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. CMC Markets earns a 5-star rating and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, with pricing that is usually below the industry average. Its typical EUR/USD spread was 0.61 pips, and its FX Active pricing can bring the all-in cost down to 0.5 pips on major pairs, making it a strong choice for cost-conscious traders.
HFM is more expensive overall, with trading costs that sit slightly above the industry average. It holds a 4-star rating and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. On its standard account, HFM lists a typical spread of 1.2 pips, while its Zero account can reach an effective 0.7 pips after commission, though this is not an average spread.
In simple terms, both brokers offer ways to lower trading costs, but CMC Markets is the better pick for lower fees and tighter spreads. HFM may still work for traders who want its account options, but if commissions and fees are your main concern, CMC Markets has the edge.
| 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 | N/A | 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 wide choice of platform options, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Both also let users trade directly from a chart, which can make it easier to act on price moves quickly. In short, each broker covers the main platform needs most traders look for, whether they prefer browser-based access, desktop software, or MT4/MT5 support.
The biggest difference is copy trading: HFM offers it, while CMC Markets does not. CMC Markets also stands out in independent reviews, earning 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranking #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with HFM’s 4-star rating and #34 ranking. For traders comparing online brokers on platform quality and tools, CMC Markets appears stronger overall, while HFM may appeal more to those who want copy trading alongside the standard platform choices.
| 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 make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saved chart drawings. For everyday mobile use, both apps cover the basics well and give traders access to key features from a phone or tablet.
Where CMC Markets stands out is in the details. Its mobile app offers watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made on mobile and online stay aligned, plus 30 technical studies for charting compared with HFM’s 5. That stronger feature set helps explain why CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks #33.
| 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.
CMC Markets 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 as well as 10 advanced videos. This means each broker offers plenty of content for new traders who want to learn the basics and then move on to more detailed trading topics. Both platforms make it easy to find educational material in different formats, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars.
That said, CMC Markets stands out more clearly for education. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29 out of 36. For beginners comparing broker education, CMC Markets appears to offer the stronger overall learning experience.
| 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 excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| 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 | N/A | 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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