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 |
For commissions and fees, both eToro and HFM sit a bit above the industry average, but in different ways. eToro, a market-maker, lists a typical variable spread of 1 pip on EUR/USD. HFM reports about 1.2 pips on its Standard account, while its Zero account targets an effective 0.7 pips after commission. Note that HFM’s figures are not stated as time-weighted averages, and no date range is given. Overall, eToro earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #23 of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 of 63.
eToro’s pricing won’t usually be the draw for spread hunters; instead, traders often pick eToro for its social copy trading features. That said, eToro offers a VIP program (eToro Club) with five tiers—from Silver to Diamond—for balances between $5,000 and $250,000. Perks can include access to Trading Central, discounted withdrawal and deposit fees, and a dedicated account manager, among other benefits.
HFM’s costs are also a touch above average. Its Standard account typically posts around 1.2 pips (company-stated, not an average), while the Zero account advertises an effective 0.7 pips after commission, which also isn’t presented as an average. Traders comparing pure spread-plus-commission math may find the Zero account appealing for tighter quoted pricing, but should keep the lack of averaged data in mind when evaluating real-world costs.
| 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.
eToro vs HFM: both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. eToro offers 5,461 tradeable symbols, compared with HFM’s 500. If your focus is forex pairs, HFM lists more (102) than eToro (55). Both platforms also support copy trading.
For stocks and crypto, eToro has the wider choice. You can buy exchange‑traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple and Vodafone), and eToro supports both actual cryptocurrency purchases and crypto derivatives. HFM does not offer real stock trading and only supports crypto via derivatives. Reflecting this breadth, eToro is rated 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 for Range of Investments, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks #37.
| 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.
eToro and HFM both make it easy to test strategies with a free demo (paper) account and each offers a proprietary, in-house trading platform you can use in your web browser. eToro focuses on a streamlined web experience with popular social and copy trading features, but it does not offer a Windows desktop app and does not support MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5. HFM, by contrast, supports both MT4 and MT5, provides a Windows desktop platform, and also offers copy trading. Neither broker integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting, eToro lists 161 drawing tools versus 30 at HFM, while indicator totals are not specified. HFM lets you place trades directly from charts; eToro does not. Watchlists are flexible at both brokers, with six columns on eToro and seven on HFM. According to ForexBrokers.com, eToro earns 4.5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while HFM scores 4 stars and ranks #43. In short, eToro is a strong pick for web-based and social trading, whereas HFM suits traders who want desktop access and MetaTrader support with chart-based order entry.
| 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 have mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports real-time quotes, custom watchlists, and price alerts for stocks and forex. eToro adds cross-device watchlist syncing so changes on your phone match your web account, while HFM does not. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, eToro earned 4.5/5 stars and ranked #10 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with HFM’s 4/5 stars and #40 ranking.
For charting on the go, eToro offers 104 technical indicators—far more than HFM’s 30—and both apps let you switch among intraday, daily, and weekly time frames. If you draw on charts, HFM lets you add trendlines and auto-saves drawings; eToro does not include trendlines and won’t auto-save drawings. Bottom line: choose eToro if you want deeper indicators and synced watchlists, or pick HFM if drawing tools and saved annotations matter most.
| 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
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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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