Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs Eightcap, 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 (founded 2010) and Eightcap (founded 2009) are online brokers; neither is publicly traded nor a bank. Because they don’t publish the kind of financials that listed companies do, many traders compare their regulation and independent trust ratings.
Regulation: HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, while Eightcap holds 3 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2. On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not trusted), HFM scores 85 and Eightcap scores 87—both are “trusted,” with Eightcap slightly higher by two points and carrying more Tier-1 licenses. Consider which licenses apply to your country and any platform features you need when deciding.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, HFM comes out slightly above the industry average. On its standard account, HFM says spreads typically start at 1.2 pips, though it does not share a date range for that figure, so actual average costs may be higher. Its Zero account shows an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, but this is also not presented as an average. HFM is rated 4 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #30 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com.
Eightcap gives traders a choice between a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Raw account, with pricing that can vary by entity and location, including Australia, the Bahamas, the U.K., and Cyprus. For its Raw account, Eightcap lists an average spread of 0.06 pips, and after the $3.50 per-side commission, the total cost is about 0.76 pips. That puts it just below the industry average of 0.8 pips, though it is still a bit pricier than the cheapest forex brokers. Eightcap is rated 4.5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #20 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, both brokers offer competitive pricing, but Eightcap has the edge on fees for many traders thanks to its lower all-in cost on the Raw account. HFM may still appeal to traders looking for a straightforward account structure, but Eightcap’s stronger ranking and higher star rating suggest a better value in this category.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.1 | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| 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, HFM and Eightcap both let you trade forex as CFDs, and both offer crypto CFDs rather than actual cryptocurrencies. Neither broker provides direct access to exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, so you cannot buy real stocks like Apple or Vodafone through either platform. HFM also supports copy trading, which can be useful for beginners or anyone looking to follow other traders.
Eightcap has the wider selection overall, with 803 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. That said, HFM still earns a stronger score for range of investments, rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #30 out of 36 by ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #31. In short, Eightcap offers more markets to choose from, but HFM has the edge if you want copy trading.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 803 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
HFM and Eightcap both give traders a solid range of platform options, including free demo accounts, web-based trading, Windows desktop platforms, and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both also let users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker and easier. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools review, each broker is rated 4 out of 5 stars, showing that both offer a competitive mix of trading tech for beginners and active traders alike.
The key difference is that HFM offers a proprietary platform built in-house, plus copy trading, while Eightcap does not offer either of those features. Eightcap does, however, edge ahead in ForexBrokers.com’s category ranking, placing #34 out of 36 brokers compared with HFM at #36. If you want more built-in tools and social trading options, HFM has the advantage; if you mainly want access to the usual major platforms, both brokers cover the basics well.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and Eightcap both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each app includes price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving for chart drawings. Both brokers are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so either one can cover the basics well for traders who want to check markets and manage trades on the go. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps ranking, HFM sits at #35 out of 36 brokers, while Eightcap is slightly ahead at #34.
The main difference is in charting and watchlist syncing. Eightcap lets mobile watchlists sync with the client’s online account, so changes update across devices, while HFM does not offer that feature. Eightcap also gives mobile traders access to 100 technical studies, compared with just 5 at HFM, which makes Eightcap the stronger choice for users who want more chart tools in a mobile app.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 5 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
HFM and Eightcap both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool, Acuity Trading research, and an economic calendar, so each broker covers the basics well for keeping up with market events. Where HFM pulls ahead is in news and analysis extras: it offers forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental research. Eightcap does not provide these same third-party news and Autochartist features, which may matter to traders who want more outside research support.
When it comes to research quality, HFM has the edge with a 4-star rating and a #18 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Eightcap’s 3.5-star rating and #35 ranking. In simple terms, both brokers offer useful market research tools, but HFM gives users more research depth and a stronger overall research offering.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning, HFM has the edge over Eightcap. HFM offers regular online educational webinars, at least 10 beginner videos, and at least 10 advanced videos, giving new traders and more experienced users more ways to learn. It also provides forex or CFDs education with enough content to meet the minimum standard of 10 educational pieces, which helps beginners build a stronger base. Eightcap also offers at least 10 beginner videos and meets the same basic forex or CFDs education requirement, but it does not host monthly educational webinars and does not offer at least 10 advanced videos.
In overall education ratings, HFM is scored 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #31 out of 36 brokers, while Eightcap is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #33. For beginners who want more ways to study trading topics, especially through webinars and deeper video content, HFM may be the better fit. Eightcap still provides useful starter material, but its education offering is a bit more limited.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 Eightcap. HFM finished with an overall rank of #27, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #30.
HFM (HF Markets) is a global broker best known for its MetaTrader offering, solid research tools, and proprietary copy trading platform, alongside a broad selection of forex pairs and CFDs.
| Feature |
HFM
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Eightcap
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 87 |
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HFM vs Eightcap crypto trading comparison: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
HFM vs Eightcap deposits and withdrawals: neither supports ACH/SEPA, both allow Skrill and bank wire transfers, while only Eightcap offers 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 | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 87 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 803 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.8 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.1 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 5 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | HFM Review | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | HFM | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Eightcap Review |
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