Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs Exness, 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 Exness (founded 2008) are online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. Both are regulated with two Tier-1 licenses (the most trusted category per ForexBrokers.com) and three Tier-2 licenses, indicating broad regulatory coverage across major jurisdictions.
According to ForexBrokers.com, HFM holds a Trust Score of 85 and Exness scores 80. On this scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted. Both brokers fall into the trusted range, with HFM ranking slightly higher.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
When comparing HFM and Exness on commissions and fees, both brokers earn the same rating: 4 out of 5 stars. HFM is ranked #30 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for this category, while Exness is ranked #33 out of 36. That means HFM comes out a little ahead overall on pricing, though neither broker is among the very cheapest options.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average. Its standard accounts typically show a 1.2 pip spread, though the broker does not give a date range for that figure, so the real average may be higher. HFM’s Zero account offers an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, but this is also not presented as an average.
Exness has more account choices, and the cost you pay depends on which one you pick. Its commission-based accounts usually offer lower spreads than the commission-free options. The Zero Spread account charges a $0.05 per-trade commission, while the Raw account charges up to $7 per round turn lot ($3.5 per side). In simple terms, Exness can be cheaper for active traders who use the right account, but its pricing setup is more complex than HFM’s.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.96 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.75 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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, HFM and Exness both let clients trade forex as CFDs, and both also offer crypto CFDs rather than actual digital coins. Neither broker offers direct access to U.S. or international exchange-traded shares, so you cannot buy real stocks such as Apple or Vodafone through either platform. HFM does stand out for copy trading, which Exness does not provide.
Looking at variety, HFM offers 344 tradeable symbols and 38 forex pairs, while Exness offers 239 tradeable symbols but a wider selection of 78 forex pairs. Based on ForexBrokers.com ratings, HFM scores 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #30 out of 36 brokers, while Exness scores 3.5 stars and ranks #37 out of 36. Overall, HFM offers the broader mix of markets, while Exness has the edge in forex pair choice.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 78 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 Exness both give traders plenty of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, Windows desktop apps, browser-based trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Both also let users place trades directly from charts, which can make it easier to act quickly while watching price moves. In short, the core trading setup is very similar at both brokers, and each offers the main tools most traders expect.
The main difference is copy trading: HFM offers it, while Exness does not. For trading platforms and tools, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars by ForexBrokers.com, but Exness holds the stronger ranking overall, placing #15 out of 36 brokers compared with HFM at #36. That makes Exness the stronger pick on paper, even though HFM has the edge if copy trading is an important feature for you.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and Exness both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Each broker is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so both provide a solid base for trading on the go. HFM’s app has one useful edge: it auto-saves chart drawings, which can be handy if you switch between devices or return to a chart later.
Exness stands out in a few key areas for mobile trading. Its app supports watchlist syncing, so changes made in the app and online account stay matched, while HFM does not offer this feature. Exness also offers far more chart studies, with 100 technical indicators compared with HFM’s 5. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps ranking, Exness is placed higher at #18 out of 36 brokers, while HFM ranks #35, making Exness the stronger choice for traders who want more chart tools and better sync between mobile and web.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 5 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
HFM and Exness both give traders useful market research basics, including daily market commentary, top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar with global events. Where HFM stands out is in its wider mix of extra research tools: it includes Autochartist, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre. Exness, on the other hand, offers Trading Central tools, which HFM does not.
When it comes to overall research quality, HFM comes out ahead. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research and is ranked #18 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #34. In short, both brokers cover the core research needs, but HFM provides more built-in analysis options and earns a stronger overall research score.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn forex and CFD trading, both HFM and Exness provide a wide range of educational material. Each broker offers at least 10 pieces of forex or CFD-focused education, monthly client webinars, and plenty of videos for both new and more experienced traders. That means beginners can find basic lessons, while traders who want to go further can also access advanced content.
When comparing their overall education offering, HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars, while Exness comes in at 3.5 out of 5 stars. However, Exness is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com in the Education category, placing #20 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #31 out of 36. So, HFM appears stronger on the star rating, while Exness has the better category ranking.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 HFM is better than Exness. HFM finished with an overall rank of #27, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
HFM (HF Markets) is a global broker best known for its MetaTrader offering, solid research tools, and proprietary copy trading platform, alongside a broad selection of forex pairs and CFDs.
| Feature |
HFM
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Exness
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 80 |
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HFM vs Exness: neither broker allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
HFM vs Exness: both brokers do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal, both accept Skrill and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | Exness | |
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| Regulation | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 78 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.96 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.75 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 5 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | HFM Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | HFM | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Exness Review |
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