Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro 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.
eToro and HFM are both well-regarded online brokers, each offering unique strengths in the realm of financial trading. Founded in 2007, eToro has gained prominence by being publicly traded, providing it with significant market visibility. It holds three Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust and regulation, and has earned a commendable Trust Score of 96 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. Despite not being a bank, eToro's regulatory credentials make it a strong contender for traders seeking assurance and transparency.
In contrast, HFM, founded in 2010, also presents a solid choice for trading enthusiasts, though it is not publicly listed on a stock exchange. While HFM is also not a bank, it holds two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, indicating a substantial level of trust. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86, HFM is rated as a trusted broker. This score, along with its regulatory standing, positions HFM as a reliable option for clients who prioritize regulatory oversight and trust.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
eToro and HFM are two popular online brokers with differing structures around commissions and fees. eToro operates as a market-maker broker, offering a typical variable spread of 1 pip on EUR/USD, which is slightly higher than the industry average. Many retail traders are drawn to eToro not for its spreads, but for its innovative social copy trading platform. Besides, eToro offers a VIP Club with five membership tiers—Silver to Diamond—that require balances from $5,000 to $250,000, providing benefits such as access to Trading Central, reduced withdrawal fees, and a dedicated account manager.
HFM's trading costs are also slightly above the industry average. Their standard accounts come with a typical spread of 1.2 pips, though this is not bound to a specific timeframe, so the average could vary. Offering a potentially more competitive choice, the HFM Zero account presents an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, although this figure is not confirmed as an average. In terms of fee ratings, eToro scores 4.5 stars, while HFM receives a commendable 4 stars.
When it comes to rankings by ForexBrokers.com, eToro is placed at a respectable #22 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. HFM holds the #31 spot, making both brokers solid choices depending on trader priorities such as fees, VIP perks, and platform features.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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.
When it comes to the variety of investments available, eToro stands out with an impressive offering. It allows users to trade in a total of 5,461 symbols, including 55 forex pairs. Unique to eToro is the capability for clients to purchase real exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, which means you can directly invest in companies like Apple or Vodafone. Additionally, eToro supports both copy trading and buying actual cryptocurrencies, making it a versatile platform for various types of investors.
HFM, on the other hand, provides access to 500 tradeable symbols, focusing primarily on forex trading with 102 available pairs. While it also offers copy trading and allows for cryptocurrency derivatives, it does not provide the option to buy actual securities on U.S. or international exchanges or deliver cryptos. Consequently, eToro receives a higher rating of 5 stars for its range of investments compared to HFM's 4 stars, illustrating its wider scope and flexibility in the trading world.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5461 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 102 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
When comparing eToro's and HFM's trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a variety of features, making them accessible to traders. eToro stands out with its highly-rated proprietary platform, accessible through a web-based interface, where it excels in providing a user-friendly environment with features like a free virtual demo account and the innovative option to copy trade. However, it lacks traditional platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). eToro offers an impressive selection of 161 charting drawing tools, though trading directly from charts is not possible. Despite a few limitations, eToro achieves a high rating of 4.5 stars in Trading Platforms and Tools, ranking 8th among 63 brokers.
On the other hand, HFM delivers a more diverse range of platform options, including a proprietary desktop platform compatible with Windows and the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms, catering to traders who prefer these familiar interfaces. Like eToro, HFM also provides a web-based platform and supports copy trading. Although HFM offers fewer charting drawing tools at 30 and slightly more watchlist columns, it allows trading directly from stock charts, a feature absent in eToro’s offerings. With a 4-star rating for its Trading Platforms and Tools and a rank of 42nd by ForexBrokers.com, HFM provides robust alternatives for those interested in more traditional trading platforms.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 104 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 161 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both eToro and HFM provide iPhone and Android apps, ensuring compatibility across major smartphones. For traders interested in receiving real-time stock or forex price alerts, both platforms have you covered. However, when it comes to syncing watchlists between the mobile app and online account, eToro excels with seamless integration, something HFM lacks. Regarding chart analysis, eToro stands out by offering 104 technical studies compared to HFM's 30. While HFM allows users to draw trendlines and auto-saves drawings, eToro does not support these features. Both apps, however, allow viewing charts across multiple time frames and offer the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes.
In terms of user ratings, eToro scores a notable 4.5 out of 5 stars for its mobile trading app, outperforming HFM’s 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, eToro ranks #10 out of 63 brokers, showcasing its competitive edge in the mobile trading app space. In comparison, HFM holds a rank of #39, reflecting a decent option but slightly behind in overall offerings and integration features. Whether you're focused on detailed charting or seamless device sync, both apps deliver dependable trading experiences but cater to varying levels of trader preferences.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When looking at market research features, both eToro and HFM provide daily market commentary and offer economic calendars to keep traders informed about global news events. However, eToro distinguishes itself with tools such as Trading Central's technical analytics and market research from TipRanks, offering comprehensive insights that cater to a wide range of trading strategies. Meanwhile, HFM shines with its access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, as well as offering Autochartist's popular technical and fundamental research tools, which are absent from eToro's offerings.
Both platforms offer sentiment-based tools that show trading positions, but their overall research experience is distinctly unique. eToro achieves higher recognition with a research rating of 4.5 stars, securing the 13th position out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, HFM, with a solid 4-star rating, sits at the 20th spot. Therefore, the choice between these two brokers can depend significantly on whether a trader values cutting-edge sentiment and analytics tools or access to elite news resources.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | 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 eToro and HFM provide substantial offerings that can help novice investors learn the ropes. eToro shines in delivering comprehensive forex and CFDs education, offering over ten educational materials ranging from articles and videos to archived webinars. It also hosts monthly online webinars and maintains a searchable archive of past sessions for convenient access. Beginners will find at least ten introductory videos on essential trading topics, while more advanced traders can benefit from over ten specialized videos for experienced users. eToro supports learning further with an investor dictionary featuring over 50 important investment terms, earning it a commendable 4.5-star rating for education and a ranking of #5 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
HFM also caters to beginner traders by providing a similar educational suite, including a substantial collection of materials focused on forex and CFDs. Monthly webinars and a searchable archive ensure that users have ample opportunities to engage and learn at their own pace. Like eToro, HFM offers at least ten beginner-focused videos, expanding to more advanced content for seasoned traders. Their investor dictionary matches eToro’s, containing over 50 crucial investment terms. Although receiving a slightly lower education rating at 4 stars and ranked #37 in the educational category by ForexBrokers.com, HFM remains a solid option for those starting their trading journey.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 eToro is better than HFM. eToro finished with an overall rank of #9, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #30.
eToro is a winner for its easy-to-use copy-trading platform, where traders can copy the trades of experienced investors – or receive exclusive perks for sharing their own trading strategies.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 86 |
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eToro allows users to buy both actual delivered cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, while HFM only provides options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
eToro provides a variety of options for depositing and withdrawing funds, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas HFM supports Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks compatibility with ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal, offering users a more limited range of transaction methods.
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 | eToro | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | HFM | |
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| Regulation | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | 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) | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5461 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 102 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 104 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 161 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | eToro | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | HFM Review |
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