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 in 2007, is a publicly traded online broker and not a bank. HFM, founded in 2010, is privately held and also not a bank. If you’re comparing eToro vs HFM for peace of mind and company background, eToro is older and listed, while HFM is not listed.
On regulation, eToro holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, while HFM holds 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. According to ForexBrokers.com, eToro’s Trust Score is 97/99 (highly trusted) and HFM’s is 85/99 (trusted). Both are regulated and considered trustworthy, with eToro earning the higher rating and more top-tier licenses.
| 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 |
When comparing online broker commissions and fees, eToro and HFM are both rated 4 out of 5 stars, but eToro has the stronger ranking overall. ForexBrokers.com places eToro at #22 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while HFM ranks #28 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers are around the middle of the pack, but eToro comes out ahead on this measure.
eToro is a market-maker broker with a typical variable spread of 1 pip on EUR/USD, which is a little higher than the industry average. That means it may not be the cheapest choice for spread-focused traders, but many people choose eToro for its social copy trading features instead. eToro also offers the eToro Club VIP program, with five tiers from Silver to Diamond for balances between $5,000 and $250,000, plus benefits like Trading Central access, lower deposit and withdrawal fees, and personal account support.
HFM’s trading costs are also slightly above average. The company says its standard accounts typically have a 1.2 pip spread, although it does not give a clear time period for that figure, so real costs may vary. Its Zero account can work out to an effective 0.7 pip spread after commission, but that is not an average spread. Overall, HFM can be competitive on some account types, but eToro has the better commissions-and-fees ranking.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1 | 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.
When it comes to range of investments, eToro gives traders far more choice than HFM. eToro offers 7,441 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs, while HFM has 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer copy trading, but eToro stands out by also letting clients buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone.
eToro also offers a wider crypto selection, with access to both actual cryptocurrency purchases and crypto CFDs, while HFM only offers crypto CFDs. That broader product lineup helps explain why eToro is rated 5 out of 5 for Range of Investments and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with HFM’s 4 out of 5 rating and #28 ranking.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 38 |
| 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.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, eToro and HFM both give traders a free demo account, a web-based platform, a proprietary platform, copy trading, and the ability to trade directly from charts. That said, their setups are different in a few key ways. eToro does not offer a Windows desktop download platform or access to MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, while HFM does support all three, making it a stronger fit for traders who want desktop software or prefer the MetaTrader experience.
In ratings and rankings, eToro has the edge. It scores 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and is ranked #8 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with HFM’s 4-star rating and #33 ranking. For many traders, that makes eToro the better pick for ease of use and overall platform quality, while HFM may appeal more to those who want a wider choice of trading software.
| 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 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
eToro and HFM both make it easy to trade on the go, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts for stocks or forex. Both mobile apps also let you draw trendlines on charts. Where eToro stands out is convenience and charting depth: its watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account, while HFM’s do not. eToro also offers 104 technical studies in its mobile charts, compared with just 5 at HFM, which gives active traders many more tools to work with.
In overall mobile trading app reviews, eToro also comes out ahead. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 out of 36. HFM does have one useful edge: its chart drawings auto-save in the app, while eToro’s do not. Even so, eToro is the stronger choice for most users who want a more polished mobile trading experience with better charting and watchlist syncing.
| 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 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both eToro and HFM give traders the basics they need, including daily market commentary, news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, a sentiment tool for spotting long and short position ratios, and an economic calendar with key global events. Both also score well for research overall, but eToro has the edge with a 4.5-star Research rating and a #12 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM’s 4-star rating and #18 ranking.
The main differences come down to extra research tools. HFM offers Autochartist and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, which eToro does not. On the other hand, eToro includes TipRanks market research, while HFM does not. So, eToro may appeal more to traders who want TipRanks and a higher research score, while HFM may suit those looking for Autochartist and Acuity-powered insights.
| Feature |
eToro
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for learning support, both eToro and HFM offer a solid mix of forex and CFDs education, with at least 10 dedicated educational pieces on these topics, plus monthly online webinars. Each broker also provides 10 or more beginner-friendly videos and 10 or more advanced videos, giving new traders and more experienced users a range of material to work through at their own pace. This makes both platforms useful for traders who want to build knowledge before and during live trading.
That said, eToro stands out more in this area. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers can help beginners learn, but eToro appears to offer the stronger overall educational experience.
| 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 97 | 85 |
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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 | 97 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | HFM | |
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| Regulation | eToro | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 97 | 85 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 38 | |
| 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 | 1 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1 | 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 | 38 | |
| 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 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | 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 | No | 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 | 97 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | HFM Review |
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