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 (founded 2007) and HFM (founded 2010) are online brokers with different trust profiles. eToro is publicly traded, while HFM is private; neither is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, eToro’s Trust Score is 96/99 (highly trusted: 90–99), and HFM’s is 86/99 (trusted: 80–89).
On regulation, eToro holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, while HFM holds 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. ForexBrokers.com classifies Tier-1 regulators as highly trusted and Tier-2 as trusted. Both firms are well regulated, with eToro carrying more Tier-1 authorizations and HFM holding more Tier-2 approvals.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, eToro lists a typical variable EUR/USD spread of 1.0 pip, which is slightly higher than the industry average. HFM’s trading costs are also slightly above average: its Standard account indicates a typical 1.2-pip spread (no date range provided), while the Zero account shows an effective 0.7 pips after commission, though this figure is not an average. For pricing specifically, ForexBrokers.com rates eToro 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #22 of 63 brokers, while HFM earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28 of 63.
eToro is a market-maker broker, and traders tend to choose it less for raw spreads and more for its social copy trading features. For higher-balance clients, the eToro Club offers five VIP tiers (Silver to Diamond) for balances from $5,000 to $250,000, with perks that can include access to Trading Central, discounted deposit and withdrawal fees, and a dedicated account manager.
HFM’s Standard account pricing sits a bit above average based on its stated 1.2-pip figure, and the Zero account can deliver lower effective costs at 0.7 pips after commission, though that number isn’t an average and may vary. Overall, both brokers lean slightly higher than average on spreads, with eToro edging ahead on the Commissions and Fees rating (4.5/5, #22/63) compared with HFM (4/5, #28/63).
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Both eToro and HFM let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. Where they differ is breadth. eToro lists 7,441 tradable symbols across many asset types, while HFM offers 500. If your priority is forex variety, HFM provides 102 currency pairs compared with eToro’s 55. If you want more than forex, eToro stands out by allowing the purchase of real, exchange-traded stocks on both U.S. and international exchanges; HFM does not offer real shares and focuses on CFDs.
For crypto, eToro supports both real coins and crypto CFDs, while HFM offers crypto only as CFDs. Both support copy trading. In independent assessments of investment range, eToro earned 5 stars (ranked #11 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com) and HFM received 4 stars (ranked #28 of 63). In short, choose eToro for the widest mix of assets and access to real stocks and crypto, or HFM if you mainly want a broker with a larger list of forex pairs.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 102 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
Comparing trading platforms and tools, both eToro and HFM offer free demo (paper) accounts, in-house platforms, web-based trading, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Key differences: eToro does not provide a Windows desktop platform or MetaTrader support, while HFM offers a Windows download along with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. If you prefer a browser-focused experience with built-in copy trading, eToro fits well; if you want a traditional desktop setup and MetaTrader access for advanced strategies, HFM is the better match.
Based on ForexBrokers.com ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools, eToro scores 4.5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers, while HFM scores 4 stars and ranks #33. In short, eToro excels for ease of use on the web and copy trading, whereas HFM stands out for Windows desktop trading and MetaTrader compatibility.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
eToro and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and both support price alerts for stocks and forex. A key difference is watchlist syncing: eToro keeps your watchlists aligned between the app and your online account, while HFM does not—a meaningful factor if you switch between phone and desktop.
For charting, eToro includes 104 built-in technical indicators, compared with 30 on HFM. However, HFM lets you draw trendlines and automatically saves your chart drawings; eToro lacks trendline tools and does not autosave drawings. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps ratings, eToro scores 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers, while HFM scores 4 out of 5 and ranks #32.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
eToro vs HFM for market research: both deliver daily market commentary and real-time forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning. The standout differences are in third‑party tools: eToro integrates Trading Central analytics and TipRanks stock research, while HFM offers Autochartist for chart pattern recognition. Neither broker currently includes Acuity Trading tools.
If you want Trading Central and TipRanks alongside sentiment data, eToro has the edge. If you prefer Autochartist-driven setup ideas, HFM is a solid pick. According to ForexBrokers.com, eToro is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranks #13 out of 63 for Research, while HFM earns 4/5 stars and ranks #18 out of 63.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing eToro vs HFM for education, both brokers deliver plenty of forex and CFD learning content for beginners. Each offers a library that clears the baseline of at least 10 educational pieces, plus ongoing client webinars at least once a month. New traders will find step‑by‑step help through beginner videos at both brokers (10+ each), and there’s room to grow with 10+ advanced videos as skills improve.
That said, eToro holds the edge for education quality and recognition: it’s rated 4.5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com. HFM also educates well—rated 4 stars and ranked #29—offering the same core mix of webinars and beginner/advanced videos. If you want one of the top education hubs for getting started with forex and CFDs, eToro is the stronger pick, while HFM remains a solid alternative with wide topic coverage for new traders.
| Feature |
eToro
|
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 eToro is better than HFM. eToro finished with an overall rank of #9, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
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
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HFM
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| Trust Score | 96 | 86 |
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In the eToro vs HFM comparison, eToro lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency and trade crypto CFDs, while HFM offers crypto CFDs only and does not support purchasing the underlying coins.
Compared with HFM, eToro supports ACH/SEPA transfers and PayPal (both unavailable at HFM), while both brokers accept Skrill and bank wire transfers; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | 4 | 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 (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) | 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, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 102 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | eToro | 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 | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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