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, established in 1989, is a highly regarded online broker with a top-tier Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded company, it holds six Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust and regulatory compliance. Additionally, CMC Markets possesses one Tier-2 license, further adding to its credibility. Despite not being a bank, its presence in the financial market is marked by a long history and high-level regulatory assurance.
HFM, founded in 2010, is a relatively newer player in the online trading space but carries a solid reputation with a Trust Score of 86. Unlike CMC Markets, HFM is not publicly traded but is still considered trustworthy, with two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses. While it doesn't match CMC Markets' extensive regulatory standing, HFM provides a reliable trading experience with its trusted score and regulatory backing. Like CMC Markets, HFM is not a bank, yet it offers secure trading options for users worldwide.
| 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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, CMC Markets comes out cheaper overall. It holds a 5/5 star rating and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, while HFM is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #32. CMC Markets is known for low spreads across all account types, whereas HFM’s trading costs tend to sit slightly above the industry average. When weighing costs, focus on verified average spreads rather than headline minimums, as averages better reflect what you actually pay.
CMC Markets reports typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.61 pips (August 2023). Its Price Plus Scheme can reduce costs further based on monthly volume: traders earn 2 Trading Points per standard lot, with a 20% spread discount kicking in at Tier 4 after 1,250 lots in a month. CMC’s commission model, FX Active, charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads from 0.0, delivering about a 0.5‑pip all‑in cost on EUR/USD (and five other pairs) using August 2023 data; for example, NZD/USD drops from a standard 1.5 pips to about 0.5 pips all‑in with FX Active. FX Active is available in select regions (including the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia) on MT4 and Next Generation.
HFM lists a typical 1.2‑pip spread on its Standard account, but it provides no date range, so the true average may be higher. Its Zero account quotes an effective 0.7‑pip spread after commission, though that figure is not an average either. Bottom line: HFM’s pricing is serviceable but generally pricier than CMC Markets. If low, consistent costs are your priority, CMC’s 5/5 star, #1‑ranked fee structure is the stronger value versus HFM’s 4/5 stars and #32 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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 far wider range of investments than HFM. You can trade 12,029 symbols at CMC Markets versus 500 at HFM, including 141 forex pairs at CMC Markets vs 102 at HFM. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs and spot, and both provide crypto CFDs (but neither lets you buy actual, delivered crypto). Copy trading is available at both.
If you want access to exchange-traded stocks, CMC Markets clearly wins: it lets you buy shares on U.S. and international exchanges, while HFM does not offer exchange-traded securities. Reflecting this breadth, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers, compared with HFM’s 4 stars and #37 ranking. Choose CMC Markets for the largest selection; HFM covers the essentials with a smaller lineup.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 102 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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.
CMC Markets vs HFM: both brokers check the key boxes for platform choice and ease of use. Each offers a free demo (paper) account, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, and a web-based platform. MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are available at both, and you can trade directly from charts and access copy trading. The exact counts of built-in technical indicators and watchlist columns weren’t specified in the source, but both brokers support these features.
Where they differ is in third-party evaluations of platform quality. CMC Markets earned 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while HFM earned 4 stars and ranks #43. If you want the widest platform lineup with higher-rated tools, CMC Markets has the edge; if you’re already comfortable with MT4/MT5 and want similar core features, HFM still covers the essentials.
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart annotations. Charting depth is similar: CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies, while HFM offers 30. A key difference is watchlist syncing. CMC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and the online platform, so changes carry over automatically. HFM does not sync watchlists, which may matter if you switch between devices or platforms.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earned 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while HFM earned 4 stars and ranks #40. If seamless watchlist syncing and a higher-rated mobile experience are priorities, CMC Markets stands out. If you want a very similar toolkit with one extra indicator, HFM is close behind.
| 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 | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both CMC Markets and HFM provide traders with substantial market research offerings. They both supply daily market commentary and deliver forex news from well-respected sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, ensuring that traders stay informed with credible updates. Additionally, both brokers offer tools from Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis, further enhancing the trading experience. If you're interested in sentiment-based trading tools, both platforms present features that offer insights into the proportion of long and short positions across various instruments.
However, neither CMC Markets nor HFM offers trading tools from Trading Central or Acuity Trading, nor do they provide market research from TipRanks. They both include economic calendars to help users keep track of important global events. Notably, CMC Markets edges ahead of HFM in terms of research, earning a five-star rating compared to HFM's four stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where CMC Markets is rated at number six, significantly ahead of HFM, which holds the twentieth spot out of 63 brokers in the research category.
| 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 | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing education, both CMC Markets and HFM offer deep video libraries, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that explain trading concepts in plain language. The key difference is live instruction: HFM runs ongoing client webinars (at least one per month), which can help newcomers ask questions in real time, while CMC Markets does not currently host monthly webinars.
In third-party evaluations, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM earns 4 stars and ranks #37. If you prefer self-paced learning through structured videos, CMC Markets is a strong pick; if live classes and regular webinars matter to you, HFM may fit better.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 #4, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #30.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
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HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 |
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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 | 86 | |
| 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 | 86 | |
| 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 (SFC 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 SCA 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) | 12029 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 102 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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 | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.7 | |
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | 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 | CMC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 15 | |
| 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 | 29 | 30 | |
| 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 | No | 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 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | HFM Review |
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