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 that are not publicly traded and are not banks. By the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score, HFM scores 86/99 and Eightcap 87/99—both fall in the “trusted” range (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, below 59 not trusted). The difference between their scores is small, with Eightcap holding a slight edge.
Looking at regulation, HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 3 Tier-2 licenses (trusted), while Eightcap holds 3 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2. In simple terms, Eightcap carries more top-tier oversight, whereas HFM has a broader mix across Tier-1 and Tier-2. Your choice may come down to whether you prefer more Tier-1 coverage or a wider spread of trusted licenses.
| 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 |
If you’re comparing commissions and fees, Eightcap’s Raw account lists a 0.06‑pip average spread plus a $3.50 per‑side commission, for an all‑in cost of about 0.76 pips—just under the 0.8‑pip industry average. HFM’s Zero account advertises an effective 0.7‑pip spread after commission, but that figure isn’t an average; meanwhile, its Standard account shows a typical 1.2‑pip spread with no date range provided. In practice, Eightcap hovers around the industry average, while HFM can run a bit higher on its spread‑only account.
HFM commissions and fees: slightly above industry average overall. Standard: typical 1.2‑pip spread (no date range). Zero: 0.7‑pip effective spread after commission (not an average). Rating: 4 out of 5 stars; ForexBrokers.com ranking: #28 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
Eightcap commissions and fees: two account types—Standard (spread‑only) and Raw (commission‑based). Raw: 0.06‑pip average spread plus $3.50 per side, about 0.76 pips all‑in; slightly pricier than the very cheapest brokers but under the industry average. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars; ForexBrokers.com ranking: #20 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
HFM vs Eightcap: both brokers let you trade forex (available as CFDs or spot, depending on the setup) and offer a wide mix of CFDs across markets. Eightcap lists more total symbols (803) than HFM (500), which may appeal if you want sheer breadth. That said, HFM shines in forex with 102 currency pairs compared with Eightcap’s 55. Neither broker offers direct, exchange-traded stocks or ETFs on U.S. or international exchanges—access is via CFDs instead.
Both HFM and Eightcap support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency trading through CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. For range of investments, HFM earns 4 stars (ranked 28 of 63), while Eightcap scores 3.5 stars (ranked 29 of 63). In short, pick HFM if forex variety is your priority; choose Eightcap if you want more overall CFD symbols.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 803 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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.
HFM and Eightcap cover the key needs for trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer a free paper-trading demo account, support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), provide Windows desktop and web-based platforms, include copy trading, and let you place trades directly from charts. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools; according to ForexBrokers.com, Eightcap ranks slightly higher (#31 of 63) than HFM (#33 of 63).
The main difference is that HFM also offers its own proprietary platform, while Eightcap sticks to third‑party options. The exact counts for chart indicators and watchlist columns were not specified for either broker and may vary by platform. If you want an extra, broker-built platform alongside MetaTrader, HFM is a fit. If you just need MT4/MT5 with web and desktop access, plus copy trading and chart trading, both brokers meet the mark.
| 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 | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and Eightcap both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, trendline drawing, and auto‑saving of your chart annotations. In independent evaluations, both brokers earned 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps.
The key difference is watchlist syncing: Eightcap syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while HFM does not. Reflecting this small edge, ForexBrokers.com ranks Eightcap #31 and HFM #32 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps. If synced watchlists matter to you, Eightcap may be the better fit; otherwise, both platforms offer similar mobile charting and alert tools.
| 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 | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
HFM vs Eightcap: research comparison. Both brokers deliver daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and sentiment tools that show the share of long and short positions. HFM stands out by adding forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters and built-in Autochartist for chart pattern ideas. Eightcap doesn’t offer those two, but it does include tools from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), which can help with trade ideas and news sentiment.
According to ForexBrokers.com, HFM earns 4 stars for Research and ranks #18 out of 63 brokers, while Eightcap scores 3.5 stars and ranks #33. If you want premium news feeds and Autochartist under one roof, HFM has the edge. If you value Acuity Trading tools in a simpler setup, Eightcap is a solid alternative.
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
HFM and Eightcap both make it easy for beginners to learn forex and CFDs. Each broker offers at least 10 educational pieces—such as articles, videos, or archived webinars—and both run client webinars at least once a month. New traders will also find plenty of starter content at either broker, with 10 or more beginner-focused videos available from both HFM and Eightcap.
The key difference is depth for experienced learners: HFM provides at least 10 advanced trading videos, while Eightcap does not. That extra layer helps HFM earn a higher education score (4 stars vs. Eightcap’s 3.5) and a better ranking in the ForexBrokers.com Education category (#29 out of 63 for HFM, vs. #31 for Eightcap). If you want more advanced material to grow into, HFM has the edge; if you’re just starting out, both are solid choices.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
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
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Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 86 | 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 | 86 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 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 SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 803 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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 | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.8 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | HFM Review | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | HFM | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Eightcap Review |
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