Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs easyMarkets, 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.
HFM and easyMarkets are both established online brokers, with HFM founded in 2010 and easyMarkets in 2001. Neither firm is publicly traded or operates as a bank. In terms of regulatory safety, both companies hold two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly regarded in the industry for trustworthiness. However, HFM takes a slight edge with three Tier-2 licenses compared to easyMarkets' single Tier-2 license. This suggests HFM has a broader regulatory reach, which can be beneficial for client security.
When it comes to trust scores, ForexBrokers.com rates HFM at 86 out of 99, categorizing it as a trusted broker. EasyMarkets, meanwhile, has a trust score of 84, also placing it in the trusted category. While both brokers are well-rated, HFM's slightly higher score and greater number of Tier-2 licenses may offer a bit more reassurance for those prioritizing regulatory backing and overall trust.
| Feature |
HFM
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
HFM’s commissions and fees are slightly above the industry average. On its Standard account, the company cites a typical spread of 1.2 pips, but it doesn’t provide a date range or an average, so real trading costs may be higher. The Zero account advertises an effective 0.7-pip spread after commission, yet this figure is also not presented as an average. For the Commissions and Fees category, HFM holds a 4 out of 5 star rating and ranks #32 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
easyMarkets offers fixed spreads of 0.8 pips on EUR/USD when trading on its own platform or via TradingView. Costs rise on MT4, where the Standard account is 1.7 pips, while the VIP account drops to 0.7 pips. On MT5, spreads are variable and start from 0.7 pips. easyMarkets is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #53 out of 63. In a head-to-head view, easyMarkets’ fixed 0.8-pip pricing can be cheaper than HFM’s Standard 1.2 pips, while HFM’s Zero account at an effective 0.7 pips is comparable to easyMarkets’ VIP and MT5-from-0.7 options—keeping in mind neither broker provides dated, averaged spread data.
| Feature |
HFM
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing the range of investments at HFM vs easyMarkets, HFM offers more to choose from overall with 500 tradeable symbols and 102 forex pairs, while easyMarkets lists 230 symbols and 63 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts and both support copy trading, which can appeal to newer traders who want to follow experienced strategies.
Neither HFM nor easyMarkets provides access to exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, and neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies; instead, both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. For the Range of Investments category, ForexBrokers.com rates HFM at 4 stars (ranked 37th of 63) and easyMarkets at 3.5 stars (ranked 55th of 63). If having a wider selection of markets and forex pairs matters to you, HFM has the edge; if you’re comfortable with a smaller lineup that still covers major CFDs and crypto derivatives, easyMarkets remains a viable option.
| Feature |
HFM
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 230 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 63 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
Comparing HFM vs easyMarkets for trading platforms and tools, both online brokers check the key boxes: free demo accounts for paper trading, proprietary platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based platforms. Each supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Neither integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Both let you place trades directly from a chart, which is handy for acting on setups without leaving your charting screen.
For charting, HFM and easyMarkets each provide 30 drawing tools; the number of built-in technical indicators isn’t specified. Watchlists are slightly more flexible at easyMarkets with 8 columns versus 7 at HFM. Both earn 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, though easyMarkets ranks higher overall in this category (#36 of 63) than HFM (#43 of 63) according to ForexBrokers.com. If you want a small edge in watchlist customization and category ranking, easyMarkets nudges ahead; otherwise, their platform lineups are very similar.
| Feature |
HFM
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and easyMarkets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app lets you draw trendlines, switch between multiple time frames, and create watchlists with real-time quotes. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, though ForexBrokers.com ranks easyMarkets higher (#32 of 63) than HFM (#40 of 63).
Key differences: HFM includes price alerts and auto-saves your chart drawings, but it lacks watchlist syncing and offers fewer technical studies (30). easyMarkets does not provide price alerts or auto-save for drawings, yet it syncs watchlists with your online account and packs in more indicators (81). Choose HFM if alerts and saving your annotations matter most; pick easyMarkets if you want deeper indicator coverage and seamless watchlist syncing across devices.
| Feature |
HFM
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 81 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
HFM and easyMarkets both deliver daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones), sentiment tools that show long/short positioning, and an economic calendar covering global events. Neither broker includes TipRanks or Acuity Trading research.
Key differences come down to third-party tools: HFM provides Autochartist, while easyMarkets offers Trading Central instead. In independent reviews, HFM earns 4 stars for Research and ranks 20th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com; easyMarkets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 44th. Choose HFM if you want Autochartist-driven chart setups, or easyMarkets if you prefer Trading Central’s analysis—both are solid for daily news, sentiment, and calendars.
| Feature |
HFM
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both HFM and easyMarkets deliver a variety of options. Each platform provides more than ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and webinars focusing on forex or CFDs. For those who enjoy live learning, both brokers offer monthly online webinars and have a searchable archive of past sessions. If you're starting out, you're in good hands as both brokers deliver at least ten videos designed specifically for beginner traders. More experienced traders aren’t left out either, with each platform offering an array of advanced educational videos.
In addition to the rich multimedia resources, both HFM and easyMarkets offer an investor dictionary containing definitions of over 50 investing terms, aiding users in better understanding market jargon. Despite having similar offerings, HFM stands out with a slightly higher education rating of 4 stars compared to easyMarkets' 3.5 stars. Furthermore, HFM ranks 37th in the education category, just ahead of easyMarkets, which holds the 39th position among 63 brokers analyzed by ForexBrokers.com. While both brokers provide solid educational support, HFM's marginally higher rating and ranking might appeal more to beginners seeking comprehensive educational materials.
| Feature |
HFM
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that HFM is better than easyMarkets. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while easyMarkets finished with an overall rank of #42.
Alongside its enhanced MetaTrader offering and quality research, HFM (HF Markets), previously known as HotForex, offers a proprietary copy trading platform, HFcopy, a proprietary HF mobile app, and a decent selection of over 1,000 CFDs and 47 forex pairs. Still, trading costs at HFM are slightly above the industry average.
| Feature |
HFM
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 84 |
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Both HFM and easyMarkets do not provide the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing the fund transfer options available between online brokers HFM and easyMarkets, it's noteworthy that easyMarkets supports ACH or SEPA transfers while HFM does not, yet both brokers offer deposit and withdrawal options via Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither supports PayPal.
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 | HFM | easyMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | easyMarkets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | easyMarkets | |
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| Regulation | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 84 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 230 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 63 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 81 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | HFM Review | easyMarkets Review |
| Overall | HFM | easyMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | easyMarkets Review |
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