective 0.7 pips after commission. Even so, its published costs are less transparent than CMC’s, and the average pricing picture is not as strong. HFM earns 4 stars and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, CMC Markets is the better choice if fees are a top concern, especially for active forex traders who may qualify for lower costs through FX Active or rebates. HFM can still be a reasonable option, but its overall commissions and fee profile is weaker than CMC’s.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.15 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets offers a much wider range of investments than HFM, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more variety in one account. CMC Markets lists 21,710 tradeable symbols and 303 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrency.
CMC Markets also stands out for access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so investors can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone. HFM does not offer these exchange-traded securities, but it does support copy trading, which CMC Markets does not. Overall, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for range of investments and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks #29.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 38 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
CMC Markets and HFM both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, Windows desktop downloads, web-based trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make placing orders quicker and easier for active traders. On the charting side, both offer technical tools and watch lists, though the exact counts were not provided here.
The main difference is copy trading: HFM offers it, while CMC Markets does not. Still, CMC Markets stands out overall for trading platforms and tools, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with HFM’s 4 out of 5 stars and #35 ranking. For traders who want a broader platform feature set, CMC Markets has the edge, while HFM may appeal more to those interested in copy trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and HFM both offer iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Where CMC Markets stands out is in mobile charting and syncing: its app includes 30 technical studies, while HFM offers 5, and CMC Markets also syncs watchlists between its mobile app and online account, which HFM does not.
For mobile trading apps overall, CMC Markets has the edge. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #34. If you want a mobile app with more chart tools and smoother watchlist syncing, CMC Markets is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and HFM both give traders a strong set of market research tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, Autochartist tools, sentiment data showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with global events. Neither broker includes Trading Central or TipRanks, but HFM does add research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, which CMC Markets does not offer.
When it comes to research quality, CMC Markets has the edge. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Research category, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #18. Overall, both brokers cover the basics well, but CMC Markets stands out as the better choice for market research.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner education, both CMC Markets and HFM give new traders plenty of learning material on forex and CFDs, including at least 10 education pieces focused on these markets, regular online webinars, and a solid library of beginner and advanced video lessons. That means either broker can help first-time traders learn the basics, build confidence, and keep progressing as their skills grow.
Still, CMC Markets stands out as the stronger choice for education overall. It earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers for education at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks #30. For beginners comparing online brokers, CMC Markets offers the better overall educational experience, even though HFM also provides a useful range of learning tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
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 CMC Markets is better than HFM. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its 21,710 tradeable instruments and 303 forex pairs, the largest currency lineup in the industry.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
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HFM
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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In the CMC Markets vs HFM comparison, both online brokers offer cryptocurrency CFD trading but do not support buying actual (delivered) crypto.
CMC Markets vs HFM: For deposits and withdrawals, CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers, while HFM supports Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | CMC Markets | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | HFM | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 38 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.15 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | 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 | 30 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | HFM Review |
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